[Stands up straight.]
Come what may!
[He rushes toward the door; before he reaches it, another knock is heard; he steps back again horrified and powerless.]
The raging fever has seized me—nothing else. These are the symptoms—chattering of the teeth and chills along the spine. Elderberry-tea—a night or two of perspiration! What has the knocking to do with my fever? Why does not some one open, some one call her in? Why are you all so pale and tongueless? Has some one told a fairy-tale, and are you afraid? My Mary was a living fairy-tale—she is-she is, I mean to say. That Mary could be dead—but she would not give me such pain! She knows that I cannot live without my Mary. Do you hear her giggling outside? Now she will come skipping in and hold her hands over my eyes, as she is accustomed to do, and I must not spoil her fun. Oh, it is—[Attempts to laugh, but sobs.]—a—[Beside himself.]—After all, it has to be! Come in!
[Attempts to go to the door, but with eyes closed sinks into a chair on the left.]
SCENE VIII
ROBERT, WILLIAM, then two men with a covered stretcher, which they put down. The men go away.
STEIN.
Robert!
[Going toward him.]