TEKLA.  But I can do the adding myself.

ADOLPH.  I believe it, but then I am not doing it.

TEKLA.  No. but that’s what you wanted to do.

ADOLPH. [Exhausted, closing his eyes] No, no, no—­don’t speak to me—­you’ll drive me into convulsions.  Keep silent!  Leave me alone!  You mutilate my brain with your clumsy pincers—­you put your claws into my thoughts and tear them to pieces!

(He seems almost unconscious and sits staring straight ahead while his thumbs are bent inward against the palms of his hands.)

TEKLA. [Tenderly] What is it?  Are you sick?

(ADOLPH motions her away.)

TEKLA.  Adolph!

(ADOLPH shakes his head at her.)

TEKLA.  Adolph.

ADOLPH.  Yes.

TEKLA.  Do you admit that you were unjust a moment ago?

ADOLPH.  Yes, yes, yes, yes, I admit!

TEKLA.  And do you ask my pardon?

ADOLPH.  Yes, yes, yes, I ask your pardon—­if you only won’t speak to me!

TEKLA.  Kiss my hand then!

ADOLPH. [Kissing her hand] I’ll kiss your hand—­if you only don’t speak to me!

TEKLA.  And now you had better go out for a breath of fresh air before dinner.

ADOLPH.  Yes, I think I need it.  And then we’ll pack and leave.

TEKLA.  No!

ADOLPH. [On his feet] Why?  There must be a reason.

TEKLA.  The reason is that I have promised to be at the concert to-night.

ADOLPH.  Oh, that’s it!

TEKLA.  Yes, that’s it.  I have promised to attend—­

ADOLPH.  Promised?  Probably you said only that you might go, and that wouldn’t prevent you from saying now that you won’t go.

TEKLA.  No, I am not like you:  I keep my word.

ADOLPH.  Of course, promises should be kept, but we don’t have to live up to every little word we happen to drop.  Perhaps there is somebody who has made you promise to go.

TEKLA.  Yes.

ADOLPH.  Then you can ask to be released from your promise because your husband is sick.

TEKLA, No, I don’t want to do that, and you are not sick enough to be kept from going with me.

ADOLPH.  Why do you always want to drag me along?  Do you feel safer then?

TEKLA.  I don’t know what you mean.

ADOLPH.  That’s what you always say when you know I mean something that—­doesn’t please you.

TEKLA.  So-o!  What is it now that doesn’t please me?

ADOLPH.  Oh, I beg you, don’t begin over again—­Good-bye for a while!

(Goes out through the door in the rear and then turns to the right.)

(TEKLA is left alone.  A moment later GUSTAV enters and goes straight up to the table as if looking for a newspaper.  He pretends not to see TEKLA.)

TEKLA. [Shows agitation, but manages to control herself] Oh, is it you?

GUSTAV.  Yes, it’s me—­I beg your pardon!

TEKLA.  Which way did you come?