down and was gone before I could stop him. My, my, though, they're beautiful! and if I might make a guess, the Lieutenant--

MARIE.

You may not make a guess.

THERESA.

All right, all right. Oh, I know what I wanted to ask. Does the flag hang well? [Marie looks out, and nods assent.]

THERESA.

The whole town is full of flags and flowers, and the most expensive tapestries are hung out of the windows. One would think it was the King's birthday. And all this fuss is about a stupid Music Festival! What is this Music Festival, Miss Marie? Is it different from a choral festival?

MARIE.

Yes, indeed.

THERESA.

Is it better?

MARIE.

Oh, much better!

THERESA.

Oh, well, if it's better-- [A knock.]

MARIE.

Come in! Enter Max.

THERESA.

Well, now I suppose I can leave the flowers.

[Exit Theresa, laughing.

MARIE.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Max.

MAX.

What on earth do you mean?

MARIE.

Aren't these flowers yours?

MAX.

Good Heavens! I can afford a few pennies for a bunch of violets once in a while, but this-- Oh, no!

MARIE.

Nor yesterday's?

MAX.

No, nor yesterday's. [Marie rings.]

Enter Theresa.

MARIE.

Please throw these flowers away.

THERESA.

What! Throw those beautiful flowers away?

MARIE.

You are right. The pastor would say, "If God's gifts do not please us, we must at least take care that they give pleasure to others." Wouldn't he?

MAX.

Probably he would.

MARIE.

Then you had better take them back to the florist's. Did they come from Zimmerman's? [Theresa nods.] Well, we'll sell them if we can, and give the money to Pastor Heffterdingt for his hospital.

THERESA.

Shall I go now?

MARIE.

After you have made the coffee. I'll serve it myself. [Exit Theresa.] These flowers are an insult! I need not tell you, Max, that I have given no one the shadow of an excuse for such a thing.

MAX.

I'm very sure of that.

MARIE.

And papa was so angry. He simply stormed. And I was quiet because I suspected it was you. If he got hold of the poor fellow, it would go hard with him.

MAX.

Do you think it would be any better if I got hold of him?

MARIE.

What rights have you in the case?

MAX.

Marie! [Takes her hand.]

MARIE.

[Gently disengaging herself.] Oh, Max, please--not that. You know every corner of my heart. But we must think of the proprieties.

MAX.

Proprieties! Oh, pshaw!

MARIE.

Well, you know what a world we live in. Here, every one is afraid of every one else because each depends upon the good opinion of the other. If a few anonymous flowers can make me talked of, how much more--

MAX.

Oh, yes, I know.

MARIE.

[Laying her hand on his shoulder.] Max, you'll speak again to Aunt Frankie, won't you, about the guaranty[1] of your income?

MAX.

I have already.

MARIE.

Well?

MAX.

[Shrugging his shoulders.] As long as she lives, not a penny.

MARIE.

Then there's only one person who can help us.

MAX.

Your father?

MARIE.

No. For Heaven's sake, don't let him hear of it. He might forbid you the house.

MAX.

What has he against me?

MARIE.

You know how he has been since our misfortune. He feels that there is a blot to be wiped out; and especially now, when the whole town echoes with music,--when everything recalls Magda.

MAX.

What if she should come back, some day?

MARIE.

After twelve years? She will never come.

[Weeps.]

MAX.

Marie!

MARIE.

You're right, you're right. I will put it away from me.

MAX.

But who is the one person who can help us?

MARIE.

Why, the pastor!

MAX.

Yes, yes, he might.

MARIE.

He can do everything. He stirs your very heart--as if-- And then he seems like a kind of relation. He should have been my brother-in-law.

MAX.

Yes, but she wouldn't have it so.

MARIE.

Don't speak angrily, Max. She must have made atonement. [A ring.] Oh, perhaps this is he.

MAX.

No, no, I forgot to tell you. Councillor von Keller asked me to bring him here to-day.

MARIE.

What does he want?

MAX.

He wants to interest himself in the missions--no, it's in our home work particularly, I think. I don't know-- Well, at any rate he wants to come to the committee meeting tomorrow.

MARIE.

I'll call father and mother. [Enter Theresa with a card.] Show him in. [Exit Theresa.] Entertain him until I come back. [Gives him her hand.] And we'll talk again about the pastor some other time?