y, suggesting inflexible
resolution.)

PAUL (enters from the right, comes upon AUNT CLARA, who is going out).
What ails you, Auntie? How you do look!

AUNT CLARA (shakes her head). Don't ask me, my boy. I have lived my
life! (She goes out slowly and closes the door.)

PAUL (steps to the fireplace pondering deeply and drops down in a
chair). What did she say?... Lived my life?... A soothing phrase! A
cradle-song! No more pain, no more care! All over!... Lived my life!
(Supports his head on his hand.)

[Short pause.]

HELLA (steps up to PAUL, lays her hand on his shoulder and says
kindly). Paul!

PAUL. And?

HELLA. Be a man, Paul! I beg of you.

PAUL (looks up, with a deep breath). That is just what I intend to do.

HELLA. For two days you have been walking around without saying a word.
That surely cannot continue.

PAUL. That _will_ not continue, I am sure.

HELLA. Why don't you speak? What have I done to you?

PAUL (bitterly). You to me?... Nothing.

HELLA. See here, Paul, I stayed here on your account, longer than I had
intended and than seems justifiable to me.

PAUL. Why did you? I did not ask you again.

HELLA. Quite right. I did it of my own accord. Now don't you think that
counts for more, Paul? (She closely draws up a chair and sits down
facing PAUL.)

PAUL. Up to the day before yesterday _anything_ would have counted with
me. Today no longer, Hella!

HELLA (eagerly). I remained because I kept in mind that it might be
agreeable to you to have me near you. I have given you time to come to
yourself again. I know very well what is going on in you.

PAUL. Hardly!

HELLA. Indeed, Paul, indeed! You have seen the soil of your boyhood
home again. You have buried your father. I understand your crisis
completely.

PAUL. Really! All at once!

HELLA. From the very beginning!

PAUL. I did not realize very much of it!

HELLA (interrupting him). Simply because I thought it would be best to
let you settle that for yourself. That is why I have not interfered;
allowed you to go your own way, these days. (PAUL shrugs his shoulders
and is silent.) Does all this fail to convince you?

PAUL (distressed). Drop that, Hella.

HELLA (excited). What does this mean, Paul! We must have an
understanding!

PAUL. That is no longer possible for us, Hella!

HELLA. It certainly has been, up to the present. How often we have
quarreled in these years, and sailed into each other, and we have
always found o