THE OFFICER, [Whispers] It is Agnes.
THE MOTHER. Oh, is that Agnes?—Do you know what they say?—That she is a daughter of the god Indra who has asked leave to descend to the earth in order that she may find out what the conditions of men are—But don't say anything about it.
THE OFFICER. A child of the gods, indeed!
THE MOTHER. [Aloud] My Alfred, I must soon part from you and from the other children—But let me first speak a word to you that bears on all the rest of your life.
THE OFFICER. [Sadly] Speak, mother.
THE MOTHER. Only a word: don't quarrel with God!
THE OFFICER. What do you mean, mother?
THE MOTHER. Don't go around feeling that life has wronged you.
THE OFFICER. But when I am treated unjustly——
THE MOTHER. You are thinking of the time when you were unjustly punished for having taken a penny that later turned up?