BORGHEIM. Tell me a little about it, Miss Asta.
ASTA. Oh, there are only trifles to tell.
BORGHEIM. Such as—? Well?
ASTA. Such as the time when Alfred had passed his examination—and had distinguished himself. And then, from time, to time, when he got a post in some school or other. Or when he would sit at home working at an article—and would read it aloud to me. And then when it would appear in some magazine.
BORGHEIM. Yes, I can quite see that it must have been a peaceful, delightful life—a brother and sister sharing all their joys. [Shaking his head.] What I cannot understand is that your brother could ever give you up, Asta.
ASTA. [With suppressed emotion.] Alfred married, you know.
BORGHEIM. Was not that very hard for you?
ASTA. Yes, at first. It seemed as though I had utterly lost him all at once.
BORGHEIM. Well, luckily it was not so bad as that.
ASTA. No.