Page:Poet Lore, volume 34, 1923.djvu/530

 run up and ask the baron  tell Rudolph to come here right away  that he must take me to Sopote, to the casino ( quickly goes out.)

Burris (Pacing floor thunderingly, pausing before now and then, unable to speak, finally clasping his hands dramatically in a plea to her as she stands with her back to the audience).—Erna, for the love of God see me plead with you for the last time

Bara (Entering breathless)—My lady, the baron has just returned from hunting and will be here directly he

Burris (Breaking in like a thunder clap).—You shall not stir astep! They shall not hitch the horses! I forbid

Erna (Deliberately calm).—We shall go on foot then, but we shall go!

Lena.—Erna, have you lost your reason?

Erna (Flinging off her kimona and taking her evening gown).—Bara!

(Bara hastens to help her, but just as she has got the gown over head,  loses control of himself, snatches the gown and tears it off in two or three strips. He wads it in his hands, dashes it to the floor and stamps upon tt. For one moment all are shocked dumb and motionless.  gazes with bulging eyes, and with her arms still raised in the position they were in when  lifted the gown over her head, she clenches her fists and throws herself on  with an insane screech.)

Erna (Striking him with her fists)—Du, du, Bohmischer.

Burris (Shouting).—Stop, you wretch or (He lifts his arms threateningly but does not touch her.)

(, with a heartrending scream catches at her waist and is about to fall. catches her in his arms and eases her to the floor.)

Burris (Hopelessly)—Erna! (Before losing consciousness she struggles to free herself from his arms.)

Bara.—Christ in heaven have mercy!

( utters an inarticulate wail, and makes a helpless movement of the utterly blind. is groaning audibly.)

Burris.—Help, Bara! Water!

Bara.—My gracious baroness! My dear and only darling, wake up! (In a calm tone of experience in emergency.) We can’t do anything with her here. We must get her to her room, to her lounge. First to loosen the lacing

Lena (Having found her way to the door).—Mary, some water, quick!