Grandfather. Am I facing the glass door?
The Daughter. Yes, grandfather.
The Grandfather. There is nobody at the glass door?
The Daughter. No, grandfather; I do not see any one.
The Grandfather. I thought some one was waiting. No one has come?
The Daughter. No one, grandfather.
The Grandfather [to the Uncle and Father]. And your sister has not come?
The Uncle. It is too late; she will not come now. It is not nice of her.
The Father. I'm beginning to be anxious about her. [A noise, as of some one coming into the house.]
The Uncle. She is here! Did you hear?
The Father. Yes; some one has come in at the basement.
The Uncle. It must be our sister. I recognized her step.
The Grandfather. I heard slow footsteps.
The Father. She came in very quietly.
The Uncle. She knows there is an invalid.
The Grandfather. I hear nothing now.
The Uncle. She will come up directly; they will tell her we are here.
The Father. I am glad she has come.
The Uncle. I was sure she would come this evening.
The Grandfather. She is a very long time coming up.
The Uncle. It must be she.
The Father. We are not expecting any other visitors.
The Grandfather. I cannot hear any noise in the basement.
The Father. I will call the servant. We shall know how things stand. [He pulls a bell-rope.]
The Grandfather. I can hear a noise on the stairs already.
The Father. It is the servant coming up.
The Grandfather. To me it sounds as if she were not alone.
The Father. She is coming up slowly....
The Grandfather. I hear your sister's step!
The Father. I can only hear the servant.
The Grandfather. It is your sister! It is your sister! [There is a knock at the little door.]
The Uncle. She is knocking at the door of the back stairs.
The Father. I will go and open it myself. [He opens the little door partly; the Servant remains outside in the opening.] Where are you?
The Servant. Here, sir.
The Grandfather. Your sister is at the door?
The Uncle. I can only see the servant.
The Father. It is only the servant. [To the Servant.] Who was that, that came into the house?
The Servant. Came into the house?
The Father. Yes; some one came in just now?
The Servant. No one came in, sir.
The Grandfather. Who is it sighing like that?
The Uncle. It is the servant; she is out of breath.
The Grandfather. Is she crying?
The Uncle. No; why should she be crying?
The Father [to the Servant]. No one came in just now?
The Servant. No, sir.
The Father. But we heard some one open the door!
The Servant. It was I shutting the door.
The Father. It was open?
The Servant. Yes, sir.
The Father. Why was it open at this time of night?
The Servant. I do not know, sir. I had shut it myself.
The Father. Then who was it that opened it?
The Servant. I do not know, sir. Some one must have gone out after me, sir....
The Father. You must be careful.—Don't push the door; you know what a noise it makes!
The Servant. But, sir, I am not touching the door.
The Father. But you are. You are pushing as if you were trying to get into the room.
The Servant. But, sir, I am three yards away from the door.
The Father. Don't talk so loud....
The Grandfather. Are they putting out the light?
The Eldest Daughter. No, grandfather.
The Grandfather. It seems to me it has grown pitch dark all at once.
The Father [to the Servant]. You can go down again now; but do not make so much noise on the stairs.
The Servant. I did not make any noise on the stairs.
The Father. I tell you that you did make a noise. Go down quietly; you will wake your mistress. And if any one comes now, say that we are not at home.
The Uncle. Yes; say that we are not at home.
The Grandfather [shuddering]. You must not say that!
The Father. ... Except to my sister and the doctor.
The Uncle. When will the doctor come?
The Father. He will not be able to come before midnight. [He shuts the door. A clock is heard striking eleven.]
The Grandfather. She has come in?
The Father. Who?
The Grandfather. The servant.
The Father. No, she has gone downstairs.
The Grandfather. I thought that she was sitting at the table.
The Uncle. The servant?
The Grandfather. Yes.
The Uncle. That would complete one's happiness!
The Grandfather. No one has come into the room?
The Father. No; no one has come in.
The Grandfather. And your sister is not here?
The Uncle. Our sister has not come.
The Grandfather. You want to deceive me.
The Uncle. Deceive you?
The Grandfather. Ursula, tell me the truth, for the love of God!
The Eldest Daughter. Grandfather! Grandfather! what is the matter with you?
The Grandfather. Something has happened! I am sure my daughter is worse!...
The Uncle. Are you dreaming?
The Grandfather. You do not want to tell me!... I can see quite well there is something....
The Uncle. In that case you can see better than we can.
The Grandfather. Ursula, tell me the truth!
The Daughter. But we have told you the truth, grandfather!
The Grandfather. You do not speak in your ordinary voice.
The Father. That is because you frighten her.
The Grandfather. Your voice is changed, too.
The Father. You are going mad! [He and the Uncle make signs to each other to signify the Grandfather has lost his reason.]
The Grandfather. I can hear quite well that you are afraid.