Mrs Buchner.
I don’t know. I myself don’t know.
William.
Now you have lulled me to rest, weakened my conscience—and now I have been half mad with happiness—I have tasted—lived through moments! and others besides. The most frightful battle of my life, and now you demand—now one must consider—perhaps, yes, perhaps—
Mrs Buchner.
William! I honour you!—I know that you would make any sacrifice. But Ida!—If it should be too late for her—if it were to be her ruin!
William.
Why couldn’t you believe me? You don’t know what that cost me; now I have built it up by painful steps—step by step—so painfully! This place lay far behind me—I was almost saved. Now to pull it all down. Why need you have let it go so far? Why?—
Mrs Buchner (with tears).