ir is dishevelled, his collar open, his manner
feverish and distraught. He looks closely at Rhoda, sees she is
sleeping, then paces the floor nervously, gazing out of the window
in the direction of the singing. At length he comes to Rhoda again,
and bends over her, studying her face. She starts up, confused and
terror-stricken, from her doze._

RHODA.

What--what is the matter? Oh, you frightened me so!

_Michaelis turns away without answering._

What has happened? Why are you here?

MICHAELIS.

You had dropped asleep. You are weary.

RHODA.

_Collecting her thoughts with difficulty._

I was dreaming--such a strange dream.

MICHAELIS.

What did you dream?

RHODA.

I thought it was morning; the sun had risen, and--and you were out
there, in the midst of the crowd.

MICHAELIS.

_Excitedly._

Go on! What happened?

RHODA.

I--I can't remember the rest.

MICHAELIS.

_Grasps her arm, speaks low._

You must remember! Did I--succeed?

RHODA.

_Helplessly._

I--it's all a blur in my mind.

MICHAELIS.

_Darkly._

You don't want me to know that, in your dream, I failed.

RHODA.

No, no. That is not so.

_Pause. She speaks with hesitation._

Perhaps this is not the time. Perhaps you are not ready.

MICHAELIS.

What does that matter? _He_ is ready.

_He points at the map._

RHODA.

_Gazing at the map, with mystic conviction._

You will succeed! You must succeed!

_He paces the room. She stops him, pointing toward the hall door._

How is the child?

_He hesitates. She repeats the words anxiously._

How is the child?

_He shakes his head gloomily for answer._

It will get well, I am sure.

MICHAELIS.

If it does not, I am judged.

RHODA.

Oh, don't say that or think it!

MICHAELIS.

I am weighed in the balance and found wanting!

RHODA.

You cannot hang the whole issue and meaning of your life upon so slight
a thread.

MICHAELIS.

The whole issue and meaning of the world hang on threads as slight. If
this one is slight. To the mother it is not slight, nor to the God who
put into her eyes, as she looked at me, all the doubt and question of
the suffering earth.

RHODA.

You must remember that it is only a little child. Its mind is not open.
You cannot influence it--can you?

MICHAELIS.

Once that little life in my hand would have been as clay in the hands
of the potter. If I cannot