ELEONORA. I? Not I! How should I dare to be? I, I? [She goes to the stove, opens it, and takes out several torn pieces of white letter paper and puts them on the dining table.]
BENJAMIN. [Rises and looks at the pieces of paper which Eleonora is putting together.]
ELEONORA [To herself]. That people should be so thoughtless as to leave their secrets in the stove! Whenever I come I always go right to the stove! But I don't do it maliciously—I wouldn't do anything like that, for then I should feel remorse.
BENJAMIN. It is from Peter, who writes and asks Christine to meet him. I have been expecting that for a long time.
ELEONORA [Putting her hands over the bits o f paper]. Oh, you, what have you been expecting? Tell me, you evil minded being, who believes nothing but bad of people. This letter could not mean anything wrong to me, for I know Christine, who is going to be my sister sometime. And that meeting will avert misfortune for brother Elis. Will you promise me to say nothing of this, Benjamin?
BENJAMIN. I don't exactly think I should like to talk much about it!
ELEONORA. People who are suspicious become so unjust. They think they are so wise, and they are so foolish!—But what is all this to me!
BENJAMIN. Yes, why are you so inquisitive?
ELEONORA. You see that is my illness—that I must know all about everything or else I become restless—
BENJAMIN. Know about everything?