The woman is desperate. Stop her! Hold her!
JOHN
[With a sudden change.] Look out for mother! Mother! Stop her! Catch hold o' her! Mother! Mother!
SELMA, SCHIERKE and JOHN hurry after MRS. JOHN. SPITTA, HASSENREUTER, MRS. HASSENREUTER and WALBURGA busy themselves about the child, which lies on the table.
HASSENREUTER
[Carefully wrapping the infant.] The horrible woman may be desperate for all I care! But for that reason she needn't destroy the child.
MRS. HASSENREUTER
But, dearest papa, isn't it quite evident that the woman has pinned her love, silly to the point of madness as it is, to this very infant? Thoughtless and harsh words may actually drive the unhappy creature to her death.
HASSENREUTER
I used no harsh words, mama.