You're to keep still now. If Berthel was to wake up it'd be a fine to do. She'd howl for half an hour. [_She sits down at the table and leans both elbows upon it._] 'Twould be best if a body got up an' went away, _SIEBENHAAR peers in._ SIEBENHAAR I'm lookin' in once more. Is your husband calmer now? MRS. HENSCHEL Yes, yes, he lay down to sleep. [_She calls._] Husband! Wilhelm! SIEBENHAAR Sh! You'd better be grateful. Hurry and go to bed yourself. MRS. HENSCHEL There's nothin' else left to do. I'll go an' try. [_She goes to the door of the bedroom, stands still as if spellbound and listens._] Wilhelm! You might answer.--[_Louder and more frightened._] Wilhelm! You're not to frighten me this way! Maybe you think I don't know that you're still awake!!--[_In growing terror._]--Wilhelm, I tell you!... [_BERTHEL has waked up and wails._] Berthel, you look out an' keep still! Keep still or I don't know what'll happen!--Wilhelm! Wilhelm! [_She almost shrieks._ SIEBENHAAR looks in again. SIEBENHAAR What's the matter, Mrs. Henschel? MRS. HENSCHEL I call an' call an' he don't answer! SIEBENHAAR Are you crazy? Why do you do that? MRS. HENSCHEL --'Tis so still ... Somethin's happened. SIEBENHAAR What?--[_He takes up the candle and goes toward the bedroom door._] Henschel, have you fallen asleep? [_He enters the bedroom._ [_Pause._] MRS. HENSCHEL [_Not daring to follow him._] What is it? What is it? What's goin' on? _WERMELSKIRCH looks in._ WERMELSKIRCH Who's in there? MRS. HENSCHEL Mr. Siebenhaar.--'Tis so still. Nobody don't answer.-- SIEBENHAAR [_Very pale and holding BERTHEL on his arm hurries out of the bedroom._] Mrs. Henschel, take your child and go up to my wife. MRS. HENSCHEL [_Already with the child in her arms._] For God's sake, what has happened? SIEBENHAAR You'll find that out all too soon. MRS. HENSCHEL [_With a voice that is first repressed and at last rises to a scream._] O God, he's done hisself some harm! _[She runs out with the child._ WERMELSKIRCH Shall I call the doctor? SIEBENHAAR Too late! He could give no help here. THE CURTAIN FALLS. ROSE BERND LIST OF PERSONS BERND. ROSE BERND. MARTHEL. CHRISTOPHER FLAMM. MRS. FLAMM. ARTHUR STRECKMANN. AUGUST KEIL. HAHN. HEINZEL. GOLISCH. KLEINERT. _Field Labourers_ OLD MRS. GOLISCH. THE HEAD MAID SERVANT. THE ASSISTANT MAID SERVANT. A CONSTABLE. THE FIRST ACT