ADELAIDE (_entering in elegant traveling costume, meets_ OLDENDORF _at the door_). Not so fast, Professor! [OLDENDORF _kisses her hand and leaves._] IDA. }(_together_ Adelaide! [_Falls into her arms._]). COLONEL. } Adelaide! And at such a moment! ADELAIDE (_holding_ IDA _fast and stretching out her hand to the_ COLONEL). Shake hands with your compatriot. Aunt sends love, and Rosenau Manor, in its brown autumn dress, presents its humble compliments. The fields lie bare, and in the garden the withered leaves dance with the wind.--Ah, Mr. von Senden! COLONEL (_introducing_). Mr. Blumenberg, the editor. SENDEN. We are delighted to welcome our zealous agriculturist to the city. ADELAIDE. And we should have been pleased occasionally to meet our neighbor in the country. COLONEL. He has a great deal to do here. He is a great politician, and works hard for the good cause. ADELAIDE. Yes, indeed, we read of his doings in the newspaper. I drove through your fields yesterday. Your potatoes are not all in yet. Your steward didn't get through with the work. SENDEN. You Rosenau people are privileged to get through a week earlier than any one else. ADELAIDE. On the other hand, we have nothing to do but to farm. (_Amicably._) The neighbors send greetings. SENDEN. Thank you. We must relinquish you now to friends who have more claim on you than we have. But will you not receive me in the course of the day so that I can ask for the news from home? [ADELAIDE _inclines her head._] SENDEN. Good-by, Colonel. (_To_ IDA.) My respectful compliments, Miss Berg. [_Exit together with_ BLUMENBERG.] IDA (_embracing_ ADELAIDE). I have you at last. Now everything will be all right! ADELAIDE. What is to be all right? Is anything not all right? Back there some one passed me more quickly than usual, and here I see glistening eyes and a furrowed brow. [_Kisses her on the eyes._] They shall not ruin your pretty eyes. And you, honored friend, turn a more friendly countenance to me. COLONEL. You must stay with us all winter; it will be the first you have given us in a long time; we shall try to deserve such a favor. ADELAIDE (_seriously_). It is the first one since my father's death that I have cared to mingle with the world again. Besides, I have business that calls me here. You know I came of age this summer, and my legal friend, Judge Schwarz, requires my presence. Listen, Ida, the servants are unpacking, go and see that things are properly put away. (_Aside._) And put a damp cloth over your eyes for people can see that you have been crying. [_Exit_ IDA _to the right._ ADELAIDE _quickly goes up to the_ COLONEL.] What is the matter with Ida and the professor? COLONEL. That would be a long story. I shall not spoil my pleasure with it now. We men are at odds; our views are too opposed. ADELAIDE. But were not your views opposed before this, too? And yet you were on such good terms with Oldendorf! COLONEL.