HANNE
She's always chasin' an' sniffin' around Mr. Siebenhaar. I'm willin'
people should please theirselves. But she's goin' it hard.
MRS. HENSCHEL
The Siebenhaars ought to put them people out. The goin's on with the men an' the wenches.
HENSCHEL
Aw, what are you talkin' about, mother?
MRS. HENSCHEL
Well, in the tap room.
HENSCHEL
Well, they has to live same as anybody. D'you want to see 'em put in the streets? Wermelskirch's not a bad fellow at all.
MRS. HENSCHEL
But the woman's an old witch.
HENSCHEL
If he pays his rent nothin' won't happen to him on that account. An' not on account o' the girl by a long way. [_He has arisen and bends over the cradle._] We've got a little thing like that here too, an' nobody's goin'
to put us out for that!
MRS. HENSCHEL
Eh, that would be ...! She's asleep all the time; she don't seem to want to wake up!
HENSCHEL
There's not much strength in her.--Mother, sure you're not goin' to die!--[_Taking his cap from the nail._] Hanne, I was just foolin' you a while ago. Your apron is lyin' out there in the waggon.
HANNE
[_Eagerly._] Where is it?
HENSCHEL
In the basket. Go an' look for it!
[_HENSCHEL leaves by way of the middle door; HANNE disappears into the small adjacent room._
MRS. HENSCHEL
So he brought her the apron after all!
_HANNE runs quickly through the room again and goes out by the middle door._
MRS. HENSCHEL
An' he brought her the apron after all!
_SIEBENHAAR enters carefully, carrying his candle and keys as before and, in addition, two bottles of claret._
SIEBENHAAR
All alone, Mrs. Henschel?
MRS. HENSCHEL
An' he brought the apron ...
SIEBENHAAR
It's me, Mrs. Henschel. Did you think it was a stranger?
MRS. HENSCHEL
I don't hardly believe ...
SIEBENHAAR
I hope I didn't wake you up. It's me--Siebenhaar.
MRS. HENSCHEL
To be sure. Yes. To be sure.
SIEBENHAAR
And I'm bringing you a little wine which you are to drink. It will do you good.--Is it possible you don't recognize me?
MRS. HENSCHEL
Well, now, that'd be queer. You are, sure--you are our Mr. Siebenhaar.
Things hasn't come to such a pass with me yet. I recognise you all right!--I don't know: has I been dreamin' or what?
SIEBENHAAR
You may have been. How are you otherwise?
MRS. HENSCHEL
But sure enough you're Siebenhaar.