with my coat of arms on your buttons—­ and I should share with my cook, and be the rival of my own servant.  Oh!  Oh!  Oh!—­You think I am a coward and want to run away!  No, now I’ll stay—­and let the lightning strike!  My father will come home—­will find his chiffonier opened—­the money gone!  Then he’ll ring—­twice for the valet—­and then he’ll send for the sheriff—­and then I shall tell everything!  Everything!  Oh, but it will be good to get an end to it—­if it only be the end!  And then his heart will break, and he dies!—­So there will be an end to all of us—­and all will be quiet—­peace—­eternal rest!—­And then the coat of arms will be shattered on the coffin—­and the count’s line will be wiped out—­but the lackey’s line goes on in the orphan asylum—­wins laurels in the gutter, and ends in jail.

JEAN.  There spoke the royal blood!  Bravo, Miss Julia!  Now you put the miller back in his sack!

[CHRISTINE enters dressed for church and carrying n hymn-book in her hand.]

JULIA. [Hurries up to her and throws herself into her arms ax if seeking protection] Help me, Christine!  Help me against this man!

CHRISTINE. [Unmoved and cold] What kind of performance is this on the Sabbath morning? [Catches sight of the chopping-block] My, what a mess you have made!—­What’s the meaning of all this?  And the way you shout and carry on!

JULIA.  You are a woman, Christine, and you are my friend.  Beware of that scoundrel!

JEAN. [A little shy and embarrassed] While the ladies are discussing I’ll get myself a shave. [Slinks out to the right.]

JULIA.  You must understand me, and you must listen to me.

CHRISTINE.  No, really, I don’t understand this kind of trolloping.  Where are you going in your travelling-dress—­and he with his hat on—­what?—­What?

JULIA.  Listen, Christine, listen, and I’ll tell you everything—­

CHRISTINE.  I don’t want to know anything—­

JULIA.  You must listen to me—­

CHRISTINE.  What is it about?  Is it about this nonsense with Jean?  Well, I don’t care about it at all, for it’s none of my business.  But if you’re planning to get him away with you, we’ll put a stop to that!

JULIA. [Extremely nervous] Please try to be quiet, Christine, and listen to me.  I cannot stay here, and Jean cannot stay here—­and so we must leave—–­

CHRISTINE.  Hm, hm!

JULIA. [Brightening. up] But now I have got an idea, you know.  Suppose all three of us should leave—­go abroad—­go to Switzerland and start a hotel together—­I have money, you know—­and Jean and I could run the whole thing—­and you, I thought, could take charge of the kitchen—­Wouldn’t that be fine!—­Say yes, now!  And come along with us!  Then everything is fixed!—­Oh, say yes!

[She puts her arms around CHRISTINE and pats her.]

CHRISTINE. [Coldly and thoughtfully] Hm, hm!