[_Taking down his lantern._] She'll go off her head pretty soon if she don't get no husband. [_Exit._ MRS. HENSCHEL If she had to lend a hand an' work good an' hard, she'd get over that foolishness. HANNE She's not allowed to come upstairs. Mrs. Siebenhaar won't have her. MRS. HENSCHEL An' she's right there. I wouldn't bear it neither. HANNE She's always chasin' an' sniffin' around Mr. Siebenhaar. I'm willin' people should please theirselves. But she's goin' it hard. MRS. HENSCHEL The Siebenhaars ought to put them people out. The goin's on with the men an' the wenches. HENSCHEL Aw, what are you talkin' about, mother? MRS. HENSCHEL Well, in the tap room. HENSCHEL Well, they has to live same as anybody. D'you want to see 'em put in the streets? Wermelskirch's not a bad fellow at all. MRS. HENSCHEL But the woman's an old witch. HENSCHEL If he pays his rent nothin' won't happen to him on that account. An' not on account o' the girl by a long way. [_He has arisen and bends over the cradle._] We've got a little thing like that here too, an' nobody's goin' to put us out for that! MRS. HENSCHEL Eh, that would be ...! She's asleep all the time; she don't seem to want to wake up! HENSCHEL There's not much strength in her.--Mother, sure you're not goin' to die!--[_Taking his cap from the nail._] Hanne, I was just foolin' you a while ago. Your apron is lyin' out there in the waggon. HANNE [_Eagerly._] Where is it? HENSCHEL In the basket. Go an' look for it! [_HENSCHEL leaves by way of the middle door; HANNE disappears into the small adjacent room._ MRS. HENSCHEL So he brought her the apron after all! _HANNE runs quickly through the room again and goes out by the middle door._ MRS. HENSCHEL An' he brought her the apron after all! _SIEBENHAAR enters carefully, carrying his candle and keys as before and, in addition, two bottles of claret._ SIEBENHAAR All alone, Mrs. Henschel? MRS. HENSCHEL An' he brought the apron ... SIEBENHAAR It's me, Mrs. Henschel. Did you think it was a stranger? MRS. HENSCHEL I don't hardly believe ... SIEBENHAAR I hope I didn't wake you up. It's me--Siebenhaar. MRS. HENSCHEL To be sure. Yes. To be sure. SIEBENHAAR And I'm bringing you a little wine which you are to drink. It will do you good.--Is it possible you don't recognize me? MRS. HENSCHEL Well, now, that'd be queer. You are, sure--you are our Mr. Siebenhaar. Things hasn't come to such a pass with me yet. I recognise you all right!--I don't know: has I been dreamin' or what? SIEBENHAAR You may have been. How are you otherwise? MRS. HENSCHEL But sure enough you're Siebenhaar. SIEBENHAAR Perhaps you thought I was your husband! MRS. HENSCHEL I don't know ... I reely can't say ... I was feelin' so queer ... SIEBENHAAR Seems to me you're not lying comfortably. Let me straighten your pillows a bit. Does the doctor see you regularly? MRS. HENSCHEL