"In a year, in a year, when the nightingale comes----"

Marie.

[_Intensely_.] When the nightingale comes?

Gertrude.

You will be Pastor's wife. [_Laughs_.]

[Marie, _with one braid in her hand, bending back, laughing loudly and forced_.]

Gertrude.

[_In pain_.] Oh, you are pulling my hair----

Marie.

Any one as happy as you should be able to bear a little pain. There! I will braid it into your hair--for you are happy, are you not? Very happy?

Gertrude.

Yes! I am--that is--I would like to be--but George--he is so sad.

Marie.

_George_?

Gertrude.

Yes!

Marie.

[_Lurkingly_.] Perhaps you were right! Perhaps he _does_ love another!

Gertrude.

[_Softly groaning_.] Oh, why did you say that?

Marie.

Because---- No, no--how could he? That was wicked in me, wasn't it? How could he think of another, when he looks at you?

Gertrude.

No, no, Marie, you are right! I told him so myself!

Marie.

[_Slowly and marked_.] And what did he say?

Gertrude.

He?--He said nothing! And then--he cried----

Marie.

[_Triumphantly_.] He cried? George cried? Have you ever seen him do that before?

Gertrude.

No, never!

Marie.

[_To herself_.] He cried----

Gertrude.

And then he said: "What if we should be parted, after all?"

Marie.

If who should be parted--you and he?

Gertrude.

Yes--if he should die----

Marie.

If he--oh, that is what he meant! Oh, well, he just wanted to say something. [_With forced lightness_.]

Gertrude.

Of course he did. But what about the other woman? Oh, I didn't let him see that I cared--and for the time I didn't care, really; but now, when I think of it! My G.o.d!--if it were really so! If I only knew!!!!!!!

Marie.

Of course, he would not tell you!

Gertrude.

Do you think he would tell any one else?

Marie.

Yes, sooner than tell you.