Robert. And when she stays away all night, doesn"t that worry you?
Heinecke. Huh! Big girl like that!
Frau Heinecke. No, not when we"ve brought her up so well--and she"s with Auguste, too! She ought to be here soon. The milk-man took the letter over early. How surprised she"ll be!
Robert. And Auguste is happy?
Frau Heinecke. Oh, so--so. Her husband boozes a little, and when it comes to working, he ain"t much, but----
Heinecke. But when it comes to sulking and raising Cain, he"s right at home!
Frau Heinecke. But, all in all, they get along all right. Auguste has furnished up two swell rooms, and rented "em to a gentleman from Potsdam that ain"t there half the time, but pays for the whole month!
That brings in many a pretty penny. He pays a whole mark just for his coffee in the morning, (_Goes to the window_) There she comes! And she"s brought her husband along, too!
Robert. What? Isn"t Alma with her?
(Auguste _and_ Michalski _come in._)
Auguste. Well, well, here you are! (_They kiss each other_) Everything has been going fine with you, hasn"t it? What"s the use of asking? When a man goes around in clothes like those!--Of course everything ain"t gold that glitters--here"s my husband!
Robert. Well, brother-in-law, give me your hand,--one of the family!
Michalski. Honored! Don"t often happen that a h.o.r.n.y hand like this is so honored!
Robert. That doesn"t sound very brotherly. (_To Auguste_) Where"s Alma?
Auguste. Our Princess was afraid she wasn"t beautiful enough for the foreign brother! She had to stay and burn her bangs first. (Robert _is deeply concerned_) She"ll probably come by the next car. Where did you get the pound-cake? (Frau Heinecke _pa.s.ses the cake around and_ Michalski _and_ Auguste _eat_)
Frau Heinecke. Eat another piece, Bobby!
(Robert _refuses, but the others eat._)
Heinecke. (_After a pause_) What do you say to that, Michalski, "Welcome, beloved son."
Michalski. (_Eating_) Nonsense!
Robert. (_Surprised_) Brother-in-law!
Heinecke. What? What I did with this n.o.ble heart and this lame arm!
(Robert _pacifies him._)
Michalski. I"m a simple man and I ain"t afraid to say what I think!
I"ve got no use for that kind of rot and nonsense! When a man has got to work the way we do with his stomach empty and a whip at his back----
Heinecke. "Specially when a man goes walking at eleven o"clock and eats pound-cake to boot!
Auguste. Are you two at it again? (_To_ Michalski) Will you never shut up? Can"t you see he"s in his second childhood?
Heinecke. I"m in--Good!--Now you see! That"s the way I"m treated by my own children!
Robert. (_Aside to_ Auguste) Really, sister, I never thought you would say a thing like that!
Auguste. What are you talking about?
(_Enter_ Wilhelm.)
All. (_Except_ Robert) It"s Wilhelm! Good morning, Wilhelm! (Heinecke _and_ Michalski _shake hands with him_)
Frau Heinecke. Who is the pretty bouquet for? That must be for somebody in the city.
Wilhelm. No, it"s for you ... You are the young gentleman? (Robert _nods--cordially_) Awful glad to know you! (_About to offer his hand_)
Robert. (_Smiling_) Very kind of you.
Wilhelm. The honorable family sends you a hearty welcome and these flowers. They are the rarest in the conservatory. But, between you and me, the flowers came from the Gnadiges Fraulein. And the Gnadiges Fraulein was pretty anxious to----
Robert. Were you commissioned to say that, too? (_Controlling his feelings_)
Wilhelm. No, not----
Robert. Then keep it to yourself!
(_The servant starts to go._)
Frau Heinecke. Wouldn"t you like to have a piece of pound-cake with us, Wilhelm? There"s plenty left!
Robert. Please, Mother! (_Gives_ Wilhelm _a gold-piece_) The man has his pay--Tell the Councillor that the Count von Trast-Saarburg and I beg the honor of a meeting with him at three o"clock! You may go!
(Wilhelm _goes_)
Frau Heinecke. A count! What sort of a count?
Robert. A friend of mine, Mother, to whom I am under great obligation.
Auguste. (_Softly to_ Michalski) He pretends to have a count for a friend!
Frau Heinecke. Wait, I"ll put the flowers in water. But you oughtn"t to have been so harsh with Wilhelm, Bobby! He"s a good friend of ours.
Auguste. Us common folks don"t have counts for friends!