Thekla.[Half joking, she moves away behind the table and goes behind the sofa.] Don’t talk such nonsense.
Adolf. You be careful! It’s a dangerous game, to consider everyone else an ass and only oneself smart.
Thekla. Everybody does that more or less.
Adolf. And I’m just beginning to suspect that that husband of yours wasn’t such an a$s after all.
Thekla. Good God! I really- believe you’re beginning to have sympathy—for him?
Adolf. Yes, almost.
Thekla. Well, look here. Wouldn’t you like to make his acquaintance, so as to pour out your heart to him if you want to? What a charming picture! But I, too, begin to feel myself drawn to him somehow. I’m tired of being the nurse of a baby like you. [She goes a few steps forward and passes by ADOLF on the right.] He at any rate was a man, evea though he did make the mistake of being my husband.
Adolf. Hush, hush! But don’t talk so loud, we might be heard.
Thekla. What does it matter, so long as we’re taken for man and wife?
Adolf. So this is what it comes to, then? You are now beginning to be keen both on manly men and pure boys.