THE THIRD ACT
It is about eight o'clock in the morning. The scene is the dwelling of MRS. WOLFF. Water for coffee is boiling on the oven. MRS. WOLFF is sitting on a footstool and counting out money on the seat of a chair. JULIUS enters, carrying a slaughtered rabbit.
JULIUS
You better go an' hide that there money!
MRS. WOLFF
[Absorbed in her calculations, gruffly:] Don't bother me!
[Silence.
JULIUS throws the rabbit on a stool. He wanders about irresolutely, picking up one object after another. Finally he sets about blacking a boot. From afar the blowing of a huntsman's horn is heard.
JULIUS
[Listens. Anxious and excited.] I axed you to go an' hide that there money!
MRS. WOLFF
An' I'm tellin' you not to bother me, Julius. Just let that fool Motes tootle all he wants. He's out in the woods an' ain't thinkin' o' nothin'.
JULIUS
You go right ahead and land us in gaol!
MRS. WOLFF
Don't talk that fool talk. The girl's comin'.
ADELAIDE
[Comes in, just out of bed.] Good mornin', mama.
MRS. WOLFF
Did you sleep well?
ADELAIDE
You was out in the night, wasn't you?
MRS. WOLFF
I guess you musta been dreamin'. Hurry now! Bring in some wood, an' be quick about it!
ADELAIDE, playing ball with an orange, goes toward the door.
MRS. WOLFF
Where did you get that?
ADELAIDE
Schoebel gave it to me out o' his shop.
[Exit.
MRS. WOLFF
I don't want you to take no presents from that feller.—Come here, Julius! Listen to me! Here I got ninety-nine crowns! That's always the same old way with Wulkow. He just cheated us out o' one, because he promised to give a hundred.—I'm puttin' the money in this bag, y'understand? Now go an' get a hoe and dig a hole in the goatshed—but right under the manger where it's dry. An' then you c'n put the bag into the hole. D'you hear me? An' take a flat stone an' put it across. But don't be so long doin' it.
JULIUS
I thought you was goin' to pay an instalment to Fischer!
MRS. WOLFF
Can't you never do what I tell you to? Don't poke round so long, y'understand?
JULIUS
Don't you go an' rile me or I'll give you somethin' to make you stop. I don't hold with that money stayin' in this here house.
MRS. WOLFF
Well, what's goin' to be done with it?
JULIUS
You take it an' you carry it over to Fischer. You said we was goin' to use it to make a payment to him.
MRS. WOLFF
You're stoopid enough to make a person sick. If it wasn't for me you'd just go to the dogs.
JULIUS
Go on with your screamin'! That's right.
MRS. WOLFF
A person can't help screamin', you're such a fool. If you had some sense, I wouldn't have to scream. If we go an' takes that money to Fischer now, you look out an' see what happens!
JULIUS
That's what I say. Look at the whole dam' business. What's the good of it to me if I gotta go to gaol!
MRS. WOLFF
Now it's about time you was keepin' still.
JULIUS
You can't scream no louder, can you?
MRS. WOLFF
I ain't goin' to get me a new tongue on your account. You raise a row … just as hard as you can, all on account o' this bit o' business. You just look out for yourself an' not for me. Did you throw the key in the river?
JULIUS
Has I had a chanst to get down there yet?
MRS. WOLFF
Then it's about time you was gettin' there! D'you want 'em to find the key on you? [JULIUS is about to go.] Oh, wait a minute, Julius. Let me have the key!
JULIUS
What you goin' to do with it?
MRS. WOLFF
[Hiding the key about her person.] That ain't no business o' yours; that's mine. [She pours coffee beans into the hand-mill and begins to grind.] Now you go out to the shed; then you c'n come back an' drink your coffee.
JULIUS
If I'd ha' known all that before. Aw!
[JULIUS exit. ADELAIDE enters, carrying a large apron full of firewood.
MRS. WOLFF
Where d'you go an' get that wood?
