Gustav. And you know I'm jealous of your husband.
Thekla. And now we must part! Forever!
[She goes past him till she approaches the center door.]
Gustav. Quite right, we must part—but before that, we'll say good-by to each other, won't we?
Thekla [uneasily]. No.
Gustav [dogging her]. Yes, we will; yes, we will. We'll say good-by; we will drown our memories in an ecstasy which will be so violent that when we wake up the past will have vanished from our recollection forever. There are ecstasies like that, you know. [He puts his arm around her waist.] You're being dragged down by a sick spirit, who's infecting you with his own consumption. I will breathe new life into you. I will fertilize your genius, so that it will bloom in the autumn like a rose in the spring, I will—
[Two lady visitors appear on the right behind the central door.]
Scene IV.
[The previous characters; the Two Ladies.]
[The ladies appear surprised, point, laugh, and exeunt on the left.]