I don't know that I can tell you very exactly what I do mean. But I feel something in my bones. I believe there'll be a change in the weather. Jesting aside--I have all kinds of omens that are familiar to an old actor. When the waters here began to do me so much good, I knew certainly that ten horses couldn't drag me away. And it wasn't a month before my road company had gone to smash. Now I suppose I'll have to wander on in the same old way again--who knows whither? SIEBENHAAR Who knows whither? That's the way of the world. As for me--I'm not sorry! WERMELSKIRCH Ah, but you're a man in the prime of life. The world has a place for a man like you everywhere. It's different with an old fellow like me. If I lose my means of making a living, I mean, if I'm given notice, what is there left me, I'd like to know? I might actually get me a hurdy-gurdy and Franziska could go about and collect the pennies. FRANZISKA That wouldn't embarrass me a bit, papa! WERMELSKIRCH Not if it were to rain gold pieces! FRANZISKA And, anyhow, papa, how you always talk! You could go back on the stage! WERMELSKIRCH Not even at a monkey-show, girlie! SIEBENHAAR Did Mr. Exner intimate anything to you? According to what he told me he meant to leave everything pretty much as it is. WERMELSKIRCH Well, I hardly belong to what could be summed up as "everything." MRS. WERMELSKIRCH [_Approaching the table in great excitement._] I must say, Mr. Siebenhaar, I must say ... And you can take my word for it! I'm an old woman of fifty and I've seen a good deal of the world, but the way we've been treated here--that's really--I don't know what to call it--but it's just vulgar malice, the lowest kind of scheming, pure meanness. You can take my word for that! WERMELSKIRCH Oh, mother, are you starting in too? You'd better withdraw, if you don't mind, and retire behind your barricade! MRS. WERMELSKIRCH I'd like to know what our little Fanny did to that woman! FRANZISKA Oh, never mind, mama! MRS. WERMELSKIRCH On the contrary! Are we to put up with everything? Isn't one to offer any resistance if that woman robs us of our very bread--if she spreads slander about our daughter? [_To SIEBENHAAR._] Did the child ever offend you in any way? WERMELSKIRCH Mama, mama! Come along now, mama, and rest a while. So! You spoke your part very well indeed. You can repeat it to-night. [_He leads her behind the bar where her sobbing is heard for some time after._ WERMELSKIRCH [_Having resumed his seat._] She's quite right at bottom. I've heard all kinds of rumours too, to the effect that Henschel will rent the barroom. And, of course, his wife is behind that! HAUFFE An' who else'd be back of it I'd like to know? If there's anythin' low happenin' in the village nowadays, you don't has to go an ax who's back of it! That Henschel woman's got the devil in her! FABIG An' she's had her eye on the barroom this long time. SIEBENHAAR