anything. We've done each other many a service in the years that we've
lived together here. And those services compensate for each other. We
were good friends and, surely, we will remain such.
HENSCHEL
[_Silently takes a few steps toward the window and looks out._]--Ah,
them's queer things here. Time don't stand still in this world. Little
Karl, he never came to see us no more ... I can't make no objection.
Maybe you was right. The lad couldn't ha' learned nothin' good here.
'Twas different--once!
SIEBENHAAR
Henschel, I don't know what you mean now!
HENSCHEL
An' you didn't cross my threshold neither. 'Tis nine months since you
did.
SIEBENHAAR
I had too much to worry me; that's all.
HENSCHEL
Those were the very times you used to come before. No, no, I know. You
were right. An' the people are right too--all of 'em. I can't take no
pride in myself no more.
SIEBENHAAR
Henschel, you must take some rest now.
HENSCHEL
No, no; we c'n talk about it a bit. You see, I know 'tis all my fault--I
know that, an' with that we can let it be. But before I went an' took
this woman--Hanne, I mean--before that it all began ... slowly it began,
slowly--but downhill right along. First thing, a good bonehandled whip
broke. After that, I remember it right well, I drove over my dog an' he
died. 'Twas the best little dog I had. Then, one right after another,
three o' my horses died; an' one of 'em was the fine stallion that cost
me five hundred crowns. An' then, last of all ... my wife died. I noticed
it well enough in my own thoughts that fate was against me. But when my
wife went away from me, I had a minute in my own mind when I thought to
myself: Now it's enough. There's not much else that c'n be taken from me.
But you see, there was somethin' else.--I don't want to talk about
Gustel. A man loses first his wife an' then a child--that's common. But
no: a snare was laid for me an' I stepped into it.
SIEBENHAAR
Who laid a snare for you?
HENSCHEL
Maybe the devil; maybe, too, somebody else. It's throttlin' me--that's
certain.
[_Pause._]
SIEBENHAAR
That's a most unhappy notion of yours ...
HENSCHEL
An' I'm denyin' nothin'. A bad man I've come to be, only it's no fault o'
mine. I just, somehow, stumbled into it all. Maybe it's my fault too. You
c'n say so if you want to. Who knows? I should ha' kept a better watch.
But the devil is more cunnin' than me. I just kept on straight ahead.
SIEBENHAAR
Henschel, you're just your own worst enemy. You're fighting phantoms
which have no existence at any time or place. The devil has done nothing
to you, nor have you stepped into any snare. And no one is throttling you
either. That is all nonsense. And such fancies are dangerous.
HENSCHEL
We'll see; we c'n wait an' see.
SIEBENHAAR
Well, tell me something definite. You won't be able to do it, however you
try. You are neither bad, as you say, nor are you burdened by any guilt.
HENSCHEL
Ah, I know better.
SIEBENHAAR
Well, what is your guilt?
HENSCHEL
Here stood the bed. An' she was lyin' in it. An' here I gave her my
promise. I gave her my promise an' I've broken it!
SIEBENHAAR
What promise was that?
HENSCHEL
You know well enough!--I broke it an' when I did that, I was lost. I was
done for. The game was up.--An' you see: now she can't find no rest.
SIEBENHAAR
Are you speaking of your dead wife?
HENSCHEL
'Tis of her, of her exackly that I'm speakin'. She can't find no rest in
the grave. She comes an' she goes an' she finds no rest.--I curry the
horses; there she stands. I take a sieve from the feed-bin, an' I see her
sittin' behind the door. I mean to go to bed in the little room; 'tis she
that's lyin' in the bed an' lookin' at me.--She's hung a watch aroun' my
neck; she knocks at the wall; she scratches on the panes.--She puts her
finger on my breast an' I'm that smothered, I has to gasp for air. No,
no, I know best. You got to go through a thing like that before you know
what it is. You can't tell about It. I've gone through a deal--you c'n
believe me.
SIEBENHAAR
Henschel, this is my last word to you: Gather all the strength you have
in you; plant yourself firmly on both legs. Go and consult a physician.
Tell yourself that you are ill, very ill, but drive these phantoms away.
They are mere cobwebs of the brain, mere fancies.
