CAPTAIN. Yes, you cannot afford to keep him in the artillery now.
CURT. Perhaps not.
CAPTAIN. You had better get him into some cheap infantry regiment—up in Norrland, or somewhere.
CURT. In Norrland?
CAPTAIN. Yes, or suppose you turned him into something practical at once? If I were in your place, I should get him into some business office—why not? [CURT is silent] In these enlightened times—yah! Alice is so uncommonly silent! Yes, children, this is the seesawing seesaw board of life—one moment high up, looking boldly around, and the next way down, and then upward again, and so on—So much for that—[To ALICE] Did you say anything? [ALICE shakes her head] We may expect company here in a few days.
ALICE. Were you speaking to me?
CAPTAIN. We may expect company in a few days—notable company!
ALICE. Who?
CAPTAIN. Behold—you're interested! Now you can sit there and guess who is coming, and between guesses you may read this letter over again. [Hands her an opened letter.
ALICE. My letter? Opened? Back from the mail?