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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 07
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ACT III
The PRINCESS' room. Attractive, cozy apartment. An open window to the right. Doors centre, right and left. A cupboard, a table.
SCENE I
PRINCESS WILHELMINE leans against the window-casing, deep in thought. SONNSFELD sits on the left side of the room, knitting a child's stocking.
WILHELMINE (aside).
Hour after hour passes! What will the Prince think of me? Or can he have learned my fate already?
SONNSFELD
Did Your Highness speak?
WILHELMINE
No, I—I merely sighed.
SONNSFELD
It seemed as if you were talking to yourself. Don't be too melancholy. You'll soon learn the Bible verses and I'll relieve you of most of the knitting.
WILHELMINE
You are too good—you are kinder to me than I have deserved of you today. That work is tiring you—give it to me.
SONNSFELD
No, let me have it. You take the other one that is started. In this way we will gain time to rest later.
WILHELMINE (listening toward the door).
And we aren't even allowed a word with each other in freedom.
SONNSFELD (rises and looks toward the door).
It is cruel to let soldiers see a Princess humiliated to the extent of knitting stockings.
WILHELMINE
Why complain? It is—of itself, quite nicely domestic. [She knits.]
SONNSFELD
What would the Prince of Baireuth say if he could see you now?
WILHELMINE
The Prince? What made you think of the Prince?
SONNSFELD
You cannot deny that his attentions to you might be called almost—tender—
WILHELMINE
Almost—
SONNSFELD
Such eyes! Such burning glances! I am very much mistaken or it was Your Royal brother's intention, in sending this young Prince to you, to send you at the same time the most ardent lover under the sun.
WILHELMINE
Lovers hold more with the moon.
SONNSFELD
And he shows so great an admiration for you that I am again mistaken if our sentry outside the door there has not already in his pocket a billet-doux addressed to Your Highness—a billet-doux written by the Prince.
WILHELMINE
Sonnsfeld! What power of combination!
SONNSFELD
Almost worthy of a Seckendorf, isn't it? I'll question the man, in any case.
WILHELMINE
Are you crazy?
SONNSFELD (at the door).
Hey, there, grenadier!
ECKHOF (comes in).
At your service, madam. SONNSFELD. Have you a letter for us?
ECKHOF
Please Your Honor, yes.
SONNSFELD (to the PRINCESS).
There you are! [To ECKHOF.] From the Prince of Baireuth?
