ANTOINETTE. Why in the world doesn't your wife come in? (She walks toward the window.) PAUL. Very well! Let her come! (He bites his lips and turns away.) LENE (appears in the door at the left). Mr. Warkentin ...? PAUL (startled). What is it? LENE. Mrs. Warkentin says that she has no time now, she'll come directly. PAUL. Very well!... You may go! LENE. Thank you, Mr. Warkentin! (She casts a glance at the two and goes out. Short pause.) PAUL (with grim humor). As you see, it is not to be, madam! ANTOINETTE (stands at the window with her back toward the hall). It would seem so. (Presses her face against the panes.) PAUL (walks to and fro, then approaches her). I have had to endure much, Antoinette, very much! ANTOINETTE (suppressed). Possibly I have too. PAUL. Why, Antoinette, you are weeping? (He stands behind her and tries to look into her face.) ANTOINETTE (wards him off). I? Not at all! PAUL (heavily). You are weeping, Antoinette! ANTOINETTE (sinks down). I can't help it. (She surrenders to her pain, but quietly and softly, making her appear all the more touching.) PAUL (kindly). Come, madam! Let me conduct you to the sofa. (About to take her arm.) ANTOINETTE (refusing). I can go alone. Why do you concern yourself about me at all? PAUL. Antoinette! Don't be stubborn at this moment! Our time is short. Who knows whether we shall ever speak to each other again as we now do. (He leads her forward a short distance.) ANTOINETTE. All the better! PAUL. Our time is awfully short. _I cannot_ let you go away so! We must make use of the moment! (Bitterly.) The moment that will possibly never return. (He has slowly led her to the front of the stage.) ANTOINETTE (frees herself violently). Do permit me to go by myself! I do not need you! I need no one! PAUL (bitterly). Very well! I shall not molest you! As you please! ANTOINETTE (sits down in the chair at the left of the sofa, seems composed again). You see I am quite calm. It was only a temporary indisposition. PAUL (coaxing). May I sit down near you, Antoinette? ANTOINETTE. What have you to say to me? PAUL, (sits down in the chair before her, looks at her squarely, then, after a moment of devoted contemplation). I am forced to look at you, Antoinette! Pardon me! I am forced to look at you again and again! ANTOINETTE. Do save up these compliments for your wife, doctor! PAUL (with growing excitement). No compliments, Antoinette! The moment is too precious! ANTOINETTE. Then why don't you spare yourself the trouble? PAUL. Didn't you feel it, the very moment you came in, Antoinette; I could not keep away from you. ANTOINETTE. Quite flattering! PAUL. Antoinette! Now you must listen to me to the very end. ANTOINETTE. Goodness! What do you expect of me? PAUL. Or you should not have come! ANTOINETTE. Why in the world _did_ I do it? PAUL (fervently, but in an undertone). Antoinette! You are so wonderful! More wonderful than I have ever seen you before!