MAID. It must be along toward twelve.
BERTHA. Very well. Then you may go to bed.
MAID. Won't you be afraid to be alone with all these skeletons?
BERTHA. I, afraid?—Hush, some one is coming through the gate—so, good night to you.
MAID. Good night, Madame. Sleep well.
[Goes out. Bertha alone; she puts the work away; throws herself on the couch, arranges lace on her gown, then she jumps up, turns down the lamp to half-light, then returns to couch and pretends to sleep. A pause before Axel enters.]
AXEL. Is any one here? Are you here, Bertha? [Bertha is silent. Axel goes to her.] Are you asleep?
BERTHA. [Softly.] Ah, is it you, my friend? Good evening! I was lying here and fell asleep, and I had such a bad dream.
AXEL. Now you are lying, for I saw you thro' the window from the garden when you took this pose. [Bertha jumps up.]
AXEL [Quietly]. And we don't want any seductive scenes in nightgowns, nor any melodramas. Be calm and listen to what I am going to tell you. [He sits down in the middle of the room.]