SCENE II.--WENDLA’S _room, empty_. MRS. BERGMANN, _her hat on, her

shawl round her shoulders, a basket on her arm, enters with beaming face_.

MRS. BERGMANN--Wendla! Wendla!

WENDLA--[_Appearing, half dressed, at the other door._] What is it, Mother?

MRS. BERGMANN--Up already, dear? Well! That’s nice of you.

WENDLA--Have you been out already?

MRS. BERGMANN--Hurry up now and get dressed! You must go straight down to Ina’s and take this basket to her.

WENDLA--[_Finishing dressing during the following._] Have you been at Ina’s? How is Ina feeling? Isn’t she ever going to get better?

MRS. BERGMANN--Just think, Wendla: the stork came to her last night and brought her a new little boy!

WENDLA--A boy?--A boy?--Oh, that’s grand!--So it was for that she’s been sick so long with influenza!

MRS. BERGMANN--A splendid boy!

WENDLA--I’ve got to see him, Mother!--So now I’m an aunt for the third time--one niece and two nephews!

MRS. BERGMANN--And what fine nephews they are!--That’s just the way of it when one lives so close to the church roof.--It’ll be just two [and a half?] years to-morrow since she went up those steps in her wedding-dress!

WENDLA--Were you with her when he brought him, mother?

MRS. BERGMANN--He had just that minute flown away again!--Don’t you want to pin a rose on here? [_At the front of her dress._]

WENDLA--Why didn’t you get there a little bit sooner, Mother?

MRS. BERGMANN--Why, I do believe, almost, that he brought you something too--a brooch or something like that.

WENDLA--[_Losing patience._] Oh, it’s really too bad!

MRS. BERGMANN--But I tell you that he did bring you a brooch too!

WENDLA--I’ve got brooches enough....

MRS. BERGMANN--Why, then be happy, darling. What are you troubled about?

WENDLA--I’d like to have known, so much, whether he flew in by the window or down the chimney.

MRS. BERGMANN--You must ask Ina about that. [_Laughing._] You must ask Ina about that, dear heart! Ina will tell you all about it exactly. Didn’t Ina spend a whole half-hour talking to him?

WENDLA--I’ll ask Ina as soon as I get down there.

MRS. BERGMANN--Be sure you don’t forget, you angel child! Really, I’m interested myself in knowing if he came in by the window or the chimney!

WENDLA--Or how about asking the chimney-sweep, rather?--The chimney-sweep must know better than anybody whether he flies down the chimney or not.

MRS. BERGMANN--No, not the chimney-sweep, dear; not the chimney-sweep! What does the chimney-sweep know about the stork? He’ll fill you chuck-full of nonsense he doesn’t believe himself.... Wha-what are you staring down the street so at?

WENDLA--A man, mother, three times as big as an ox!--with feet like steamboats--!

MRS. BERGMANN--[_Plunging to the window._] Impossible! Impossible!

WENDLA--[_Right after her._] He’s holding a bedstead under his chin and fiddling “The Watch on the Rhine” on it--now he’s just turned the corner....

MRS. BERGMANN--Well! You are and always were a little rogue! To put your simple old mother into such a fright!--Go get your hat. I wonder when you’ll ever get any sense! I’ve given up hope!

WENDLA--So have I, Mother; so’ve I. It’s pretty sad about my sense! Here I have a sister who’s been married two and a half years; here I am an aunt three times over; and I haven’t the least idea how it all happens!... Don’t be cross, motherkin! don’t be cross! Who in the world should I ask about it but you? Please, Mother dear, tell it to me! Tell me, darling motherkin! I feel ashamed at myself! Please, please, mother, speak! Don’t scold me for asking such a thing. Tell me about it--how does it happen--how does it all come about?--Oh, you can’t seriously expect me still to believe in the stork when I’m fourteen!

MRS. BERGMANN--But, good Lord, child, how queer you are! What things do occur to you! Really, I just can’t do that!

WENDLA--But why not, mother? Why not? It can’t be anything ugly, surely, when everyone feels so glad about it!

MRS. BERGMANN--Oh, oh, God defend me!--Have I deserved to---- Go and put your things on, girl,--put your things on.

WENDLA--I’m going ... and supposing your child goes out now and asks the chimney-sweep?

MRS. BERGMANN--Oh, but that’s enough to drive me crazy!--Come, child, come here: I’ll tell you.... Oh, Almighty Goodness!--only not to-day, Wendla! To-morrow, day after, next week, whenever you want, dear heart!

WENDLA--Tell it to me to-day, mother. Tell it to me now; now, at once. Now that I’ve seen you so upset, it’s all the more impossible for me to quiet down again until you do!

MRS. BERGMANN--I just can’t, Wendla.

WENDLA--Oh, but why can’t you, motherkin?--Here I’ll kneel at your feet and put my head in your lap. Cover my head with your apron and talk and talk as if you were sitting all soul alone in the room. I won’t move a muscle, I won’t make a sound; I’ll keep perfectly still and listen, no matter what may come!

MRS. BERGMANN--Heaven knows, Wendla, it isn’t my fault! The good God knows me.--Come, in His name!--I will tell you, little girl, how you came into this world--so listen, Wendla....

WENDLA--[_Under her apron._] I’m listening.

MRS. BERGMANN--[_Incoherent._] But it’s no use, child! That’s all! I can’t justify it.--I know I deserve to be put in prison,--to have you taken from me....

WENDLA--[_Under her apron._] Pluck up heart, Mother!

MRS. BERGMANN--Well, then, listen....

WENDLA--[_Trembling._] O God, O God!

MRS. BERGMANN--To have a child--you understand me, Wendla?----

WENDLA--Quick, mother! I can’t bear it much longer!

MRS. BERGMANN--To have a child--one must love the man--to whom one is married--=love= him, I say,--as one can only love a man! You must love him so utterly--with all your heart--that--that--it can’t be =told=! You must love him, Wendla, as you at your age can’t possibly love anyone yet.... Now you know.

WENDLA--[_Getting up._] Great--God--in Heaven!

MRS. BERGMANN--Now you know what tests lie before you!

WENDLA--And that is all?

MRS. BERGMANN--God help me, yes, all!--Now pick up the basket there and go down to Ina. You’ll get some chocolate there, and cakes with it.--Come here--let me just look you over--laced boots, silk gloves, sailor-blouse, a rose in your hair.... But your little dress is really getting too short now, Wendla!

WENDLA--Have you got meat for dinner already, motherkin?

MRS. BERGMANN--God bless you and keep you!--I must find time to sew another breadth of ruffles round your skirt.

CURTAIN