Mathilde (to Axel). You Jesuit!—You
have no consideration, no mercy; you trample upon
hearts as you would upon the grass that grows in your
path. But you shall not find this so easy as
you think. It is true she is a child—but
I shall go with her! I don’t know you,
and I don’t trust you. (Clenches her fist.) But
I shall watch over her!
[Curtain.]
(Scene.—AXEL’s house, a year
later. The room is arranged almost identically
like that in the first act. Two large portraits
of Laura’s parents, very well executed,
hang in full view. Laura is sitting at the
table, Mathilde on the couch on the right.)
Mathilde (reading aloud from a book). “‘No,’
was the decided answer. Originally it was he
that was to blame, but now it is she. He tore
her from her parents, her home and her familiar surroundings;
but since then he has sought her forgiveness so perseveringly,
and her love so humbly, that it would take all the
obstinacy of a spoilt child to withstand him.
Just as formerly he could think of nothing but his
love, so now she will consider nothing except her
self-love; but she is so much the more to blame than
he, as her motives are less good than his. She
is like a child that has woke up too early in the
morning; it strikes and kicks at any one that comes
to pet it.”
Laura. Mathilde—does it really say
that?
Mathilde. Indeed it does.
Laura. Just as you read it?
Mathilde. Look for yourself.
Laura (takes the book and looks at it, then lays it
down). It is almost our own story, word for word.
I would give anything to know who has written it.
Mathilde. It is a mere coincidence—
Laura. No, some wicked wretch has seen something
like this—some creature that is heartless
enough to be able to mock at a parent’s love;
it must be some one who either is worthless himself
or has had worthless parents!
Mathilde. Why, Laura, how seriously you take
it!
Laura. Yes, it irritates me, this libelling of
all fidelity. What is fidelity, if it does not
mean that a child should be true to its parents?
Mathilde. But I was just reading to you about
that. (Reads.) “The object of fidelity changes,
as we ourselves change. The child’s duty
is to be true to its parents; the married, to one another;
the aged, to their children—”
Laura. Don’t read any more! I won’t
hear any more! Its whole train of thought offends
me. (After a pause.) What a horrid book! (Indifferently.)
What happens to them in the end?
Mathilde (in the same tone). To whom?
Laura. That couple—in the book.
Mathilde (still in an indifferent tone). It doesn’t
end happily.
(A pause.)
Laura (looking up). Which of them suffers?
Mathilde. Which do you think?