ADELAIDE
Why, from the new blocks o' pine.
MRS. WOLFF
You wasn't to use that new wood yet.
ADELAIDE
[Dropping the wood on the floor in front of the oven.] That don't do no harm, mama, if it's burned up!
MRS. WOLFF
You think you know a lot! What are you foolin' about? You grow up a bit an' then talk!
ADELAIDE
I know where it comes from!
MRS. WOLFF
What do you mean, girl?
ADELAIDE
I mean the wood.
MRS. WOLFF
Don't go jabberin' now; we bought that at a auction.
ADELAIDE
[Playing ball with her orange.] Oh, Lord, if that was true! But you just went and took it!
MRS. WOLFF
What's that you say?
ADELAIDE
It's just taken. That's the wood from Krueger's, mama. Leontine told me.
MRS. WOLFF
[Cuffs her head.] There you got an answer. We ain't no thieves. Now go an' get your lessons. An' do 'em nice! I'll come an' look 'em over later!
ADELAIDE
[Exit. From the adjoining room.] I thought I could go skatin'.
MRS. WOLFF
An' your lessons for your confirmation? I guess you forgot them!
ADELAIDE
That don't come till Tuesday.
MRS. WOLFF
It's to-morrow! You go an' study your verses. I'll come in an' hear you say 'em later.
ADELAIDE'S
[Loud yawning is heard from the adjoining room. Then she says:]
"Jesus to his disciples said,
Use your fingers to eat your bread."
JULIUS comes back.
MRS. WOLFF
Well, Julius, did you go an' do what I told you?
JULIUS
If you don't like my way o' doin', go an' do things yourself.
MRS. WOLFF
God knows that is the best way—always. [She pours out two cupfuls of coffee, one for him and one for herself, and places the two cups with bread and butter on a wooden chair.] Here, drink your coffee.
JULIUS
[Sitting down and cutting himself some bread.] I hope Wulkow's been able to get away!
MRS. WOLFF
In this thaw!
JULIUS
Even if it is thawin', you can't tell.
MRS. WOLFF
An' you needn't care if it do freeze a bit; he ain't goin' to be stuck. I guess he's a good way up the canal by this time.
JULIUS
Well, I hope he ain't lyin' under the bridge this minute.
MRS. WOLFF
For my part he can be lyin' where he wants to.
JULIUS
You c'n take it from me, y'understan'? That there man Wulkow is goin' to get into a hell of a hole some day.
MRS. WOLFF
That's his business; that ain't none o' ours.
JULIUS
Trouble is we'd all be in the same hole. You just let 'em go an' find that coat on him!
MRS. WOLFF
What coat are you talkin' about?
JULIUS
Krueger's, o' course!
MRS. WOLFF
Don't you go talkin' rot like that, y'understan'? An' don't go an' give yourself a black eye on account o' other people's affairs!
JULIUS
I guess them things concerns me!
MRS. WOLFF
Concerns you—rot! That don't concern you at all. That's my business an' not yours. You ain't no man at all; you're nothin' but an old woman!—Here you got some change. Now hurry an' get out o' here. Go over to Fiebig and take a drink. I don't care if you have a good time all day Sunday. [A knocking is heard.] Come right in! Come right in, any one that wants to!
DR. FLEISCHER enters, leading his little son of five by the hand. FLEISCHER is twenty-seven years old. He wears one of the Jaeger reform suits. His hair, beard and moustache are all coal-black. His eyes are deep-set; his voice, as a rule, gentle. He displays, at every moment, a touching anxiety for the child.
MRS. WOLFF
[Jubilantly.] Lord! Is little Philip comin' to see us once more! Now, ain't that fine? Now I really feel proud o' that! [She gets hold of the child and takes off his overcoat.] Come now an' take off your coat. It's warm back here an' you ain't goin' to be cold.
FLEISCHER
Mrs. Wolff, there's a draught. I believe there's a draught.
