TEKLA. Come here to Pussy now and get his hair pulled because he is jealous—no, envious is the right word for it!
(Two knocks with a chair are heard from the adjoining room, where
GUSTAV is.)
ADOLPH. No, I don't want to play now. I want to talk seriously.
TEKLA. [Prattling] Mercy me, does he want to talk seriously? Dreadful, how serious he's become! [Takes hold of his head and kisses him] Smile a little—there now!
ADOLPH. [Smiling against his will] Oh, you're the—I might almost think you knew how to use magic!
TEKLA. Well, can't he see now? That's why he shouldn't start any trouble—or I might use my magic to make him invisible!
ADOLPH. [Gets up] Will you sit for me a moment, Tekla? With the side of your face this way, so that I can put a face on my figure.
TEKLA. Of course, I will.
[Turns her head so he can see her in profile.]
ADOLPH. [Gazes hard at her while pretending to work at the figure]
Don't think of me now—but of somebody else.