No, there shall be no harpoon-men. [Smiles to her.] Can you remember the summer when we used to sit like this outside the little peasant hut on the Lake of Taunitz?
[Nods.] On Saturday evenings, yes,—when we had finished our week's work—
PROFESSOR RUBEK. —And taken the train out to the lake—to stay there over Sunday—
[With an evil gleam of hatred in her eyes.] It was an episode, Arnold.
[As if not hearing.] Then, too, you used to set birds swimming in the brook. They were water-lilies which you—
They were white swans.
I meant swans, yes. And I remember that I fastened a great furry leaf to one of the swans. It looked like a burdock-leaf—
And then it turned into Lohengrin's boat—with the swan yoked to it.
How fond you were of that game, Irene.
We played it over and over again.