Sophie. Oh, that's nothing. It happens every day. Just a fainting fit.
Van Elst. What a life! What a life! Why don't you do something? She can't be allowed to lie there that way.
Sophie. Just a minute. [She seizes Louise by the waist and lifts her from the floor. Van Elst assists her.]
Sophie. Nothing to worry about [arranging Louise's clothes]. Now you lie here and you'll be quite all right in a very short while. She gets that way quite frequently.
Van Elst [sinks into a chair]. This is frightful.
Sophie [confidentially]. Madam drinks heavily in the afternoons and in the evening, too, when the master is here. Yes, and then they sing together and madam plays on that thing there. [Points to the harp.] It's very nice sometimes.
Van Elst. Who is the master?
Sophie. I don't know, sir. But that's what I've been told to call him.
Van Elst. Are they happy together? Or do they sometimes quarrel?
Sophie. I don't know. I don't think so, for he's very good and likes her very much.