HELLA. Yes, I have loved you, Paul, for what you were, the unselfish idealist ... PAUL (bitterly). Oh, indeed! HELLA. Yes, Paul! Do not forget about one thing! I am not one of these petty little women, to whom men are the alpha and omega! If you assumed that, of course you have been mistaken. PAUL. To be sure! And the mistake has cost me my life! HELLA. You knew it beforehand, Paul! PAUL. Because I was blinded! HELLA, And yet I tell you, say what you please, leave me for instance, but you will not find another woman who can satisfy you after you have had me! I know it and will stake my life on it! PAUL. Do you rate yourself so highly? HELLA. I am rating _you_ highly, Paul! PAUL (wavering). Do you mean to say I am ruined for happiness?... Possibly you are right. HELLA. Whoever has once become accustomed to the heights of life, will never again descend. PAUL (repeats to himself). Will never again descend. HELLA. You are too good for a woman of the dead level! See here, Paul, I _have_ at times made life a burden to you, I now and then refused to enter upon many things just because my head was full of ideas, possibly I have been too prone to disregard your emotional nature. PAUL. Hella, do not remind me of that! HELLA. We must come to an understanding, Paul! All of that may be true. And there _shall_ be a change. There _will_ be a change, that much I promise you today, but show me the kindness, pack your things and come with me! Today rather than tomorrow! (She has stepped up to him and places her hands on his shoulders.) PAUL (in the most violent conflict). Hella! Hella! HELLA. Look into my face, Paul! Are you happy here? PAUL (lowers his head). Do not ask me, Hella! HELLA (triumphantly). Then you are not! Didn't I know it? I am proud of you for that, Paul! PAUL (blurting out). Hella, do not exult! I _cannot_ go back again! HELLA (undaunted). Yes you can! Are these people here meant for you? Do you mean to say that you are suited to these peasants? You, with your refined instincts? You would think of degrading yourself consciously! Nobody can do that, you least of all! I tell you once more, you are too good for these rubes! PAUL, (frees himself from her). Give me time till this evening, Hella! Then I will give you a full explanation! HELLA (seizes his hand). Not thirty minutes, Paul! You are to decide at once! As I have you at this moment, I shall possibly never have you again. Pack your trunk and come with me! Have some one manage the estate. We will go back tomorrow morning and begin the new life with the new year. Thank your stars when you are once more out of this stuffy air. It induces thoughts in you that can never make you happy. Say _yes_, Paul, say that we are going! PAUL (has not listened to the last words, listens to what is going on outside). Do you hear, Hella? (He frees himself and goes to the foreground. One can hear people singing outside, accompanied by a deep-toned instrument.)