The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 119

I ain' doubtin' that there's dirt in your head! An' if it hadn't been that you board with my sister here I'd ha' let the light into you long ago, you dirt eater, so you'd ha' bled for weeks.

JOHN

[_With tense restraint._] Tell me again, Jette, that it's your brother.

MRS. JOHN

Go, Paul, will you? I'll get him away all right! You know's well as I that I can't help it now that Bruno's my own brother.

JOHN

All right. Then I'm one too many here. You c'n bill an' coo. [_He is dressed for the street as it is and hence proceeds to go. Close by BRUNO he stands still._] You scamp! You worried your father into his grave.

Your sister might better ha' let you starve behind some fence rather'n raise you an' litter the earth with another criminal like you. I'll be back in half an hour! But I won't be alone. I'll have the sergeant with me!

[_JOHN leaves by the outer door, putting on his slouch hat._

_So soon as JOHN has disappeared BRUNO turns and spits out after him toward the door._

BRUNO

If I ever gets hold o' you!

MRS. JOHN

Why d'you come, Bruno? Tell me, what's the matter?

BRUNO

Tin's what you gotta give me. Or I'll go to h.e.l.l.

MRS. JOHN

[_Locks and latches the outer door._] Wait till I close the door! Now, what's the matter? Where d'you come from? Where has you been?

BRUNO

Oh, I danced about half the night an' then, about sunrise, I went out into the country for a bit.

MRS. JOHN

Did Quaquaro see you comin' in, Bruno? Then you better look out that you ain't walked into no trap.

BRUNO

No danger. I crossed the yard an' then went through the cellar o' my friend what deals in junk an' after that up through the loft.

MRS. JOHN

Well, an' what happened?

BRUNO

Don' fool aroun', Jette. I gotta have railroad fare. I gotta take to my heels or I'll go straight to h.e.l.l.

MRS. JOHN

An' what did you do with that there girl?

BRUNO

Oh, I found a way, Jette!

MRS. JOHN

What's the meanin' o' that?

BRUNO

Oh, I managed to make her a little more accommodatin' all right!

MRS. JOHN

An' is it a sure thing that she won't come back now?

BRUNO

Sure. I don' believe that she'll come again! But that wasn't no easy piece of work, Jette. But I tell you ... gimme somethin' to drink--quick!... I tell you, you made me thirsty with your d.a.m.ned business--thirsty, an' hot as h.e.l.l.

[_He drains a jug full of water._

MRS. JOHN

People saw you outside the door with the girl.

BRUNO

I had to make a engagement with Arthur. She didn't want to have nothin'

to do with me. But Arthur, he came dancin' along in his fine clothes an'

he managed to drag her along to a bar. She swallowed the bait right down when he told her as how her intended was waitin' for her there. [_He trills out, capering about convulsively._]

"All we does in life's to go Up an' down an' to an' fro From a tap-room to a show!"

MRS. JOHN

Well, an' then?

BRUNO