The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 42

Lie down on your side an' leave me alone.

HENSCHEL

Are you comin' too?

MRS. HENSCHEL

It's most day now.

[_She winds the clock._]

HENSCHEL

Who's windin' the clock?

MRS. HENSCHEL

You're to keep still now. If Berthel was to wake up it'd be a fine to do.

She'd howl for half an hour. [_She sits down at the table and leans both elbows upon it._] 'Twould be best if a body got up an' went away,

_SIEBENHAAR peers in._

SIEBENHAAR I'm lookin' in once more. Is your husband calmer now?

MRS. HENSCHEL

Yes, yes, he lay down to sleep. [_She calls._] Husband! Wilhelm!

SIEBENHAAR

s.h.!.+ You'd better be grateful. Hurry and go to bed yourself.

MRS. HENSCHEL

There's nothin' else left to do. I'll go an' try. [_She goes to the door of the bedroom, stands still as if spellbound and listens._] Wilhelm! You might answer.--[_Louder and more frightened._] Wilhelm! You're not to frighten me this way! Maybe you think I don't know that you're still awake!!--[_In growing terror._]--Wilhelm, I tell you!... [_BERTHEL has waked up and wails._] Berthel, you look out an' keep still! Keep still or I don't know what'll happen!--Wilhelm! Wilhelm!

[_She almost shrieks._

SIEBENHAAR looks in again.

SIEBENHAAR

What's the matter, Mrs. Henschel?

MRS. HENSCHEL

I call an' call an' he don't answer!

SIEBENHAAR

Are you crazy? Why do you do that?

MRS. HENSCHEL

--'Tis so still ... Somethin's happened.

SIEBENHAAR

What?--[_He takes up the candle and goes toward the bedroom door._]

Henschel, have you fallen asleep?

[_He enters the bedroom._

[_Pause._]

MRS. HENSCHEL

[_Not daring to follow him._] What is it? What is it? What's goin' on?

_WERMELSKIRCH looks in._

WERMELSKIRCH

Who's in there?

MRS. HENSCHEL

Mr. Siebenhaar.--'Tis so still. n.o.body don't answer.--

SIEBENHAAR

[_Very pale and holding BERTHEL on his arm hurries out of the bedroom._]

Mrs. Henschel, take your child and go up to my wife.

MRS. HENSCHEL

[_Already with the child in her arms._] For G.o.d's sake, what has happened?

SIEBENHAAR

You'll find that out all too soon.

MRS. HENSCHEL

[_With a voice that is first repressed and at last rises to a scream._] O G.o.d, he's done hisself some harm!

_[She runs out with the child._

WERMELSKIRCH