HENSCHEL
That's what you said that there time, too. Just so or somethin' like it
you said.
SIEBENHAAR
Very likely, and I'm willing to stand by it now. What you did in the
matter of your marriage, it was your entire right to do. There was no
question of any sin or guilt.
_WERMELSKIRCH steps forward._
WERMELSKIRCH
Henschel, come over to me. We'll light the gas and play cards. We'll
drink beer or whatever you want to and smoke a pipe with it; then the
ghosts can come if they want to. In two hours it will be bright daylight.
Then we can drink some coffee and take a walk. The devil is in this if
you can't be made to be your old self again.
HENSCHEL
Maybe so; we c'n try it all right.
WERMELSKIRCH
Well then, come along.
HENSCHEL
I won't go to your place no more.
WERMELSKIRCH
On account of that little nonsense the other day? That was only a
misunderstanding. And all that has been cleared up. I simply won't let
Hauffe come in any more. The fellow is always drunk; that's a fact.
Things are often said in heat that simply enter at one ear and pass out
at the other. And that's the way to treat such incidents, I always do.
HENSCHEL
An' that'd be best too. You're quite right. But no--I won't be comin'
into the barroom no more. I'm goin' to travel about a good bit, I think.
Maybe they won't follow me all roun'. An' now sleep well. I'm feelin'
sleepy too.
SIEBENHAAR
How would it be, Henschel, if you came up with me? There's light upstairs
and my office is heated. There we can all three play a little game. I
wouldn't lie down to-night anyhow.
HENSCHEL
Yes, yes; we could be doin' that together. 'Tis long since I've touched a
card.
MRS. HENSCHEL
That's right. Go on up. You wouldn't be able to sleep nohow.
HENSCHEL
I'm not goin'! Y' understand me now?
MRS. HENSCHEL
Well, if you're goin' to stay, then I won't. God knows what you'll be up
to this night. You'll begin to be playin' aroun' with knives again. Yes,
that's what he did yesterday. A body's not sure o' her life no more.
HENSCHEL
You won't see me goin' up there. He advised me to do what I did, an' then
he was the first one to despise me for doin' it.
SIEBENHAAR
Henschel, I never despised you. You're an honourable fellow, through and
through; don't talk nonsense now. There are certain fates that come upon
men. And what one has to bear is not easy. You have grown ill, but you
have remained a good man. And for that truth I'll put my hand in the
fire!
HENSCHEL
Maybe that's true too, Mr. Siebenhaar.--Let it be; we'll talk about
somethin' else. 'Tisn't your fault; I always said that. An' I can't blame
my brother-in law neither. He knows where he gets all that from, 'Tis she
herself goes roun' to people an' tells 'em. She's everywhere--now here
an' now there. I s'pose she was with her brother too.
WERMELSKIRCH
Who is it that goes about among people? Not a soul is thinking of that
affair of the other night, That's quite forgotten by this time.
HENSCHEL
It sticks to me--it does--turn it any way you please. _She_ knows how to
go about it. She's everywhere, an' she'll persuade folks. An' even, if
people was goin' to be silent for my sake an' wasn't after me like so
many dogs--nothin' c'n do any good. It'll stick to me.
SIEBENHAAR
Henschel, we won't go away until you've put that, out of your mind. You
must calm, yourself entirely.
HENSCHEL
Oh, I'm sensible now an' quiet, reel quiet.
SIEBENHAAR
Very well. In that case we can talk quite frankly. You see for yourself
how your wife repents. That waiter fellow is gone; he's far away by this
time and you'll never set your eyes on him again. Anyone may fall into
sin--no matter who it is. And so take each other's hands. Bury that
matter, hide it out of sight and be at peace.
HENSCHEL
I don't has to make no peace with her. [_To HANNE._] I c'n give you my
hand! I don't mind. That you've gone an' made a mistake--the Lord c'n
judge that in this world. I won't condemn you on that account.--If only
... about Gustel ... if only we could know somethin' ... about that ...
for certain!
MRS. HENSCHEL
You c'n both kill me this minute. May I drop dead if I did any harm to
Gustel!!
