Really? That is something new. How
is that?
Rebecca. When I had passed my twenty-fifth birthday, I thought I
was getting altogether too old for an unmarried girl, so I
resolved to tell a lie and take a year off my age.
Kroll. You--an emancipated woman--cherishing prejudices as to the
marriageable age!
Rebecca. I know it was a silly thing to do--and ridiculous, too.
But every one has some prejudice or another that they cannot get
quite rid of. We are like that.
Kroll. Maybe. But my calculation may be quite correct, all the
same; because Dr. West was up in Finmark for a flying visit the
year before he was appointed.
Rebecca (impetuously). That is not true
Kroll. Isn't it?
Rebecca. No. My mother never mentioned it.
Kroll. Didn't she, really!
Rebecca. No, never. Nor Dr. West, either. Never a word of it.
Kroll. Might that not be because they both had good reason to
jump over a year?--@just as you have done yourself, Miss West?
Perhaps it is a family failing.
Rebecca (walking about, wringing her hands). It is impossible. It
is only something you want to make me believe. Nothing in the
world will make me believe it. It cannot be true! Nothing in the
world--
Kroll (getting up). But, my dear Miss West, why in Heaven's name
do you take it in this way? You quite alarm me! What am I to
believe and think?
Rebecca. Nothing. Neither believe nor think anything.
Pages:
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99