GLYSZINSKI. You, Hella ...! I cannot vie with you. HELLA. Don't be a weakling! Try it! You are old enough. GLYSZINSKI (grumbling). _Too_ old. HELLA (more and more impassioned). Too old! Ridiculous. When Paul was of your age he was already in the fray, founding our _Women's Rights_. And I, I helped him. GLYSZINSKI. You must have been of firmer fiber than we of the younger generation. HELLA (gets up, stands up straight, folds her hands over her head). Possibly! I was scarcely twenty at the time, but I felt strong enough to throw down the gauntlet to the whole world, when it was a question of my rights. I had an uncontrollable thirst for freedom, and it is not too much to assert that I gave Paul the incentive for all that followed. GLYSZINSKI. That's just like you, Hella! I suppose he would simply have remained in his old trot if it had not been for you. HELLA (supporting herself on the chair). I should not go that far. He had already freed himself, but did not know in what direction to move. He was still groping. He might have followed an utterly wrong course, might have fooled away his time with literature and impractical things like that. His rescue from all that was my work. I guided him! You know he was a pupil of my father. When we became acquainted, I had no difficulty in showering things upon him. You see I had spent my whole childhood in this intellectual atmosphere. And he ... well, you can see from where he had come. (She sweeps her hand around.) That is just why I was ahead of him. GLYSZINSKI (lamenting). Why was I not born ten years earlier? Then I should have found what he now has and fails to value! HELLA (walks through the hall slowly, engrossed in memories). Yes it was a joyous time! All of us young, vigorous and certain of victory! (Her manner becomes gloomy.) GLYSZINSKI (has followed her with his eyes). Are you so no longer, Hella? HELLA (morosely). I?... (Collects herself.) More than ever ... But I have become tired, Doctor! GLYSZINSKI (subdued). I do suppose it requires more than mortal strength to hold out, in this fashion, a whole life long. HELLA (straightening up). Yes, if one did not know that he is going to prevail, that he will carry out his demands; one can rest assured only when he has the better arguments in his favor. Not until then. (She steps to the background in great excitement.) GLYSZINSKI (jumps up). Hella! Hella!... HELLA (comes back again). Not an hour before that, I tell you. Do you understand the terrible aspect of my present position now? My nails fairly tingle. Whenever I hear the clock strike out there, something seems to drive me away. Another hour gone, and life is so short. It cries within me, go to your post, and I am forced to remain! I must remain on account of Paul! GLYSZINSKI (strikes his fist on the chair). Oh he doesn't deserve to have you sacrifice yourself for him! If you called me in this manner ... I should follow you to the scaffold!