HENSCHEL
That's what I've been sayin': It'll stick to me.--Well, we c'n talk it
over again to-morrow. Before we get through talkin' about that, many a
drop o' water'll have time to run into the sea, I'm thinkin'.
WERMELSKIRCH
Why don't you build a comfortable fire and cook a cup of hot coffee.
After rain comes the sunshine. That's the way it is between married
people. There will be storms in every marriage. But after the storm
everything grows greener. The main thing is: Bye, baby, bye--[_He
imitates the gesture of one rocking a child in his arms._]--That's the
right way. That's the thing that you two must get for yourselves.
[_Jovially patting HENSCHEL'S shoulder._] That's what the old man likes.
You two must get together and buy a toy like that. Confound it, Henschel!
It would be queer if that weren't easy. A giant of a man like you! Good
night all.
SIEBENHAAR
Everything changes. One must have courage.
WERMELSKIRCH
Just keep cool and dress warmly--that's it!
_SIEBENHAAR and WERMELSKIRCH withdraw. HENSCHEL goes slowly to the
door and is about to lock it again._
MRS. HENSCHEL
You're to leave that open!
HENSCHEL
All right; I don't mind.--What are you doin' there?
MRS. HENSCHEL
[_Who has been bending down before the oven, draws herself up quickly._]
I'm makin' a fire. Don't you see that?
HENSCHEL
[_Sitting down, heavily by the table._] For my part you c'n light the
lamp too.
[_He pulls out the drawer of the table._
MRS. HENSCHEL
What are you lookin' for?
HENSCHEL
Nothin'.
MRS. HENSCHEL
Then you c'n push it back in. [_She steps forward and shuts the drawer._]
I s'ppose you want to wake Berthel up?
[_Pause._]
HENSCHEL
Monday he's goin'. Then we'll be alone.
MRS. HENSCHEL
Who's goin' on Monday?
HENSCHEL
Siebenhaar. The Lord knows how we'll get along with the new owner.
MRS. HENSCHEL
He's a rich man. He won't borrow money of you at least.
HENSCHEL
--Hanne, one of us two'll have to go. One of us two. Yes, yes,'tis true.
You c'n look at me. That can't be changed.
MRS. HENSCHEL
I'm to go away? You want to drive me away?
HENSCHEL
We'll see about that later--_who_ has to go! Maybe 'twill be me, an'
maybe 'twill be you. If I was to go ... I know this for sure--you
wouldn't be scared about yourself. You're able to look after the business
like a man.--But 's I said: it don't matter about me.
MRS. HENSCHEL
If one of us has to go--I'll go. I'm still strong enough. I'll leave an'
nobody needn't see me no more. The horses an' the waggons--they're all
yours. You got the business from your father an' you can't go an' leave
it. I'll go an' then the trouble'll be over.
HENSCHEL
'Tis easy sayin' that. We got to consider one thing at a time.
MRS. HENSCHEL
There's no use in drawin' it out. What's over and done with is over.
HENSCHEL
[_Rising heavily and going toward the adjoining room._] An' Berthel?
What's to become o' the lass?
MRS. HENSCHEL
She'll have to go to father, over in Quolsdorf.
HENSCHEL
[_At the door of the bedroom._] Let it be. To-morrow is another day.
Everythin' changes, as Siebenhaar says. To-morrow, maybe, everythin' 'll
look different.
[_Pause._]
HENSCHEL
[_Invisible in the next room._] Berthel is sweating all over again.
MRS. HENSCHEL
That won't do her no harm to be sweatin' a bit. The drops are runnin'
down my neck too. Oh, what a life--[_She opens a window._]--a body'd
rather be dead.
HENSCHEL
What are you talkin' about? I don't understand.
MRS. HENSCHEL
Lie down on your side an' leave me alone.
HENSCHEL
Are you comin' too?
MRS. HENSCHEL
It's most day now.
[_She winds the clock._]
HENSCHEL
Who's windin' the clock?
MRS. HENSCHEL
You're to keep still now. If Berthel was to wake up it'd be a fine to do.
She'd howl for half an hour. [_She sits down at the table and leans both
elbows upon it._] 'Twould be best if a body got up an' went away,
_SIEBENHAAR peers in._
SIEBENHAAR I'm lookin' in once more. Is your husband calmer now?
