PAUL (excited). Just look into your face, Antoinette, the few moments that remain! Stamp upon my mind how much I have lost! Look into your eyes, just once more! Into your wonderful eyes! ANTOINETTE (jumps up). Don't talk to me in this manner, I say. I haven't deserved it! PAUL (has also risen, seizes her hand). Antoinette, I have found none of the things that I was seeking. I have been miserably deceived! Are you satisfied now? [ANTOINETTE sinks back into her chair, begins to sob spasmodically.] PAUL (wildly). Why aren't you glad? (He strides through the hall.) [ANTOINETTE chokes down her sobs.] PAUL (comes back again, bows down to her). Weep, Antoinette! Weep! I wish I could. (He softly presses a kiss upon her hair). [Silence.] ANTOINETTE (jumps up). I must go! Where is my husband? I must have fresh air! My head! (She looks crazed.) PAUL (takes her arm). Yes, fresh air, Toinette, there we shall feel less constraint. It is fine outside, the snow is falling. Everything is white. Everything is old. Just as both of us have become, Toinette. ANTOINETTE (leaning on him). I am so afraid! So terribly afraid! PAUL (leading her to the door). You will feel better. Snow is soothing. Come and I will tell you about my life. Possibly you will forgive me then, Antoinette? (He looks at her imploringly and extends his hand to her). ANTOINETTE (hesitates a moment, then opening her eyes widely she lays her hand in his). Possibly!... PAUL (happy). Thank you, Toinette! Thank you!... And now come. ANTOINETTE (on his arm, sadly). Where shall we go? PAUL. To the park, Toinette, to the brook, do you remember, to the alders? ANTOINETTE (nods). To the alders, I remember. PAUL. Out into the snow, to seek our childhood. [He slowly leads her out at the right.] ACT III The same hall as on the preceding days. The two corners in the foreground, on the right the fireplace with its chairs, on the left the sofa and other furniture are both separated from the centre and background of the hall by means of a rectangular arrangement of oleanders in pots, thus affording two separate cozy corners, between whose high borders of oleander a somewhat narrow passage leads to the background. A banquet board in the form of a horseshoe, the sides of which run to the rear and are hidden by the oleanders. The centre, forming the head of the board, is plainly visible from the passage. It is almost noon. Dim light, reflected from the snow outside, comes in through the middle window of the back wall, a view of which is afforded through the opening in the centre. The snowflakes flutter down drearily as on the previous day. The fire now and then casts a red light upon the oleanders, which separate the space surrounding the fireplace from the background. AUNT CLARA, in mourning as before, and LENE, also dressed in black, are busy at the table, which has been set. They move to and fro arranging plates, glasses and bottles. After a moment.