The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann - BestLightNovel.com
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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!
