Antoinette. Do not believe for a moment that you have a right to look down upon me! I shall pick up your gauntlet in the things that really count.
Hella. You? My gauntlet? Ha, ha!
Antoinette. You too are only a woman, just as I am, and although you may rate yourself ever so much higher, you will remain a woman nevertheless!
Hella. Woman or not! I shall show you with whom you have to deal! I shall not retreat and that settles it! Under the law, you shall never get each other. Now show your courage.
Antoinette. I shall show you my courage!
Hella. Dare to do so without the law! Bear the consequences! Suffer yourself to be cast out by all the world! Have them point their fingers at you! That is the absconded wife who is living with a run-away husband! Take that ban upon you! Do you see now? I should. I should scorn the whole world! Can you do the same?
[Antoinette bows her head and is silent.]
Hella (triumphantly). You can't do that! I knew it very well.
Antoinette (composed). What I can and what I cannot do is in the hand of God. That is all that I have to say to you.
Hella. That is all I need to know! I wish you a happy life!