Enter boy.
GESKE. What do you want, my boy?
BOY. I want to talk to Master Herman.
GESKE. He's not at home. Won't you tell me?
BOY. I was to find out for my mistress, if the dish was done that she ordered three weeks ago. We have sent after it twenty times, but they always put us off with talk.
GESKE. Ask your mistress, my son, please not to be angry. It will surely be done to-morrow. [Exit Boy.
[Enter another Boy.]
SECOND BOY. I am to find out once and for all if the soup-plates will ever be finished. They could have been made and worn out since we ordered them. Mistress swore you shouldn't do any work for us again in a hurry.
GESKE. Listen, my dear child, when you order anything again, order it from me. At times my husband has bats in his belfry, and it does no good to talk to him. Believe me, on my word, it will be done by Saturday. Good-bye. (Exit Boy.) You see, my dear Antonius, how it goes in our house. We lose one job after another from my husband's neglect.
ANTONIUS. Is he never at home?