MRS. HENSCHEL
Yes, yes, he lay down to sleep. [_She calls._] Husband! Wilhelm!
SIEBENHAAR
Sh! You'd better be grateful. Hurry and go to bed yourself.
MRS. HENSCHEL
There's nothin' else left to do. I'll go an' try. [_She goes to the door
of the bedroom, stands still as if spellbound and listens._] Wilhelm! You
might answer.--[_Louder and more frightened._] Wilhelm! You're not to
frighten me this way! Maybe you think I don't know that you're still
awake!!--[_In growing terror._]--Wilhelm, I tell you!... [_BERTHEL has
waked up and wails._] Berthel, you look out an' keep still! Keep still or
I don't know what'll happen!--Wilhelm! Wilhelm!
[_She almost shrieks._
SIEBENHAAR looks in again.
SIEBENHAAR
What's the matter, Mrs. Henschel?
MRS. HENSCHEL
I call an' call an' he don't answer!
SIEBENHAAR
Are you crazy? Why do you do that?
MRS. HENSCHEL
--'Tis so still ... Somethin's happened.
SIEBENHAAR
What?--[_He takes up the candle and goes toward the bedroom door._]
Henschel, have you fallen asleep?
[_He enters the bedroom._
[_Pause._]
MRS. HENSCHEL
[_Not daring to follow him._] What is it? What is it? What's goin' on?
_WERMELSKIRCH looks in._
WERMELSKIRCH
Who's in there?
MRS. HENSCHEL
Mr. Siebenhaar.--'Tis so still. Nobody don't answer.--
SIEBENHAAR
[_Very pale and holding BERTHEL on his arm hurries out of the bedroom._]
Mrs. Henschel, take your child and go up to my wife.
MRS. HENSCHEL
[_Already with the child in her arms._] For God's sake, what has
happened?
SIEBENHAAR
You'll find that out all too soon.
MRS. HENSCHEL
[_With a voice that is first repressed and at last rises to a scream._] O
God, he's done hisself some harm!
_[She runs out with the child._
WERMELSKIRCH
Shall I call the doctor?
SIEBENHAAR
Too late! He could give no help here.
THE CURTAIN FALLS.
ROSE BERND
LIST OF PERSONS
BERND.
ROSE BERND.
MARTHEL.
CHRISTOPHER FLAMM.
MRS. FLAMM.
ARTHUR STRECKMANN.
AUGUST KEIL.
HAHN. HEINZEL. GOLISCH. KLEINERT. _Field Labourers_
OLD MRS. GOLISCH.
THE HEAD MAID SERVANT.
THE ASSISTANT MAID SERVANT.
A CONSTABLE.
THE FIRST ACT
_A level, fertile landscape. It is a clear, warm, sunny morning in
May. Diagonally from the middle to the foreground extends a path. The
fields on either side are raised slightly above it. In the immediate
foreground a small potato patch on which the green shoots are already
visible. A shallow ditch, covered with field flowers, separates the
path from the fields. To the left of the path on a slope about six
feet in height an old cherry tree, to the right hazelnut and
whitethorn bushes. Nearly parallel with this path, but at some
distance in the background, the course of a brook is marked by
willows and alder trees. Solitary groves of ancient trees add a
park-like appearance to the landscape. In the background, left, from
among bushes and tree-tops arise the gables and the church steeple of
the village. A crucifix stands by the wayside in the foreground,
right. It is Sunday._
_ROSE BERND, a beautiful, vigorous peasant girl of twenty-two
emerges, excited and blushing, from the bushes at the left and sits
down on the slope, after having peered shyly and eagerly in all
directions. Her skirt is caught up, her feet are bare, as are her
arms and neck. She is busily braiding one of her long, blonde
tresses. Shortly after her appearance a man comes stealthily from the
bushes on the other side. It is the landowner and magistrate,
CHRISTOPHER FLAMM. He, too, gives the impression of being embarrassed
but at the same time amused. His personality is not undignified; his
dress betrays something of the sportsman, nothing of the dandy--laced
boots, hunter's hose, a leather bottle slung by a strap across his
shoulder. Altogether FLAMM is robust, unspoiled, vivid and
broad-shouldered and creates a thoroughly pleasant impression. He
sits down on the slope at a carefully considered distance from ROSE.
