You stupid fellow, you. With your patronizing air, hang it! As if you did not want to make a break between Stein and Ulrich because of that Löhlein girl. I should know that, even if I were as stupid as that confounded, patronizing fellow of a Möller. That's all I have to say. And what of it, that I am forester for a day? For it won't be two days before those two cronies are again one heart and one soul; after that it's all over with my forester's job. You think you are a decent fellow, because you are not thirsty. It will last one day--for one day I shall be sp--spite-forester--and that day I have turned to account, my dear fellow--with Ulrich's Andrew--turned to account, my dear fellow. Come, my dear fellow, for I am jolly, my dear fellow. You patronizing fellow of a Möller. [_Embrace him_.] MÖLLER (_ashamed and very much embarrassed, trying to keep him off_). For heaven's sake, what are you thinking of? If any one should see this! Shame on you! [_Making an effort to recover his dignity_.] You have hatched a scheme with Ulrich's Andrew, have you? GODFREY. Scheme, scheme! I have had a talk with him, do you know? Because of yesterday, you know? and because of my grudge against his old man, you know? You know nothing, you know? When he hears it he'll bite his white beard with rage, the old man will. MÖLLER. But what the deuce could you have put into Andrew's head? GODFREY. What? Nothing. You'll learn it soon enough. Hey? Thirst, thirst--that is my wail, that is my chronic ill-health, my misery; that is the cause of my gout; that will kill me while I am still young. Where is Stein? MÖLLER. Now come along to my room and drink a cup of black coffee, so that you may recover your senses. Then I must go to the blast-furnace. I'll take you along as far as the mill in the dell, and then you go the rest of the way to your home. One has to tie your hands, if you are not to drive away your good fortune. GODFREY (_while_ MÖLLER _is leading him off_). Where is he? Hey, there! Where is he? Stein! SCENE VI _In the_ FORESTER's _house_. SOPHY _alone; then_ WEILER; _and, later, the_ FORESTER. SOPHY (_closing the window_). Robert hasn't come back yet, nor the pastor. WEILER (_entering through the centre door_). Bless my soul, if he don't come to grief! But who, in thunder, is really forester? I wonder whether the mistress has saved me anything? But, anyhow, I have no appetite. Well! SOPHY. I suppose it has become cold by this time. [_Takes from the oven a plate with food, from the closet bread, etc., and puts it on the table to the left_.] WEILER. We shall all be cold some day. [_Sits down to eat_.] FORESTER (_has entered from the side_). Have you found the trail of the stag from Lützdorf again? WEILER. Stalking about. But that's the way it goes. As soon as they are man and wife, master and servant--then love and friendship fly out of the window. FORESTER. What do you mean by "stalking about?" WEILER.