[Offers her hand.]
Thanks for the suggestion. Come out with me now and pick some
syringas.
[Kristin has awakened and goes to her room, right, in a sort of
sleep stupified way.]
JEAN. With Miss Julie?
JULIE. With me.
JEAN. But that wouldn't do--decidedly not.
JULIE. I don't understand you. Is it possible that you fancy that
I--
JEAN. No--not I, but people.
JULIE. What? That I'm in love with my coachman?
JEAN. I am not presumptuous, but we have seen instances--and with
the people nothing is sacred.
JULIE. I believe he is an aristocrat!
JEAN. Yes, I am.
JULIE. But I step down-- --
JEAN. Don't step down, Miss Julie. Listen to me--no one would
believe that you stepped down of your own accord; people always say
that one falls down.
JULIE. I think better of the people than you do. Come--and try
them--come!
[Dares him with a look.]
JEAN. Do you know that you are wonderful?
JULIE. Perhaps. But you are too. Everything is wonderful for that
matter. Life, people--everything. Everything is wreckage, that
drifts over the water until it sinks, sinks. I have the same dream
every now and then and at this moment I am reminded of it. I find
myself seated at the top of a high pillar and I see no possible way
to get down. I grow dizzy when I look down, but down I must. But
I'm not brave enough to throw myself; I cannot hold fast and I long
to fall--but I don't fall. And yet I can find no rest or peace
until I shall come down to earth; and if I came down to earth I
would wish myself down in the ground.
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