Roses: Four One-Act Plays / Streaks of Light—The Last Visit—Margot—The Far-away Princess
Author: Hermann Sudermann Genre: Literature
Roses: Four One-Act Plays / Streaks of Light—The Last Visit—Margot—The Far-away Princess
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Get the APPRoses: Four One-Act Plays / Streaks of Light-The Last Visit-Margot-The Far-away Princess
Chapter 2 MARGOT
Word Count: 6786
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Released on: 01/12/2017
Y IN
RAC
eling,
von Y
her da
r von
, a se
erv
resen
laid in a lar
RG
r arm-chair. At the narrow side of the table, in the foreground, a low seat. On the right, a sofa, table, and chairs. In the background, a door which, when opened, reveals the clerks working at long tables. To the right, back, another d
o'clock in the evening
wealth and refinement; he wears a short, dark beard, and his hair is slightly gray at the temples. Von Tietz, sitting oppo
ding out a b
et's chat. W
(helping
if I'm distu
el
t work of you. But (looking toward the clock) my office hours are
ars with a bun
el
one sti
na
ing, but a la
el
e have the papers. (Bona
el
speaking. These are only si
Tie
is looking around the
el
n is delivered to Bar
na
err Eb
Tie
me a collec
g (sig
have some
Tie
s like a Terburg.
g (sig
xpect it to
Tie
ctice is cert
el
everer than I--and take great pains to justify their opi
na
ay, Herr
el
Yburg as soon as she comes. (
na
err Ebeling.
Tie
e expecting is
el
I've been the Yburg's
(sittin
lous coincidence. It's on account of
(inter
? What's t
Tie
ly drawn away from all society since your
el
. But then--drop it! Even our old fraternity friendship doesn't
Tie
caped me somehow.
el
e disinterestedly. And it's a good many years sinc
Tie
here's something I wanted to ask you before--only I hadn't the
(in a ha
e
Tie
still l
el
men sit there where you're sitting, women just on the point of divorce--and therefore in need of consol
ursting out
eresting! Ver
el
no harm to keep
Tie
er when I come to see you, I always find those beautiful roses on your ta
el
usly. If I knew who the sende
Tie
ty give you a piece of ad
el
cross the table.) Thank you. But didn't
Tie
n it into your head to live like a hermit, you'd know that, for
el
myself sometimes--only not w
Tie
short--why should I mince matters
g (sta
You're also on
z (conc
stand up a bit
el
f the Yburgs was attracting you. A thing like
Tie
se forward, city-bred girls. With her, at least, one knows what one can cou
g (quo
, as pure as snow,"--thy
Tie
on't deny that, as an official without for
el
have I got t
Tie
ege fraternity have grown so accustomed to ask your help in tim
el
e to go and p
Tie
e to ask you something. See here, what r?le
el
hat'
Tie
in his divorce proc
el
me common talk, I need
Tie
e martyr. And yet, after fifteen years, he b
el
hat question to some one who's
Tie
the case goes, the more persistent are the rumours that he has designs
el
l be here in a few
Tie
you take
rugging his
ell t
Tie
fat, worn out, a roué whose amorous adventures
el
irtuous, young, handsome, desir
Tie
are you ch
el
derstand that you've unwitting
z (stan
if you don'
el
llow, you're ten years younger than I. You're one of your country's yo
Tie
o tell me that. (A
el
me
na
n Yburg
el
he
ified, self-possessed, refined, and betrays a natural, unaffected knowledge of the demands of convention; but hidden behind her assurance, and scarcely noticeable,
at sight o
h
v.
eling, to let her catch a glimpse of th
kissing h
me, dear ladies. (Shak
v.
tz. This is indeed a pleas
Tie
ulein Yburg here. But our friend believes in military prom
v.
l come to see us so
Tie
you. (Bowing to Marg
mpanying him
r fellow. No bad
Tie
f course not
el
you si
v.
t. Yes, my little girl, you may well look about. B
el
er say, has
ly, suddenly
e,
v.
val.) Perhaps Margot may call for me
el
ve me grea
v.
it, and let the carriage bring yo
rg
surance, but a little timidly, none
el
e door, and calls.) Bonath, see to it that Fr?ulei
of B
l, Herr
who is already out of sig
el
g, we've brought ma
Yburg (s
e
el
s granted yest
v.
I k
el
en't you
v.
on't know how to thank you--for myself and also for my poor, dear c
el
at can
v.
