ACT III.
[Easter eve. The music before and thro' this act, Haydn's Sieben Worte. No. 5. Adagio. Scene the same. The curtains are up. The landscape outside is in a grey light. There is a fire in the stove. The doors are closed. Eleonora is seated near the stove with a bunch of crocuses in her hand. Benjamin enters from R.]
ELEONORA. Where have you been all this long time, Benjamin?
BENJAMIN. It hasn't been very long.
ELEONORA. I have wanted you so!
BENJAMIN. Have you? And where have you been, Eleonora?
ELEONORA. I went down street and bought these crocuses, and now I must warm them. They were frozen. Poor dears!
BENJAMIN. Yes. It's so chilly today, there isn't a bit of sunshine.
ELEONORA. The sun is behind the fog. There aren't any clouds, just sea-fog. I can smell the salt in the air.—
BENJAMIN. Did you see any birds out there?