MORITZ--But then is it still enjoyable, Melchior?--The girl’s delight, Melchior, is like the blessèd gods’. The girl represses. Her very nature protects her. She is kept free from any bitterness or regret up to the last moment, and so can see, all at once, heaven itself break over her. She is still fearful of hell in the very instant of discovering and embracing paradise. Her senses are as fresh as the spring that bubbles from pure rock. She lays hold of a cup no earthly breath has yet clouded--a draught of nectar that she takes and swallows even as it flames and flares.... The gratification that the man receives seems to me shallow and flat beside hers! MELCHIOR--Let it seem what it will to you, but keep it to yourself. I don’t like to think about it. CURTAIN SCENE II.--WENDLA’S _room, empty_. MRS. BERGMANN, _her hat on, her shawl round her shoulders, a basket on her arm, enters with beaming face_. MRS. BERGMANN--Wendla! Wendla! WENDLA--[_Appearing, half dressed, at the other door._] What is it, Mother? MRS. BERGMANN--Up already, dear? Well! That’s nice of you. WENDLA--Have you been out already? MRS. BERGMANN--Hurry up now and get dressed! You must go straight down to Ina’s and take this basket to her. WENDLA--[_Finishing dressing during the following._] Have you been at Ina’s? How is Ina feeling? Isn’t she ever going to get better? MRS. BERGMANN--Just think, Wendla: the stork came to her last night and brought her a new little boy! WENDLA--A boy?--A boy?--Oh, that’s grand!--So it was for that she’s been sick so long with influenza! MRS. BERGMANN--A splendid boy! WENDLA--I’ve got to see him, Mother!--So now I’m an aunt for the third time--one niece and two nephews! MRS. BERGMANN--And what fine nephews they are!--That’s just the way of it when one lives so close to the church roof.--It’ll be just two [and a half?] years to-morrow since she went up those steps in her wedding-dress! WENDLA--Were you with her when he brought him, mother? MRS. BERGMANN--He had just that minute flown away again!--Don’t you want to pin a rose on here? [_At the front of her dress._] WENDLA--Why didn’t you get there a little bit sooner, Mother? MRS. BERGMANN--Why, I do believe, almost, that he brought you something too--a brooch or something like that. WENDLA--[_Losing patience._] Oh, it’s really too bad! MRS. BERGMANN--But I tell you that he did bring you a brooch too! WENDLA--I’ve got brooches enough.... MRS. BERGMANN--Why, then be happy, darling. What are you troubled about? WENDLA--I’d like to have known, so much, whether he flew in by the window or down the chimney. MRS. BERGMANN--You must ask Ina about that. [_Laughing._] You must ask Ina about that, dear heart! Ina will tell you all about it exactly. Didn’t Ina spend a whole half-hour talking to him? WENDLA--I’ll ask Ina as soon as I get down there.