_Amelia, watching her, sees her do it, and cries out in alarm and rushes to take it from her._] _Amelia:_ [_In horror._] Hedwig! What are you doing? Give it to me! No, you must not! You have too much to live for. [Illustration: AMELIA: No, you must not! You have too much to live for.] _Hedwig:_ [_Dazed._] To live for? Me? _Amelia:_ Why, yes, you are going to be a mother. _Hedwig:_ A mother? Like her? [_Looks sadly at the bereaved old mother._] Look at her! Poor Mother! And they never asked her if she wanted this thing to be! Oh, no! I shall never take it like that--never! But you are right, Amelia. I have something to do first. [_Lets Amelia put the pistol away in the cupboard._] I must send a message to the emperor. [_The others are more alarmed for her in this mood than in her grief._] You said you were going to the front to be a nurse, Amelia. Can you take this message for me? I might take it myself, perhaps. _Amelia:_ [_Hesitating, not knowing what to say or do._] Let me give you some tea, Hedwig. [_Voices are heard outside, and the sounds of sorrow. Some one near the house is weeping. A wild look and a fierce resolve light Hedwig's face._] _Hedwig:_ [_Rushing from the house._] They have taken my Franz! _Mother:_ Get her back! I feared it. Grief has made her mad. [_Amelia runs out. A clamor of voices outside. Hedwig can be heard indistinctly speaking to the women. Finally her voice alone is heard, and in a moment she appears, backing into the doorway, still talking to the women._] _Hedwig:_ [_A tragic light in her face, and hand uplifted._] I shall send a message to the emperor. If ten thousand women send one like it, there will be peace and no more war. Then they will hear our tears. _A Voice:_ What is the message? Tell us! _Hedwig:_ Soon you will know. [_Loudly._] But I tell you now, _don't bear any more children_ until they promise you there will be no more war. _Hertz:_ [_Suddenly appearing. Amelia follows._] I heard you. I declare you under arrest. Come with me. You will be shot for treason. _Mother:_ [_Fearfully, drawing him aside._] Don't say that, sir. Wait. Oh, no, you can't do that! [_She gets out her work-basket, and shows him the baby things she has been knitting, and glances significantly at Hedwig. A horrid smile comes into the man's face. Hedwig, snatches the things and crushes them to her breast as if sacrilege had been committed._] _Hertz:_ Is this true? You expect-- _Hedwig:_ [_Proudly, scornfully._] You will not shoot me if I give you a soldier for your empire and your armies and your guns, will you, Herr Captain? _Hertz:_ Why--eh, no. Every child counts these times. But we will put you under lock and key. You are a firebrand. I warned you. Come along. _Hedwig:_ You want my child, but still you will not promise me what I asked you. Well, we shall see. _Hertz:_ Come along. _Hedwig:_