The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 7

HANNE

She's always chasin' an' sniffin' around Mr. Siebenhaar. I'm willin'

people should please theirselves. But she's goin' it hard.

MRS. HENSCHEL

The Siebenhaars ought to put them people out. The goin's on with the men an' the wenches.

HENSCHEL

Aw, what are you talkin' about, mother?

MRS. HENSCHEL

Well, in the tap room.

HENSCHEL

Well, they has to live same as anybody. D'you want to see 'em put in the streets? Wermelskirch's not a bad fellow at all.

MRS. HENSCHEL

But the woman's an old witch.

HENSCHEL

If he pays his rent nothin' won't happen to him on that account. An' not on account o' the girl by a long way. [_He has arisen and bends over the cradle._] We've got a little thing like that here too, an' n.o.body's goin'

to put us out for that!

MRS. HENSCHEL

Eh, that would be ...! She's asleep all the time; she don't seem to want to wake up!

HENSCHEL

There's not much strength in her.--Mother, sure you're not goin' to die!--[_Taking his cap from the nail._] Hanne, I was just foolin' you a while ago. Your ap.r.o.n is lyin' out there in the waggon.

HANNE

[_Eagerly._] Where is it?

HENSCHEL

In the basket. Go an' look for it!

[_HENSCHEL leaves by way of the middle door; HANNE disappears into the small adjacent room._

MRS. HENSCHEL

So he brought her the ap.r.o.n after all!

_HANNE runs quickly through the room again and goes out by the middle door._

MRS. HENSCHEL

An' he brought her the ap.r.o.n after all!

_SIEBENHAAR enters carefully, carrying his candle and keys as before and, in addition, two bottles of claret._

SIEBENHAAR

All alone, Mrs. Henschel?

MRS. HENSCHEL

An' he brought the ap.r.o.n ...

SIEBENHAAR

It's me, Mrs. Henschel. Did you think it was a stranger?

MRS. HENSCHEL

I don't hardly believe ...

SIEBENHAAR

I hope I didn't wake you up. It's me--Siebenhaar.

MRS. HENSCHEL

To be sure. Yes. To be sure.

SIEBENHAAR

And I'm bringing you a little wine which you are to drink. It will do you good.--Is it possible you don't recognize me?

MRS. HENSCHEL

Well, now, that'd be queer. You are, sure--you are our Mr. Siebenhaar.

Things hasn't come to such a pa.s.s with me yet. I recognise you all right!--I don't know: has I been dreamin' or what?

SIEBENHAAR

You may have been. How are you otherwise?

MRS. HENSCHEL

But sure enough you're Siebenhaar.