MRS. BAUER. [To Bauer.] Now drink your coffee.
BAUER. Don't you see, Miene, don't you see?... Nothing makes it right now; no one believes me—no one believes—no one.
MRS. BAUER. What do you care, if you didn't do it?
BAUER. I care like hell.
MRS. BAUER. [With a searching took at her husband.] Fritzi, when you go on like this, people won't believe you didn't do it. You ought to act like you don't care.... [She fixes him with a beseeching glance.] If you didn't do it.
[Bauer looks at his wife as though a hidden meaning to her words had suddenly bitten into his mind.
BAUER. [As though to himself.] A man can't stand that. I've gone hungry ... I've been in the hospital ... I've worked when I couldn't stand up hardly....
MRS. BAUER. [Coaxingly.] Drink your coffee, drink it now, Fritz, while it's hot.
[He tries to swallow a little coffee and then puts down the cup.
BAUER. I've never asked favors of no man.