The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
FORESTER.
Can't you say it yourself, silly thing?
MARY (_mastering her emotion_).
Good-night, father.
FORESTER.
Good-night. You need not wait for me tomorrow when you are going to your uncle. Perhaps I shall have gone out by that time. I have an errand; don't know whether I shall come back tomorrow. And take Nero along--and whatever else is there; take everything along. I no longer need anything--but my tools, my short rifle and--powder and bullets. The other rifles you may sell. Go to Wilkens, you poor thing, he perhaps will get Robert for you yet--after I have gone; after people have once forgotten that your father was a dismissed man.
MARY.
Good-night.
[_Beside herself_.]
Good-night, father!
FORESTER.
Wench, that is a good-night as if forever.--You are right, Mary. Such a stain as I am upon your good reputation must be removed. Go, Mary. Do you hear, Mary?
MARY.
You shall remain, father. And if you go, I go with you.
FORESTER.
The way I have to go one goes alone. Go, Mary.
SOPHY.
Go to bed, Mary.
FORESTER.
Good-night. And now it's enough. You know I cannot bear lamentations.
MARY.
You are not going without me, father. You cannot live without me, father. Father, I now feel that in my heart.
FORESTER (_protesting_).
Yes, I can. What doesn't such a greenhorn feel!
MARY.
You turn away, father, so that I should not see you crying. Father, pretend you are ferocious, as much as you like--
FORESTER (_wants to disengage himself_).
Silly thing there--
MARY.
I am going with you. You insist upon your right, and I upon mine, and that is, that I must not leave you. Father, I feel now for the first time that I love no one in the world as much as you. Tomorrow we go together--if you must go. I am going to put on William's clothes. There are still green forests in the world. And surely you shall not hear me complaining. Don't be afraid of that. Why, I can cry during the nights, when you don't see it. But then you will see it by my eyes in the daytime. Why, I must not cry at all! I will only laugh and skip along before you and sing--the beautiful hunting songs.--You see, father, this is the last tear for Robert! And it is already dried, do you see? I am sure that we shall still find happiness in this world--if you must go, father. And if it is not to be, we will thank G.o.d and pray, if He only keeps us honest. Then we will think: It is asking too much, if we also wish to be happy. Have I not you? Have not you your good conscience and your Mary? What more do we need?
[_Hanging on his neck_.]
FORESTER (_who has been warding her off constantly, almost furious, because he can scarcely control his emotion_).
Indeed, indeed! Stupid thing!
[_More calmly_.]
And a "table--spread--thyself," a "gold--mule--stretch-thyself," and the fairy-story is complete. Now go to bed, Mary.
[_Roughly_.]
Do you hear?
SOPHY.
Come, Mary.
MARY (_at the door of her room she looks around, and runs again to him; embracing him, beside herself_).
Good-night, good-night!
[_She hurries to her room;_ SOPHY _follows_.]
FORESTER (_looking after her_).
My girl, my poor girl! It must not be here that I make an end of myself!--Confound it. Shame on you, old--
SCENE VI
WEILER; _The_ FORESTER.
WEILER (_greets him with a silent nod; he is very much excited; hangs the rifle on the rack and busies himself with the hunting utensils_).
Well!
FORESTER (_notices him_).
