o idea of it. His friend says he has
but one lady-love.

ADELAIDE (_eagerly_).

Who is she?

KORB. His newspaper.

ADELAIDE (_relieved_).

Ah, indeed. (_Aloud_.)

One can see by that how many falsehoods people tell. It is good, dear
Korb.

[_Exit_ KORB.]

IDA. What isn't true?

ADELAIDE (_sighing_).

Well, that we women are cleverer than men. We talk just as wisely and
I fear are just as glad to forget our wisdom at the first opportunity.
We are all of us together poor sinners!

IDA.

You can joke about it. You never knew what it was to have your father
and the man you loved oppose each other as enemies.

ADELAIDE.

Do you think so! Well, I once had a good friend who had foolishly
given her heart to a handsome, high-spirited boy. She was a mere child
and it was a very touching relationship: knightly devotion on his part
and tender sighings on hers. Then the young heroine had the misfortune
to become very jealous, and so far forgot poetry and deportment as to
give her heart's chosen knight a box on the ear. It was only a little
box, but it had fateful consequences. The young lady's father had seen
it and demanded an explanation. Then the young knight acted like a
perfect hero. He took all the blame upon himself and told the alarmed
father that he had asked the young lady to kiss him--poor fellow, he
never had the courage for such a thing!--and the blow had been her
answer. A stern man was the father; he treated the lad very harshly.
The hero was sent away from his family and his home, and the heroine
sat lonely in her donjon-tower and mourned her lost one.

IDA.

She ought to have told her father the truth.

ADELAIDE.

Oh, she did. But her confession made matters only worse. Years have
gone by since then, and the knight and his lady are now old people and
have become quite sensible.

IDA (_smiling_).

And, because they are sensible, do they not love each other any
longer?

ADELAIDE.

How the man feels about it, dear child, I cannot tell you exactly. He
wrote the lady a very beautiful letter after the death of her
father--that is all I know about it. But the lady has greater
confidence than you, for she still hopes. (_Earnestly_.) Yes, she
hopes; and even her father permitted that before he died--you see, she
still hopes.

IDA (_embracing her_).

And who is the banished one for whom she still hopes?

ADELAIDE.

Hush, dearest, that is a dark secret. Few persons living know about