--well, then--s
(aston
's t
v.
strosity of it!
el
ied that the divor
v.
roceedings--Baron von Kanol
el
er than I h
v.
im--von Kanoldt--a man in the forties--divorced--with grown children--and such a
el
our onl
v.
rally our long friendship-- Of course, my husband doesn't surmise what thi
el
nd--? W
v.
ly in the face, and asked
el
was very clever. Otherwise
v.
t of your mind! You know that we've done everything for the sake of this day!" "Yes, I know all about it--but I won't." "You've been
el
ardon m
v.
err Eb
ding up in hi
what you and Fr?ulein Margot desired--and
v.
come to me. I--I who was brought up so strictly, watched, and carefully tended all my life, kept worlds away from any taint of the unconventional-- And she, too-- No, on that point, I can't reproach myself. And yet--this horror! No, I shall never, never understand it! Ah, and to have to bear it all alone! Oh, yes, I had to do that. My husband, with his long army training, wo
el
and that helpless, stammering question: "What has happened to me?"--Go
v.
o me, "You're right--the bla
el
ence out of the question. Not only because-- Ah, as I've come to feel now, such a calm method of procedure would be impossible. But then I had to keep in mind that a new life--I
v.
been forgiven. I can't under
el
won't
v.
u understand? I've arranged it this way so that you could bring her to her senses. A little
alking up
she won
v.
ch to rehabilitate herself in her own eyes! And she thro
el
she won
v.
u, Herr Ebeling? Yo
(firmly,
then she
v.
! You, too! Yo
el
s, I can assure you. She knows what she is doing. She will not. Very well. I'm not he
v.
anything to expiate must possess Religion. I have read with her only the most carefully selected books, books that could never, never endanger a young girl's imagination. And I have taken special care to see to it that when she was in the company of young people, she should, if possible, be stricter and e
doubtingl
h
v.
finds its way into her heart. I'll vouch for that. She gli
el
to throw her into t
v.
ther way? Do y
g (tor
tainly has s
v.
lie. I think too much of myself for that. And to confess, to tell the man, and have him turn his bac
el
n readily apprec
v.
this heavenly young creature? (Ebeling walks about, growing m
ng (f
ution: she must choose
v.
that be--e
breathing
an, there is
v.
her hands clasped, then stammering.)
el
mine. At first, perhaps, it was no more than a casual fancy--no, an interest, for my inclinations were always invo
v.
hrough it all to keep so q
el
there was absolutely no hope, (bursting out) but if she no longer wants hi
v.
im on to this point, how you'll ever
el
le life. For, in the disgrace that she (pointing to the
v.
yone in socie
el
f propriety. One ought to think it over, to let some time elapse--in short, I don't know! All I can say is that if she doesn't
burg (hes
ng more. She has never seemed to consider you a
el
ger than----, I've certainly acted more like a father to her.
na
home. Have you any furt
el
ath. But tell my man
na
ling. Good evening.
el
hile, the scene has changed not altogether insignificantly. Do yo
v.
good angel for so long. I don't hesitate for a moment to leave her in your
el
can I s
v.
ng before she's aware of it. Only let me beg of you--if you find nothing in what she says t
el
sumption that I have only to comply with
v.
u wou
el
nting to the right.) May I ask you t
v.
delicacy. You've no idea how
el
(Knocking. He opens th
Yburg g
el
me
Serv
She wants to know whether
el
thought you'd no longer be coming, and has only just left. (Margot appears at the
rg
about irresolutely.) Only
el
my dea
rg
mamma's way to
el
home myself. You
rg
m not
viting her
t yo
rg
d a bit first; may I?
el
think that you take so
rg
her visits to you were our principal topic of conversation.
el
al
rg
books! (Sighing.) Ah, Herr Ebeling, everythi
el
e hardest laws are nev
rg
are the laws that we make for ourselves. And all those beaut
parrying
ave presented me with their pi
rg
and yet I should never dare to o
el
u onl
(star
-- (Looks at him que
el
's my for
rg
life. I was a mere child
el
he was
rg
oses! Mamma has told me that yo
g (lig
ent with a gardener.
