WENDLA.

A little boy?----A little boy!----Oh, that's lovely!----That's the cause of that tedious influenza!

FRAU BERGMANN.

A fine little boy!

WENDLA.

I must see him, Mother. That makes me an aunt for the third time----aunt to a little girl and two little boys!

FRAU BERGMANN.

And what little boys!----It always happens that way when one lives so near the church roof!----To-morrow will be just two years since she went up the steps in her mull gown.

WENDLA.

Were you there when he brought him?

FRAU BERGMANN.

He had just flown away again.----Won't you put on a rose?

WENDLA.

Why couldn't you have been a little earlier, Mother?

FRAU BERGMANN.

I almost believe he brought you something, too----a breastpin or something.

WENDLA.

It's really a shame!

FRAU BERGMANN.

But, I tell you, he brought you a breastpin!

WENDLA.

I have breastpins enough----

FRAU BERGMANN.

Then be happy, child. What do you want besides?

WENDLA.

I would have liked so much to have known whether he flew through the window or down the chimney.

FRAU BERGMANN.

You must ask Ina. Ha! You must ask Ina that, dear heart! Ina will tell you that fast enough. Ina talked with him for a whole half hour.

WENDLA.

I will ask Ina when I get there.

FRAU BERGMANN.

Now don't forget, sweet angel! I'm interested myself to know if he came in through the window or by the chimney.

WENDLA.

Or hadn't I better ask the chimney-sweep?----The chimney-sweep must know best whether he flew down the chimney or not.

FRAU BERGMANN.

Not the chimney-sweep, child; not the chimney-sweep. What does the chimney-sweep know about the stork! He'd tell you a lot of foolishness he didn't believe himself----Wha----what are you staring at down there in the street?

WENDLA.

A man, Mother,----three times as big as an ox!----with feet like steamboats----!

FRAU BERGMANN.

(_Rushing to the window._)

Impossible! Impossible!

WENDLA.

(_At the same time._)

He holds a bedslat under his chin and fiddles "Die Wacht am Rhein" on it----there, he's just turned the corner.----

FRAU BERGMANN.

You are, and always will be a foolish child!----To frighten your old simple mother that way!----Go get your hat! I wonder when you will understand things. I've given up hope of you.

WENDLA.

So have I, Mother dear, so have I. It's a sad thing about my understanding.----I have a sister who has been married for two and a half years, I myself have been made an aunt for the third time, and I haven't the least idea how it all comes about.----Don't be cross, Mother dear, don't be cross! Whom in the world should I ask but you!

Please tell me, dear Mother! Tell me, dear Mother! I'm ashamed for myself. Please, Mother, speak! Don't scold me for asking you about it. Give me an answer----How does it happen?----How does it all come about?----You cannot really deceive yourself that I, who am fourteen years old, still believe in the stork.

FRAU BERGMANN.