What am I to do if she's so easily tired?
HOFFMANN
Nonsense! Easily tired! She makes me utterly wretched! An hour and a half … I wish, for goodness' sake, she would do as the doctor orders. What is the use of having a doctor, if….
HELEN
Then put your foot down and get rid of that Spiller woman! What am I to do against an old creature like that who always confirms her in her own notions!
HOFFMANN
But what can I do—a man—a mere man? And, furthermore, you know my mother-in-law! Don't you?
HELEN
[Bitterly.] I do.