As he goes out into the air.  Seelchen comes slipping in again
     with a lighted candle.

Seelchen.  There is still one bed.  This is too hard for you.

Lamond.  Oh! thanks; but that’s all right.

Seelchen.  To please me!

Lamond.  May I ask your name?

Seelchen.  Seelchen.

Lamond.  Little soul, that means—­doesn’t it?  To please you I would sleep with seven German gentlemen.

Seelchen.  Oh! no; it is not necessary.

Lamond. [With. a grave bow] At your service, then.
[He prepares to go]

Seelchen.  Is it very nice in towns, in the World, where you come from?

Lamond.  When I’m there I would be here; but when I’m here I would be there.

Seelchen. [Clasping her hands] That is like me but I am always here.

Lamond.  Ah! yes; there is no one like you in towns.

Seelchen.  In two places one cannot be. [Suddenly] In the towns there are theatres, and there is beautiful fine work, and—­dancing, and—­churches—­and trains—­and all the things in books—­and—­

Lamond.  Misery.

Seelchen.  But there is life.

Lamond.  And there is death.

Seelchen.  To-morrow, when you have climbed—­will you not come back?

Lamond.  No.

Seelchen.  You have all the world; and I have nothing.

Lamond.  Except Felsman, and the mountains.

Seelchen.  It is not good to eat only bread.

Lamond. [Looking at her hard] I would like to eat you!

Seelchen.  But I am not nice; I am full of big wants—­like the cheese with holes.

Lamond.  I shall come again.

Seelchen.  There will be no more hard mountains left to climb.  And if it is not exciting, you do not care.

Lamond.  O wise little soul!

Seelchen.  No.  I am not wise.  In here it is always aching.

Lamond.  For the moon?

Seelchen.  Yes. [Then suddenly] From the big world you will remember?

Lamond. [Taking her hand] There is nothing in the big world so sweet as this.

Seelchen. [Wisely] But there is the big world itself.

Lamond.  May I kiss you, for good-night?

     She puts her face forward; and he kisses her cheek, and,
     suddenly, her lips.  Then as she draws away.

Lamond.  I am sorry, little soul.

Seelchen.  That’s all right!

Lamond. [Taking the candle] Dream well!  Goodnight!

Seelchen. [Softly] Good-night!

Felsman. [Coming in from the air, and eyeing them] It is cold—­it will be fine.