INSPECTOR ZINDEL. Just so, Miss. I shall be back right off. (He opens the door and runs into LENE, who is about to enter with a tray full of dishes for the morning coffee.) Whoa! Look out! Don't knock anything over! (Partly to himself.) Or the old man will play us the trick and wake up again. (He goes out, and closes the door behind him.) AUNT CLARA (speaking down from the chair). Is it you, Lene? LENE (has come forward with the dishes, shrinks so that the tray and dishes clatter). Heavens and all the saints! Why, I didn't see you at all, Miss! Why, I was so frightened! (She draws several deep breaths, places the tray beside the candle on the white cloth of the sofa table, and begins to arrange the cups.) AUNT CLARA (as before). Why in the world are you frightened? You see, don't you, that I am attending to the chandelier, am doing your work again? LENE (busy at the table). Expect a person not to get scared, when all of a sudden a voice like that comes out of the dark, when, on top of it all, a dead man's in the house. As a rule I'm not afraid, but I won't dare to go to the back part of the house alone any more, it's just as if Mr. Warkentin would turn up right before you. AUNT CLARA. Stuff and nonsense, I suppose you kept the candle burning the whole night in your room again? I am likely to come and get your candle one of these days. LENE. Why Miss Clara is afeared herself. She won't go a step without a light. Ain't it true, Miss Clara, you're a little afeared too. You only won't let on. AUNT CLARA. I shall afear your back before long! I have closed the eyes of many in my day. That's nothing new to me. LENE (interested). But all of a sudden, like Mr. Warkentin? AUNT CLARA. When they get to be about seventy, one knows how it goes, old widower Fritz in Kobieken went that way too. Fell over and was gone, it's the best kind of a death. That comes just as it comes.... Have you arranged the cups? LENE. Everything in order. (Counting.) The young master, the lady (correcting herself), no, the lady on the sofa and the young master here (points to a chair), Miss Clara here and the fourth cup ... I suppose some one else is coming with the young master? AUNT CLARA. Yes, and don't ask so many questions! Come here and hold the light, I want to light the chandelier. LENE (comes with the candle). Light the chandelier? Why, it's almost daytime. AUNT CLARA. Do as I say. When the young master arrives, it will still be dark. LENE (hands the candle up to her). Wonder whether the young master'll stay long? AUNT CLARA (has lighted the lights of the chandelier, one after another). Wait and see. (About to get down.) LENE (extends her hand to her). Now don't you fall, Miss! AUNT CLARA (gets down from the chair carefully). Now then!... One does realize, after all, that the years are coming on! When I was of your age, I jumped from the straw stack. You girls of today! you have no sap, no vim! A girl as strong as a bear, and afraid of going to pieces.