The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume I Part 24

HELEN

[_Deathly pale, but even more firmly._] And I say the maid shall stay!

Otherwise I'll make it known--you ... with William Kahl ... your cousin, my betrothed ... I'll tell the whole world.

MRS. KRAUSE

[_Her a.s.surance breaking down._] Who can say it's so!

HELEN

I can. For I saw him this morning coming out of your bed-room ...

[_She goes swiftly into the house._

[_MRS. KRAUSE totters, almost fainting. MRS. SPILLER hurries to her with smelling-salts._

MRS. SPILLER

Oh, Madame, Madame!

MRS. KRAUSE

Sp--iller; the maid c'n ss-stay!

THE CURTAIN FALLS QUICKLY

THE THIRD ACT

_Time: a few minutes after the incident between HELEN and her step-mother in the yard. The scene is that of the first act._

_Dr. SCHIMMELPFENNIG sits at the table in the foreground to the left.

He is writing a prescription. His slouch hat, cotton gloves and cane lie on the table before him. He is short and thick-set of figure; his hair is black and clings in small, firm curls to his head; his moustache is rather heavy. He wears a black coat after the pattern of the Jaeger reform garments. He has the habit of stroking or pulling his moustache almost uninterruptedly; the more excited he is, the more violent is this gesture. When he speaks to HOFFMANN his expression is one of enforced equanimity, but a touch of sarcasm hovers about the corners of his mouth. His gestures, which are thoroughly natural, are lively, decisive and angular. HOFFMANN walks up and down, dressed in a silk dressing-gown and slippers. The table in the background to the right is laid for breakfast: costly porcelain, dainty rolls, a decanter with rum, etc._

HOFFMANN

Are you satisfied with my wife's appearance, doctor?

DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG

She's looking well enough. Why not?

HOFFMANN

And do you think that everything will pa.s.s favourably?

DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG

I hope so.

HOFFMANN

[_After a pause, with hesitation._] Doctor, I made up my mind--weeks ago--to ask your advice in a very definite matter as soon as I came here.

DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG

[_Who has. .h.i.therto talked and written at the same time, lays his pen aside, arises, and hands HOFFMANN the finished prescription._] Here ... I suppose you'll have that filled quite soon. [_Taking up his hat, cane and gloves._] Your wife complains of headaches, and so--[_looking into his hat and adopting a dry, business-like tone_]--and so, before I forget: try, if possible, to make it clear to your wife that she is in a measure responsible for the new life that is to come into the world. I have already said something to her of the consequences of tight lacing.

HOFFMANN

Certainly, doctor ... I'll do my very best to make it clear to her that ...

DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG

[_Bowing somewhat awkwardly._] Good morning. [_He is about to go but stops again._] Ah, yes, you wanted my advice ...

[_He regards HOFFMANN coldly._

HOFFMANN

If you can spare me a little while ... [_With a touch of affectation._]

You know about the frightful death of my first boy. You were near enough to watch it. You know also what my state of mind was.--One doesn't believe it at first, but--time does heal!... And, after all, I have cause to be grateful now, since it seems that my dearest wish is about to be fulfilled. You understand that I must do everything, everything--it has cost me sleepless nights and yet I don't know yet, not even yet, just what I must do to guard the unborn child from the terrible fate of its little brother. And that is what I wanted to ask ...

DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG

[_Dryly and business-like._] Separation from the mother is the indispensable condition of a healthy development.

HOFFMANN

So it is that! Do you mean complete separation?... Is the child not even to be in the same house with its mother?

DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG

Not if you are seriously concerned for the preservation of your child.

And your wealth permits you the greatest freedom of movement in this respect.

HOFFMANN

Yes, thank G.o.d. I have already bought a villa with a very large park in the neighbourhood of Hirschberg. Only I thought that my wife too ...

DR. SCHIMMELPFENNIG

[_Pulls at his moustache and stares at the floor. Thoughtfully._] Why don't you buy a villa somewhere else for your wife?