MRS. WOLFF
Oh, he ain't so weak as all that. A bit o' draught, ain't goin' to hurt this little feller!
FLEISCHER
Oh, but it will, I assure you. You have no idea. He catches cold so easily! Exercise, Philip! Keep moving a little.
PHILIP jerks his shoulders back with a pettish exclamation.
FLEISCHER
Come now, Philip. You'll end by being ill. All you have to do is to walk slowly up and down.
PHILIP
[Naughtily.] But, I don't want to.
MRS. WOLFF
Let him do like he wants to.
FLEISCHER
Well, good morning, Mrs. Wolff.
MRS. WOLFF
Good morning, Doctor. I'm glad to see you comin' in onct more.
FLEISCHER
Good morning, Mr. Wolff.
JULIUS
Good mornin', Mr. Fleischer.
MRS. WOLFF
You're very welcome. Please sit down.
FLEISCHER
We have just a few minutes to stay.
MRS. WOLFF
Well, if we has such a fine visit paid us so early in the mornin', we're sure to have a lucky day this day. [Kneeling down by the child.] Ain't it so, my boy? You'll bring us good luck, won't you?
PHILIP
[Excitedly.] I went to ze zological darden; I saw ze storks zere, an' zey bit each ozzer wis zeir dolden bills.
MRS. WOLFF
Well now, you don't mean to say so! You're tellin' me a little fib, ain't you? [Hugging and kissing the child.] Lord, child, I could just eat you up, eat you right up. Mr. Fleischer, I'm goin' to keep this boy. This is my boy. You're my boy, ain't you? An' how's your mother, eh?
PHILIP
She's well an' she sends her redards an' you'll please tome in ze morning to wash.
MRS. WOLFF
Well now, just listen to that. A little feller like that an' he can give all that message already! [To FLEISCHER.] Won't you sit down, just a bit?
FLEISCHER
The boy bothers me about boating. Is it possible to go?
MRS. WOLFF
Oh, sure. The Spree is open. My girl there c'n row you out a way.
FLEISCHER
The boy won't stop about it! He's just taken that into his head.
ADELAIDE
[Showing herself in the door that leads to the next room, beckons to PHILIP.] Come, Philip, I'll show you somethin' real fine!
PHILIP gives a stubborn screech.
FLEISCHER
Now, Philip, you musn't be naughty!
ADELAIDE
Just look at that fine orange!
PHILIP'S face is wreathed in smiles. He takes a few steps in ADELAIDE's direction.
FLEISCHER
Go ahead, but don't beg!
ADELAIDE
Come on! Come on! We'll eat this orange together now.
[She walks in the child's direction, takes him by the hand, holds up the orange temptingly, and both go, now quite at one, into the next room.
MRS. WOLFF
[Following the child with her eyes.] No, that boy, I could just sit an' look at him. I don't know, when I see a boy like that … [She takes up a corner of her apron and wipes her eyes.] … I feel as if I had to howl right out.
FLEISCHER
Did you have a boy like that once?
MRS. WOLFF
That I had. But what's the use o' all that. You can't make people come back to life. You see—things like that—that's life….
A pause.
FLEISCHER
One can't be careful enough with children,
MRS. WOLFF
You can go an' be as careful as you want to be. What is to be, will be. [A pause.—Shaking her head.] What trouble did you have with Mr. Motes?
FLEISCHER
I? None at all! What trouble should I have had with him?
MRS. WOLFF
Oh, I was just thinkin'.
FLEISCHER
How old is your daughter anyhow?
MRS. WOLFF
She'll be out o' school this Easter. Why? Would you like to have her? I wouldn't mind her goin' into service if it's with you.
FLEISCHER
I don't see why not. That wouldn't be half bad.
MRS. WOLFF
She's grown up to be a strong kind o' body. Even if she is a bit young, she c'n work most as well as any one, I tell you. An' I tell you another thing. She's a scamp now an' then; she don't always do right. But she ain't no fool. That girl's got genius.
