PROFESSOE

All the way home I have been calling the Lord to
account — God forgive me my sin ! But I cannot
grasp it. I cannot grasp why, in my old age, I
should be punished so incomprehensively hard. And
at the very point concerning which I knew that I
have never, never been too easy-going with my chil-
dren's upbringing. In regard to this one point my
conscience is clear: that much I dare say without
any self-righteousness. I have searched and scruti-
nized the conduct of my own life from beginning to
end, but I cannot find the spot. For a spot there
must be — a spot on which I should be able to put
my finger and say: here lies the cause! At some
one spot there must exist a reason why the punish-
ment of the Lord is hitting us so crushingly hard at
this moment. For the visitations of the Lord are
never meaningless.
MRS. BORNEMAN

Then the fault must lie with me, as there have been
two of us to bring up the children,

PROEESSOR

With you.?

MRS. BORNEMAN

Yes,

PROFESSOR

What do you mean anyhow.''

MRS. BORNEMAN

What you would call a good conscience in regard to
that point — I don't have it. But I have neverthe-
less acted in the belief of doing what was right.
76 KAREN BORNEMAN [act iv

PEOFESSOE

But what have you been doing, woman?

MES, BOENEMAN

I knew that Karen was living with Strandgaard in
Paris.
puoFESsoE (^appalled)
You knew —

MES. BOENEMAN

Yes,

PEOEESSOE

You cannot be aware of what you are saying — you
must be ill, Cecilia.
MES. BOENEMAN (shaMug her head)

No, my dear, I am perfectly responsible.
