(She draws her veil over her face, kisses him on the mouth and
hurries out. The STRANGER stands where he is for a moment,
surprised and stunned. A loud chord sung by women's voices, rather
like a cry, is heard from the church. The rose window suddenly
grows dark and the tree above the seat is shaken by the wind. The
MOURNERS rise and look at the sky, as if they could see something
terrifying. The STRANGER hurries out after the LADY.)


SCENE II

DOCTOR'S HOUSE

[Courtyard enclosed on three sides by a single-storied house with a
tiled roof. Small windows in all three facades. Right, verandah
with glass doors. Left, climbing roses and bee-hives outside the
windows. In the middle of the courtyard a woodpile in the form of a
cupola. A well beside it. The top of a walnut tree is seen above
the central facade of the house. In the corner, right, a garden
gate. By the well a large tortoise. On right, entrance below to a
wine-cellar. An ice-chest and dust-bin. The DOCTOR'S SISTER enters
from the verandah with a telegram.]

SISTER. Now misfortune will fall on your house.

DOCTOR. When has it not, my dear sister?

SISTER. This time. ... Ingeborg's coming and bringing ... guess
whom?