In this short scene, we are introduced to a young woman who has just returned from a trip to Europe. We are told that she has just arrived at the train station in Budapest, where she has been sent by the Governess of Hungary. The Governess tells the young woman that she is welcome to stay with her, but that she must leave immediately. The young woman, however, is not in a good mood, as she is afraid to leave her husband and family behind in order to go to Budapest. She is also worried about her health, as her husband has recently undergone a stroke and she fears that he will die before she is able to return safely to Hungary