Bertha
How wounded, dear? Explain to me what you mean. I will try to understand everything you say. In what way are you wounded?
Richard
[Releases his hand and, taking her head between his hands, bends it back and gazes long into her eyes.] I have a deep, deep wound of doubt in my soul.
Bertha
[Motionless.] Doubt of me?
Richard
Yes.
Bertha
I am yours. [In a whisper.] If I died this moment, I am yours.
Richard
[Still gazing at her and speaking as if to an absent person.] I have wounded my soul for you—a deep wound of doubt which can never be healed. I can never know, never in this world. I do not wish to know or to believe. I do not care. It is not in the darkness of belief that I desire you. But in restless living wounding doubt. To hold you by no bonds, even of love, to be united with you in body and soul in utter nakedness—for this I longed. And now I am tired for a while. Bertha. My wound tires me.
[He stretches himself out wearily along the lounge. Bertha holds his hand still, speaking very softly.]
Bertha
Forget me, Dick. Forget me and love me again as you did the first time. I want my lover. To meet him, to go to him, to give myself to him. You, Dick. O, my strange wild lover, come back to me again!
[She closes her eyes.]
