HANNE
Well, they can talk for all I care. I does my work. That's all that concerns me.
FABIG
That's the best way. I does that way myself. There's little that folks hasn't said about me some time … In Altwasser they says I steals pigeons. A little dog ran after me … o' course, they said I stole it.
HANNE
Well now, if you got anythin' to say to me, go ahead an' don't waste words.
FABIG
Now you see, there you are. That's what I always says too. People talks a good deal more'n they ought to. They has a few rags to sell an' they talks an' talks as if it was an estate. But I'll say just as little as possible. What I wants to tell you about, young woman—now don't fly up: the word just slipped out!—I meant to say: lass—what I wants to tell you about is your daughter.
HANNE
[Violently.] I has no daughter, if you want to know it. The girl that father is takin' care of, is my sister's child.