[_Has finished writing his prescription, which he leaves lying on the table. He slips his note book and pencil back into his pocket and says as he is about to go:_] You'll hurry this to the chemist's. I'll look in early in the morning. [_HENSCHEL sits down at the table._ _HAUFFE comes in slowly. He has wooden pattens on and leathern breeches and also carries a lighted lantern._ HAUFFE That's dirty weather for you again! HENSCHEL How's it goin' in the stable? HAUFFE He's goin' to end by knockin' down the whole stall. [_He blows out the light in the lantern and hangs it up next to HENSCHEL'S._ GRUNERT Good night to all of you. All we can do is to wait. We doctors are only human too. HENSCHEL To be sure. We know that without your telling us! Good night; I hope you won't overturn. [_GRUNERT goes._] Now tell me, mother, how is it with you? MRS. HENSCHEL Oh. I've been worritin' so much again! HENSCHEL What is it that worries you? MRS. HENSCHEL Because for all I c'n do, I'm not able to lend a hand even. _HANNE places a disk of dumplings and one of sauerkraut on the table; she takes forks from the table drawer and puts them on the table._ HENSCHEL The girl's here to do the work! MRS. HENSCHEL A girl like her is that thoughtless! HENSCHEL Oh, we gets enough to eat an' everythin' seems to go smoothly.--If you hadn't got up out o' bed too soon the first time, you might be dancin' this day! MRS. HENSCHEL O Lord, me an' dancin'. What an idea! _HANNE has prepared three plates, putting a small piece of pork on each. She now draws up a stool for herself and sits down at the table._ HAUFFE There's not much left o' the oats, neither. HENSCHEL I bought some yesterday; thirty sacks. Saturday a load o' hay'll come too. The feed gets dearer all the time. HAUFFE If the beasts is to work they has to eat. HENSCHEL But people thinks they live on air, an' so everybody wants to cut down the carting charges. HAUFFE He said somethin' like that to me too. MRS. HENSCHEL Who said that--the inspector? HENSCHEL Who else but him? But this time he met the wrong man. MRS. HENSCHEL Well, well, I'm not sayin', but that's the end of everythin'! What's to become of us these hard times? HANNE The inspector of roads was here. He wants you to send him teams for the big steam roller, I believe. They're in Hinterhartau now.