BEATRICE—Indians!
GEORG—How long are you going to stay?
HYACINTH—I’ve scarcely arrived, and here you are asking me when I depart.
GEORG—Because we want you to stay a long time.
HYACINTH—It’s a long time since I’ve seen you. [_Embraces each in turn._]
Let me look at you. Splendid color! [_Feels their arms._] And muscle too,
eh?
GEORG—How long are you going to stay?
HYACINTH—Not long, I’m sorry to say. [_Approaches AGI, who bows low._]
And this is your tutor, Mr. Agi, of whom I have heard so much. [_Shakes
hands with him._] Beatrice writes me excellent reports about you. I hear
you are not only a good teacher but also an accomplished athlete. You row
and fence....
ARSEN—And ride.
HYACINTH—That’s splendid! And are you very fond of him, boys?
GEORG—[_Earnestly._] Oh, yes, Uncle Hyacinth.
HYACINTH—Good! And you? Are you satisfied with your pupils?
AGI—Entirely, your royal highness.
HYACINTH—No, professor, not highness. Only an humble servant of Christ.
AGI—I beg your pardon, Father.
HYACINTH—Oh, you mustn’t blush about it. Else I shall reproach myself
for having mentioned it. But then it’s so charming of a doctor of
philosophy to blush. I feel we’re good friends already. [_Shakes his
hand again._] I congratulate you on your method. Culture seasoned with
athletics—that’s the ideal curriculum.
BEATRICE—Hyacinth is such a confirmed pedagogue, the teacher interests
him more than the pupils.
HYACINTH—Quite so, my dear. Some day, when it’s raining hard and we have
nothing better to do, I’ll explain to you why, for the good of the child,
one should look first into the teacher’s head. Well, boys, what have you
learned to-day?
ARSEN—We finished Napoleon to-day. [_Glances at BEATRICE. There is an
awkward pause._]
HYACINTH—Mother doesn’t care much for Napoleon, eh?
BEATRICE—No.