The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 21

Henschel.

MRS. HENSCHEL

Good evenin'.

_HILDEBRANT withdraws._

MRS. HENSCHEL.

[_Listens to a dragging noise out in the pa.s.sage._] What kind of a noise is that there? [_She steps forward and opens the door._] Who's makin' all that racket out there?

FRANZISKA

[_Comes dancing in._] Get out of the way, Mrs. Henschel! I have no time.

[_She whirls about in the room to the measure of the waltz heard from above._]

MRS. HENSCHEL

Well, this is a fine way to act! What's the matter with you? Did a mad dog bite you, maybe?

_FRANZISKA dances on and hums the melody of the waltz._

MRS. HENSCHEL

[_More and more amused._] For heaven's sake! Somethin's goin' to happen to you!--No, girl, you're goin' clear out o' your mind!

FRANZISKA

[_Sinks exhausted into a chair as the music breaks off._] Oh, Mrs.

Henschel, I could dance myself to death!

MRS. HENSCHEL

[_Laughing._] At this here rate I believes you! It makes a body feel dizzy just to watch you.

FRANZISKA

Don't you dance at all?

MRS. HENSCHEL

Me? If I dance? To be sure I do. 'Twasn't once or twice only that I got a pair o' new shoes an' danced 'em to pieces in one night!

FRANZISKA

Come and dance with me then!

MRS. HENSCHEL

Why don't you go upstairs an' dance with the folks there?

FRANZISKA

Oh, if only I might! Do you know what I'll do? I'll sneak up! I'll sneak into the gallery! Have you ever been up there? The bags of prunes stand up there. I go up there quite boldly and look down, and eat prunes. Why shouldn't I look down from there?

MRS. HENSCHEL

An' maybe Siebenhaar'll send for you to come down.

FRANZISKA

I just stare down as bold as you please. I don't care a bit. And whenever a lady dances with Mr. Siebenhaar, I pelt her with plum pits.

MRS. HENSCHEL

You're crazy about Siebenhaar--that's certain!

FRANZISKA

Well, he's a real swell--that's what none of the others are. [_The music is heard again._] Ah, they're starting. That's a polka! [_Dancing again._] I'd like to dance with Mr. Siebenhaar this minute. D'you know what I'd do? I'd just kiss him before he knew what was happening.

MRS. HENSCHEL

Siebenhaar'd be too old for me!

FRANZISKA

Your husband is just as old, Mrs. Henschel.

MRS. HENSCHEL

Look here, girl, I want you to know that my husband is a good five years younger.

FRANZISKA

Well, he looks much older anyhow. Why, he looks so old and wrinkled. No, I wouldn't care to kiss him.

MRS. HENSCHEL

You better see about getting out o' here, or I'll take a broom an' help you along! Don't you abuse my husband! An' where would I get a better one? You wait till you're a few years older an' you'll see what it means in this world to have a husband!

FRANZISKA

I won't marry at all. I'll wait till some fine, rich gentleman comes--some summer--for his health--a Russian, by preference--and then I'll let him take me out into the world. I want to see the world--to wander far--I want to go to Paris. And then I'll write you about myself, Mrs. Henschel.

MRS. HENSCHEL

I do believe you'll run off some day!