a, whose back is turned, goes on as the two
women enter._

RHODA.

I deserve to suffer, but it will always be sweet to me that in my need
you defended me, and gave me back my courage.

_Michaelis goes to Mrs. Beeler; she gives him her left hand as at
first._

MRS. BEELER.

My poor friend!

_Martha, resigning the chair to Rhoda, goes out. Mrs. Beeler looks
up at Rhoda anxiously._

What were you saying when I came in?

_As Rhoda does not answer, she turns to Michaelis_.

Something about your defending her.--Against what?

MICHAELIS.

Nothing. Her nature is its own defence.

MRS. BEELER.

_Caressing her._

Ah, no! She needs help. She cannot bear it that this disaster has come,
through her. It has made her morbid. She says things about herself,
that make me tremble. Has she spoken to you--about herself?

MICHAELIS.

She has laid her heart bare to me.

MRS. BEELER.

That is good. Young people, when they are generous, always lay disaster
at their own door.

_She kisses Rhoda. The girl goes into the porch, where she lingers
a moment, then disappears. Mrs. Beeler sinks back in her chair
again, overtaken by despondency._

Isn't it strange that I should be lying here again, and all those poor
people waking up into a new day that is no new day at all, but the old
weary day they have known so long? Isn't it strange, and sad?

MICHAELIS.

I ask you not to lose hope.

MRS. BEELER.

_Rousing from her dejection into vague excitement._

You ask me that?--Is there--any hope? Oh, don't deceive me--now! I
couldn't bear it now!--Is there any hope?

MICHAELIS.

A half-hour ago I thought there was none. But now I say, have hope.

MRS. BEELER.

_Eagerly._

Do you? Do you? Oh, I wonder--I wonder if that could be the meaning--?

MICHAELIS.

The meaning--?

MRS. BEELER.

Of something I felt, just now, as I sat there in my room by the open
window.

MICHAELIS.

What was it?

MRS. BEELER.

I--I don't know how to describe it.--It was like a new sweetness in the
air.

_She looks out at the open window, where the spring breeze lightly
wafts the curtains._

MICHAELIS.

The lilacs have opened during the night.

MRS. BEELER.

It was not the lilacs.--I get it now again, in this room.

_She looks toward the lilies and shakes her head._

No, it is not the lilies either. If it were anyone else, I should be
ashamed to say what I thin