PAUL (sits down, facing the fire, and crosses his legs). Far, far away, I can tell you. [GLYSZINSKI has risen from his chair and has slowly walked over toward the left, where he sits down on the sofa and pretends to become interested in a book.] HELLA. One can tell that. You are in a beautiful condition. PAUL (stares into the fire, spinning away at his thoughts). I rode a great, great distance!... To the border of our possessions! HELLA. Is that so very far? PAUL. Very far!... At least it seemed so to me when I was a child. HELLA. Yes, of course, to a child everything seems larger. PAUL. But this time it was no delusion! It was really quite a distance. And I did remain away long enough too. HELLA (sarcastically). Are you not boasting, Paul? I believe you were riding around in a circle. PAUL (waking up). And so I did. Criss cross over the fields, taking ditches, helter skelter as it were, right through the dense snow. HELLA (as before). Can you really ride, Paul? PAUL. I? Well, I should say! I supposed I had forgotten how, during all of these empty years, but when I had mounted, for a moment I was unsteady, but only for a moment, then I felt my old power. The bay realized that I still know how, and off we were like destruction itself. GLYSZINSKI (from the sofa). I should like to try it myself sometime. PAUL (without heeding him). And curiously enough Hella, strange as the way had naturally become to me, I nevertheless got along easily. After all, one does not forget the things with which one has once been familiar, and, you see, my father took me with him often enough in my boyhood. (Smiling.) Possibly in order that, some day in the future, I might get my bearings in the old fields! At last I got into the forest and when I was out of that, I saw the houses of Klonowken, all covered with snow ... HELLA (has listened very attentively, interrupts). Klonowken, you say! Isn't that the estate where--what is his name?--your relative lives? PAUL. LASKOWSKI, you mean? HELLA. Quite right, LASKOWSKI ... But you did not call on him, did you? PAUL. No, then I came back. HELLA. The ride has certainly agreed with you. Your color is much better than yesterday. PAUL (joyously). _Is_ it?... Well that is just the way I feel. HELLA. Then you can see more clearly today, what you wish to do and what is necessary? PAUL. Much more clearly, Hella! As I trotted along in the snowstorm, many things dawned upon me. My head has became clear, Hella. HELLA. I am glad for you and both of us! PAUL (seizes her hand). Yes, for both of us. We must come to an agreement, Hella! HELLA (cautiously). I hope we are agreed. And, moreover, you know how we can remain so! PAUL (thoughtful again). Well, as I rode along, strange! So many years of desk work, I thought to myself, and nothing but desk work. My bones have almost become stiff as a result and, after all, what has come of it? Little enough! You surely must admit that.