The vision, apparent to Hamlet, was not visible to the Queen. She only saw the sudden change that had come to her son, and the rapt look on his face.
“Alas, he’s mad!” she sighed.
“Do you not come your tardy son to chide?” continued Hamlet, still in the same hushed voice, “who, lost in time and passion, lets go by the important acting of thy dread command? Oh, say!”
The Ghost replied that his visit was indeed to whet his son’s almost blunted purpose. But now he bade Hamlet note how startled and amazed the Queen was, and told him to speak to her and soothe her.
“How is it with you, lady?” said Hamlet absently.
“Alas! how is it with you?” retorted the Queen, for to her it seemed that Hamlet was looking at vacancy, and holding converse with the empty air. “Whereon do you look?”
“On him—on him! Look you, how pale he glares!... Do you see nothing there?”
“Nothing at all; yet all that is, I see.”
“Nor did you nothing hear?”
“No, nothing but ourselves.”