CHRISTINE. Look at the stick and you must laugh. [Pause.]
ELIS [Brightly]. He's gone—he's gone—yes, I can breathe again now, as he won't return until tomorrow. Oh, the relief!
CHRISTINE. Yes, and tomorrow the sun will be shining,—the snow will be gone and the birds will be singing—eve of the resurrection!
ELIS. Yes, tell me more like that—I can see everything you say.
CHRISTINE. If you could but see what is in my heart, if you could see my thoughts and my good intentions, my inmost prayer, Elis—Elis—when I now ask—[Hesitates.]
ELIS. What? Tell me.
CHRISTINE. When I beg you now to—
ELIS [Alarmed]. Tell me—
CHRISTINE. It's a test. Will you look at it as a test?
ELIS. A test? Well then.