They look at each other silently and then break out into
inextinguishable laughter._
FLAMM
[_With rising boldness and delight sings ever louder and more heartily,
beating time like a conductor._]
"In heath and under greenwood tree,
There is the joy I choose for me!
I am a huntsman bold
I am a huntsman bold!"
ROSE
[_Is at first frightened by his singing; then, more and more amused, her
embarrassment gives way to laughter._] Oh, but Mr. Flamm ...
FLAMM
[_With a touch of jaunty boldness._] Sing with me, Rosie!
ROSE
Oh, but I can't sing, Mr. Flamm.
FLAMM
Ah, that isn't true, Rosie. Don't I hear you often and often singing out
on the farm:
"A huntsman from the Rhineland ..." Well!
"Rides through the forest green."
ROSE
But I don't know that song a bit, Mr. Flamm.
FLAMM
You're not to say Mr. Flamm! Come now!
"Girlie, come and move
Here to my favourite si-i-ide!"
ROSE
[_Anxiously._] The people will be comin' from church in a minute, Mr.
Flamm.
FLAMM
Let 'em come! [_He gets up and takes his rifle from the hollow cherry
tree to the left._] I'd better hang it around again anyhow. So.--And now
my hat and my pipe! Good. They can come whenever they please. [_He has
slung his gun across his shoulder, straightened his hat which is
ornamented with a cock's feather, taken a short pipe out of his pocket
and put it between his lips._] Look at the wild cherries. They're thick.
[_He picks up a handful of them and shows them to ROSE. With heartfelt
conviction:_] Rosie, I wish you were my wife!
ROSE
Goodness, Mr. Flamm!
FLAMM
I do, so help me!
ROSE
[_Nervously trying to restrain him_] Oh no, no!
FLAMM
Rosie, give me your dear, good, faithful little paw. [_He holds her hand
and sits down._] By heaven, Rosie! Look here, I'm a deucedly queer
fellow! I'm damned fond of my dear old woman; that's as true as ...
ROSE
[_Hiding her face in her arm._] You make me want to die o' shame.
FLAMM
Damned fond of her I tell you ... but--[_His patience snaps._]--this
doesn't concern her a bit!
ROSE
[_Again tempted to laugh against her will._] Oh, but how you talk, Mr.
Flamm!
FLAMM
[_Filled with hearty admiration of her._] Oh, you're a lovely woman! You
are lovely! You see: my wife and I ... that's a queer bit of business,
that is. Not the kind of thing that can be straightened out in a minute.
You know Henrietta ... She's sick. Nine solid years she's been bedridden;
at most she creeps around in a wheel chair.--Confound it all, what good
is that sort o' thing to me?
[_He grasps her head and kisses her passionately._
ROSE
[_Frightened under his kisses._] The people are comin' from church!
FLAMM
They're not thinking of it! Why are you so worried about the people in
church to-day?
ROSE
Because August's in church too.
FLAMM
That long-faced gentry is always in church! Where else should they be?
But, Rosie, it isn't even half past ten yet; and when the service is over
the bells ring. No, and you needn't be worried about my wife either.
ROSE
Oh, Christopher, she keeps lookin' at a body sometimes, so you want to
die o' shame.
FLAMM
You don't know my old lady; that's it. She's bright; she can look through
three board walls! But on that account ...! She's mild and good as a lamb
... even if she knew what there is between us; she wouldn't take our
heads off.
ROSE
Oh, no! For heaven's sake, Mr. Flamm!
FLAMM
Nonsense, Rosie! Have a pinch, eh? [_He takes snuff._] I tell you once
more: I don't care about anything! [_Indignantly._] What is a man like me
to do? What, I ask you? No, don't misunderstand me! Surely you know how
seriously I think of our affair. Let me talk ahead once in a while.
ROSE
Mr. Christie, you're so good to me ...! [_With a sudden ebullition of
tenderness, tears in her eyes, she kisses FLAMM'S hand._] So good ... but
...
FLAMM
[_Moved and surprised._] Good to you? No wonder! Deuce take me, Rosie.
