The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume I Part 146

Where did Langheinrich go so early?

EDE

That's a secret all right--the kind o' secret that all the sparrows on the gutters is chirpin'.--Doctor, roll that wheel over here, will you?

You got a chance now to deserve well, as they says, o' the Prussian state, 'cause this here waggon belongs to the government forester.--That sort o' thing can't do you no harm.

DR. BOXER

No. And anyhow I ought to stand in with people.

[_He rolls the wheel slowly along; it escapes him and glides backwards._

EDE

That ain't so easy. Them people has long memories. [_He catches the wheel._] Hold on there! No goin' backward! I'm for progress, I am, Doctor! I'm willin' to fight for that!

DR. BOXER

But you must be careful of your fingers. [_He puts on a leathern ap.r.o.n._]

Is Langheinrich going to be gone long?

EDE

[_Whistles._] That depends on how hard it is!

DR. BOXER

Why do you whistle so significantly?

EDE

That's a gift o' my family. All my eleven brothers an' sisters is musicians. I'm the only one that's a smith. [_For a s.p.a.ce both work at the wheel in silence. Then EDE continues._] 'Twouldn't be a bad stage play, I tell you. You wouldn't have to be scared o' riskin' somethin' on that. You'd make money! That's somethin' fine--specially for young people! You been away here a good long while, that's the reason you don't know what's what. I could tell you a few little things that happen around here in bright daylight.--D'you know that Leontine?

DR. BOXER

Very sorry indeed, but I don't.

EDE

No? An' then you pretend that this is your home an' don't know that girl.

Somethin' wrong with you!

DR. BOXER

Oh, yes, yes, Leontine! Mrs. Wolff's daughter! I once got the deuce of a flogging on her account.

EDE

Well, I wish you'd ha' been here two hours ago. Well, first of all that same girl slouched by here ... No! First of all her mother an' father went away ...'twasn't more'n dawn yet! Then Leontine at about eight. She looked all around an' waited an' made lovin' eyes in this direction an'

then walked by. You should ha' seen Langheinrich. "Sweetheart, where are you goin'?"--Then, after a while comes Constable Schulze and goes after her.--That was too much for Langheinrich. Off with his ap.r.o.n an' there he goes, quick 's a stag. That's the way it was. You could ha' observed that: the rest ain't to be observed.--There's Langheinrich hurryin' back now. [_He at once sets zealously to work and pretends to discover LANGHEINRICH, who is approaching hastily and vigorously at this moment._]

Well, at last! Good thing you're here! No end o' askin' after you. Did you catch her?

LANGHEINRICH

[_Brusquely._] Catch what?

EDE

I meant the 'bus.

LANGHEINRICH

Hold your...! I had business to attend to.--Well now, I'll give a dollar if this here ain't Dr. Boxer! Why, how are you? How are things goin'? An'

what are you doin' nowadays? Did your ship come in? You been away now--lemme see--that must be three years, eh? Sure. That's ... well, time pa.s.ses.

DR. BOXER

I want to settle down here, Langheinrich. That is to say, I have that intention if it's possible. I should like to try my luck at home for a change.

LANGHEINRICH

Things is best at home, that's right. O' course, there's one here now, a doctor I mean, but he ain't good for much. They say somethin' queer happened to him onct--got his ears boxed too hard or somethin'. An' they say that made him kind o' melancholious. That ain't much good for his patients! No sick man can't get well through that. I'll send for you, Doctor, if I need help.

DR. BOXER

I'll extract my first dozen wisdom teeth free of charge. So you'll be glad if you don't need me soon.

LANGHEINRICH

Well, I ... fact is ... my wife is sick.

_MRS. SCHULZE comes hurriedly from the house._

MRS. SCHULZE

It's a mighty good thing that you're here. D'you hear? That whimperin'

goes right on.

LANGHEINRICH

Doctor, I'm goin' to ax you somethin' now: d'you know any cure for jealousy? You see, it's this way: We had a baby, an' I'd be lyin' if I said I wasn't mighty well pleased. An' why shouldn't I be? But now my wife is sick. She can't get up an' she don't want me to budge from the side o' her bed. She screams an' she scolds an' she reproaches me.

Sometimes I reely don't know what to do no more.

MRS. SCHULZE

You better go upstairs a bit first.

EDE