The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 74

your unwillingness to let me help you.--But I don't see how you're goin'

to get along all alone. Come, drink a cup o' coffee. [_ROSE sits down on the edge of a chair by the table._] August was here to see me a while ago. If I had been in your shoes, la.s.s, I'd have risked it long ago an'

told him the truth. [_Looking sharply at her._] But now, the way things has gone--I can't even advise you to do it! Isn't that true?

ROSE

Oh, but why, madam?

MRS. FLAMM

'Tis true, the older a person gets, the less can she understand mankind an' their ways. We've all come into the world the same way, but there's no mention to be made o' that! From the Emperor an' the archbishop down to the stable boy--they've all gotten their bit o' life one way ... one way ... an' 'tis the one thing they can't besmirch enough. An' if the stork but flies past the chimney-top--the confusion of people is great.

Then they run away in every direction. A guest like that is never welcome!

ROSE

Oh, madam, all that would ha' been straightened up this long time, if it hadn't ha' been for this criminal an' scoundrel here ... this liar ...

this Streckmann ...

MRS. FLAMM

No, girl. I don't understand that. How can you bear to say that the man lies? 'Tis your shape that almost tells the story now!

ROSE

He lies! He lies! That's all I know.

MRS. FLAMM

But in what respect does he lie?

ROSE

In every respeck an' in every way!

MRS. FLAMM

I don't believe you've really thought it all out! Do you remember who I am? Think, la.s.s, think! In the first place you confessed it all to me, and furthermore, I know more than what you said: I know all that you didn't say.

ROSE

[_s.h.i.+vering with nervousness but obdurate._] An' if you was to kill me, I couldn't say what I don't know.

MRS. FLAMM

Is that so? Oh! Is that your policy now? I must say I didn't take you for a girl of that kind! It comes over me unexpectedly! I hope you talked a little plainer than that when you were questioned in court.

ROSE

I said just the same thing there that I'm tellin' you.

MRS. FLAMM

Girl, come to your senses! You're talking dreadful folly! People don't lie that way before the Judge! Listen to what I'm tellin' you! Drink a bit o' coffee, an' don't be frightened! n.o.body's pursuing you, an' I won't eat you up either!--You haven't acted very well toward me: no one could say that you had! You might at least have told me the truth that day; maybe an easier way out could ha' been found. 'Tis a hard matter now! An' yet, we won't be idle, an' even to-day, maybe, some way o'

savin' you can be found! Some way it may be possible yet! Well then!...

An' especially ... this much is certain ... an' you can trust to that surely ... you shan't, either of you, ever suffer any need in this world!

Even if your father abandons you and August, maybe, goes his own way, I'll provide for you an' for your child.

ROSE

I don't hardly know what you mean, madam!

MRS. FLAMM

Well, girl, then I'll tell you straight out! If you don't know that an'

have forgotten it, then it's simply because you have a bad conscience!

Then you've been guilty of something else! An', if you _has_ another secret, it's connected with n.o.body but with Streckmann. Then, he's the fellow that's bringin' trouble upon you!

ROSE

[_Violently._] No, how can you think such a thing o' me! You say that ...

oh, for the good Lord's sake ... how has I deserved it o' you!... If only my little Kurt ... my dear little fellow ...

[_She wrings her hands hysterically in front of the child's picture._

MRS. FLAMM

Rose, let that be, I beg o' you! It may be that you've deserved well o'

me in other days. We're not arguin' about that now! But you're so changed, so ... I can never understand how you've come to change so!

ROSE

Why didn't my little mother take me to herself! She said she would when she died.

MRS. FLAMM

Come to your senses, la.s.s. You're alive. What is your trouble?

ROSE

It has nothin' to do with Streckmann! That man has lied his soul black.

MRS. FLAMM

What did he lie about? Did he make his statements under oath?

ROSE

Oath or no oath! I says he lies, lies ...

MRS. FLAMM