An evil, envious, venomous star presided over our secret meeting here! Oh, how I used to admire my papa! And since that Sunday I blush for him every minute. And however much I try, I can't, since that day, look frankly and openly into his eyes. SPITTA Did you have differences with your father too? WALBURGA Oh, if it were nothing more than that! I was so proud of papa! And now I tremble to think of even your finding it out. You'd despise us! SPITTA _I_ despise anyone? Dear child, I can't think of anything less fitting for me! Look here: I'll set you an example in the matter of frankness. A sister of mine, six years older than I, was governess in a noble family. Well, a misfortune happened to her and ... when she sought refuge in the house of her parents, my Christian father put her out of doors! I believe he thought that Jesus would have done the same. And so my sister gradually sank lower and lower and some day we can go and visit her in the little suicides' graveyard near Schildhorn where she finally found rest. WALBURGA [_Puts her arms around SPITTA._] Poor boy, you never told me a word of that. SPITTA Circumstances have changed now and I speak of it. I shall speak of it to papa too even if it causes a breach between us.--You're always surprised when I get excited, and that I can't control myself when I see some poor devil being kicked about, or when I see the rabble mistreating some poor fallen girl. I have actual hallucinations sometimes. I seem to see ghosts in bright daylight and my own sister among them! _PAULINE PIPERCARCKA enters, dressed as before. Her little face seems to have grown paler and prettier._ PAULINE Good mornin'. MRS. JOHN [_From behind the partition._] Who's that out there? PAULINE Pauline, Mrs. John. MRS. JOHN Pauline? I don't know no Pauline. PAULINE Pauline Pipercarcka, Mrs. John. MRS. JOHN Who? Oh, well then you c'n wait a minute, Pauline. WALBURGA Good-bye, Mrs. John. MRS. JOHN [_Emerges from behind the partition and carefully draws the hangings._] That's right. I got somethin' to discuss with this here young person. So you young folks c'n see about getting out. _SPITTA and WALBURGA leave hastily. MRS. JOHN locks the door behind them._ MRS. JOHN So it's you, Pauline? An' what is it you want? PAULINE What should I be wantin'? Somethin' jus' drove me here! Couldn't wait no longer. I has to see how everythin' goes. MRS. JOHN How what goes? What's everythin'? PAULINE [_With a somewhat bad conscience._] Well, if it's well; if it's gettin' on nicely. MRS. JOHN If what's well? If what's gettin' on nicely? PAULINE You oughta know that without my tellin'. MRS. JOHN _What_ ought I to know without your tellin' me? PAULINE I wants to know if anythin's happened to the child! MRS. JOHN What child? An' what could ha' happened? Talk plainly, will you? There ain't a word o' your crazy chatter that anybody c'n understand! PAULINE