Mother! [Looks dazedly at LILIOM, who bows his head dismayed, forlorn. JULIE rises and looks at LILIOM in astonishment. There is a long pause.]
JULIE
[Comes over to them slowly.] What’s the matter here?
LOUISE
[Bewildered, does not take her eyes off LILIOM.] Mother—the man—he hit me—on the hand—hard—I heard the sound of it—but it didn’t hurt—mother—it didn’t hurt—it was like a caress—as if he had just touched my hand tenderly. [She hides behind JULIE. LILIOM sulkily raises his head and looks at JULIE.]
JULIE
[Softly.] Go, my child. Go into the house. Go.
LOUISE
[Going.] But mother—I’m afraid—it sounded so loud—— [Weepingly.] And it didn’t hurt at all—just as if he’d—kissed my hand instead—mother! [She hides her face.]
JULIE