e veranda as well as from either side of the house. Near the
middle of the stage is a green garden table with chairs to match, and
also a more comfortable armchair. A small iron bench is placed against
a tree at the left._

_Johanna is walking back and forth in the garden when Felix enters,
wearing the uniform of a uhlan._

JOHANNA (_turning about_)

Felix!

FELIX

Yes, it's me.

JOHANNA

How are you?--And how have you been able to get another furlough?

FELIX

Oh, it won't last long.--And how's mamma?

JOHANNA

Doing pretty well the last few days.

FELIX

Do you think she would be scared if I dropped in on her unexpectedly?

JOHANNA

No. But wait a little just the same. She's asleep now. I have just come
from her room.--How long are you going to stay, Felix?

FELIX

To-morrow night I'm off again.

JOHANNA (_staring into a fancied distance_)

Off....

FELIX

Oh, it sounds big! But one doesn't get so very far off--not in any
respect.

JOHANNA

And you have wanted it so badly.... (_Pointing to his uniform_) Now
you've got it. And are you not satisfied?

FELIX

Well, at any rate it is the most sensible thing I have gone into so
far. For now I feel at least that I might achieve something under
certain circumstances.

JOHANNA

I believe you would make good in any profession.

FELIX

I have my doubts whether I could get anywhere as a lawyer or an
engineer. And on the whole I feel a good deal better than ever before.
Often it seems to me as if I hadn't been born at the right time. I
think I should have come into the world while there was still so much
of order left in it, that one could venture all sorts of things one
couldn't possibly venture nowadays.

JOHANNA

Oh, but you are free--you've got place to move.

FELIX

Only within certain limits.

JOHANNA

They are a great deal wider than these at any rate.

FELIX (_looking around with a smile_)

Well, this is not a prison.... Really, the garden has turned out quite
pretty. How bare it looked when we were children.--What's that? A row
of peach trees? That doesn't look bad at all.

JOHANNA

One of Dr. Reumann's ideas.

FELIX

Yes, I should have guessed it.

JOHANNA

Why?

FELIX

Because I can't believe any member of our family capable of such a
useful inspiration. What are his chances anyhow?--I mean in regard to
that professorship at Gratz?

JOHANNA

I don't know anything about it. (_She turns away_)