The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann - BestLightNovel.com
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An' did you have to take an oath too?
ROSE
I don't know.--I'm not such a wicked la.s.s ... If that was true,'twould be a bitter crime!... An' that August lost his eye ... it wasn't I that was the cause o' it. The pains that poor man had to suffer ... they follows me day an' night. An' he might well despise me if they didn't. But you try an' work an' pray to save somethin' from the flames o' the world ...
an' men comes an' they breaks your strength.
_FLAMM enters in intense excitement._
FLAMM
Who is breaking your strength? Look at mother here! On the contrary, we want to save you!
ROSE
'Tis too late now! It can't be done no more.
FLAMM
What does that mean?
ROSE
Nothin'!--I can't wait no longer. Good-bye, I'll go my ways.
FLAMM
Here you stay! Don't move from this spot! I was at the door and heard everything, and now I want to know the whole truth.
ROSE
But I'm tellin' you the truth!
FLAMM
About Streckmann too?
ROSE
There wasn't nothin' between us. He lies!
FLAMM
Does he say that there was something between you?
ROSE
I say nothin' but that he lies!
FLAMM
Did he swear to that lie?
_ROSE is silent._
FLAMM
[_Regards ROSE long and searchingly. Then:_] Well, mother, think as charitably of me as you can. Try to forgive me as much as possible. I know with the utmost certainty that that matter doesn't concern me in the least any longer! I simply laugh at it! I snap my fingers at it.
MRS. FLAMM
[_To ROSE._] Did you deny everything?
ROSE
FLAMM
I spoke the truth in court, of course. Streckmann doesn't lie at such times neither. Perjury is a penitentiary crime--a man doesn't lie under such circ.u.mstances!
MRS. FLAMM
An' didn't you tell the truth, girl? You lied when you were under oath, maybe?--Haven't you any idea what that means an' what you've done? How did you happen to do that? How could you think o' such a thing?
ROSE
[_Cries out brokenly._] I was so ashamed!
MRS. FLAMM
But Rose ...
FLAMM
Every word is wasted! Why did you lie to the judge?
ROSE
I was ashamed, I tell ye!... I was ashamed!
FLAMM
And I? And mother? And August? Why did you cheat us all? And you probably cheated Streckmann in the end too? And I wonder with whom else you carried on!... Yes, oh, yes; you have a very honest face. But you did right to be ashamed!
ROSE
He baited me an' he hunted me down like a dog!
