ship!

WOMAN. [Adroitly.] One must not despise the temporal because the eternal
exists.

FRIENDS. Admirably expressed!

PEHR. Very well, I wish to reward your faith. See--all this gold I give
you!

ALL THREE FRIENDS. Ah! [They upset the table.]

PEHR. But remember, I have told you that gold is nothing but dross.
[Puts hand to mouth and paces back and forth.] O my God! I believe I'm
dying!

WOMAN. What's wrong with you, Alonzo?

PEHR. I've got the toothache--oh, my teeth! You see that the rich man,
also, is exposed to the annoyances of life. [Friends, with gold pieces,
move toward doors.]

PEHR. No, don't leave me alone in my misery--now, when I most need your
company!

FIRST FRIEND. Oh, a little toothache is not dangerous; it will soon
pass!

SECOND FRIEND. Take some cold water in your mouth, then you'll be all
right.

WOMAN. Oh, the men! They are so sensitive to a little pain. You should
see a woman suffer!

PEHR. Ah, don't forsake me! I suffer so terribly!

FIRST FRIEND. I shall never forsake you! [Hand on door.] I'll run for
the dentist.

PEHR. No, stay!

SECOND FRIEND. [Near door.] No; as George's oldest friend it devolves
upon me to--

PEHR. You want to run away from me! Oh, I curse this gold! I curse you,
false friends! [Gold pieces in their hands turn black.]

ALL THREE FRIENDS. He has deceived us--look, look! [All three are
stricken with toothache and begin to moan.] Oh! Oh!

PEHR. [Recovered.] Oh, it's only a little toothache; it will soon
pass.--Take cold water in your mouth, old friend, and then it will
disappear. [Woman faints.] Surely a woman will not faint for such a
little pain! [Friends rush out.] Now run to the dentist and let him draw
all your teeth, foxes! After that you'll not bite any more sheep.

WOMAN. [Coming to.] Alfred! all have forsaken you; but I shall remain
with you.

PEHR. Yes, but why should you? I'm as poor as the poorest; soon the
tax collector will be coming around for the taxes, and he'll seize
everything.

WOMAN. [Snuggles up to him.] Then I want to be at your side to support
you--[seizes his hand and steals ring during following speeches] and
extend to you the hand--

PEHR. [Duped.] You! Can this be true?

WOMAN. True? Look at me!

PEHR. Ah, I have been told that woman is more faithless than man--

WOMAN. She is wiser than man [puts ring on], therefore she is called
faithless. Oh, let me sit, I'm so unstrung! [Pehr leads her to a chair
by the wa