Minna Von Barnhelm

There, take my ring; keep it for me, and give me the Major's in the place of it.

FRAN.

Why so?

MIN. (whilst Franziska is fetching the ring).

I scarcely know, myself; but I fancy I see, beforehand, how I may make use of it. Some one is knocking. Give it to me, quickly.

(Puts the ring on.)

It is he.

SCENE VI

Major von Tellheim (in the same coat, but otherwise as Franziska advised), Minna, Franziska

MAJ. T.

Madam, you will excuse the delay.

MIN.

Oh! Major, we will not treat each other in quite such a military fashion. You are here now; and to await a pleasure, is itself a pleasure. Well

(looking at him and smiling)

dear Tellheim, have we not been like children?

MAJ. T.

Yes, Madam; like children, who resist when they ought to obey quietly.

MIN.

We will drive out, dear Major, to see a little of the town, and afterwards to meet my uncle.

MAJ. T.

What!

MIN.

You see, we have not yet had an opportunity of mentioning the most important matters even. He is coming here to-day. It was accident that brought me here without him, a day sooner.

MAJ. T.

Count von Bruchsal! Has he returned?

MIN.

The troubles of the war drove him into Italy: peace has brought him back again. Do not be uneasy, Tellheim; if we formerly feared on his part the greatest obstacle to our union!!!!!

MAJ. T.

To our union!

MIN.

He is now your friend. He has heard too much good of you from too many people, not to become so. He longs to become personally acquainted with the man whom his heiress has chosen. He comes as uncle, as guardian, as father, to give me to you.

MAJ. T.

Ah! dear lady, why did you not read my letter? Why would you not read it?

MIN.

Your letter! Oh! yes, I remember you sent me one. What did you do with that letter, Franziska? Did we, or did we not read it? What was it you wrote to me, dear Tellheim?

MAJ. T.

Nothing but what honour commands me.

MIN.

That is, not to desert an honourable woman who loves you. Certainly that is what honour commands. Indeed, I ought to have read your letter. But what I have not read, I shall hear, shall not I?

MAJ. T.

Yes, you shall hear it.

MIN.

No, I need not even hear it. It speaks for itself. As if you could be guilty of such an unworthy act, as not to take me! Do you know that I should be pointed at for the rest of my life? My countrywomen would talk about me, and say. "That is she, that is the Fraulein von Barnhelm, who fancied that because she was rich could marry the noble Tellheim; as if such men were to be caught with money." That is what they would say, for they are all envious of me. That I am rich, they cannot deny; but they do not wish to acknowledge that I am also a tolerably good girl, who would prove herself worthy of her husband. Is that not so, Tellheim?

MAJ. T.

Yes, yes, Madam, that is like your countrywomen. They will envy you exceedingly a discharged officer, with sullied honour, a cripple, and a beggar.

MIN.

And are you all that? If I mistake not, you told me something of the kind this forenoon. Therein is good and evil mixed. Let us examine each charge more closely. You are discharged? So you say. I thought your regiment was only drafted into another. How did it happen that a man of your merit was not retained?

MAJ. T.

It has happened, as it must happen. The great ones are convinced that a soldier does very little through regard for them, not much more from a sense of duty, but everything for his own advantage. What then can they think they owe him? Peace has made a great many, like myself superfluous to them; and at last we shall all be superfluous.

MIN.