The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann - BestLightNovel.com
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Do give him a chance to get his breath!
LANGHEINRICH
Oh, pshaw! Never you mind! I c'n attend to that right off.
[_After he has taken off his hat and coat and slipped on wooden shoes he hurries into the house._
EDE
Well, what d'you think o' that?
DR. BOXER
He's a cheerful soul--more so, if possible, than he used to be. It does one good to find a man that way.
EDE
Only that I axed after Leontine, that riled him more'n a little bit all right.
MRS. SCHULZE
[_To EDE, watchfully:_] Where was the boss so early this mornin'?
EDE
In Lichtenberg, attendin' a dance.
MRS. SCHULZE
The treatment that woman's gettin' is all wrong, Doctor. I don't mix in what don't concern me. But the way she's treated, that ain't no kind o'
treatment, I c'n tell you. I told that Majunke man too that the missis was goin' to the dogs this way.
DR. BOXER
But Dr. Majunke is very capable. I know him to be an excellent physician.
MRS. SCHULZE
[_Interrupting._] Sure, sure, an' that's true. 'Course he's capable.
That's right, an' so he is. But, you see, he just won't prescribe nothin'
DR. BOXER
What should he prescribe? Let the people save their money.
MRS. SCHULZE
But that's just what people don't want to do. It's like this: medicine's got to be. If there ain't none they says: how c'n the doctor help us?
DR. BOXER
Mrs. Langheinrich never was strong. Even years ago when she used to sew for us ...
MRS. SCHULZE
That's the way it is. She's a little bit humpbacked; that's right. That's the way women is, though, Doctor! A seamstress--that's what she was...!
She sewed an' she sewed and saved up a little money...! An' what kind of a bargain is it she's got now. A handsome feller an' sickness an' worry an' no rest no more by day or night.
_LANGHEINRICH returns from the house._
LANGHEINRICH
[_Tapping MRS. SCHULZE'S shoulder somewhat roughly._] Hurry now! Go on up! It's all arranged an' settled. To-morrow I'm goin' to take her to the clinic.
MRS. SCHULZE
That ain't goin' to be no easy work!
LANGHEINRICH
[_Lifts a great can of water to his mouth._] I can't help that. Things is as they is. [_He takes an enormously long draught from the tin can.
Putting it down:_] Ede, drive them ducks away!
EDE
[_Acting as though he were driving away ducks, flaps his leathern ap.r.o.n and rattles his wooden shoes._] Shoo! Shoo! Shoo! Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!
_MRS. SCHULZE retires into the house, shaking her head._
LANGHEINRICH
Them ducks is your regular fire eaters. There don't need nothin' but for some sparks to fly off an', right straight off, they gobbles 'em down.
Then we gets what you might call roast duck that never meant to be roasted. An' my old woman she ain't no friend o' that.
_RAUCHHAUPT looks over the fence to the left._
LANGHEINRICH
There's been a big fire again over there behind Landsberg. All the houses on a great estate is ashes.
RAUCHHAUPT
Did you maybe see Gustav anywhere?
LANGHEINRICH
Mornin', old boy! No, not me! Has he gone an' run off again?
