ROSE

I'll go home an' hang myself on a beam! That's what Mary Schubert did too.

STRECKMANN

That was a different thing with her! That girl had different things on her conscience! An' I didn't have nothin' to do with her.--But if every woman was to go an' hang herself on account o' what you've done--there wouldn't be no more women in this world. That sort o' thing happens wherever you look--everywhere--that's the way things is. O' course, I have to laugh. That father o' yours, he carries himself so high! The way he stares at a feller that's gone a bit off the narrow way. It's enough to make you want to go an' hide your face. Well--people ought to begin at home ...

ROSE

[_Trembling in the terror of her heart._] O dear Lord, have mercy!

STRECKMANN

Can you deny that I'm right? You people stick in piety up to the very eyes--your father an' August Keil an' you too! A feller like me can't compete with you there.

ROSE

[_With a new outburst of despair._] It's a lie ... a lie! You saw nothing!

STRECKMANN

No? Saw nothing? Well, I'll be...! Then I must ha' been dreamin'. That's what it must ha' been! If that wasn't Squire Flamm from Diessdorf! I haven't had a drop o' anythin' to-day. Didn't he play at drivin' you by the braids o' your hair? Didn't he throw you into the gra.s.s? [_With uncontrollable, hard laughter._] He had a good hold on you!

ROSE

Streckmann, I'll beat your head in with my hoe!

STRECKMANN

[_Still laughing._] Listen to that! What now? You're not goin' to cut up so rough! Why shouldn't you ha' done it? I don't blame you. First come, first served: that's the way o' the world.

ROSE

[_Weeping and moaning in her helpless grief and yet working convulsively._] A feller like that, presumes to ...!

STRECKMANN

[_Enraged and brutally._] It's you that presumes! 'Tisn't me that does!

Not that I'd mind presumin' a good deal. If Flamm's good enough, it's certain that I am!

ROSE

[_Sobbing and crying out in her despair._] I've been a decent girl all my life long! Let anybody come an' say somethin' against me if he can! I took care o' three little brothers an' sisters! Three o'clock in the mornin' I've gotten up, an' not so much as taken a drop o' milk! An'

people knows that! Every child knows it!

STRECKMANN

Well, you needn't make such a noise about it! The bells is ringin' and the people is comin' from church. You might be a bit sociable with a feller. You people are just burstin' with pride. Maybe it's true ...

things look as if it was. I'm not sayin' but what you're a good worker an' a good saver. But otherwise you're no better'n other folks.

ROSE

[_Gazing into the distance; in extreme fear._] Isn't that August that's comin' there?

STRECKMANN

[_Looks in the same direction toward the village. Contemptuously_:]

Where? Oh, yes, that's him! There they both are! They're just walkin'

around the parson's garden. Well, what about it? You think I ought to be gettin' away? I'm not afeard o' them psalm-singin' donkeys.

ROSE

[_In quivering fear._] Streckmann, I've saved up twelve crowns ...

STRECKMANN

Rosie, you know you've saved more than that.

ROSE

All right, I'll give you all my bit o' savin's! I don't care for the money ... I'll bring it to you, to the last farthing. Streckmann, only have pity ...

[_She seeks to grasp his hands beseechingly, but he draws them away._

STRECKMANN

I takes no money.

ROSE

Streckmann! For the sake o' all good things in the world ...

STRECKMANN

Well now, I can't see why you don't act sensible.

ROSE

If one person in the village finds that out....

STRECKMANN

It depends on you! n.o.body needn't know. All you need to do is not to force it on 'em ... [_With sudden pa.s.sion._] What's at the bottom of it?--I'm crazy about you ...

ROSE

Where's the woman or girl you're not crazy about!