[_Playing ball with her orange._] Oh, Lord, if that was true! But you just went and took it! MRS. WOLFF What's that you say? ADELAIDE It's just taken. That's the wood from Krueger's, mama. Leontine told me. MRS. WOLFF [_Cuffs her head._] There you got an answer. We ain't no thieves. Now go an' get your lessons. An' do 'em nice! I'll come an' look 'em over later! ADELAIDE [_Exit. From the adjoining room._] I thought I could go skatin'. MRS. WOLFF An' your lessons for your confirmation? I guess you forgot them! ADELAIDE That don't come till Tuesday. MRS. WOLFF It's to-morrow! You go an' study your verses. I'll come in an' hear you say 'em later. ADELAIDE'S [_Loud yawning is heard from the adjoining room. Then she says:_] "Jesus to his disciples said, Use your fingers to eat your bread." _JULIUS comes back._ MRS. WOLFF Well, Julius, did you go an' do what I told you? JULIUS If you don't like my way o' doin', go an' do things yourself. MRS. WOLFF God knows that _is_ the best way--always. [_She pours out two cupfuls of coffee, one for him and one for herself, and places the two cups with bread and butter on a wooden chair._] Here, drink your coffee. JULIUS [_Sitting down and cutting himself some bread._] I hope Wulkow's been able to get away! MRS. WOLFF In this thaw! JULIUS Even if it is thawin', you can't tell. MRS. WOLFF An' you needn't care if it do freeze a bit; he ain't goin' to be stuck. I guess he's a good way up the canal by this time. JULIUS Well, I hope he ain't lyin' under the bridge this minute. MRS. WOLFF For my part he can be lyin' where he wants to. JULIUS You c'n take it from me, y'understan'? That there man Wulkow is goin' to get into a hell of a hole some day. MRS. WOLFF That's his business; that ain't none o' ours. JULIUS Trouble is we'd all be in the same hole. You just let 'em go an' find that coat on him! MRS. WOLFF What coat are you talkin' about? JULIUS Krueger's, o' course! MRS. WOLFF Don't you go talkin' rot like that, y'understan'? An' don't go an' give yourself a black eye on account o' other people's affairs! JULIUS I guess them things concerns me! MRS. WOLFF Concerns you--rot! That don't concern you at all. That's my business an' not yours. You ain't no man at all; you're nothin' but an old woman!--Here you got some change. Now hurry an' get out o' here. Go over to Fiebig and take a drink. I don't care if you have a good time all day Sunday. [_A knocking is heard._] Come right in! Come right in, any one that wants to! _DR. FLEISCHER enters, leading his little son of five by the hand. FLEISCHER is twenty-seven years old. He wears one of the Jaeger reform suits. His hair, beard and moustache are all coal-black. His eyes are deep-set; his voice, as a rule, gentle. He displays, at every moment, a touching anxiety for the child._ MRS. WOLFF