_] You should consent to my plan; you should leave this house
and live with us. The baby that is coming needs a mother. Come and be a
mother to it; otherwise--[_passionately moved and sentimentally_]--it
will have no mother. And then: bring a little, oh, only a very little
brightness into my life! Do that! Oh, do that!
[_He is about to lean his head upon her breast. She jumps up,
indignant. In her expression are revealed contempt, surprise,
loathing and hatred._
HELEN
Oh, but you are, you are ... Now I know you thoroughly! Oh, I've felt it
dimly before. But now I am certain.
HOFFMANN
[_Surprised, put out of countenance._] What? Helen ... you're
unique--really.
HELEN
Now I know that you're not by one hair's breadth better ... indeed,
you're much worse--the worst of them all here!
HOFFMANN
[_Arises. With assumed coldness._] D'you know, your behaviour to-day is
really quite peculiar.
HELEN
[_Approaches him._] You have just one end in view. [_Almost whispering._]
But you have very different weapons from father and from my stepmother,
or from my excellent betrothed--oh, quite different. They are all lambs,
all of them, compared to you.
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