The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 73
You’re reading novel The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 73 online at LightNovelFree.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit LightNovelFree.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy!
FLAMM
What was it?
MRS. FLAMM
I'm much too old for you. A woman can be sixteen years younger than her husband, but not three or four years older. I wish you had listened to me then!
FLAMM
Isn't it real idle to dish up those old stories now? Haven't we something more important to do?--I may be wrong, but it seems to me that we have, mother.--I've had no notion until to-day of what Rose means to me.
Otherwise I'd have acted very differently, of course. Now it's got to be seen if there's anything that can be retrieved. And for that very reason, mother, I was going to beg you not to be petty, and I wanted first of all to try to see whether you could gain some comprehension of what really happened. Up to the moment when it was agreed that that tottery manikin was to marry Rose--our relations were strictly honourable. But when that marriage was determined on--it was all over.--It may be that my ideas are becoming confused. I had seen the girl grow up ... some of our love for little Kurt clung to her. First of all I wanted to protect her from misfortune, and finally, one day, all of a sudden, the way such things happen ... even old Plato has described that correctly in the pa.s.sage in Phaedrus about the two horses:--the bad horse ran away with me and then ... then the sea burst in and the d.y.k.es crashed down.
MRS. FLAMM
'Tis a real interesting story that you've told me, an' even tricked out with learned allusions. An' when you men do that--you think there's no more to say. A poor woman can look out then to see how to get even! Maybe you did it all just to make Rose happy, an' sacrificed yourself into the bargain ... There's no excuse for such things!
FLAMM
Very well, mother. Then we'll adjourn the session. Remember though, that when Kurt died, I couldn't bear to see the girl around the house. Who kept her and persuaded her to come back?
MRS. FLAMM
Because I didn't want life to become so dead around us. I didn't keep her for my sake.
FLAMM
And I have said nothing for your sake.
MRS. FLAMM
Every tear is wasted that one might shed for you an' your kind. But you can spare me your speeches, Flamm.
_The MAID brings in the afternoon coffee._
THE MAID
Rose Bernd's out in the kitchen.
MRS. FLAMM
Come, girl! Wheel me out! [_To FLAMM._] You can help shove me aside.
Somewhere in the world there'll be a little room for me! I won't be in the way. You can call her in when I'm gone.
FLAMM
[_Sternly, to the MAID._] Tell the girl to wait for a moment. [_The MAID leaves the room._] Mother, you have to say a word to her! I can't.... My hands are tied.
MRS. FLAMM
An' what am I to say to her, Flamm?
FLAMM
Mother, you know that better than I! You know very well ... you spoke of it yourself.... For heaven's sake, don't be petty at this moment! She mustn't go from our door in any such fas.h.i.+on!
MRS. FLAMM
I can't clean her boots, Flamm!
FLAMM
And I don't want you to! It isn't a question of that! But you sent for her yourself.--You can't change so completely in a moment as to forget all compa.s.sion and sympathy. What did you say to me a while ago? And if the la.s.s goes to the devil ... you know I'm not such a scoundrel that I'd care to drag out my life any longer. It's one thing or the other--don't forget that!
MRS. FLAMM
Well, Christie ... you men are not worth it, to be sure. An' yet, in the end, what is a body to do?--The heart bleeds! 'Tis our own fault. Why does a woman deceive herself again an' again, when she's old enough an'
sensible enough to know better! An' don't deceive yourself about this thing either, Christie.... I'm willin'! I can do it! I'll talk to her!
Not for your sake, but because it's right. But don't imagine that I can make whole what you've broken.--You men are like children in that respect!
_The MAID comes back._
THE MAID
She don't want to wait no more!
MRS. FLAMM
Send her in!
_The MAID withdraws again._
FLAMM
Be sensible, mother! On my word of honour....
MRS. FLAMM
You needn't give it! You needn't break it!
_FLAMM leaves the room. MRS. FLAMM sighs and picks up her crochet work again. Thereupon ROSE BERND enters._
ROSE
[_Showily dressed in her Sunday clothes. Her features are peaked and there is a feverish gleam in her eyes._] Good-day, madam.
MRS. FLAMM
Good-day! Sit down. Well, Rose, I've asked you to come here ... I suppose you've kept in mind what we talked about that time. There's many a thing that's changed since then!... In many respects, anyhow! But that made me want to talk to you all the more. That day, to be sure, you said I couldn't help you, that you wanted to fight it all out alone! An' to-day a good bit has grown clear to me--your strange behaviour that time, an'
The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 73
You're reading novel The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 73 online at LightNovelFree.com. You can use the follow function to bookmark your favorite novel ( Only for registered users ). If you find any errors ( broken links, can't load photos, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. And when you start a conversation or debate about a certain topic with other people, please do not offend them just because you don't like their opinions.
The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 73 summary
You're reading The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 73. This novel has been translated by Updating. Author: Gerhart Hauptmann already has 604 views.
It's great if you read and follow any novel on our website. We promise you that we'll bring you the latest, hottest novel everyday and FREE.
LightNovelFree.com is a most smartest website for reading novel online, it can automatic resize images to fit your pc screen, even on your mobile. Experience now by using your smartphone and access to LightNovelFree.com
- Related chapter:
- The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 72
- The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 74