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Read Ebook: Honor: A Play in Four Acts by Sudermann Hermann Baukhage Hilmar R Hilmar Robert Translator
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Ebook has 1239 lines and 26515 words, and 25 pages
Frau Heinecke. Father, he's here!
Heinecke. Who?
Frau Heinecke. Our boy!
Heinecke. We're ready for him!
Heinecke. All I'll say is: "Welcome, beloved"--did you put some of that swell soap of Alma's on his washstand?
Frau Heinecke. And how many times have I set here and thought to myself: has he even got a decent bed under him?--and--and--have the savages eaten him up already? And now all of a sudden here he is, Father--Father we've got him again! May the luck keep up!
Heinecke. Look here a minute--does this look all right?
Frau Heinecke. Quiet!--He's coming. Your tie's slipped up again! I'm ashamed of you! Lord, how nervous I am!
Robert. Good morning. Father!--Good morning, Mother I I am--absolutely--inhumanly--happy!
Heinecke. "Welcome, beloved son"-- You're going to kiss my hand?!!
Robert. Certainly, if you'll let me!
Heinecke. Now you can see what a good son he is!
Robert. And here is where I once--I hardly know--is it really possible?--Or am I actually dreaming still? That would be too bad--Oh,--and the homesickness!--Lord in heaven, that homesickness!--Just think! You sit out there at night in some corner, and everything you have left appears about you, living;--mother, father,--the court, the garden, the factory--and then all of a sudden you see the long palm branches waving over you, or a parrot screams in the distance and you come to yourself and realise that you are all alone at the other end of the world! Brrr!
Heinecke. Parrots? That must be nice! Here only the rich folks can have 'em!
Robert. Yes, and if you only knew how I worried these last years, and even on the journey home, for fear I shouldn't find everything the way my longing had painted it!
Heinecke. Why?
Frau Heinecke. You never slept a wink on account of that old machine--eh? It bumps and bangs the whole night!
Heinecke. Huh!
Robert. What, Father?
Heinecke. Aw, nuthin'!
Robert. And I have sworn that I won't slacken in his service until I've drawn my last breath!
Heinecke. I should think by this time you'd have done about enough for them!
Frau Heinecke. You've scraped and slaved for them for ten years!
Robert. Oh, it wasn't as bad as that, Mother. But now let's not talk about them this way any more. Every day we have one reason or other for thanking the Muhlingks. The letters I had from the Councillor, and from Kurt especially,--he's a partner now,--were like letters from a close friend.
Heinecke. Kurt--Oh, he's a fine young gentleman! But as for the rest--"The Moor has paid his debt" as the Berliner says--show me the rabble! But, Bobby, look around! Don't you notice anything? He don't see anything, Mother!
Frau Heinecke. Oh, stop your chatter!
Heinecke. Chatter! Ho! When I try to welcome my dear son back to his father's house, then it's chatter! W--what do you say to that, eh?
Robert. Did you make that, Father, you with your lame arm?
Heinecke. Ah! I make lots of things. If the poor old cripple didn't take a hand this fine family would have starved long ago!-- What are you standing there staring at. Mother? Where's the coffee?
Frau Heinecke. Well, well!
Robert. Oh, Mother, he didn't mean anything!
Frau Heinecke. Mean anything? Ha! Ha! he's only talking that way to make you think he's the man of the house!
Robert. You still paste boxes. Father?
Heinecke. Still at it!
Robert. And the arm doesn't bother you?
Heinecke. My arm, ha! ha! ha! my arm! Do you want to see how I do it! First the pasteboard--so--then the fold--so! Who could beat your old cripple at that?
Robert. You are a regular juggler.
Heinecke. That's what! But who admits it? Who appreciates me? Who appreciates me? Nobody! How could the daughters--one of 'em already a Missus--respect me when their own mother gives 'em such a bad example!
Robert. Father!
Heinecke. Yes, you're a long way from her lap--far away cows have long horns--There, it's "dear little Mother! sweet little sister!"--But if you knew what I've had to stand! Not once does she give me horse-car-fare when I want to go to town for a glass of beer!
Robert. Are you quite fair to her? Doesn't she cherish you as the apple of her eye?
Heinecke. Lord, I didn't mean to say anything against her--shh!--here she comes! Sit down, Bobby,--No, here in the arm-chair! Wait a minute! Such a fine gentleman ought to sit on pure silk!
Frau Heinecke. Yes, and the other's just the same! Two pieces we've got! And have you seen the pier-glass? All gold creepers, and the glass in one piece! Augusta's husband says it cost at least two hundred marks!
Robert. Where did all these wonderful things come from.
Frau Heinecke. From the Councillor!
Robert. He gives you things like this?
Frau Heinecke. Ssh! don't you know that Herr Kurt doesn't want it known? Yes, last Christmas he gave us the mirror, and this Christmas the two chairs. Father, quit boring holes in the pound cake!
Robert. Really, I don't like this sort of generosity!
Robert. Alma?
Heinecke. Yessir! We did everything for our girl we were able to do.
Robert. So that she should have a proper schooling, and learn millinery and bookkeeping. That's what we agreed on.
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