MARGARET: Cartainly not; that is why I decided to
divorce him. You know the story; I sould'nt live with
a person who was interested in nothing but eating and
drlnking vnd cotten.
CLIMOMS: Yes, yes, but that was three years ago, and the
poems you wrote much later.
MARGARET: Yes, but think of the situation in which I
found myself.
CLEMENS: How? You suffered no want. In that respect
your husband Inhaved veryAicely; you must grant him that.
It was not necessary for you to eam money. And if they
ever gave you one hundred gulden for a poem - and of course
they don’t pay more than that - you were notienpelled to
� write such a book.
MARGARET: Dearest Clem, I did'nt mean in a material sense;
I meant in a spiritual sense. Can't you conceive of such
a thing? conditions were already much improved when you
met me; in many ways I had found myself; but in the
beginning - I was so bewildered,soéeinshed - I tried every-
thing possible; I pointed, I even gave English lectures
in the pension in which I lived. Just think of it!
Twenty-four years of age - as a advanced woman - having
no one...
CLEMENS: Why did'nt you remain Ciuietly in Vienna?