I can't be leavin' you alone this way now! ROSE An' why not, Kleinert? There's nothin' the matter with me! KLEINERT Somebody else can believe that--that there's nothin' wrong! I wouldn't ha' had to pick you up in that case! ROSE Eh, but I'd only gotten a bit dizzy. Truly ... 'tis better now. I really don't need you no more. KLEINERT No, no, lass; I can't leave you this way! ROSE Oh, yes, father Kleinert! I do thank you, but 'tis well! There's nothin' wrong with me! I'm on my feet an' strong again! It comes over me that way sometimes; but 'tis nothin' to worry over. KLEINERT But you lay half dead yonder behind the willow! An' you writhed like a worm. ROSE Kleinert, go your ways.... I'll be lightin' a light! An' I must light a fire, too ... go your ways ... the folks will be comin' to their supper!... Oh, no, Kleinert, Kleinert! But I'm that tired! Oh, I'm so terrible tired! No one wouldn't believe how tired I am. KLEINERT An' then you want to be lightin' a fire here? That's nothin' for you! Bed is the place where you ought to be! ROSE Kleinert, go your ways, go! If father, an' if August ... they mustn't know nothin'! For my sake, go! Don't do nothin' that'll only harm me! KLEINERT I don't want to do nothin' that'll harm you! ROSE No, no, I know it! You was always good to me! [_She has arisen from the chair at the right on which, she had sunk down, gets a candle from behind the oven and lights it._] Oh, yes, yes, I'm well off again.--There's nothin' wrong.--You can be easy in your mind. KLEINERT You're just sayin' that! ROSE Because 'tis really so! _MARTHEL comes in from the fields with bare arms and feet._ ROSE An' there's Marthel, too! MARTHEL Rose, is that you? Where have you been all day? ROSE I dreamed I was at the court. KLEINERT No, no; she was really at the court! Take a bit o' care o' your sister, Marthel. Look after her at least till your fatter comes back. 'Tisn't well with the girl. ROSE Marthel, hurry! Light the fire, so's we can start to put on the potatoes.--Where's father? MARTHEL On August's land. ROSE An' August? MARTHEL I don't know where he is. He was out on the field to-day. ROSE Have you got new potatoes? MARTHEL I have an apron full! [_Immediately behind the kitchen door she pours out the potatoes on the floor._ ROSE Fetch me a pan and a saucepan, so's I can begin the peelin'. I can't get nothin' for myself. KLEINERT D'you want me to be givin' a message anywhere? ROSE To whom? To the grave-digger, maybe?... No, no, godfather, not on my account. 'Tis a special bit o' ground where I'll find rest. KLEINERT Well, good-bye! ROSE Good-bye to you! MARTHEL [_Cheerily._] Come again, godfather! _KLEINERT as usual with his pipe in his mouth, departs shaking his head._ MARTHEL [_Lighting the fire._] Don't you feel well, Rosie? ROSE Oh, yes; well enough! [_Softly wringing her hands, she speaks to the crucifix._] Jesus, Mary, have mercy on me! MARTHEL