Oh, 'round about a princess like that--there are such a lot of people. For instance, there is her waiting-woman, there's the seamstress and her assistants, there's---- Struebel. But my dear young lady, if you only understood anything about these matters, you would have been certain at the very first glance that it was she--and no one else. Observe the nobility in every motion--the queenly grace with which she bends over the embroidery-frame---- The Princess. How do you know that it's an embroidery-frame? Struebel. Why, what should a princess be bending over if not an embroidery-frame? Do you expect her to be darning stockings? The Princess. It wouldn't hurt her at all! Struebel. Now, that's just one of those petty, bourgeois notions which we ought to suppress. It's not enough that we have to stick in this misery, but we'd like to drag her down, too--that being far above all earthly care---- The Princess. Oh, dear me! Struebel. What are you sighing about so terribly? The Princess Tell me, wouldn't you like to have a closer acquaintance with your princess, sometime? Struebel. Closer? Why should I?--Isn't she close enough to me, my far-away princess?--for that's what I call her when I talk to myself about her. And to have her _still_ closer? The Princess. Why, so that you could talk to her and know what she really was like. Struebel (_terrified_). Talk to her! Heaven forbid! Goodness gracious, no! Just see here--how am I to face a princess? I'm an ordinary fellow, the son of poor folks. I haven't polished manners--I haven't even a decent tailor. A lady like that--why, she'd measure me from top to toe in one glance.--I've had my lessons in the fine houses where I've applied as tutor. A glance from boots to cravat--and you're dismissed! The Princess. And you think that I--(_correcting herself_)--that this girl is as superficial as that? Struebel. "This girl"! Dear me, how that sounds! But, how should I ever succeed in showing her my real self? And even if I should, what would she care?--Oh, yes, if she were like you--so nice and simple--and with such a kindhearted, roguish little twinkle in her eye----! The Princess. Roguish--I? Why so? Struebel. Because you are laughing at me in your sleeve. And really I deserve nothing better. The Princess. But your princess deserves something better than your opinion of her. Struebel. How do you know that? The Princess.