Countess Julia (Fr Ken Julie); A Naturalistic Tragedy

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 Excerpt: ... Countess Julia (christina stands by the hearth at the left and is frying something in a pan; she wears a light calico dress and a kitchen apron. Jean enters through the glass door; he is in livery; he carries a pair of riding boots with spurs, which he places on the floor in a conspicuous place.) 'Jean. Her young ladyship's quite crazy again tonight, absolutely crazy! Christina. Oh, you're there, are you? Jean. I escorted the Count to the station and on the way back as I passed the barn I went in to dance. Mademoiselle Julia was just dancing with the forester; but as soon as she saw me she rushed straight at me and asked me to waltz with her. And since then she has danced--well, I never saw anything like it in my life. She is simply crazy. 7 Christina. She has always been that, but never quite as much so as in the last two weeks, since her engagement is off. Jean. Yes, wasn't that a strange thing! He was a splendid chap even though he wasn't rich. Oh, well, they have so many notions! (He goes to the right and sits doivn at the table.) Anyhow, it is queer that she prefers to stay at home with the servants rather than go out with her father to visit her relatives, isn't it? Christina. She is probably a bit embarrassed since the affair with her fiance. Jean. Perhaps! He was certainly a good fellow from every point of view. Do you know, Christina, how it all came about? I saw it all, though I didn't let on. Christina. What? You saw it all? Jean. Certainly., They were down in the stable yard one evening, and Mademoiselle was training him as she used to call it--do you know what she was doing? She made him jump over the riding whip, just like a dog when you teach him. He jumped over twice, --and each time she struck him; but the third time he took the whip out ...