That's not easy to say. My goddess would be--a quiet, peaceful woman who would treasure a secret, little joy like the apple of her eye, who would know nothing of the world except what she wanted to know, and who would have the strength to make her own choice when it pleased her.
But that doesn't seem to me a particularly lofty aspiration, my dear young lady.
My princess would be of a different opinion.
For that's merely the ideal of every little country girl.
Not her ideal--her daily life which she counts as naught. It is my ideal because I can never attain it.
Oh. I say, my dear young girl! It can't be as bad as that! A young girl like you--so charming and--I don't want to be forward, but if I could only help you a bit!
Have you got to be helping all the time? Before, it was only a cheap lunch, now it's actually----
Yes, yes, I'm an awful donkey, I know, but----
Don't say any more about it, dear friend! I like you that way.
Strübel (_feeling oppressed by her superiority_).
Really you are an awfully strange person! There's something about you that--that--
I can't exactly define it.--Tell me, weren't you wanting to go into the woods before? It's so--so oppressive in here.
Oppressive? I don't find it so at all--quite the contrary.
No, no--I'm restless. I don't know what--at all events, may I not escort you--? One can chat more freely, one can express himself more openly--if one-- (_Takes a deep breath._)
And you are leaving your far-away princess with such a light heart?
Oh, she! She won't run away. She'll be sitting there tomorrow again--and the day after, too!
Yes, but when a girl like you comes across one's path----
(_Hurrying in and then drawing back in feigned astonishment._) Oh!
Well, ladies, didn't I tell you that you wouldn't find her? Princesses don't grow along the roadside like weeds!
(_Disregarding him ceremoniously._) The infinite happiness with which this glorious event fills our hearts must excuse in some measure the extraordinary breach of good manners which we are committing in daring to address your Highness. But, as the fortunate subjects of your Highness's most noble fiancé, we could not refrain from----
--from offering to our eagerly awaited sovereign a slight token of our future loyalty. Liddy! Milly! (Liddy _and_ Milly _come forward, and, with low court bows, offer their bouquets._) My daughters respectfully present these few flowers to the illustrious princess----