AXEL. No, let me alone. Aren't you ashamed?
BERTHA. What's that?
AXEL [Vexed]. Shame, I said. [Rises.] Are you trying to teach me how to paint?
BERTHA. Why not?
AXEL. Because you have still much to learn from me. But I can learn nothing from you.
BERTHA. It seems to me that the gentleman is not very respectful to his wife. One should bear in mind the respect one owes to—
ABEL. Now you're old-fashioned. What particular respect does a man owe a woman if they are to be equals?
BERTHA [To Abel]. So you think it's all right for a man to be coarse with his wife?
ABEL. Yes, when she is impudent to him.
AXEL. That's right! Tear each other's eyes out!