FRITZI. Miau! Miau! Miau!
MRS. BAUER. Hold your mouth.
FRITZI. [Swaggering.] My father never was in jail—was he, mama?
KARL. Course not.
MRS. BAUER. [To Fritzi.] Go, wash your hands, Fritzi.
[She steers him to the door of the inner room. He exits.
MRS. BAUER. [Distressed.] Karl ...
KARL. [Turning to his mother.] Was he, mama?
MRS. BAUER. Papa don't act like he used to. Sometimes I wonder what's come over him. Of course it's enough to ruin any man's temper, all the trouble we've had.
CHORUS OF VOICES. [From the area by the window.] Who killed the cat! Who killed the cat!