Christine. No, I certainly don’t understand such carryings-on. Where are you going to in your traveling dress? And he’s got his hat on. What’s it all mean?
Julie. Listen to me, Christine; listen to me, then I’ll tell you everything.
Christine. I don’t want to know anything.
Julie. You must listen to me.
Christine. What is it, then? Your tomfoolery with John? Look here; I don’t care anything about that, because it had nothing to do with me, but if you think you’re going to tempt him to elope with you, then we’ll put a very fine spoke in your little wheel.
Julie.[Extremely excited.] Try to be calm, Christine, and listen to me! I can’t stay here, and John can’t stay here, so we must travel.
Christine. Hm, hm!
Julie.[With sudden inspiration.] But, look here. I’ve got an idea now. How about if we all three went—abroad—to Switzerland and started a hotel together? I’ve got money. [She shows it.] You see; and John and I will look after the whole thing, and you, I thought, could take over the kitchen. Isn’t it nice? Just say yes, and come with us, and all is fixed up. Just say yes. [She embraces CHRISTINE and hugs her tenderly.]
Christine.[Cold and contemplative.] Hm, hm!
Julie.[Quicker.] You’ve never been out and traveled, Christine—you must come out in the world and look round; you can have no idea how jolly it is to travel on a railway—to be always seeing new people—new countries. And then we get to Hamburg and take a trip through the Zoological Gardens. What do you think of it? And then we’ll go to the theater and hear the opera—and when we get to Munich we’ve got the museums, and there are Rubenses and Raphaels—pictures by the two great painters, you see. You’ve heard people talk of Munich, where King Ludwig used to live—the king, you know, who went mad—and then we’ll go over his castles—he has castles which are got up just like fairy tales—and it’s not far from there to Switzerland—with the Alps. Ugh! just think of the Alps covered with snow in the middle of summer; and tangerines and laurel trees grow there which are in bloom the whole year round. [JOHN appears on the right, stretching his razor on a strop, which he holds with his teeth and his left hand. He listens with pleasure to her speech, and now and again nods assent.] [Extremely quickly.] And then we take a hotel—and I sit in the bureau while John stands up and receives the visitors—goes out and does business—writes letters. That’s a life, you take it from me; then the train puffs, the omnibus comes, the bells ring in the hotel itself, the bell rings in the restaurant—and then I make out the bills—and I’ll touch them up—you can have no idea how shy travelers are when they’ve got to pay their bill. And you—you’re installed as mistress in the kitchen. Of course, you haven’t yourself got to stand by the fireplace, and you’ve got to have nice pretty dresses when you have to appear before the visitors—and a girl with an appearance like you—no, I’m not flattering you—you can get a husband perhaps some fine day, some rich Englishman; you see, people are so easy to catch. [She commences to speak more slowly.] And then we shall get rich—and we’ll build a villa by Lake Como—of course it rains there now and then, but [in a less tense tone] there’s certain to be a great deal of sun—even though there’s gloomy weather as well—and—then—then we can travel home again—and come back [pause] here—or anywhere else.