That's a gift o' my family. All my eleven brothers an' sisters is musicians. I'm the only one that's a smith. [_For a space both work at the wheel in silence. Then EDE continues._] 'Twouldn't be a bad stage play, I tell you. You wouldn't have to be scared o' riskin' somethin' on that. You'd make money! That's somethin' fine--specially for young people! You been away here a good long while, that's the reason you don't know what's what. I could tell you a few little things that happen around here in bright daylight.--D'you know that Leontine? DR. BOXER Very sorry indeed, but I don't. EDE No? An' then you pretend that this is your home an' don't know that girl. Somethin' wrong with you! DR. BOXER Oh, yes, yes, Leontine! Mrs. Wolff's daughter! I once got the deuce of a flogging on her account. EDE Well, I wish you'd ha' been here two hours ago. Well, first of all that same girl slouched by here ... No! First of all her mother an' father went away ...'twasn't more'n dawn yet! Then Leontine at about eight. She looked all around an' waited an' made lovin' eyes in this direction an' then walked by. You should ha' seen Langheinrich. "Sweetheart, where are you goin'?"--Then, after a while comes Constable Schulze and goes after her.--That was too much for Langheinrich. Off with his apron an' there he goes, quick 's a stag. That's the way it was. You could ha' observed that: the rest ain't to be observed.--There's Langheinrich hurryin' back now. [_He at once sets zealously to work and pretends to discover LANGHEINRICH, who is approaching hastily and vigorously at this moment._] Well, at last! Good thing you're here! No end o' askin' after you. Did you catch her? LANGHEINRICH [_Brusquely._] Catch what? EDE I meant the 'bus. LANGHEINRICH Hold your...! I had business to attend to.--Well now, I'll give a dollar if this here ain't Dr. Boxer! Why, how are you? How are things goin'? An' what are you doin' nowadays? Did your ship come in? You been away now--lemme see--that must be three years, eh? Sure. That's ... well, time passes. DR. BOXER I want to settle down here, Langheinrich. That is to say, I have that intention if it's possible. I should like to try my luck at home for a change. LANGHEINRICH Things is best at home, that's right. O' course, there's one here now, a doctor I mean, but he ain't good for much. They say somethin' queer happened to him onct--got his ears boxed too hard or somethin'. An' they say that made him kind o' melancholious. That ain't much good for his patients! No sick man can't get well through that. I'll send for you, Doctor, if I need help. DR. BOXER I'll extract my first dozen wisdom teeth free of charge. So you'll be glad if you don't need me soon. LANGHEINRICH Well, I ... fact is ... my wife is sick. _MRS. SCHULZE comes hurriedly from the house._ MRS. SCHULZE It's a mighty good thing that you're here. D'you hear? That whimperin' goes right on. LANGHEINRICH