eed in parting
Paul and me!

AUNT CLARA (in spite of herself). May be not I!

HELLA. _Not you_?... Oh indeed!... Not you!

AUNT CLARA (continuing in her anger). No! Not I! Of course not! Even if
you have deserved it, ten times over!

HELLA (also continues her lead). Not you?... Well, well! So it's some
other woman! (She steps up before AUNT CLARA.) Some other woman is
trying to separate us, Paul and me? Is that it? Yes or no?

AUNT CLARA (frightened). I haven't said a thing. I know nothing about
it.

HELLA (triumphantly). I thought so! And now I grasp the whole
situation!... That accounts for Paul's behavior, this strange behavior!
Well, well! (She walks to and fro excitedly, speaks partly to herself.)
But you shall not succeed! No, no! (Addressing AUNT CLARA again.) You
shall not succeed! We'll just see who knows Paul better, you or I!

AUNT CLARA (very seriously). Madam, I am an old woman, you may believe
me or not, I tell you, don't carry matters too far with Paul!

HELLA (reflecting again). So it was she?... The Polish woman, of
course! Didn't I know it?

AUNT CLARA (almost threatening). Don't carry matters too far! Remember
what I say.

HELLA (with a sudden change). Where is Paul?

AUNT CLARA (anxiously). What is the matter?

HELLA (very calmly and firmly). I must speak to Paul.

AUNT CLARA. Merciful God! Now I see it coming!

HELLA. Yes, I am going away and Paul is going with me. That is the end
of the whole matter. I suppose that is not just exactly what you had
expected.

AUNT CLARA (petrified). And you are going to desert Ellernhof!

HELLA. It will be a long time before the estate sees us again. Prepare
for that. As for the rest, we shall see later.

AUNT CLARA (turns away). Then I might as well order my grave at once,
the sooner the better.

HELLA (with an air of superiority). Don't worry! You will be cared for.

AUNT CLARA (straightening up). Not a soul needs to care for me
henceforth, madam! My way is quite clear to me. It will not be very
long. Look at the men and women on these walls, they all followed this
course. Now I shall emulate their example. What is coming now is no
longer suitable for me. (She slowly steps to the door with head bowed).

HELLA (partly to herself). No, what is coming now is the new world and
new men and women! (She stands and reflects for a moment, then
resolutely.) New men and women! Yes! Yes, we are ready to fight for
that! (She clasps her hands vigorousl