FLEISCHER
That's quite possible, no doubt.
MRS. WOLFF
You just let her go an' recite a single piece for you—just once—a pome, or somethin'. An' I tell you, Doctor, you ain't goin' to be able to get through shiverin'. You c'n possibly call her in some day when you got visitors from Berlin. All kinds o' writers comes to your house, I believe. An' she ain't backward; she'll sail right in. Oh, she does say pieces that beautiful.—[With a sudden change of manner.] Now I want to give you a bit o' advice; only you musn't be offended.
FLEISCHER
I'm never offended by good advice.
MRS. WOLFF
First thing, then: Don't give away so much. Nobody ain't goin' to thank you for it. You don't get nothin' but ingratitude.
FLEISCHER
Why, I don't give away very much, Mrs. Wolff.
MRS. WOLFF
That's all right, I know. An' the more you talk, the more scared people gets. First thing they says: that's a demercrat. Yon can't be too careful talkin'.
FLEISCHER
In what way am I to take all that, Mrs. Wolff?
MRS. WOLFF
Yon c'n go an' you c'n think what you please. But you gotta be careful when it comes to talkin', or you sit in gaol before you know it.
FLEISCHER
[Turns pale.] Well, now, look here, but that's nonsense, Mrs. Wolff.
MRS. WOLFF
No, no. I tell you that's serious. An' be careful o' that feller, whatever you do!
FLEISCHER
Whom do you mean by that?
MRS. WOLFF
The same man we was talkin' about a while ago.
FLEISCHER
Motes, you mean?
MRS. WOLFF
I ain't namin' no names. You must ha' had some kind o' trouble with that feller.
FLEISCHER
I don't even associate with him any longer.
MRS. WOLFF
Well, you see, that's just what I've been think-in'.
FLEISCHER
Nobody could possibly blame me for that, Mrs. Wolff.
MRS. WOLFF
An' I ain't blamin' you for it.
FLEISCHER
It would be a fine thing, wouldn't it—to associate with a swindler, a notorious swindler.
MRS. WOLFF
That man is a swindler; you're right there.
FLEISCHER
Now he moved over to Dreier's. That poor woman will have a hard time getting her rent. And whatever she has, she'll get rid of it. Why, a fellow like that—he's a regular gaol-bird.
MRS. WOLFF
Sometimes, you know, he'll say things …
FLEISCHER
Is that so? About me? Well, I am curious.
MRS. WOLFF
I believe you was heard to say somethin' bad about some high person, or somethin' like that.
FLEISCHER
H-m. You don't know anything definite, I dare say?
MRS. WOLFF
He's mighty thick with Wehrhahn, that's certain. But I tell you what. You go over to old mother Dreier. That old witch is beginnin' to smell a rat. First they was as nice as can be to her; now they're eatin' her outta house and home!
FLEISCHER
Oh, pshaw! The whole thing is nonsense.
MRS. WOLFF
You c'n go to the Dreier woman. That don't do no harm. She c'n tell you a story … He wanted to get her into givin' false witness…. That shows the kind o' man you gotta deal with.
FLEISCHER
Of course, I might go there. It can do no harm. But, in the end, the whole matter is indifferent to me. It would be the deuce of a world, if a fellow like that…. You just let him come!—Here, Philip, Philip! Where are you? We've got to go.
ADELAIDE'S VOICE
Oh, we're lookin' at such pretty pictures.
FLEISCHER
What do you think of that other business, anyhow?
MRS. WOLFF
What business?
FLEISCHER
Haven't you heard anything yet?
MRS. WOLFF [Restlessly.] Well, what was I sayin'?… [Impatiently.]
Hurry, Julius, an' go, so's you c'n get back in time for dinner. [To
FLEISCHER.] We killed' a rabbit for dinner to-day. Ain't you ready yet,
Julius?
JULIUS
Well, give me a chanst to find my cap.
