Hertz:

No.  War is man’s business.

Hedwig:

Who gives you the men?  We women.  We bear and rear and agonize.  Well, if we are fit for that, we are fit to have a voice in the fate of the men we bear.  If we can bring forth the men for the nation, we can sit with you in your councils and shape the destiny of the nation, and say whether it is to war or peace we give the sons we bear.

Hertz: [Chuckling.]

Sit in the councils?  That would be a joke.  I see.  Mother, she’s a little—­[Touches his forehead suggestively.] Sit in the councils with the men and shape the destiny of the nation!  Ha! ha!

Hedwig:

Laugh, Herr Captain, but the day will come; and then there will be no more war.  No, you will not always keep us here, dumb, silent drudges.  We will find a way.

Hertz: [Turning to the mother.]

That is what comes of letting Franz go to a factory town, Maria.  That is where he met this girl.  Factory towns breed these ideas. [To Hedwig.] Well, we’ll have none of that here. [Authoritatively.] Another word of this kind of insurrection, another word to the women of your treason, and you will be locked up and take your just punishment.  You remember I had to look out for you in the beginning when you talked against this war.  You’re a firebrand, and you know how we handle the like of you. [Goes to door, turns to the mother.] I am sorry you have to have this trouble, Maria, on top of everything else.  You don’t deserve it. [To Hedwig.] You have been warned.  Look out for yourself.

[Hedwig is standing rigid, with difficulty repressing the torrent of her feelings.  Drums are heard coming nearer, and singing voices of men.]

Amelia: [At door.]

They are passing this way.

Hedwig:

Wave to Arno.  Come, Mother.  Ah, how quickly they go!

[The official steps out of the door.  There is quick rhythm of marching feet as the departing regiment passes not very far from the house.]

There he is!  Wave, Mother.  Good-by! good-by!

[The women stand in the doorway, waving their sad farewells, smiling bravely.  The sounds grow less and less, until there is the usual silence.]

In another month, in another week, perhaps, all the men will be gone.  We will be a village of women.  Not a man left.

[She leads the old mother into the house once more.]

Hertz: [In the door.]

What did you say?

Hedwig:

Not a man left, I said.

Hertz:

You forget. I shall be here.

Hedwig:

You are old.  You don’t count.  They think you are only a woman, Herr
Captain.

Hertz: [Insulted.]