Good morning, Henschel. HENSCHEL Good mornin' Mr. Siebenhaar, SIEBENHAAR Am I disturbing you? HENSCHEL Not a bit; not at all. You're very welcome. SIEBENHAAR [_Placing the decanter and the glass on the table._] I've got to drink the medicinal spring water again. I'm having that old trouble with my throat. Well, dear me, a man has to die of something! HENSCHEL You must just go ahead an' drink the waters. They'll cure you. SIEBENHAAR Yes, that's just what I'm doing. HENSCHEL An' not from the Mill Spring nor from the Upper Spring. Ours is the best. SIEBENHAAR Well now, to change the subject. [_Half lost in thought he has been toying with a sprig of ivy. Now he observes this, starts slightly, runs his eyes over the top-hat and HENSCHEL himself and says suddenly:_] This was your wife's birthday, wasn't it? HENSCHEL She'd ha' been thirty-six years old to-day. SIEBENHAAR Is it possible? HENSCHEL Oh, yes, yes. [_Pause._] SIEBENHAAR Henschel, I'd better leave you alone now. But when it's agreeable to you--to-morrow maybe, I'd like to talk over some business with you. HENSCHEL I'd rather you went ahead right now. SIEBENHAAR It's about the thousand crowns ... HENSCHEL Before we says any more, Mr. Siebenhaar. You c'n just keep that money till winter. Why should I be lyin' to you? You see? I don't need the money. I don't care exackly when I gets it; an' that it's safe, I'm satisfied o' that. SIEBENHAAR Well, Henschel, in that case I'm very grateful to you. You're doing me a great favour. During the summer I take in money; you know that. Just now it would have been difficult for me. HENSCHEL Well, you see, so we c'n agree fine. [_Pause._] SIEBENHAAR. [_Walking to and fro._] Yes, yes, I sometimes wonder over myself. I grew up in this house. And yet, to-day, if I could but make a decent closing out, I could leave it quite calmly. HENSCHEL I wouldn't like to go, I must say. I wouldn't hardly know where to go to. SIEBENHAAR Things have moved ahead with you, Henschel. But the same set of conditions that has counted in your favour, has been that against which I've had to struggle to keep my head above water. HENSCHEL The shoe pinches one man in this place an' another man in that. Who's goin' to say which is worse off? You see, I got a good, hard blow, too. An' if I'm goin' to recover ... well, I don't hardly feel like myself yet. [_Pause._] SIEBENHAAR Henschel, there's a time for everything! You'll have to conquer that now. You must go out among people, hear things, see things, drink a glass of beer once in a while, plunge into business, perhaps--somehow, put an end to this sad business. It can't be helped, and so--forward! HENSCHEL 'Tis just as you say! You're quite right! SIEBENHAAR