THE UNCLE. But _we_ are not blind; we are not.
THE FATHER. Would you like to go into your daughter's room? This misunderstanding must be put an end to.--Would you?
THE GRANDFATHER [_becoming suddenly undecided_]. No, no, not now--not yet.
THE UNCLE. You see, you are not reasonable.
THE GRANDFATHER. One never knows how much a man has been unable to express in his life!... Who made that noise?
THE ELDEST DAUGHTER. It is the lamp flickering, grandfather.
THE GRANDFATHER. It seems to me to be very unsteady--very!
THE DAUGHTER. It is the cold wind troubling it....
THE UNCLE. There is no cold wind, the windows are shut.
THE FATHER. We cannot stay like this in the dark.
THE UNCLE. Why not?--I am quite accustomed to it.
THE FATHER. There is a light in my wife's room.
THE UNCLE. We will take it from there presently, when the doctor has been.
THE FATHER. Well, we can see enough here; there is the light from outside.
THE UNCLE. For my part, I would as soon talk in the dark.
THE GRANDFATHER. It seems to me the clock makes a great deal of noise....
THE ELDEST DAUGHTER. That is because we are not talking any more, grandfather.
THE GRANDFATHER. But why are you all silent?
THE UNCLE. What do you want us to talk about?--You are really very peculiar to-night.
THE GRANDFATHER. Is it very dark in this room?
THE UNCLE. There is not much light. [_Silence._]
THE GRANDFATHER. I do not feel well, Ursula; open the window a little.
THE FATHER. Yes, child; open the window a little. I begin to feel the want of air myself. [_The girl opens the window._]
THE UNCLE. I really believe we have stayed shut up too long.
THE DAUGHTER. Yes, grandfather; it is wide open.
THE GRANDFATHER. One would not have thought it was open; there was not a sound outside.
THE DAUGHTER. No, grandfather; there is not the slightest sound.
THE FATHER. The silence is extraordinary!
THE DAUGHTER. One could hear an angel tread!
THE UNCLE. That is why I do not like the country.
THE GRANDFATHER. I wish I could hear some sound. What o'clock is it, Ursula?
THE DAUGHTER. It will soon be midnight, grandfather. [_Here the Uncle begins to pace up and down the room._]
THE GRANDFATHER. Who is that walking round us like that?
THE UNCLE. Only I! only I! Do not be frightened! I want to walk about a little. [_Silence._]--But I am going to sit down again;--I cannot see where I am going. [_Silence._]