Perhaps it's just because I'm nothing but a silly girl. There's so little to me--Why, I don't even know what it is--to have principles! Isn't that frightful? But I just simply love you so! And you're so good, and so great, and so very wise! I'm so afraid that you might, sometime, discover--when I say something foolish, or do something--that it's all a mistake, that I'm much too silly for you ... I'm really as worthless and as silly as I can be! LOTH What shall I say to all that? You're everything to me, just everything in the whole world. I can't say more! HELEN And I'm very strong and healthy, too ... LOTH Tell me, are your parents in good health? HELEN Indeed they are. That is, mother died in childbirth. But father is still well; in fact he must have a very strong constitution. But ... LOTH Well, you see. Everything is ... HELEN But if my parents were not strong--; LOTH [_Kissing HELEN._] But then, they are, dear. HELEN But suppose they were not--? _MRS. KRAUSE pushes open a window in the house and calls out into the yard._ MRS. KRAUSE Hey! Girls! Gi--rls! LIESE [_From within the cow-shed._] Yes, Missis? MRS. KRAUSE Run to Mueller's! It's startin'! LIESE What! To the midwife, ye mean? MRS. KRAUSE Are ye standin' on your ear? [_She slams the window._ _LIESE runs out of the cow-shed with a little shawl over her head and then out of the yard._ MRS. SPILLER [_Calls._] Miss Helen! Oh, Miss Helen! HELEN What do you suppose is--? MRS. SPILLER [_Approaching the arbour._] Miss Helen! HELEN Oh, I know. It's my sister who--You must go, 'round that way! [_LOTH withdraws rapidly by the right foreground. HELEN steps out from the arbour._ MRS. SPILLER Oh, Miss, there you are at last! HELEN What is it? MRS. SPILLER Ah--m--your sister. [_She whispers into HELEN'S ear._ HELEN My brother-in-law ordered that the doctor be sent for at any sign of-- MRS. SPILLER Oh--m--dear Miss Helen--m--she doesn't really want a doctor. These doctors--m--oh, these doctors--m--with God's help ... _MIELE comes from the house._ HELEN Miele, go at once for Dr. Schimmelpfennig! MRS. KRAUSE [_From the window, arrogantly._] Miele! You come up here! HELEN [_In a tone of command._] Miele, you go for the doctor! [_MIELE withdraws into the house._] Well, then I must go myself ... [_She goes into the house and comes back out at once carrying her straw hat._ MRS. SPILLER It'll go wrong--m--If you call the doctor, dear Miss Helen,--m--it will surely go wrong! _HELEN passes her by. MRS. SPILLER withdraws into the house, shaking her head. As HELEN turns at the driveway KAHL is standing at the boundary fence._ KAHL [_Calls out to HELEN._] What's the matter over at your place? _HELEN does not stop, nor does she deign to notice or answer KAHL._ KAHL [_Laughing._] I guess ye got a pig killin'? CURTAIN THE FIFTH ACT