The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 51

BERND

When it comes to drinkin' to a happy weddin', I makes an exception!

STRECKMANN

Exactly! That's proper! That's right!--It isn't as if I was a horse-boy to-day as in the old times on the estate when you had the whip hand o'

me. I've gotten to be a reputable kind o' feller. Anybody that's got a head on his shoulders makes his way.

BERND

G.o.d bestows his favours on them he wants to.--[_To AUGUST._] Drink to a happy weddin'.

AUGUST

[_Takes the bottle._] May G.o.d grant it! We don't have to drink to it.

STRECKMANN

[_Slapping his thigh._] An' may he give plenty o' little Augusts, so that the grandfather can be glad. An' the oldest of 'em all must grow up to be a squire!--But now you ought to let Rosie have a drink too.

BERND

You're weepin', Rosie. What's troublin' you?

MARTHEL

The tears keep runnin' out o' her eyes all the time.

AUGUST

[_To ROSE._] Drink a drop, so's to let him have his will.

_ROSE takes the bottle, overcoming her repugnance by a violent effort._

STRECKMANN

Right down with it now! Let's be jolly!

_ROSE drinks trembling and hands back the bottle to AUGUST with undisguised disgust._

BERND

[_Softly in his paternal pride to STRECKMANN._] There's a girl for you!

He'd better keep a good hold o' her.

THE CURTAIN FALLS.

THE SECOND ACT

_The large living room in FLAMM'S house. The large, low room which is on a level with the ground has a door at the right leading to the outer hall. A second door in the rear hall leads into a smaller chamber, filled with hunting implements, etc., which FLAMM calls his den. When this door is open, garments and rifles and stuffed bird heads are to be seen covering the walls of the smaller room. In it stands, also, the chest of drawers in which FLAMM stores the doc.u.ments kept by him as magistrate. The large room with its three windows on the left side, its dark beams and its furnis.h.i.+ngs creates an impression of home-likeness and comfort. In the left corner stands a large sofa covered with material of an old-fas.h.i.+oned, flowery pattern. Before it stands an extension table of oak. Above the door of the den hangs a gla.s.s case containing a group of stuffed partridges. Immediately to the right of this door a key-rack with keys. Not far from this stands a bookcase with gla.s.s doors which is filled with books. Upon this bookcase stands a stuffed owl and next to it hangs a cuckoo clock. A great tile oven of dappled blue occupies the right corner of the room. In all the three windows of the left wall are potted plants in bloom. The window beside the table is open as well as the one farther forward. In front of the latter MRS. FLAMM is sitting in an invalid's chair. All the windows have mull curtains. Not far from the window nearest to the spectator there is an old chest of drawers covered by a lace scarf upon which are to be seen gla.s.ses, bric-a-brac and family mementos of various kinds. On the wall above hang family photographs. Between the oven and the door that leads to the outer hall stands an old-fas.h.i.+oned grand piano and an embroidered piano-stool. The keyboard of the instrument is turned toward the tile oven. Above the piano there are gla.s.s cases containing a collection of b.u.t.terflies. In the foreground, to the right, a brightly polished roller-top desk of oak with a simple chair. Several such chairs are set against the mall near the desk.

Between the windows an old armchair covered with brown leather. Above the table a large bra.s.s lamp of English manufacture is suspended.

Above the desk hangs the large photograph of a handsome little boy of five. The picture is in a simple wooden frame wreathed in fresh field flowers. On top of the desk a large globe of gla.s.s covers a dish of forget-me-nots. It is eleven o'clock in the forenoon on a magnificent day of late spring._

_MRS. FLAMM is an attractive, matronly woman of forty. She wears a smooth, black alpaca dress with a bodice of old-fas.h.i.+oned cut, a small cap of white lace on her head, a lace collar and soft lace cuffs which all but cover her emaciated, sensitive hands. A book and a handkerchief of delicate material lie in her lap. MRS. FLAMM'S features are not without magnanimity and impressiveness. Her eyes are light blue and piercing, her forehead high, her temples broad. Her hair, already gray and thin is plainly parted in the middle. From time to time she strokes it gently with her finger tips. The expression of her face betrays kindliness and seriousness without severity. About her eyes, her nose and her mouth there is a flicker of archness.

MRS. FLAMM

[_Looks thoughtfully out into the open, sighs, becomes absorbed in her book for a moment, then listens and closes her book after inserting a bookmark. Finally she turns toward the door and speaks in a slightly raised, sympathetic voice._] Whoever is out there ... come in! [_A tap is heard, the door to the hall is slightly opened and the head of old BERND is seen._] Well, who is it? Ah, that's father Bernd, our deacon and trustee. Come right in! I'm not going to bite you.

BERND

We was wantin' to speak to the squire.

[_He enters, followed by AUGUST KEIL. Both are once more in their best clothes._

MRS. FLAMM

Well, well, you do look solemn.

BERND

Good mornin', Missis.

MRS. FLAMM

Good day to you, father Bernd.--My husband was in his den there a minute ago. [_Referring to AUGUST._] And there is your future son-in-law too.

BERND

Yes, by G.o.d's help, Mrs. Flamm.

MRS. FLAMM

Well, then, do take a seat. I suppose you want to make official announcement of the marriage? It's to be at last.

BERND

Yes, thanks be to G.o.d; everythin' is in readiness now.

MRS. FLAMM

I'm glad o' that. This waiting leads to very little. If something is to be, then 'tis better to have it done! So the girl has made up her mind to it at last?

BERND