The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann - LightNovelsOnl.com
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BERTHA
[_To FABIG._] Why don't you dive me some nuts?
FABIG
Aha, she knows who I is! I'll look an' see if I c'n find some!
BERTHA
Outside in the waggon!
FABIG
No, they're here in my pocket! [_He gives them to the child._] You see, you don't get out o' the pubs. Long ago your grandfather took you along; now you got to go about with Henschel.
HENSCHEL
[_To BERTHA._] Tell him to attend to his bit o' tras.h.!.+ Tell him you're bein' looked out for! Tell him that!
_GEORGE comes vivaciously out of the billiard room._
GEORGE
[_Without noticing HENSCHEL._] Well,--I never saw the likes o' that! That there feller c'n eat gla.s.s like anythin'. Put it down on the reckoning, Miss Franziska: a lot o' beer! There's five o' us!
FRANZISKA
[_Has taken BERTHA on her arm. She goes with the child behind the bar._]
Bertha won't permit it; I can't do it now!
GEORGE
Good heavens, Mr. Henschel, there you are too!
HENSCHEL
[_Without noticing GEORGE, to HILDEBRANT._] Your health, Hildebrant!
[_They clink their gla.s.ses and drink._
FABIG
[_To GEORGE who, a little taken aback, lights his cigar at one of the tables._] Tell me this, mister George, you're a kind of a wizard, eh?
GEORGE
Well, I do declare! What makes you think so?
FABIG
'Cause a while ago, you was gone like a light that's blown out.
GEORGE
Well, what's the use o' huntin' for disagreeable things. Siebenhaar an'
me--we can't agree, that's all.
FABIG
[_With the gesture of boxing another's ears._] People do say that somethin' happened.--[_Pa.s.sing by, to HAUFFE._] Did you win in the lottery? eh?
HAUFFE
You d.a.m.ned vermin!
FABIG
Yes, that's just what I am.
HENSCHEL
Is it true that you're working down at Nentwich's now?
HAUFFE
What business is it o' yours?
HENSCHEL
[_Laughing and quite even-tempered._] Now look at that feller. He p.r.i.c.ks like a weasel wherever you touches him.
WALTHER
I s'pose you'll be our host here pretty soon now?
HENSCHEL
[_After he has glanced at him in astonishment._] That's the first ever I've heard of it!
WALTHER
Oh, I thought! I don't know exackly who 'twas that told me.
HENSCHEL
[_Drinking: indifferently._] Whoever told you that must ha' been dreamin'!
[_Pause._]
