[_Has recovered his overcoat, hung up his hat, and is now picking off the little feathers from his coat and trousers._] That's right! An' that's no secret to nobody. Even the people that come here year in an' out says the same. An' nobody is sorry for him; no, they're willin' it should happen to him. My present boss, he can't stand him neither. He gets reel venomous if you so much as mention Siebenhaar's name. [_Takes a pocket-mirror and comb from his pocket and smooths his hair._] Lord knows, he says, there's more tricks to that man than a few. MRS. HENSCHEL I believes that; I s'ppose he's right there. GEORGE Now then, Hanne, has you got somethin' warm for me? MRS. HENSCHEL Why didn't you come yesterday? GEORGE You thinks I c'n get off every day, don't you? 'Twas hard enough to get to come here to-day! Yesterday I was busy till three o'clock in the mornin'. MRS. HENSCHEL: What was it happened? GEORGE There was a meetin' o' the fire board. They bought a new engine, an' so they wanted to celebrate the purchase. That's how they came to have a meetin'. MRS. HENSCHEL All they wants is an excuse to swill. An' all that while I sat till late at night and waited. Once--I don't know, but it must ha' been a bird flyin' against the window--I thought 'twas you, an' so I went to the window an' opened it. After that I was that mad, I couldn't sleep half the night. GEORGE Oh, pshaw! What's the use o' havin' things like that spoil one's temper. [_He puts his arms around her._] That's nothin'! Nothin' at all. MRS. HENSCHEL [_Frees herself from his embrace._] Oh, I don't know! 'Tis true--I don't know how it comes--but things seem to go contrary with a body. Henschel sits aroun' at home the whole week, an' now that he's gone for a bit, we has to let the time slide away! GEORGE Well, we got plenty o' time to-day. He don't come back till Monday, I thought. MRS. HENSCHEL Who knows if it's true! GEORGE I don't know no reason why it shouldn't be true! MRS. HENSCHEL That man is bound to sit aroun' at home. 'Twasn't half as bad formerly. He used to go on trips weeks at a time; nowadays he whines if he's got to sleep away from home a single night. An' if he says: I'll stay three days, he mostly comes back on the second--Listen ... I believe they've come already! Who else'd be crackin' whips like that in the yard? GEORGE [_After he has listened, in a restrained tone:_] The devil take 'em all--the whole damned crowd! A man hasn't had time to get warm a bit. I s'pose I'll have to leave right off, eh? I thought it'd be mighty different, I must say! [_He slips his overcoat back on and takes up his hat._ MRS. HENSCHEL