The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 9

MRS. HENSCHEL

[_As before._] You're wis.h.i.+n' me into my grave!

SIEBENHAAR

[_To HENSCHEL, who is about to fly into a rage._] s.h.!.+ Do me the favour to keep still!

MRS. HENSCHEL

A body has eyes. A body's not blind! You don't has to let me know everythin'. I'm no good for nothin' no more; I c'n go!

HENSCHEL

[_Controlling himself._] What do you mean by that, Malchen?

MRS. HENSCHEL

That's right! Go on pretendin'!

HENSCHEL

[_Perplexed in the extreme._] Now do tell me--anybody ...!

MRS. HENSCHEL

Things c'n go any way they wants to ... I won't be deceived, an' you c'n all sneak aroun' all you want to! I c'n see through a stone wall! I c'n see you for all--yes--for all! You thinks: a woman like that is easy to deceive. Rot, says I! One thing I tell you now--If I dies, Gustel dies along with me! I'll take her with me! I'll strangle her before I'd leave her to a d.a.m.ned wench like that!

HENSCHEL

But mother, what's come over you?

MRS. HENSCHEL

You're wis.h.i.+n' me into my grave!

HENSCHEL

Hold on, now, hold on! Or I'll be gettin' wild!

SIEBENHAAR

[_Warning him softly._] Be calm, Henschel. The woman is ill.

MRS. HENSCHEL

[_Who has overheard._] Ill? An' who was it made me ill? You two--you an'

your wench!

HENSCHEL

Now I'd like to know who in the world put notions like that into your head? The girl an' I! I don't understand the whole blasted thing! I'm supposed to have dealin's with her?

MRS. HENSCHEL

Don't you fetch ap.r.o.ns an' ribands for her?

HENSCHEL

[_With renewed perplexity._] Ap.r.o.ns and ribands?

MRS. HENSCHEL

Yes, ap.r.o.ns and ribands.

HENSCHEL

Well, that's the queerest thing--!

MRS. HENSCHEL

Don't you think everythin' she does right an' fine? D'you ever give her a angry word? She's like the missis of the house this very day.

HENSCHEL

Mother, keep still: I'm advisin' you!

MRS. HENSCHEL

'Tis you that has to keep still, 'cause there's nothin' you c'n say!

SIEBENHAAR

[_Standing by the bed._] Mrs. Henschel, you must collect yourself! All this you're saying is the merest fancy!

MRS. HENSCHEL

You're no better'n he; you don't do no different! An' the poor women--they dies of it! [_Dissolved in self-pitying tears._] Well, let 'em die!

_SIEBENHAAR gives a short laugh with an undertone of seriousness, steps up to the table and opens one of the bottles of wine resignedly._

HENSCHEL

[_Sitting on the edge of the bed speaks soothingly_] Mother, mother--you turn over now an' I'll say a word to you in kindness. [_He turns her over with kindly violence._] Look at it this way, mother: You've been havin' a dream. You dreamed--that's it! Our little dog, he dreams queer things too now an' then. You c'n see it. But now wake up, mother! Y'understan'? The stuff you been talkin'--if a man wanted to make a load o' that the strongest freight waggon'd break down. My head's fair spinnin' with it.

SIEBENHAAR

[_Having looked for and found a gla.s.s which he now fills._] And then you raked me over the coals too!