ANTOINETTE. You were just remarking about the rest, and now you are doing the same thing, forgetting the dead. PAUL. I--forget him? I am thinking of him incessantly! And of his last words, before we parted forever! Do you know what they were, Toinette? ANTOINETTE (subdued). Tell me! PAUL. "Go! Some day you will be sorry!" ... Possibly he was right, the dear old man! Today it kept resounding from his open grave, as the clods and lumps of snow rumbled down on his coffin. "Are you sorry now? Are you sorry now?" ... I have tried to get rid of it, but it refuses to go. It keeps pursuing me and cries into my ears! LASKOWSKI (has approached the two). Well, dearie, how are you? What are you doing? ANTOINETTE (turns around, as if recoiling from something poisonous). Oh, it's you! LASKOWSKI. Who would it be? Ain't it up to me to look after my dearie now and then. Shan't we eat? They are all sitting down. PAUL (has become composed). Your husband is quite right, madam. We are the last. Unfortunately Mrs. Warkentin is not very well. May I request you to play the part of the hostess a bit? ANTOINETTE (distressed). If it must be, Doctor ... PAUL (looks at her). Yes, there is no help for it, madam. (Escorts her through the passage to the table.) LASKOWSKI (following them). And I, old boy. Where am I to go? PAUL (grimly). Wherever you please! The world is wide and there is room for all. (He leads Antoinette around the table to her place.) LASKOWSKI. I guess the shortest way is the best! I'm going to sit right here. (He sits down beside MRS. VON TIEDEMANN, all the rest have also gradually taken their places. The order at the visible central portion of the table is as follows, from left to right: Outside, KUNZE, LASKOWSKI, MRS. VON TIEDEMANN, DIRECTOR MERTENS, MRS. SCHNAASE; opposite these inside, MRS. BOROWSKI, PAUL, ANTOINETTE, MR. VON TIEDEMANN, DR. BODENSTEIN. During the whole of the following scene they are eating and drinking. LENE and FRITZ, in livery, move to and fro, serving. AUNT CLARA comes in and goes out as the occasion demands. She has her seat with those who are hidden and whose voices are only heard at times. At first the conversation remains subdued.)