NSKI. Yes, mademoiselle, I am a Pole.

PAUL. A Pole, and attended the gymnasium in Berlin!

GLYSZINSKI. Unfortunately I got away too early. Nevertheless I shall
remain what I always was.

AUNT CLARA. Do you remember Laskowski, Paul?

PAUL. From Klonowken?

AUNT CLARA. Yes, quite nearby! He owns the neighboring estate.

PAUL. Why, of course! He is even a relative in a sense. What makes you
think of him. Aunt Clara?

AUNT CLARA. It just occurred to me, simply because he is also a
Polander and gets along with his German so well.

PAUL. Why, I even attended school with him for a while. He _was_ a fox
if there ever was one.

AUNT CLARA (in a searching manner). Aren't you glad, Paul, that your
father held on to Ellernhof for you?

PAUL. How so? Why?

AUNT CLARA. He might have sold the estate to Laskowski or some one
else.

HELLA (who has been leaning back and playing the part of the silent but
attentive listener, takes a hand). I cannot see in what sense that
would have been a misfortune.

PAUL. If Ellernhof had gone over into the hands of strangers? You are
simply judging from your point of view. Then I should never have seen
my childhood home again.

HELLA (forcibly). But what are we to do with it. We have it on our
hands and can't help but be glad to get rid of it at any price.

AUNT CLARA (with growing uneasiness, to PAUL). What is your wife
saying? You intend to go away, intend to sell?

HELLA. Why, certainly! As soon as possible! What else is there for us
to do?

AUNT CLARA. You intend to sell the estate that has been in the family
over two hundred years?

HELLA. That can be of no possible advantage to us. Do you expect us to
settle down here? Do you suppose I have the least inclination to
degenerate out here in the country?

AUNT CLARA. And you, Paul, what have you to say to that?

HELLA. Paul fully agrees with me.

PAUL (gets up, distressed). Don't torment me with that now, good
people, I beg of you. I am really not in the proper mood. There is
certainly no hurry about that matter.

AUNT CLARA. Don't you realize that you will commit a sin, if you sell
the fine estate that your father maintained for you?

HELLA. Oh sin! Sin! Do you not, from your point of view, consider the
manner in which Paul's father behaved toward us a sin? I am unable to
see any difference. There was no compunction about locking the door
upon us. I was treated as a nondescript, bringing disgrace to the
family! As if