_Si, si, si, si_! Oh, I could tell you everything. Your heart has tendrils which twine about other hearts and draw them out. And you don't do it selfishly. You don't know how mighty you are. The men outside there are beasts, whether in love or hate. But you are a man. And one feels like a man when one is near you. Just think, when you came in yesterday, you seemed to me so small; but something grows out from you and becomes always greater, almost too great for me. HEFFTERDINGT. Good Heavens, what can it be? MAGDA. What shall I call it,--self-sacrifice, self-abnegation? It is something with self--or rather the reverse. That is what impresses me. And that is why you can do so much with me. HEFFTERDINGT. How strange! MAGDA. What? HEFFTERDINGT. I must own it to you--it is--it is nonsense; but since I have seen you again, a sort of longing has awakened within me to be like you. MAGDA. Ha, ha! You, model of men! Like me! HEFFTERDINGT. I have had to stifle much in my nature. My peace is the peace of the dead. And as you stood before me yesterday in your freshness, your natural strength, your--your greatness, I said to myself, "That is what you might have been if at the right moment joy had entered into your life." MAGDA. [_In a whisper_.] And one thing more, my friend,-- sin! We must sin if we wish to grow. To become greater than our sins is worth more than all the purity you preach. HEFFTERDINGT. [_Impressed_.] That would be-- [_Voices outside_.] MAGDA. [_Starting and listening_.] 'Sh! HEFFTERDINGT. What's the matter? MAGDA. Nothing, it's only my stupid nervousness; not on my own account, believe me, only out of pity for all these. We shall still be friends? HEFFTERDINGT. As long as you need me. MAGDA. And when I cease to need you? HEFFTERDINGT. There will be no change in me, Miss Magda. [_As he is going, he meets_ Schwartze _in the doorway_.] _Enter_ Schwartze. SCHWARTZE. Good-morning, my dear pastor! Will you go out on the porch for a moment? I will follow you. [_Exit_ Heffterdingt.] Now, did you sleep well, my child? [_Kisses her on the forehead_.] MAGDA. Finely. In my old room I found the old sleep of childhood. SCHWARTZE. Had you lost it? MAGDA. Haven't you? SCHWARTZE. They say a good conscience-- Come to me, my child. MAGDA.