[Present: Herr Holthoff, Frau Holthoff, Doctor Haenle, Lassalle and Helene, seated or walking about and talking leisurely. Surroundings beautiful and an air of peace pervades the place.]
Doctor Haenle. These early Fall days are the finest of the year in the mountains.
Helene. Yes: for then the guests have mostly gone.
Lassalle. Just as the church is never quite so sacred as when the priest is not there!
Frau Holthoff. You mean the priest and congregation?
Lassalle. Certainly, they go together. A priest apart from his people is simply a man.
Helene. Ferdinand loves the Church!
Lassalle. You should say a church, my lady fair!
Helene. Yes, a church—this is the fourth time we have met. Two of the other times were in a church.
Lassalle. [Ecstatically] Yes, in the dim, cool, religious light of a church, vacant save for us two—I should say for us one!