Why, what is that? Tell me, sister, are things to go on this way much longer? Since I came here not a day has passed on which I haven't seen you cry. HELEN Oh!--what do _you_ know? If you had any sense for such things you'd be surprised that you ever saw me when I didn't cry! HOFFMANN That isn't clear to me. HELEN Oh, but it is to me! HOFFMANN Look here, something must have happened! HELEN [_Jumps up and stamps her foot._] Ugh ... but I won't bear it any longer ... it's got to stop! I won't endure such things any more! I don't see why ... I ... [_Her sobs choke her._ HOFFMANN Won't you tell me at least what the trouble is, so that I ... HELEN [_Bursting out with renewed passion._] I don't care what happens to me! Nothing worse _could_. I've got a drunkard for a father, a beast--with whom his ... his own daughter isn't safe.--An adulterous step-mother who wants to turn me over to her lover ... And this whole life.--No, I don't see that anyone can force me to be bad in spite of myself. I'm going away! I'll run away! And if the people here won't let me go, then ... rope, knife, gun ... I don't care! I don't want to take to drinking brandy like my sister. HOFFMANN [_Frightened, grasps her arm._] Nellie, keep still, I tell you; keep still about that. HELEN I don't care; I don't care one bit! I ... I'm ashamed of it all to the very bottom of my soul. I wanted to learn something, to be something, to have a chance--and what am I now? HOFFMANN [_Who has not released her arm, begins gradually to dram the girl over toward the sofa. The tone of his voice now takes on an excessive softness, an exaggerated, vibrant gentleness._] Nellie! Ah, I know right well that you have many things to suffer here. But be calm...! You need not tell one who knows. [_He puts his right hand caressingly upon her shoulder and brings his face close to hers._] I can't bear to see you weep. Believe me--it hurts me. But don't, don't see things in a worse light than is needful--; and then: have you forgotten, that we are both--you and I--so to speak--in the same position?--I have gotten into this peasant atmosphere--do I fit into it? As little as you do yourself, surely. HELEN If my--dear little mother had suspected this--when she ... when she directed--that I should be--educated at Herrnhut! If she had rather ... rather left me at home, then at least ... at least I wouldn't have known anything else, and I would have grown up in this corruption, But now ... HOFFMANN