Ha.s.sENREUTER

This fellow who is fond of making such an innocent face as if he couldn't harm a fly and whom I was careless enough to admit to my house is, unfortunately, a man behind whose mask the most shameless impudence lies in wait. I and my house are in the service of true propriety. Do you want to besmirch the escutcheon of oar honour as the sister of this fellow seems to have done--a girl who disgraced, her parents by coming to an end in the street and the gutter?

WALBURGA

I don't share your opinion about Erich, papa.

Ha.s.sENREUTER

What's that? Well, at least you know my opinion. Either you give him his walking papers or else you can look out for yourself and find out what it is to get along, away from your parental roof, in a way of life regardless of honour, duty and decency! In that case you can go! I have no use for daughters of that kind!

WALBURGA

[_Pale and sombre._] You are always saying, papa, that you too had to make your way independently and without your parents.

Ha.s.sENREUTER

You're not a man.

WALBURGA

Certainly not. But think, for instance, of Alice Rutterbusch.

[_Father and daughter look firmly into each other's eyes._

Ha.s.sENREUTER

Why should I? Have you a fever, eh? Or have you gone mad? [_He drops the whole discussion, noticeably put out of countenance, and taps at the library door._] Where did we leave off? Begin at the proper place.

_KEGEL and KaFERSTEIN appear._

KEGEL _and_ KaFERSTEIN

[_Declaim:_]

"A wiser temper Beseemeth age.

I, being reasonable, Salute him first."

_Led and directed by SPITTA appear PAULINE PIPERCARCKA in street dress and MRS. KIELBACKE, who carries an infant on a pillow._

Ha.s.sENREUTER

What do you want here? What kind of women are you bringing here to annoy me?

SPITTA

It isn't my fault, sir. The women insisted on coming to you.

MRS. KIELBACKE

No; all we wants is to see Mrs. John.

PAULINE

An' Mrs. John she's always up here with you!

Ha.s.sENREUTER

True. But I'm beginning to regret the fact, and I must insist, at all events, that she hold her private receptions in her own rooms and not here. Otherwise I'll soon equip the door here with patent locks and mantraps.--What's the matter with you, my good Spitta? I suppose you'll have to have the goodness to show these ladies the place they really want to go to.

PAULINE

But Mrs. John ain't to be found in her rooms downstairs.

Ha.s.sENREUTER

Well, she's not to be found up here either.

MRS. KIELBACKE

The reason is because this here young lady has her little son boardin'

with Mrs. John.

Ha.s.sENREUTER

Glad to hear it! Please march now without further delay! Save me, Kaferstein!

MRS. KIELBACKE

An' now a gentleman's come from the city, from the office of the government guardian office to see how the child is an' if it's well taken care of an' in good condition. An' then he went into Mrs. John's room an'

we went with him. An' there was the child an' a note pinned to it what said that Mrs. John was workin' for you up here.

Ha.s.sENREUTER

Where was the child boarding?

MRS. KIELBACKE

With Mrs. John.

Ha.s.sENREUTER

[_Impatiently._] That's simply a piece of imbecility. You are quite wrong.--Spitta, you would have been much better employed accompanying the old gentleman after whom I sent you than aiding these ladies to come here.

SPITTA

I looked for the gentleman you speak of but he was already gone.

Ha.s.sENREUTER