Yes, indeed, we read of his doings in the newspaper.  I drove through your fields yesterday.  Your potatoes are not all in yet.  Your steward didn’t get through with the work.

SENDEN.

You Rosenau people are privileged to get through a week earlier than any one else.

ADELAIDE.

On the other hand, we have nothing to do but to farm. (Amicably.)
The neighbors send greetings.

SENDEN.

Thank you.  We must relinquish you now to friends who have more claim on you than we have.  But will you not receive me in the course of the day so that I can ask for the news from home? [ADELAIDE inclines her head.]

SENDEN.

Good-by, Colonel. (To IDA.) My respectful compliments, Miss Berg.

[Exit together with BLUMENBERG.]

IDA (embracing ADELAIDE).

I have you at last.  Now everything will be all right!

ADELAIDE.

What is to be all right?  Is anything not all right?  Back there some one passed me more quickly than usual, and here I see glistening eyes and a furrowed brow. [Kisses her on the eyes.] They shall not ruin your pretty eyes.  And you, honored friend, turn a more friendly countenance to me.

COLONEL.

You must stay with us all winter; it will be the first you have given us in a long time; we shall try to deserve such a favor.

ADELAIDE (seriously).

It is the first one since my father’s death that I have cared to mingle with the world again.  Besides, I have business that calls me here.  You know I came of age this summer, and my legal friend, Judge Schwarz, requires my presence.  Listen, Ida, the servants are unpacking, go and see that things are properly put away. (Aside.) And put a damp cloth over your eyes for people can see that you have been crying. [Exit IDA to the right. ADELAIDE quickly goes up to the COLONEL.] What is the matter with Ida and the professor?

COLONEL.

That would be a long story.  I shall not spoil my pleasure with it now. 
We men are at odds; our views are too opposed.

ADELAIDE.

But were not your views opposed before this, too?  And yet you were on such good terms with Oldendorf!

COLONEL.

They were not so extremely opposed as now.

ADELAIDE.

And which of you has changed his views?

COLONEL.

H’m!  Why, he, of course.  He is led astray in great part by his evil companions.  There are some men, journalists on his paper, and especially there is a certain Bolz.

ADELAIDE (aside).

What’s this I hear?

COLONEL.

But probably you know him yourself.  Why, he comes from your neighborhood.

ADELAIDE.

He is a Rosenau boy.

COLONEL.

I remember.  Your father, the good old general, could not endure him.