[Wipes his eyes.] After all he must have loved you
very dearly, Laura. I never kept such things!
LAURA. I believe he used to love me, but time--time changes so many
things.
PASTOR. What is that big paper? The receipt for a grave! Yes,
better the grave than the lunatic asylum! Laura, tell me, are you
blameless in all this?
LAURA. I? Why should I be to blame because a man goes out of his
mind?
PASTOR. Well, well, I shan't say anything. After all, blood is
thicker than water.
LAURA. What do you dare to intimate?
PASTOR [Looking at her penetratingly]. Now, listen!
LAURA. Yes?
PASTOR. You can hardly deny that it suits you pretty well to be
able to educate your child as you wish?
LAURA. I don't understand.
PASTOR. How I admire you!
LAURA. Me? H'm!
PASTOR. And I am to become the guardian of that free-thinker! Do
you know I have always looked on him as a weed in our garden.
[Laura gives a short laugh, and then becomes suddenly serious.]
LAURA. And you dare say that to me--his wife?
PASTOR. You are strong, Laura, incredibly strong. You are like a
fox in a trap, you would rather gnaw off your own leg than let
yourself be caught! Like a master thief--no accomplice, not even
your own conscience. Look at yourself in the glass! You dare not!
LAURA. I never use a looking glass!
PASTOR. No, you dare not! Let me look at your hand. Not a tell-tale
blood stain, not a trace of insidious poison! A little innocent
murder that the law cannot reach, an unconscious crime--
unconscious! What a splendid idea! Do you hear how he is working up
there? Take care! If that man gets loose he will make short work of
you.
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