MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. Yes, water! ANTOINETTE. No, thank you! This awful heat!... Don't let me disturb you. [The conversation which had become very loud is carried on in a more subdued manner. All are whispering to each other.] PAUL, Shall I take you out, madam? ANTOINETTE (with a supreme effort). No, thank you, I shall remain! (Sits down again.) LASKOWSKI (with a stupid stare). Just stay here, dearie! Just stay here! PAUL. Now do be quiet, Laskowski. (Also sits down again.) LASKOWSKI Ain't I quiet, brother? Quiet!... Quiet!... Quiet!... Quiet as the grave! Damn it all. I wonder how your father feels now. KUNZE. We are happy, but he is happier. ANTOINETTE (frantically controlling herself). Help yourselves, ladies and gentlemen! Mr. von Tiedemann, don't be backward! VON TIEDEMANN. I'm getting my share. MERTENS. So am I. I don't let things affect my appetite. LASKOWSKI (singing half audibly). Jinks, do you have to die, young as you are ... young as ... MRS. BOROWSKI (to PAUL). Now it has come, just as the departed always wished. PAUL. How so, Mrs. Borowski? MRS. BOROWSKI. That you would be back, Paul, and that everything about the estate would go right on as before! If he could only look down upon that. PAUL (nervously). Yes! VON TIEDEMANN (leans over to PAUL). Settled fact is it, Mr. Warkentin? Really going to get into the harness? LASKOWSKI (pricking up his ears). Can't do it, old chap! Come on!... Can't begin to do it! PAUL. I do intend to, Mr. von Tiedemann. VON TIEDEMANN. Well, you'd better think that over! Not every one can match your father as an agriculturalist. PAUL. With a little honest effort ... VON TIEDEMANN. If _that_ were all! To begin with, you can't match your father physically. You have to be accustomed to such things. In all kinds of weather! And then ... No child's play to farm now-a-days! Starvation prices for grain! Simply a shame! If that continues I'll vouch that all this blooming farming will go to the devil within twenty years! MRS. VON TIEDEMANN (shaking her head). To think of having you speak that way, Fritz! VON TIEDEMANN. Of course, if a fellow has a few pennies to fall back on, it's not so bad. But how many are there who have. The rest will go broke! LASKOWSKI (hums again). The Count of Luxemburg has squandered all his cash ... cash ... cash ... VON TIEDEMANN (eagerly). And who will have the advantage? The few who have money. They will buy for a song and some day, when times are better again, they will sell for twice as much. Some day they are likely to roll in wealth! LASKOWSKI (as before). Has squandered all his cash ... In one old merry night ... ha, ha! ANTOINETTE (leans back in her chair). My husband is no longer conscious of what he is saying!