. Well, what do you think of Aunt Clara!...

AUNT CLARA. It's only on account of the neighbors. Now that you are
here and they live right next to us, if we should not even invite them
to the funeral....

PAUL (absent-minded). Yes, yes, quite right!

AUNT CLARA (searchingly). For you'll have to observe a bit of
neighborliness with the estate-owners around here, my boy ...

PAUL (warding off). Oh, Aunt Clara, here's the same old question again!

AUNT CLARA. Now really, Paul, don't you know yet what you are going to
do, whether you intend to remain?

PAUL (very seriously). Aunt Clara! I shall _never_ be able to induce
Hella. That is becoming clearer and clearer to me!

AUNT CLARA (bolt upright). If Ellernhof is sold, I shall not survive
it! I have been here thirty-three years! I have carried you all in my
arms, you and your brothers and sisters. All of the rest are dead. You
are still here, Paul. I closed your mother's eyes for her. I witnessed
the death of your father. In all of my days I have known only
Ellernhof. At the cemetery I've selected a place for myself where all
of them are lying. Shall I go away now at the very end? At least, wait
until I am dead!

PAUL (passionately). Don't make it so desperately hard for me, Aunt
Clara!

AUNT CLARA (looking at the walls). Here they all hang on the walls,
those who were once active here ...

PAUL, (follows her eyes). Do you hear? The door-bell. (The door-hell
rings.)

AUNT CLARA. Callers.

PAUL. Callers! Again!

AUNT CLARA. Probably to express their condolences.

PAUL (impatiently). Just at the most inopportune moment!

AUNT CLARA (listening). I shouldn't be surprised if the Laskowskis were
coming!

PAUL (giving a start). Antoinette ...? Why, that ...! And I in my
riding boots! Do see who it is!

AUNT CLARA. Why, of course it is! I can hear him from here ... Shall I
bring them in, Paul?

PAUL, Can't we take them somewhere else?

AUNT CLARA. Where, pray tell? (She goes to the door on the right.)

PAUL (goes to the door on the left, knocks). Hella, open the door! I
want to change my clothes. There are callers.

AUNT CLARA. Why, never mind, you are all right!

PAUL (turns away, resigned to his fate). It wouldn't do any good
anyhow. Hella does not hear me. Go ahead then! Bring them right along.

[AUNT CLARA opens the door at the right and goes out.
Conversation outside becomes audible.]

PAUL (also comes over to the right, seems to be i