That's very little, being good to you. If I were free, I'd marry you. You
see, I've lost the ordinary way in life! Not to speak of past affairs!
I'm fit for ... well, I wonder what I _am_ fit for! I might have been a
royal chief forester to-day! And yet, when the governor died, I went
straight home and threw over my career. I wasn't born for the higher
functions of society. All this even is too civilised for me. A block
house, a rifle, bear's ham for supper and a load of lead sent into the
breeches of the first comer--that would be ...!
ROSE
But that can't be had, Mr. Flamm! And ... things has got to end sometime.
FLAMM
[_Half to himself._] Confound it all to everlasting perdition! Isn't
there time enough left for that spindle-shanked hypocrite? Won't there be
far too much left for that fellow anyway? No> girlie, I'd send him about
his business.
ROSE
Oh, but I've kept him danglin' long enough. Two years an' more he's been
waitin'. Now he's urgent; he won't wait any longer. An' things can't go
on this way no more.
FLAMM
[_Enraged._] That's all nonsense; you understand. First you worked
yourself to the bone for your father. You haven't the slightest notion of
what life is, and now you want to be that bookbinder's pack horse. I
don't see how people can be so vulgar and heartless as to make capital
out of another human being in that way! If that's all you're looking
forward to, surely there's time enough.
ROSE
No, Christie ... It's easy to talk that way, Mr. Flamm! But if you was
put into such circumstances, you'd be thinkin' different too.--I know how
shaky father's gettin'! An' the landlord has given us notice too. A new
tenant is to move in, I believe! An' then it's father's dearest wish that
everythin's straightened out.
FLAMM
Then let your father marry August Keil, if he's so crazy about the
fellow. Why, he's positively obsessed. It's madness the way he's taken
with that man!
ROSE
You're unjust, Mr. Flamm; that's all.
FLAMM
Say rather ... Well, what? What was I going to say?... I can't bear that
sanctimonious phiz! My gorge rises at the sight of him. God forgive me,
Rosie, and forgive you especially! Why shouldn't I be open with you? It
may be that he has his merits. They say, too, that he's saved up a few
shillings. But that's no reason why you should go and drown yourself in
his paste-pot!
ROSE
No, Christopher! Don't talk that way! I musn't listen to such talk, the
dear Lord knows!--August, he's been through a lot!--His sickness an' his
misfortunes--that goes right to a person's soul ...
FLAMM
A man can never understand you women folks. You're an intelligent and
determined girl, and suddenly, on one point, your stupidity is simply
astonishing--goose-like, silly! It goes straight to your soul, does it?
From that point of view you might as well marry an ex-convict, if pity or
stupidity are reasons. You ought to raise a bit of a row with your father
for once! What's hurting August? He grew up in the orphan house and
succeeded in making his way for all that. If you won't have him, his
brethren in the Lord will find him another. They're expert enough at
that!
ROSE
[_With decision._] No, that won't do. And--it has got to be, Mr.
Flamm.--I'm not sorry for what's happened, though I've had my share o'
sufferin' in quiet. All to myself, I mean. But never mind. An' nothin'
can change that now. But it's got to come to an end some day--it can't
never an' never go on this way.
FLAMM
Can't go on? What do you mean by that exactly?
ROSE
Just ... because things is no different in this world. I can't put him
off no longer; an' father wouldn't bear with it. An' he's quite right in
that matter. Dear Lord ha' mercy! 'Tis no easier on that account! But
when it'll all be off a body's soul ... I don't know--[_She touches her
breast._] they calls it, I believe, strain o' the heart, Oh, times are
when I has real pains in my heart ... An' a person can't feel that way
all the time.
FLAMM
Well, then there's nothing more to be done just now. It's time for me to
be getting home. [_He gets up and throws the rifle across his shoulder._]
Another time then, Rosie. Good-bye!
_ROSE stares straight in front of her without answering._
FLAMM
What's the matter, Rosie? Won't there be another time?
_ROSE shakes her head._
FLAMM
What, have I hurt you, Rosie?
ROSE
There'll never be another time--like this--Mr. Flamm.
FLAMM
[_With despairing passion._] Girl, I don't care if it costs me everything
...