[Slack and weary.] Oh, on a tedious coasting-voyage to the North, I suppose.
[Looks at him, smiles almost imperceptibly, and whispers.] You should rather go high up into the mountains. As high as ever you can. Higher, higher,—always higher, Arnold.
[With eager expectation.] Are you going up there?
Have you the courage to meet me once again?
[Struggling with himself, uncertainly.] If we could—oh, if only we could—!
Why can we not do what we will? [Looks at him and whispers beseechingly with folded hands.] Come, come, Arnold! Oh, come up to me—!
[MAIA enters, glowing with pleasure, from behind the hotel,
and goes quickly up to the table where they were previously
sitting.]
[Still at the corner of the hotel, without looking around.] Oh, you may say what you please, Rubek, but—[Stops, as she catches sight of IRENE]—Oh, I beg your pardon—I see you have made an acquaintance.
[Curtly.] Renewed an acquaintance. [Rises.] What was it you wanted with me?
I only wanted to say this: you may do whatever you please, but I am not going with you on that disgusting steamboat.