But, my dear Mrs. Henschel, what kind of talk is that?
MRS. HENSCHEL
[Sobbing softly to herself.] What's to become o' Gustel if I die?
SIEBENHAAR
Mrs. Henschel, you're a sensible woman! And so do listen to me! If one has to lie quietly in bed, you see, the way you have had to do unfortunately—week after week—why then one naturally has all kinds of foolish thoughts come into one's head. One has all sorts of sickly fancies. But one must resist all that resolutely, Mrs. Henschel! Why, that would be a fine state of affairs, if that—! Such stuff! Put it out of your mind, Mrs. Henschel! it's folly!
MRS. HENSCHEL
Dear me, I didn't want to believe it: I know what I says!
SIEBENHAAR
That's just what you don't know. That's just what, unfortunately, you don't know at present. You will simply laugh when you look back upon, it later. Simply laugh!