Part 7

_Would be? Is, my dear young lady, is!_--A man of the world, a gentleman, well bred, smiling, enjoying life--who looks out upon mankind from under bushy eyebrows, who knows Nietzsche and Stendhal by heart, and--(_pointing to his shoes_) who isn't down at the heels--a god, in short, worthy of my princess. I know perfectly well that all my life long I shall never do anything but crawl around on the ground like an industrious ant, but I know, too, that the god of my fancy will always take me by the collar when the proper moment comes and pull me up again into the clouds. Yes, up there I'm safe.--And your god, or rather your goddess--what would she look like?

The Princess (_thoughtfully_).

That's not easy to say. My goddess would be--a quiet, peaceful woman who would treasure a secret, little joy like the apple of her eye, who would know nothing of the world except what she wanted to know, and who would have the strength to make her own choice when it pleased her.

Struebel.

But that doesn't seem to me a particularly lofty aspiration, my dear young lady.

The Princess.

Lofty as the heavens, my friend.

Struebel.

My princess would be of a different opinion.

The Princess.

Do you think so?

Struebel.

For that's merely the ideal of every little country girl.

The Princess.

Not her ideal--her daily life which she counts as naught. It is my ideal because I can never attain it.

Struebel.

Oh. I say, my dear young girl! It can't be as bad as that! A young girl like you--so charming and--I don't want to be forward, but if I could only help you a bit!

The Princess.

Have you got to be helping all the time? Before, it was only a cheap lunch, now it's actually----

Struebel.

Yes, yes, I'm an awful donkey, I know, but----

The Princess (_smiling_).

Don't say any more about it, dear friend! I like you that way.

Struebel (_feeling oppressed by her superiority_).

Really you are an awfully strange person! There's something about you that--that--

The Princess.

Well?

Struebel.

I can't exactly define it.--Tell me, weren't you wanting to go into the woods before? It's so--so oppressive in here.

The Princess.

Oppressive? I don't find it so at all--quite the contrary.

Struebel.

No, no--I'm restless. I don't know what--at all events, may I not escort you--? One can chat more freely, one can express himself more openly--if one-- (_Takes a deep breath._)

The Princess (_smiling_).

And you are leaving your far-away princess with such a light heart?

Struebel (_carelessly_).

Oh, she! She won't run away. She'll be sitting there tomorrow again--and the day after, too!

The Princess.

And so that is your great, undying love?

Struebel.

Yes, but when a girl like you comes across one's path----

Frau v. Halldorf.

(_Hurrying in and then drawing back in feigned astonishment._) Oh!

Liddy and Milly (_similarly_).

Oh!

Struebel.

Well, ladies, didn't I tell you that you wouldn't find her? Princesses don't grow along the roadside like weeds!

Frau v. Halldorf.

(_Disregarding him ceremoniously._) The infinite happiness with which this glorious event fills our hearts must excuse in some measure the extraordinary breach of good manners which we are committing in daring to address your Highness. But, as the fortunate subjects of your Highness's most noble fiance, we could not refrain from----

Struebel.

Well, well! What's all this?

Frau v. Halldorf.

--from offering to our eagerly awaited sovereign a slight token of our future loyalty. Liddy! Milly! (Liddy _and_ Milly _come forward, and, with low court bows, offer their bouquets._) My daughters respectfully present these few flowers to the illustrious princess----

Struebel.

I beg your pardon, but who is doing the joking here, you or----?

(Frau v. Brook _enters_. The Princess, _taken unawares, has retreated more and more helplessly toward the door at the left, undecided whether to take flight or remain. She greets the arrival of_ Frau v. Brook _with a happy sigh of relief._)

Frau v. Brook (_severely_).

Pardon me, ladies. Apparently you have not taken the proper steps toward being presented to Her Highness. In matters of this sort one must first apply to me. I may be addressed every morning from eleven to twelve, and I shall be happy to consider your desires.

Frau v. Halldorf (_with dignity_).

I and my children, madame, were aware of the fact that we were acting contrary to the usual procedure; but the impulse of loyal hearts is guided by no rule. I shall be glad to avail myself of your very kind invitation.

(_All three go out with low curtsies to_ The Princess.)

Frau v. Brook.

What forwardness!--But how could you come down without me?--And what is that young man over there doing? Does he belong to those people?

(The Princess _shakes her head_. Struebel, _without a word, goes to get his hat which has been lying on a chair, bows abruptly, and is about to leave._)

The Princess.

Oh, no! That wouldn't be nice. Not that way----

Frau v. Brook (_amazed_).

What?--What!--Why, your Highness----!

The Princess.

Let me be, Eugenie. This young man and I have become far too good friends to part in such an unfriendly, yes, almost hostile, fashion.

Frau v. Brook.

Your Highness, I am _very_ much----

The Princess (_to_ Struebel).

You and I will certainly remember this hour with great pleasure, and I thank you for it with all my heart. If I only had a rose with me so as to give you your dear wish!--Eugenie, haven't we any roses with us?

Frau v. Brook.

Your Highness, I am _very_ much----

The Princess.

(_Examining herself and searching among the vases._) Well, how are we going to manage it?

Struebel.

I most humbly thank--your Highness--for the kind intention.

The Princess.

No, no--wait! (_Her glance falls upon the hat which she is holding in her hand with a sudden thought._) I have it!--But don't think that I'm joking.--And we'll have to do without scissors! (_She tears one of the roses from the hat._) I don't know whether there are just twenty (_Holding out one of the roses to him._) Well?--This rose has the merit of being just as real as the sentiment of which we were speaking before--and just as unfading.

Struebel.

Is this--to be--my punishment? (The Princess _smilingly shakes her head._) Or does your Highness mean by it that only the Unreal never fades?

The Princess.

That's exactly what I mean--because the Unreal must always dwell in the imagination.

Struebel.

So that's it! Just as it is only the _far-away_ princesses who are always near to us.

Frau v. Brook.

Permit me to remark, your Highness that it is _high_ time----

The Princess.

As you see, those who are near must hurry away. (_Offering him the rose again._) Well?

Struebel.

(_Is about to take it, but lets his hand fall._) With the far-away princess there--(_pointing down_) it would have been in harmony, but with the-- (_Shakes his head, then softly and with emotion._) No, thanks--I'd rather not. (_He bows and goes out._)

The Princess.

(_Smiling pensively, throws away the artificial flower._) I'm going to ask my fiance to let me send him a rose.

Frau v. Brook.

Your Highness, I am _very_ much--surprised!

The Princess.

Well, I told you that I wasn't sleepy.

Curtain.

End of Project Gutenberg's Roses: Four One-Act Plays, by Hermann Sudermann