] No, do not interrupt me. These things
will have no consequences as long as I do not wish them to, but if
I should name them, then they would have.
BEERMANN. Then shall I let this suspicion rest upon me?
FRAU BEERMANN. Yes.
BEERMANN. How coldly you speak. If what you suspect were true, you
could not be so indifferent about it.
FRAU BEERMANN. Do the by-laws of your society prescribe that in
cases like these the wife shall be unhappy?
BEERMANN. Imagine! The many years that you and I have lived
together and you had these suspicions right along and never said a
word about them. Why do you speak today?
FRAU BEERMANN. Because you have reached the point where our
friendship for one another may break. Everything I see and hear
from you now hurts me. You speak in a tone of strictness, which
must be unpleasant even to you. For weeks past there has been
nothing around me but lies. What you say to me, all that you say
to the children, and what you preached here publicly last night.
Every word hurts my ears and urges me to contradict you; I am
silent and by doing that I endorse your lies.
BEERMANN. But, Lena ...
FRAU BEERMANN. Finally when your every glance is artificial, each
motion of yours is a pose. Then it is unbearable. Add to that my
anxiety for our children. How shall they still retain faith in us,
if through an accident their eyes are opened? I had remained
silent all this time for their sake and now you are inviting the
whole world to speak.
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