Exactly. Now look me in the eye! SPITTA Certainly. [_He looks straight at HASSENREUTER._ HASSENREUTER You two want to make an ass of me. But you won't succeed! Silence! Not a word! I would have expected something very different from you! This is a striking proof of ingratitude. Keep still! Furthermore, a gentleman was here just now! That gentleman is afraid in Berlin! March! Follow him! Take him down into the street and try to make it clear to him that I'm neither your bootblack nor his. [_SPITTA shrugs his shoulders, takes his hat and goes._ HASSENREUTER [_Strides up to WALBURGA energetically and tweaks her ear._] And as for you, my dear, you'll have your ears soundly boxed if ever again without my permission you exchange two words with this rascal of a theologian gone to smash! WALBURGA Ouch, papa, ouch! HASSENREUTER This fellow who is fond of making such an innocent face as if he couldn't harm a fly and whom I was careless enough to admit to my house is, unfortunately, a man behind whose mask the most shameless impudence lies in wait. I and my house are in the service of true propriety. Do you want to besmirch the escutcheon of oar honour as the sister of this fellow seems to have done--a girl who disgraced, her parents by coming to an end in the street and the gutter? WALBURGA I don't share your opinion about Erich, papa. HASSENREUTER What's that? Well, at least you know my opinion. Either you give him his walking papers or else you can look out for yourself and find out what it is to get along, away from your parental roof, in a way of life regardless of honour, duty and decency! In that case you can go! I have no use for daughters of that kind! WALBURGA [_Pale and sombre._] You are always saying, papa, that you too had to make your way independently and without your parents. HASSENREUTER You're not a man. WALBURGA Certainly not. But think, for instance, of Alice Ruetterbusch. [_Father and daughter look firmly into each other's eyes._ HASSENREUTER Why should I? Have you a fever, eh? Or have you gone mad? [_He drops the whole discussion, noticeably put out of countenance, and taps at the library door._] Where did we leave off? Begin at the proper place. _KEGEL and KAeFERSTEIN appear._ KEGEL _and_ KAeFERSTEIN [_Declaim:_] "A wiser temper Beseemeth age. I, being reasonable, Salute him first." _Led and directed by SPITTA appear PAULINE PIPERCARCKA in street dress and MRS. KIELBACKE, who carries an infant on a pillow._ HASSENREUTER What do you want here? What kind of women are you bringing here to annoy me? SPITTA It isn't my fault, sir. The women insisted on coming to you. MRS. KIELBACKE No; all we wants is to see Mrs. John. PAULINE An' Mrs. John she's always up here with you! HASSENREUTER