Augusta.

What a way to talk!

Mrs Scholz.

They won’t stop!

[She shakes her head despairingly.

Robert (with brutal candour).

Well mother, isn’t it true? Have any strangers ever been able to stand us more than half a day? Haven’t they all cleared out?—The Schulzes—the Lehmanns?

Augusta.

As if we were dependent on strangers—for my part we’re enough for ourselves.