when I bet my sainted husband that I would give birth to a boy.
Hyacinth—And it was a girl?
Dominica—Two, Karl, two at a time. Come, Countess. [She exits at right. Symphorosa and the Countess follow her. Hyacinth and Beatrice look at each other in silence. He smiles triumphantly.]
Beatrice—You have a good heart, Karl, and a good head. [Kisses him on the brow.] There is but one thing I am still afraid of
Hyacinth—In heaven's name, what now?
Beatrice—When she speaks to her son in there . . . won't he have a different opinion about it all?
Hyacinth—There are two reasons why he won't have a different opinion. In the first place, he won't be such a fool as to disagree with his mamma; and in the second place, I mean to be present at the interview. [Starts to go.]
Beatrice—[Hurries after him.] Karl, dear . . . wait. . . . I have been very unfair to you. . . . What can I do to make you forgive me?
Hyacinth—[At the door, right.] All I ask of you is never to fall on my neck again. To-morrow you will write those words in a copy book one hundred times: "Old brooms sometimes sweep clean."
[He exits.]
Beatrice—No manners at all. [Cæsar enters at back.]
