HELEN

To be sure. And a miner like that is very interesting, if you look upon him in that way. Why, there are places where you never see one; but If you have them daily before your eyes ...

LOTH

Even if you have them daily before your eyes, Miss Krause. Indeed. I think that is necessary if one is to discover what is truly interesting about them.

HELEN

Dear me! If it's so hard to discover--I mean what is interesting about them!

LOTH

Well; it is interesting, for instance that these people, as you say, always look so menacing and so morose.

HELEN

Why do you think that _that_ is particularly interesting?

LOTH

Because it is not the usual thing. The rest of us look that way only sometimes and by no means always.

HELEN

Yes, but why do they always look so ... so full of hatred and so surly?

There must be some reason for that.

LOTH

Just so. And it is this very reason that I am anxious to discover.

HELEN

Oh, don't!... Now you're making fun of me! What good would it do you, even if you knew that?

LOTH

One might perhaps find ways and means to remove the cause that makes these people so joyless and so full of hatred; one might perhaps make them happier.

HELEN

[_Slightly confused._] I must confess freely that now ... And yet perhaps just now I begin to understand you a little. Only it is so strange, so new, so utterly new ...

HOFFMANN

[_Entering through the door at the right. He has a number of letters in his hand._] Well, here I am again.--Edward, see to it that these letters reach the post-office before eight o'clock. [_He hands the letters to the servant, who withdraws._] Well, dear people, now we can eat! Outrageously hot here! September and such heat! [_He lifts a bottle of champagne from the cooler. _] Veuve Cliquot! Edward knows my secret pa.s.sions! [_He turns to LOTH._] You've had quite a lively argument, eh? [_Approaches the table, which has now been laid and which groans under delicacies. Rubbing his hands._] Well, that looks very good indeed! [_With a sly look in LOTH'S direction._] Don't you think it does?--By the way, sister! We're going to have company: William Kahl. He has been seen in the yard.

_HELEN makes a gesture of disgust._

HOFFMANN

My dear girl! You almost act as if I ... How can I help it? D'you suppose I invited him? [_Heavy steps are heard in the outer hall._] Ah!

"Misfortune strides apace!"

_KAHL enters without having first knocked. He is twenty-four years old: a clumsy peasant who is evidently concerned, so far as possible, to make a show not only as a refined but, more especially, as a wealthy man. His features are coa.r.s.e; his predominant expression is one of stupid cunning. He wears a green jacket, a gay velvet waist-coat, dark trousers and patent-leather top-boots. His head-covering is a green forester's hat with a c.o.c.k's feather. His jacket has b.u.t.tons of stag's horn and stag's teeth depend from his watch-chain. He stammers._

KAHL

G-good evening everybody!

[_He sees LOTH, is much embarra.s.sed and, standing still, cuts a rather sorry figure._

HOFFMANN

[_Steps up to him and shakes hands with him encouragingly._] Good evening, Mr. Kahl.

HELEN

[_Ungraciously._] Good evening.

KAHL

[_Strides with heavy steps diagonally across the room to HELEN and takes her hand._] Evenin' t'you, Nellie.

HOFFMANN

[_To LOTH._] Permit me to introduce our neighbour's son, Mr. Kahl.

[_KAHL grins and fidgets with his hat. Constrained silence._

HOFFMANN

Come, let's sit down, then. Is anybody missing? Ah, our mama! Miele, request Mrs. Krause to come to supper.

[_MIELE leaves by the middle door._

MIELE

[_Is heard in the hall, calling out._] Missus! Missus!! You're to come down--to come'n eat!

[_HELEN and HOFFMANN exchange a look of infinite comprehension and laugh. Then, by a common impulse, they look at LOTH._

HOFFMANN

[_To LOTH._] Rustic simplicity!

_MRS. KRAUSE appears, incredibly overdressed. Silk and costly jewels.

Her dress and bearing betray hard arrogance, stupid pride and half-mad vanity._