MRS. WOLFF
I can't stand seein' anybody just foolin' round that way, as if it didn't make no difference about to-day or to-morrow, I like to see things move along.
FLEISCHER
Why, last night, at Krueger's, they …
MRS. WOLFF
Do me a favour, Doctor, an' don't talk to me about that there man. I'm that angry at him! That man hurt my feelin's too bad. The way we was—him an' me, for so long—an' then he goes and tries to blacken my character with all them people. [To JULIUS.] Are you goin' or not?
JULIUS
I'm goin' all right; don't get so huffy. Good mornin' to you, Mr.
Fleischer.
FLEISCHER
Good morning, Mr. Wolff.
[JULIUS exit.
MRS. WOLFF
Well, as I was sayin' …
FLEISCHER
That time when his wood was stolen, I suppose he quarreled with you. But he's repented of that long since.
MRS. WOLFF
That man and repent!
FLEISCHER
You may believe me all the same, Mrs. Wolff. And especially after this last affair. He has a very high opinion of you indeed. The best thing would be if you were to be reconciled.
MRS. WOLFF
We might ha' talked together like sensible people, but for him to go an' run straight to the police—no, no!
FLEISCHER
Well, the poor little old couple is having bad luck: only a week ago their wood, and now the fur coat….
MRS. WOLFF
Are you comin' to your great news now? Out with it!
FLEISCHER
Well, it's a clear case of burglary.
MRS. WOLFF
Some more stealin'? Don't make fun o' me!
FLEISCHER
Yes, and this time it's a perfectly new fur coat.
MRS. WOLFF
Well now, you know, pretty soon I'll move away from here. That's a crowd round here! Why, a person ain't sare o' their lives. Tst! Tst! Such folks! It ain't hardly to be believed!
FLEISCHER
You can form an idea of the noise they're making.
MRS. WOLFF
Well, you can't hardly blame the people.
FLEISCHER
And really, it was, a very expensive garment—of mink, I believe.
MRS. WOLFF
Ain't that somethin' like beaver, Mr. Fleischer?
FLEISCHER
Perhaps it was beaver, for all I know. Anyhow, they were real proud of it.—I admit, I laughed to myself over the business. When something like that is discovered it always has a comic effect.
MRS. WOLFF
You're a cruel man, really, Doctor. I can't go an' laugh about things like that.
FLEISCHER
You mustn't think that I'm not sorry for the man, for all that.
MRS. WOLFF
Them must be pretty strange people. I don't know. There ain't no way o' understandin' that. Just to go an' rob other people o' what's theirs—no, then it's better to work till you drop.
FLEISCHER
You might perhaps make a point of keeping your ears open. I believe the coat is supposed to be in the village.
MRS. WOLFF
Has they got any suspicion o' anybody?
FLEISCHER
Oh, there was a washerwoman working at the Krueger's….
MRS. WOLFF
By the name o' Miller?
FLEISCHER
And she has a very large family…?
MRS. WOLFF
The woman's got a large family, that's so, but to steal that way … no!
She might take some little thing, yes.
FLEISCHER
Of course Krueger put her out.
MRS. WOLFF
Aw, that's bound to come out. My goodness, the devil hisself'd have to be back o' that if it don't. I wish I was justice here. But the man is that stoopid!—well! I c'n see better'n the dark than he can by day with his glass eye.
FLEISCHER
I almost believe you could.
MRS. WOLFF
I c'n tell you, if I had to, I could steal the chair from under that man's behind.
FLEISCHER
[Has arisen and calls, laughingly, into the adjoining room.] Come, Philip, come! We've got to go! Good-bye, Mrs. Wolff.
MRS. WOLFF
You get dressed, Adelaide. You c'n go an' row Mr. Fleischer a ways.
ADELAIDE
[Enters, buttoning the last buttons at her throat and leading PHILIP by the hand.] I'm all ready. [To PHILIP.] You come right here; I'll take you on my arm.
