Teja.

Here hast thou thy child! (_Exeunt_ Amalaberga _and_ Balthilda.)

_FIFTEENTH SCENE_.

THE SAME. _Except_ AMALABERGA _and_ BALTHILDA.

Teja.

(_Stares after them, rouses himself, and perceives the Bishop_.) Bishop, I treated thee basely this evening. Forgive me and have my thanks, for surely I also know why the Goth loveth death.... (_Grasps his sword_.) Now be ye ready? Have the farewells been said?

Theodemir.

Sire, we have disobeyed thy command. Which of our wives betrayed it, and which of us told it, that cannot be determined. Enough, they all know it.

Teja.

And then have cried ah and woe?

Theodemir.

Sire, they have silently kissed the blessing of death upon our brows.

Teja (_exclaims half to himself_).

They also! (_Aloud_.) Truly we are a nation of kings. It is our misfortune. So come! (_He strides to the background. The others follow.

Amid the noisy cries of the people greeting the King, the curtain falls_.)

II

FRITZCHEN

A DRAMA IN ONE ACT

PERSONS

Herr von Drosse, Major (retired), Lord of the Manor.

Helene, his wife.

Fritz, their son.

Agnes, niece of Frau von Drosse.

Von Hallerpfort, lieutenant.

Stephan, overseer.

Wilhelm, servant.

FRITZCHEN

_The action takes place on Herr von Drosse's estate. Time, the present_.

_The scene represents a drawing-room on the ground floor. In the rear are wide gla.s.s doors which stand open, and permit a view of the terrace and splendid park lying beyond. Windows to the right and left. On the right side, a sofa with table and chairs; on the left, a secretary with writing materials. Handsome old-fashioned decorations, pictures of battles, portraits in oval frames, racing prints, etc. The terrace is sheltered by a broad awning which slightly subdues the glare of the bright summer afternoon._

_FIRST SCENE_.

Wilhelm (_servant over sixty, in half livery, is engaged in arranging the samovar for the afternoon coffee_). Agnes (_extremely slender, nervous, with traces of mental distress--twenty years of age--blonde hair smoothed on the temples, light muslin gown, a garden hat in her hand--enters from the terrace_).

Agnes.

Wilhelm, has the postman been here?

Wilhelm (_sighing_).

Yes, yes, he was here.

Agnes.

Where are the things?

Wilhelm.

They are on the table, Fraulein.

Agnes.

(_Goes quickly to the table and with feverish haste looks through the small pile of newspapers and letters lying there_.) Again, nothing!

Wilhelm.

Yes, indeed--and this is the seventh day. Ah, it is really heart-breaking.

Agnes.

Are your master and mistress still taking their afternoon nap?

Wilhelm.

I have just heard the Major. He will be here directly--there he is now!