MRS. BAUER. Everything's against us. First Fritz's mother dies. We named the baby after her—Trude.... Then we lost Trude. That finished Fritz. After that he began this hollerin' business. And now this here trouble—just when things was goin' half-ways decent for the first time. [She pushes past him and goes to her ironing.
LANE. [Shakes his head sympathetically and takes up his basket.] A pound, you said?
MRS. BAUER. Yes.
LANE. All right. [He starts off and then rushes back.] Here's the boss comin', Mrs. Bauer.
[Rushes off again.
LANE'S VOICE. [Cheerfully.] Hello, there!
BAUER'S VOICE. [Dull and strained.] Hello!
[Bauer comes in. His-naturally bright blue eyes are tired and lustreless; his strung frame seems to have lost all vigor and alertness; there in a look of utter despondency on his face.
MRS. BAUER. [Closing the door after him.] They let you off?
BAUER. [With a hard little laugh.] Yes, they let me off—they let me off with a fine all right.