eemingly
h
el
them to you, F
rg
rdener who keeps you su
g (lau
ou w
rg
onal chair--where the poo
el
s come forth of their own acco
rg
sit down. (Does so.) My secret y
el
life, the law that governs your thoughts and feel
and shrugging
here to give you proo
g (eva
h
rg
eing here isn't the
el
! What
rg
n von--(shudders). See?--I've never once been able to bring his name to my lips. And yet I'm to pass my whole life with
el
ation
rg
to leav
el
ur earnest
ot (
r gloves), for I love my hands. I don't care a bit about my face, but my hands--they're like two friends. I can keep up long conversations with them--esp
el
gh it requires the constant use of the ha
rg
ellow-creatures. I don't wa
el
rd words, Fr
rg
e my fellow-creatur
el
our pa
rg
one Age--and has turned me into a doll, a doll-creature that moves its eyes and says ba when you press its head.--Just watch, Herr Ebeling!--Now haven't I a touching fashion of casti
g (ear
really believe I must
rg
ou had any idea--do you know what you'd think? "Pit
el
dear child. I should only pi
rg
pider. When I listen to my friends--this one loves me, and that one loves me, and this one kept my glove, and that one kiss
el
o you
rg
se a
el
en true of bo
rg
I've the cri
ghing agains
r child, why so-
rg
ee everything as through a veil. The things that the men chatter about sound far, far away--oceans off. I always feel like saying, "Don't trouble about me. Go to that girl over there. She's stupid enough."
el
make some resistance? Why don't you show your mother that you
rg
t! The dog doesn't resist either--but suddenly, some day--when he's at th
el
t only out of love, or because she knew no better. Just ask yourself wh
rg
st the same--you're right--but I
el
kn
rg
it. Severely as I have been watched--and--
el
ainl
rg
which has over and over again enticed even me. Such things are so personal, so secret--one cannot describe them. Oh, I could have done whatever I wished! But I said to myself
el
stand,
rg
poetry--nothing lofty--nothing for which to work--and, worst of all, nothing of which t
ng (m
dear
rg
ut it's like a fire in me. No, worse, much worse! When I think of that frightful man, my heart fairly shrivels up. And yet--I can never get away from it. There's always a terror, a horror in me; and yet there is always an eternal--an eternal hunger. Yes--a restlessness--a search--the whole day long. It's strongest toward twilight. Then I want to go out--out into the wide world--to
s up, mutteri
? The scoundrel!
rg
your sympathy! Now I can go. (Stands up,
el
and down more hotly.) It appears
a short, cu
yself to the four walls. I've been hoping for three long years that you would secretly manage the thing
el
de in me before? Why to
rg
u ever, at any time, give me to understand, even by a glance, that you--you knew anything--about me? Do you think such an attitude gives one courage? Ah, and in my need I've prayed so often, "Dear God, let him see in
el
r child! That wasn't my intention! (Laying his han
rg
. As he tries to free it, she holds it the mo
el
s her head fall heavily upon his shoulder and remains motionless while he caresses her gently. With a sudden impulse she flings him from her, and sinks back in the c
rg
ered--so hungere
ning eagerly
rg
warding
away! G
el
efuse me? And I
ately bursting
h
el
ng. Ebeling draws the low stool to the writing-chair on which she is sitting, sits down upon it, and embraces her.) Margot, my youth, my whole youth that I've squandered and frittered away comes back
(ecstat
ace the worst. I can even marry that man. I shall sen
g (sho
h
rg
nged on him! On him and on Virtue and on Loyalty and on all that stuff with which they've so long tormented me. And the evening before my wedding--then may I--come to you again? Toward twilight! It must be on a Sunday. I'll arrange for that, so we can be alone. Ah,
el
now, m
rg
herself before him.) Oh, I know--I'm disgraced--I'm not worthy of anything better--; but I needn't have had to endure such scorn and contempt! (Ebeling rises, looks
lling himself
.) I asked your mother's consent to my marrying you to-day. There,
rg
ust I? Let me suggest one of my friends--a dear--a pretty girl--with white teeth. Why take it to heart? It hurts for the moment--but one easily forgets. Such girls as I deserve nothing
ushing away
roses done to
rg
you. I, too, ma
(sprin
ou who all th
rg
Herr Ebeling.
el
fter her. His voice is heard.) Stay here! Stay here! Come in here! (He rea
rg
t of me? I'll c
el
ags her to the
rg
me a
el
re! That woman dragged my name in the gutter. Will you do the same? Answer me
lowly and
ch when there's no longer a p
el
to pieces.) Let us go to your parents. We'll arrange with them what's best to b
rg
No! When I come, I'll come with a free step. I'll be able to look every man in the face! But I must find out fir
ng (m
your han
(doin
nd ugly. (Ebeling kisses her hands and presses
rt
Chapter End
