CECILIA (_to Albert and Marie_) Why don't you sit down? ALBERT No, we are going, my dear Cecilia. Let me congratulate you with all my heart--that will be enough for to-day. MARIE You have celebrated regular triumphs, they say? CECILIA Well, it wasn't bad. (_To Amadeus_) Did you get my telegram? AMADEUS Yes, it pleased me tremendously. CECILIA Think of it, children! After the performance I was commanded to appear in the box of His Majesty! ALBERT Commanded...? Invited, I hope you mean! Neither emperor nor king has the right to command you. CECILIA You old anarchist! But what does it matter? One goes to the box nevertheless. And you would have done that, too. ALBERT Why not? One must, if possible, study every form of existence at close quarters. AMADEUS And what did the Emperor have to say? CECILIA He was very complimentary. Had never seen a better Carmen. ALBERT The very next thing he'll order an opera for you from some Spaniard.[5] [5] This refers to a habit of Emperor William's, from whom the Italian composer, Leoncavallo, among others, once received such an order. GOVERNESS (_enters_) The tea will be here in a moment. AMADEUS Now you must get back to bed, Peter. It's late. GOVERNESS (_wants to take the boy away_) PETER No, mamma must take me to bed as when I was a little baby. CECILIA Come on then!--Mercy me, how heavy you have grown. (_Goes out with Peter and the governess_) MARIE My, but she is pretty! AMADEUS Haven't you discovered that before? ALBERT Well, good-by then! AMADEUS Until to-morrow. I shall be expecting you early--between nine and ten. MARIE (_to Amadeus as she is going out_) Don't you regret having to leave her again at once? AMADEUS Duty, my dear Marie.... CECILIA (_returning_) Oh, are you really going?--Good-by then--for a little while! [_Albert and Marie go out._ CECILIA (_going to the fireplace_) Home again! (_She sits down_) AMADEUS (_near the door and speaking rather shyly_) It's a question whether it can please you as much as it does me. CECILIA (_holds out her hand to him_) AMADEUS (_takes her hand and kisses it; then he seats himself_) Tell me all about it. CECILIA What am I to tell? I haven't left anything untold--or hardly anything. AMADEUS Well.... CECILIA Getting home every night--and it was quite late at times, as you know--I sat down and wrote to you. I wish you had been equally explicit. AMADEUS But I have written you every day, too. CECILIA Nevertheless, my dear, it seems to me you must have lots to add. (_With a laugh_) To many things you have referred in a strikingly casual fashion. AMADEUS I might say the same to you. CECILIA No, you can't. My letters have practically been diaries. And that's more than could be said of yours.--Well, Amadeus...? Without frankness the whole situation becomes meaningless, I should say. AMADEUS What is there to be cleared up? CECILIA Is it really all over with Philine? AMADEUS