The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume I Part 41

[_Kissing HELEN._] But then, they are, dear.

HELEN

But suppose they were not--?

_MRS. KRAUSE pushes open a window in the house and calls out into the yard._

MRS. KRAUSE

Hey! Girls! Gi--rls!

LIESE

[_From within the cow-shed._] Yes, Missis?

MRS. KRAUSE

Run to Mueller's! It's startin'!

LIESE

What! To the midwife, ye mean?

MRS. KRAUSE

Are ye standin' on your ear?

[_She slams the window._

_LIESE runs out of the cow-shed with a little shawl over her head and then out of the yard._

MRS. SPILLER

[_Calls._] Miss Helen! Oh, Miss Helen!

HELEN

What do you suppose is--?

MRS. SPILLER

[_Approaching the arbour._] Miss Helen!

HELEN

Oh, I know. It's my sister who--You must go, 'round that way!

[_LOTH withdraws rapidly by the right foreground. HELEN steps out from the arbour._

MRS. SPILLER

Oh, Miss, there you are at last!

HELEN

What is it?

MRS. SPILLER

Ah--m--your sister.

[_She whispers into HELEN'S ear._

HELEN

My brother-in-law ordered that the doctor be sent for at any sign of--

MRS. SPILLER

Oh--m--dear Miss Helen--m--she doesn't really want a doctor. These doctors--m--oh, these doctors--m--with G.o.d's help ...

_MIELE comes from the house._

HELEN

Miele, go at once for Dr. Schimmelpfennig!

MRS. KRAUSE

[_From the window, arrogantly._] Miele! You come up here!

HELEN

[_In a tone of command._] Miele, you go for the doctor! [_MIELE withdraws into the house._] Well, then I must go myself ...

[_She goes into the house and comes back out at once carrying her straw hat._

MRS. SPILLER

It'll go wrong--m--If you call the doctor, dear Miss Helen,--m--it will surely go wrong!

_HELEN pa.s.ses her by. MRS. SPILLER withdraws into the house, shaking her head. As HELEN turns at the driveway KAHL is standing at the boundary fence._

KAHL

[_Calls out to HELEN._] What's the matter over at your place?

_HELEN does not stop, nor does she deign to notice or answer KAHL._