PAUL (absorbed). How calmly he lay there. How great and serene! Not the vestige of a doubt left! Everything overcome. All the questions solved!... (Lamenting.) Father, father, if I were only in your place! (He presses his head in his hands.) AUNT CLARA (worried). Paul, what's the matter! PAUL. Nothing, Aunt Clara, it's over now. AUNT CLARA. No, no, my boy, there's something wrong with you. You needn't tell me. I know well enough. PAUL (controlling himself). You know nothing at all. AUNT CLARA. And you can't talk me out of it. It's your wife. What I know, I know. Your wife is to blame! And if you _do_ say no ten times over! PAUL (gets up, with a firm voice). I repeat, Aunt Clara, you know nothing about it! I do not want to hear one word about that, please remember. (With marked emphasis.) I do not want to hear of it! (Walks up and down in excitement.) AUNT CLARA. Paul, Paul, if you had only taken Antonie! PAUL (sits down in the chair at the fireplace, restraining his pain). Be quiet, Aunt Clara!... Do you want to make me even more miserable than I am? AUNT CLARA (gets up, steps up to him and lays her hand on his head). My poor, poor boy! ACT II The forenoon of the following day. The gloomy light of a winter day comes in through the wide windows at the background of the hall, as on the day before. Outside, white bushes and trees loom up vaguely. A dark velvet cover is spread over the sofa table now. A fire again biases in the fireplace. In front of it on the left sits GLYSZINSKI with his feet toward the fire and a book in his hand. He is again faultlessly clad in a black suit; looks pale. At his right, in the center chair HELLA reposes comfortably. She likewise holds a book and looks as if she had been reading. As on the previous day, her dress is dark, but not black. HELLA. These awful visits of condolence all day yesterday! If calls of that kind continue today, I'll simply lock myself in and fail to appear. Let Paul settle it as he may. GLYSZINSKI. And yet! How easily and graciously you can dispose of the good people. I can't get over my astonishment. HELLA. Yes and then to feign a sadness that one does not remotely feel, cannot feel! What an idea! GLYSZINSKI (after a moment of reflection, whispering). Do you know what makes me glad? HELLA (curtly). No, possibly you will tell me. GLYSZINSKI (halts a bit). That the dead man is out of the house!... I suppose they took him to the church? HELLA. Yes, quite early this morning. The coffin is to be there till tomorrow. I suppose you were afraid? GLYSZINSKI, Why you know that I sometimes see things. HELLA. You modern creature, you! Look at me! I _try_ to see _things_ by daylight. I can battle with _them_! Not with the other kind. GLYSZINSKI. Oh you don't realize how I have envied you for that. HELLA. Why don't you follow my example then? Do not lose yourself deeper and deeper in your riddles. Enter the conflict! Just as I do!