上校：什么礼物?

　　玛：上校，这可是我和孩子之间的秘密。

　　上校：好吧，我建议你保密，我们来吃饭。

　　玛：你们知道我是多么紧张，来到新家里，谁也不认识。而你们真好，真周到。你们知道被大家接受是多么重要，让我初到这儿就感到了温暖和快乐。

　　(玛塔哭起来)

　　上校：玛塔，怎么了?

　　玛塔：没事儿。

　　(孩子们接二连三地哭起来)

　　上校：小姐，难道每顿饭或者每次在吃饭的时候，你非让我们大家都这样奇妙地难以消化吗?

　　玛：上校，他们没事儿的，只是高兴罢了。

　　(Outside the house, Rolfe knocks at the door.)

　　Franz: Ah, Rolfe. Good evening.

　　Rolfe: Good evening, Franz. I trust everything is under control?

　　Franz: Yes, yes.

　　Rolfe: Good.

　　Franz: Are there any developments?

　　Rolfe: Perhaps. Is the captain at home?

　　Franz: He's at dinner.

　　Rolfe: With the family?

　　Franz: Yes.

　　Rolfe: Please give him this telegram at once.

　　Franz: Certainly.

　　(Inside, Franz gives the telegram to the captain. He reads it.)

　　Liesl: Franz, who delivered it?

　　Franz: That young lad Rolfe, of course.

　　Liesl: Father, may I be excused?

　　C: Hmm. Children, in the morning I shall be going to Vienna.

　　Children: Not again, father!

　　Gretl: How long will you be gone this time, papa?

　　C: I'm not sure, Gretl. I'm not sure.

　　Louisa: To visit the Baroness Schneider again?

　　Frederick: Mind your own business.

　　C: As a matter of fact, yes, Louisa.

　　Marta: Why can't we ever get to see the Baroness?

　　Louisa: Why would she want to see you?

　　C: It just so happens that you are going to see the Baroness. I'm bringing her back with me to visit us all.