. Very well, I will go and see Helene's father. Men may dislike
each other--they may be enemies, but they do not spit on each other. If
they fight, they fight courteously. I will see Helene's father--he will
at least hear me.

FRAU VON DONNIGES. You enter his house, and the servants will throw your
vile body into the street.

LASSALLE. I have written him that I will call.

FRAU VON DONNIGES. Your letter was cast into the garbage unopened.

LASSALLE. [_Stung_] It may be possible, Madame, for you to wear out my
patience.

FRAU VON DONNIGES. You have already succeeded in wearing out mine.

HELENE. [_In agony--wringing her hands_] Hopeless, Ferdinand, you see it
is hopeless!

LASSALLE. [_Aside to Helene_] Her outbreak will pass in a moment.

FRAU VON DONNIGES. You have ruined the reputation of my family--stolen
my child. You, who are known over an empire for your dealings with
women!

HELENE. [_Joining in the fray, in shrill excitement_] False! He did not
steal me--I went to him unasked. You who call yourself my mother, how
dare you traduce me so, you who bore me! I fled from you to save my
life--to escape your tortures, you killed my love. I am Lassalle's,
because I love him. He understands me--you do not. When you abuse him,
you abuse me. When you trample on him, you trample on me. I now choose
life with him in preference to perdition with you. I follow him, I am
his, I glory in him. Now!

[Helene turns to Lassalle in triumph, believing of course that
after she has just avowed herself, they will stand together--he and
she.]

LASSALLE. [_Calmly_] Well spoken, Helene, and now tell me, will you make
a sacrifice--a temporary sacrifice for me?

HELENE. [_Looking straight at him in absolute faith_] Yes, command me!

LASSALLE. Go home, with your--mother!

HELENE. Anything but that.

LASSALLE. Yes, that is what I ask.

HELENE. [_Writhing in awful pain_] You will not ask of me the
impossible.

LASSALLE. No, but this you can do. Your going will soften them. We will
win them. Go with them. Do this for me. I leave you here.

[Backs away, and goes out bowing low and very calm. Helene sinks
into a chair, crushed in spirit, wrenched, mangled.]

HILDA VON DONNIGES. [_Comes forward, and caresses the drooping head of
her sister_] Bear up, Helene, my sister! We are your friends, our home
is yours, no matter what you have done--we forgive it all. Our home is
still yours. Bear up--he is gone--