[_He mounts the stairs and disappears._
WERMELSKIRCH
He won't lose his way very often after this! Siebenhaar will see to it that he gets to know the way from the dining hall to the kitchen.--Hanne, when is Henschel coming back?
HANNE
About noon, I s'pose! D'you want me to give him a message?
WERMELSKIRCH
Tell him--don't forget, now--tell him that I--send him my regards.
HANNE
Such foolishness. I might ha' thought ...!
WERMELSKIRCH
[_Passing her with a slight bow._] Thoughts are free ... I wish you a good morning.
[_Exit._
HANNE
[_Alone, washing vigorously._] If only Henschel wasn't such a fool!
_Above the cellar, outside, the pedlar FABIG, kneeling down, looks in at the window._
FABIG
Good mornin', young woman! How are you? How's everythin'?
HANNE
Who are you anyhow?
FABIG
Why--Fabig, from Quolsdorf. Don't you know me no more? I'm bringin' you a greetin' from your father. An' he wants me to tell you ... Or maybe you'd want me to come in?
HANNE
Aw, I know. I believe you. He wants money again. Well, I has none myself.
FABIG
I told him that myself. He wouldn't believe me. Are you all alone, young woman?
HANNE
Why d'you ax?
FABIG
[_Lowering his voice._] Well now you see, there's more'n one thing I has on my heart. An', through the window, people might be hearin' it.
HANNE
Oh well, I don't care. You c'n come in! [_FABIG disappears from the window._] That that feller had to be comin' to-day ...!
[_She dries her hands._
_FABIG enters. He is a poorly clad, strangely agile, droll pedlar, with a sparse beard, about thirty-six years old._
FABIG
A good mornin' to you, young woman.
HANNE
[_Fiercely._] First of all, I'm no young woman but a girl.
FABIG
[_With cunning._] Maybe so. But from all I hears you'll be married soon.
HANNE
That's nothin' but a pack o' mean lies--that's what it is.
FABIG
Well, that's what I heard. It's no fault o' mine. People is sayin' it all over; because Mrs. Henschel died ...
HANNE
Well, they can talk for all I care. I does my work. That's all that concerns me.
FABIG
That's the best way. I does that way myself. There's little that folks hasn't said about me some time ... In Altwasser they says I steals pigeons. A little dog ran after me ... o' course, they said I stole it.
HANNE
Well now, if you got anythin' to say to me, go ahead an' don't waste words.
FABIG