d a little in response to ANTOINETTE'S
entreating glance.]

ANTOINETTE. Ask yourself, madam. Who was here earlier, you or I?

HELLA (turns away abruptly). I shall not quarrel with you, I shall
simply show you the door!

PAUL. Well, well. We are standing on _my_ soil now, Hella! Remember
that!

HELLA (infuriated). Oh, I suppose you are insisting upon your rights!

PAUL, Why I simply must. You are forcing me to do so!

HELLA. Very well. I am doing that very thing!

PAUL (clenches his fists). Really now! You will not change your mind?

HELLA. I will not change my mind. I shall not release you. Now do as
you please!

PAUL. You will not release me?

HELLA. No!

PAUL, (beside himself). You!... You!...

ANTOINETTE. Be quiet, dear! No mortal can interfere with us.

HELLA. How affectionate! You probably suppose that you have him
_already_? That I shall simply go and your happiness is complete! Don't
deceive yourself! You shall not enjoy happiness when I am compelled to
battle.

ANTOINETTE. Did I not battle?

HELLA. Your little battle. Simply because you did not happen to get the
man that you wanted! We have had battles of quite other dimensions!

ANTOINETTE. Do not believe for a moment that you have a right to look
down upon me! I shall pick up your gauntlet in the things that really
count.

HELLA. You? My gauntlet? Ha, ha!

ANTOINETTE. You _too_ are only a woman, just as I am, and although you
may rate yourself ever so much higher, you will remain a woman
nevertheless!

HELLA. Woman or not! I shall show you with whom you have to deal! I
shall not retreat and that settles it! Under the law, you shall never
get each other. Now show your courage.

ANTOINETTE. I shall show you my courage!

HELLA. Dare to do so without the law! Bear the consequences! Suffer
yourself to be cast out by all the world! Have them point their fingers
at you! That is the absconded wife who is living with a run-away
husband! Take that ban upon you! Do you see now? _I_ should. I should
scorn the whole world! Can you do the same?

[ANTOINETTE bows her head and is silent.]

HELLA (triumphantly). You can't do that! I knew it very well.

ANTOINETTE (composed). What I can and what I cannot do is in the hand
of God. That is all that I have to say to you.

HELLA. That is all I need to know! I wish you a happy life!

PAUL (has been restraining himself, steps up to HELLA). Hella, one last
word!

HELLA. It has been spo