[_Speaking after her._] She's not here to be bitten. I needn't ha' brought her, you know! [_A brief pause, after which HANNE returns._ HENSCHEL A man can't never know how to please you. There's no gettin' along with women folks. You always acted as if.... MRS. HENSCHEL [_With tears of rage._] That's a lie if you want to know it! HENSCHEL What's a lie! MRS. HENSCHEL [_As above._] I never bothered you about Berthel. I never so much as mentioned her to you! HENSCHEL I didn't say you had. Why d'you howl so? On that account, because you didn't say nothin', I wanted to help you in spite o' your silence. MRS. HENSCHEL But couldn't you ha' asked? A man ought to say somethin' before he does a thing like that! HENSCHEL Well now, I'll tell you somethin': This is Saturday night. I hurried all I could so's to be at home again. I thought you'd meet me different! But if it's not to be, it can't be helped. Only, leave me in peace! You understand! MRS. HENSCHEL Nobody's robbin' you o' your peace. HENSCHEL D'you hear me? I want my peace an' that's all. You brought me to that point. I didn't think nothin' but what was good doin' this thing. Gustel is dead. She won't come back no more. Her mother took her to a better place. The bed is empty, an' we're alone. Why shouldn't we take care o' the little lass? That's the way I thinks an' I'm not her father! You ought to think so all the more, 'cause you're the child's mother! MRS. HENSCHEL There you are! You're beginnin' to throw it up to me this minute! HENSCHEL If you don't stop I'll go to Wermelskirch an' not come back all night! D'you want to drive me out o' the house?--I'm always hopin' things'll be different, but they gets worse ... worse! I thought maybe if you had your child with you, you'd learn a little sense. If these goin's on don't end soon ... MRS. HENSCHEL All I say is this: If she stays in the house an' if you tell people that she's mine ... HENSCHEL They all know it! I don't have to tell 'em. MRS. HENSCHEL Then you c'n take your oath on it--I'll run away! HENSCHEL Run, run all you can--all you want to! You ought to be ashamed o' yourself to the bottom o' your heart! THE CURTAIN FALLS. THE FOURTH ACT