[_Losing self-control._] You will replace that wood, Mrs. Wolff. WEHRHAHN All that remains to be seen, if you will wait. KRUEGER You will indemnify me for that wood to the last farthing! MRS. WOLFF An' is that so? That'd be a new way o' doin' things! Did I, maybe, go an' steal your wood? WEHRHAHN You had better let the man calm down, Mrs. Wolff. MRS. WOLFF No, when Mr. Krueger comes round me with things like that, payin' for wood and such like, he ain't goin' to have no luck. I always been friendly with them people--that's sure. Nobody can't complain o' nothin' 'sfar 's I'm concerned. But if things gets to this point, then I'd rather up and says my say just exactly how I feel, you know. I do my dooty and that's enough. There ain't nobody in the whole village what c'n say anythin' against me. But I ain't goin' to let _nobody_ walk all over me! WEHRHAHN You need not wear yourself out, Mrs. Wolff. You have absolutely no cause for it. Just remain calm, quite calm. You're not entirely unknown to me, after all. There isn't a human being who would undertake to deny your industry and honesty. So let us hear what you have to say in answer to the plaintiff. KRUEGER The woman can't possibly have anything to say! MRS. WOLFF Hol' on, now, everybody! How's that, I'd like to know? Ain't the girl my daughter? An' I'm not to have anythin' to say! You gotta go an' look for some kind of a fool! You don't know much about me. I don't has to hide what I thinks from no one--no, not from his honour hisself, an' a good deal less from you, you may take your oath on that! WEHRHAHN I quite understand your excitement, Mrs. Wolff. But if you desire to serve the cause at issue, I would advise you to remain calm. MRS. WOLFF That's what a person gets. I been washin' clothes for them people these ten years. All that time we ain't had a fallin' out. An' now, all of a sudden, they treat you this way. I ain't comin' to your house no more, you c'n believe me. KRUEGER You don't need to. There are other washerwomen. MRS. WOLFF An' the vegetables an' the fruit out o' your garden--you c'n just go an' get somebody else to sell 'em for you. KRUEGER I can get rid of all that. There's no fear. All you needed to have done was to have taken a stick to that girl of yours and sent her back. MRS. WOLFF I won't have no daughter of mine abused. KRUEGER Who has been abusing your daughter, I'd like to know! MRS. WOLFF [_To WEHRHAHN._] The girl came back to me no better'n a skeleton. KRUEGER Then let her not spend all her nights dancing. MRS. WOLFF She sleeps like the dead all day. WEHRHAHN [_Past MRS. WOLFF to KRUEGER._] By the way, where did you buy the wood in question? MRS. WOLFF Is this thing goin' to last much longer? WEHRHAHN Why, Mrs. Wolff? MRS. WOLFF Why, on account o' the washin'. If I wastes my time standin' round here, I can't get done. WEHRHAHN We can't take that into consideration here, Mrs. Wolff. MRS. WOLFF