FLEISCHER Much better since I'm living out here. ADELAIDE [_Calls back in from the door._] Mama, Mr. Krueger. MRS. WOLFF Who's comin'? ADELAIDE Mr. Krueger. MRS. WOLFF It ain't possible! FLEISCHER He meant to come to you during the forenoon. [_Exit._ MRS. WOLFF [_Throws a swift glance at the heap of fire wood and vigorously sets about clearing it away._] Come on, now, help me get this wood out o' sight. ADELAIDE Why, mama? Oh, on account o' Mr. Krueger. MRS. WOLFF Well, what for d'you suppose? Is this a proper way for a place to look, the way this one is look-in'? Is that decent an' on Sunday mornin', too? What is Mr. Krueger goin' to think of us? [_KRUEGER appears, exhausted by his walk. MRS. WOLFF calls out to him._] Mr. Krueger, please don't look 'round. This place is in a terrible state! KRUEGER [_Impetuously._] Good morning! Good morning! Don't worry about that at all! You go to work every week and your house can't be expected to be perfect on Sunday. You are an excellent woman, Mrs. Wolff, and a very honest one. And I think we might do very well to forget whatever has happened between us. MRS. WOLFF [_Is moved, and dries her eyes from time to time with a corner of her apron._] I never had nothin' against you in the world. I always liked to work for you. But you went an' got so rough like, you know, that a person's temper couldn't hardly help gettin' away with 'em. Lord, a person is sorry for that kind o' thing soon enough. KRUEGER You just come back and wash for us. Where is your daughter Leontine? MRS. WOLFF She went to take some cabbage to the postmaster. KRUEGER You just let us have that girl again. She can have thirty crowns wages instead of twenty. We were always quite satisfied with her in other respects. Let's forgive and forget the whole affair. [_He holds out his hand to MRS. WOLFF, who takes it heartily._ MRS. WOLFF All that hadn't no need to happen. The girl, you see, is still foolish like a child. We old people always did get along together. KRUEGER Well, then, the matter is settled. [_Gradually regaining his breath._]--Well, then, my mind is at rest about that, anyhow.--But now, do tell me! This thing that's happened to me! What do you say to that? MRS. WOLFF Oh, well, you know--what _can_ a person say about such things? KRUEGER And there we got that Mr. von Wehrhahn! He's very well when it comes to annoying honest citizens and thinking out all sorts of chicanery and persecution, but--That man, what doesn't he stick his inquisitive nose into! MRS. WOLFF Into everything exceptin' what he ought to. KRUEGER I'm going to him now to give formal notice. I won't rest! This thing has got to be discovered. MRS. WOLFF You oughtn't by no means to let a thing o' that kind go. KRUEGER And if I've got to turn everything upside down--I'll get back my coat, Mrs. Wolff. MRS. WOLFF