Ah well!—But I’m in deadly earnest over the present! ROBERT. No, no, I can’t believe that. MRS SCHOLZ (_aside to William_). Robert is unbearable! IDA. Ah, but no—really— ROBERT. You see, this thing here—I’ve got used to it—and of course you don’t really mean it! IDA (_her eyes full of tears, conquering her hurt feelings; with trembling voice_). Well, then, if you’d rather— [_Puts the present back on the table._ MRS BUCHNER (_who during the foregoing has several times spoken to Ida, now hurries to her_). Ida, darling, have you forgotten? IDA. What, mamma? MRS BUCHNER. You know! (_To the others_) You’re all going to hear something. [_Ida, glad to hide her emotion in this way, goes hand in hand with her mother into the next room._ MRS SCHOLZ (_to Robert_). Why did you spoil her pleasure for her? WILLIAM (_twisting the ends of his moustache nervously; walks up and down casting threatening glances at Robert_). ROBERT. What now? How do you mean? I don’t know what you want. AUGUSTA. Well, it certainly wasn’t exactly friendly. ROBERT. Do leave me alone. Besides, what should I do with it? [_Song and piano accompaniment from next room interrupt speakers. All look at one another, startled._ IDA’S VOICE. Oh, come little children, Oh, come one and all, Come here to the manger In Bethlehem’s stall. Behold all the gladness This wonderful night, Our Father in Heaven Has wrought in his might. [_Dr Scholz, noticing Robert’s behaviour, has grown steadily gloomier. At the beginning of the song he looks nervously round like someone who dreads being attacked and seeks as far as possible without being noticed to establish a certain distance between himself and the others._ MRS SCHOLZ (_at the beginning of the song_). Ah! how beautiful! [_She listens for a moment with devotion, then breaks into sobs. Robert moves slowly about; as the song continues makes a grimace, as if to say, “Well, this is the last straw”; walks further on, smiles ironically and several times shakes his head. Passing Augusta, he says something to her half audibly. Augusta, partly touched by the song, now breaks out. William has been standing by the table, nervously drumming with his fingers, a prey to conflicting emotions; now his face reddens with resentment. Robert towards the end of the song appears to suffer physically. The impossibility of escaping from the impression of Ida’s tones appears to torture and embitter him more and more. Just at the end of the verse, a word escapes him involuntarily like the fragment of a soliloquy._ ROBERT. Child’s play! (_in a biting contemptuous tone_). [_All, including the Doctor, have heard him, and turn to him with a shocked expression._ MRS SCHOLZ and AUGUSTA. Robert! [_Dr Scholz suppresses an explosion of violent anger. William, white with rage, steps up to Robert._