e and her familiar surroundings; but since then
he has sought her forgiveness so perseveringly, and her love so humbly,
that it would take all the obstinacy of a spoilt child to withstand him.
Just as formerly he could think of nothing but his love, so now she will
consider nothing except her self-love; but she is so much the more to
blame than he, as her motives are less good than his. She is like a
child that has woke up too early in the morning; it strikes and kicks at
any one that comes to pet it."

Laura. Mathilde--does it really say that?

Mathilde. Indeed it does.

Laura. Just as you read it?

Mathilde. Look for yourself.

Laura (takes the book and looks at it, then lays it down). It is almost
our own story, word for word. I would give anything to know who has
written it.

Mathilde. It is a mere coincidence--

Laura. No, some wicked wretch has seen something like this--some
creature that is heartless enough to be able to mock at a parent's love;
it must be some one who either is worthless himself or has had worthless
parents!

Mathilde. Why, Laura, how seriously you take it!

Laura. Yes, it irritates me, this libelling of all fidelity. What
is fidelity, if it does not mean that a child should be true to its
parents?

Mathilde. But I was just reading to you about that. (Reads.) "The object
of fidelity changes, as we ourselves change. The child's duty is to be
true to its parents; the married, to one another; the aged, to their
children--"

Laura. Don't read any more! I won't hear any more! Its whole train
of thought offends me. (After a pause.) What a horrid book!
(Indifferently.) What happens to them in the end?

Mathilde (in the same tone). To whom?

Laura. That couple--in the book.

Mathilde (still in an indifferent tone). It doesn't end happily. (A
pause.)

Laura (looking up). Which of them suffers?

Mathilde. Which do you think?

Laura (beginning to sew again). She, I should think--because she is
unhappy already.

Mathilde. You have guessed right. She falls in love.

Laura (astonished). Falls in love?

Mathilde. Yes. Sometime or other, love is awakened in the heart of every
woman; and then, if she cannot love her husband, in the course of time
she will love some one else.

Laura (dismayed). Some one else!

Mathilde. Yes. (A pause.)

Laura. That is horrible! (Begins to sew, then lays her hand down on the
table, then begins to sew again.) And what happens to him?

Mathilde. He