Particularly secrets of a certain kind.... All twenty, Mr.

Sergeant!

(Holding up both her hands, with open fingers.)

WER.

Hist! hist! girl.

MAJ. T.

What is the meaning of that?

FRAN.

Presto! conjured on to his finger, Mr. Sergeant (as if she was putting a ring on her fingers).

MAJ. T.

What are you talking about?

WER.

Little woman, little woman, don't you understand a joke?

MAJ. T.

Werner, you have not forgotten, I hope, what I have often told you; that one should not jest beyond a certain point with a young woman!

WER.

Upon my life I may have forgotten it! Little woman, I beg!!!!!

FRAN.

Well, if it was a joke, I will forgive you this once.

MAJ. T.

Well, if I must come, Franziska, just see that your mistress reads my letter beforehand? That will spare me the pain of thinking again--of talking again, of things which I would willingly forget. There, give it to her!

(He turns the letter in giving it to her, and sees that it has been opened.) But do I see aright? Why it has been opened.

FRAN.

That may be.

(Looks at it.) True, it is open. Who can have opened it? But really we have not read it, Major; really not. And we do not wish to read it, because the writer is coming himself. Come; and I tell you what, Major! don't come as you are now--in boots, and with such a head. You are excusable, you do not expect us. Come in shoes, and have your hair fresh dressed. You look too soldierlike, too Prussian for me as you are.

MAJ. T.

Thank you, Franziska.

FRAN.

You look as if you had been bivouacking last night.

MAJ. T.

You may have guessed right.

FRAN.

We are going to dress, directly too, and then have dinner. We would willingly ask you to dinner, but your presence might hinder our eating; and observe, we are not so much in love that we have lost our appet.i.tes.

MAJ. T.

I will go. Prepare her somewhat, Franziska, beforehand, that I may not become contemptible in her eyes, and in my own. Come, Werner, you shall dine with me.

WER.

At the table d'hote here in the house? I could not eat a bit there.

MAJ. T.

With me, in my room.

WER.

I will follow you directly. One word first with the little woman.

MAJ. T.

I have no objection to that.

(Exit.)

SCENE XI.

Paul Werner, Franziska

FRAN.

Well, Mr. Sergeant!

WER.

Little woman, if I come again, shall I too come smartened up a bit?

FRAN.

Come as you please: my eyes will find no fault with you. But my ears will have to be so much the more on their guard. Twenty fingers, all full of rings. Ah! ah! Mr. Sergeant!

WER.

No, little woman; that is just what I wished to say to you. I only rattled on a little. There is nothing in it. One ring is quite enough for a man. Hundreds and hundreds of times I have heard the Major say-- "He must be a rascally soldier, who can mislead a young girl." So think I too, little woman. You may trust to that! I must be quick and follow him. A good appet.i.te to you.

(Exit.)

FRAN.

The same to you! I really believe, I like that man!

(Going in, she meets Minna coming out.)

SCENE XII.

Minna, Franziska

MIN.

Has the Major gone already, Franziska? I believe I should have been sufficiently composed again now to have detained him here.

FRAN.

And I will make you still more composed.

MIN.

So much the better! His letter! oh! his letter! Each line spoke the honourable n.o.ble man. Each refusal to accept my hand declared his love for me. I suppose he noticed that we had read his letter. I don't mind that, if he does but come. But are you sure he will come? There only seems to me to be a little too much pride in his conduct. For not to be willing to be indebted for his good fortune, even to the woman he loves, is pride, unpardonable pride! If he shows me too much of this, Franziska!!!!!