HELEN
Oh!--what do _you_ know? If you had any sense for such things you'd be
surprised that you ever saw me when I didn't cry!
HOFFMANN
That isn't clear to me.
HELEN
Oh, but it is to me!
HOFFMANN
Look here, something must have happened!
HELEN
[_Jumps up and stamps her foot._] Ugh ... but I won't bear it any longer
... it's got to stop! I won't endure such things any more! I don't see
why ... I ...
[_Her sobs choke her._
HOFFMANN
Won't you tell me at least what the trouble is, so that I ...
HELEN
[_Bursting out with renewed passion._] I don't care what happens to me!
Nothing worse _could_. I've got a drunkard for a father, a beast--with
whom his ... his own daughter isn't safe.--An adulterous step-mother who
wants to turn me over to her lover ... And this whole life.--No, I don't
see that anyone can force me to be bad in spite of myself. I'm going
away! I'll run away! And if the people here won't let me go, then ...
rope, knife, gun ... I don't care! I don't want to take to drinking
brandy like my sister.
HOFFMANN
[_Frightened, grasps her arm._] Nellie, keep still, I tell you; keep
still about that.
HELEN
I don't care; I don't care one bit! I .
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