FLEISCHER
[Anxiously helping the boy on with his coat.] He's got to be wrapped up well; he's so delicate, and no doubt it's windy out on the river.
ADELAIDE
I better go ahead an' get the boat ready.
MRS. WOLFF
Is your health better these days?
FLEISCHER
Much better since I'm living out here.
ADELAIDE
[Calls back in from the door.] Mama, Mr. Krueger.
MRS. WOLFF
Who's comin'?
ADELAIDE
Mr. Krueger.
MRS. WOLFF
It ain't possible!
FLEISCHER
He meant to come to you during the forenoon.
[Exit.
MRS. WOLFF
[Throws a swift glance at the heap of fire wood and vigorously sets about clearing it away.] Come on, now, help me get this wood out o' sight.
ADELAIDE
Why, mama? Oh, on account o' Mr. Krueger.
MRS. WOLFF
Well, what for d'you suppose? Is this a proper way for a place to look, the way this one is look-in'? Is that decent an' on Sunday mornin', too? What is Mr. Krueger goin' to think of us? [KRUEGER appears, exhausted by his walk. MRS. WOLFF calls out to him.] Mr. Krueger, please don't look 'round. This place is in a terrible state!
KRUEGER
[Impetuously.] Good morning! Good morning! Don't worry about that at all! You go to work every week and your house can't be expected to be perfect on Sunday. You are an excellent woman, Mrs. Wolff, and a very honest one. And I think we might do very well to forget whatever has happened between us.
MRS. WOLFF
[Is moved, and dries her eyes from time to time with a corner of her apron.] I never had nothin' against you in the world. I always liked to work for you. But you went an' got so rough like, you know, that a person's temper couldn't hardly help gettin' away with 'em. Lord, a person is sorry for that kind o' thing soon enough.
KRUEGER
You just come back and wash for us. Where is your daughter Leontine?
MRS. WOLFF
She went to take some cabbage to the postmaster.
KRUEGER
You just let us have that girl again. She can have thirty crowns wages instead of twenty. We were always quite satisfied with her in other respects. Let's forgive and forget the whole affair.
[He holds out his hand to MRS. WOLFF, who takes it heartily.
MRS. WOLFF
All that hadn't no need to happen. The girl, you see, is still foolish like a child. We old people always did get along together.
KRUEGER
Well, then, the matter is settled. [Gradually regaining his breath.]—Well, then, my mind is at rest about that, anyhow.—But now, do tell me! This thing that's happened to me! What do you say to that?
MRS. WOLFF
Oh, well, you know—what can a person say about such things?
KRUEGER
And there we got that Mr. von Wehrhahn! He's very well when it comes to annoying honest citizens and thinking out all sorts of chicanery and persecution, but—That man, what doesn't he stick his inquisitive nose into!
MRS. WOLFF
Into everything exceptin' what he ought to.
KRUEGER
I'm going to him now to give formal notice. I won't rest! This thing has got to be discovered.
MRS. WOLFF
You oughtn't by no means to let a thing o' that kind go.
KRUEGER
And if I've got to turn everything upside down—I'll get back my coat,
Mrs. Wolff.
MRS. WOLFF
What this place needs is a good cleanin' out. We won't get no rest in the village till then. They'll end up by stealin' the roof from over a person's head.
KRUEGER
I ask you to consider, for heaven's sake—two robberies in the course of two weeks! Two loads of wood, just like the wood you have there. [He takes up a piece that is lying on the floor.] Such good and expensive wood, Mrs. Wolff.
MRS. WOLFF
It's enough to make a person get blue in the face with rage. The kind o' crowd we gotta live with here! Aw, things like that! No, you know! Just leave me alone with it!
KRUEGER
[Irately gesticulating with the piece of wood.] And if it costs me a thousand crowns, I'll see to it that those thieves are hunted down. They won't escape the penitentiary this time.
MRS. WOLFF
An' that'd be a blessin' too, as sure's we're alive!