ROSE
[Trembling in the terror of her heart.] O dear Lord, have mercy!
STRECKMANN
Can you deny that I'm right? You people stick in piety up to the very eyes—your father an' August Keil an' you too! A feller like me can't compete with you there.
ROSE
[With a new outburst of despair.] It's a lie … a lie! You saw nothing!
STRECKMANN
No? Saw nothing? Well, I'll be…! Then I must ha' been dreamin'. That's what it must ha' been! If that wasn't Squire Flamm from Diessdorf! I haven't had a drop o' anythin' to-day. Didn't he play at drivin' you by the braids o' your hair? Didn't he throw you into the grass? [With uncontrollable, hard laughter.] He had a good hold on you!
ROSE
Streckmann, I'll beat your head in with my hoe!