A splendid story, and cleverly told! I am heartily glad that you are with us, dear Adelaide. Now, at any rate, we shall talk about something else at table besides this everlasting politics! H'm! The professor has not come today. He never used to miss our coffee-hour.
[Pause; ADELAIDE and IDA look at each other. IDA sighs.]
ADELAIDE.
Perhaps he has work to do.
IDA.
Or he is vexed with us because I am going to the fête tonight.
COLONEL (irritably).
Nonsense, you are not his wife nor even openly his fiancée. You are in your father's house and belong in my circle.—H'm! I see he treasures it up against me that I did some plain speaking the other day. I think I was a little impatient.
ADELAIDE (nodding her head).
Yes, a little, I hear.