HOFFMANN
[Overwhelming the doctor with excessive courtesy.] Good morning. I am extremely grateful to you …
[Both withdraw through the middle door.
HELEN enters. Her handkerchief is pressed to her mouth; she is sobbing, beside herself, and lets herself fall on the sofa in the foreground to the left. After a few moments, HOFFMANN reenters, his hands full of newspapers.
HOFFMANN
Why, what is that? Tell me, sister, are things to go on this way much longer? Since I came here not a day has passed on which I haven't seen you cry.
HELEN
Oh!—what do you know? If you had any sense for such things you'd be surprised that you ever saw me when I didn't cry!
HOFFMANN
That isn't clear to me.