Anneke.  Well, don’t stand and stare at me into the bargain.

Henrich.  It is as I say, Anneke!  Here comes the young lady, who shall vouch for my words.

SCENE 3

(Enter Engelke.)

Engelke.  Oh, God help me, poor creature!  Now I see that all hope is gone.

Henrich.  Oh, my young lady, is this the time to weep, when your parents have come into such good fortune?

Engelke.  Hold your tongue, Henrich, I don’t want to be “my young lady.”

Henrich.  What are you going to be, then?  You’re not a mere maiden, so you must be a young lady.  That is surely the next degree of honor to which you rise when you lose your maidenhood.

Engelke.  I had rather be a peasant’s daughter.  Then I could be sure of getting the man on whom I have set my heart.

Henrich.  Oh, is that all the young lady is crying about—­that she wants to get married?  Now she can get married in the shortest possible time to any man she points at, for half the town will besiege the house to be a burgomaster’s son-in-law.

Engelke.  I won’t have any one but Antonius, whom I’ve already promised to marry.

Henrich.  Fie, Mamsell!  Will you take a wheelwright now, a man I can scarcely associate with,—­I, who am only a reutendiener?  You should have a higher sense of honor after this.

Engelke.  Be quiet, you lout!  I would give up my life rather than let myself be forced to marry any one else.

Henrich.  Now reassure yourself, my young lady, we shall see, I and the burgomaster, if we can’t help Antonius into office, and then you can take him and welcome. (Exit Engelke.  Anneke weeps.) Why are you crying, Anneke?

Anneke.  I am crying for joy over the fortune that has come to our house.

Henrich.  True enough, Anneke, you have cause to rejoice.  Who the devil would have thought that such a sow as you are could ever become a lady’s maid?

Anneke.  And who the dickens could have thought that such a hog as you might become a reutendiener?

Henrich.  Listen, little girl, I haven’t time to talk to you any longer now.  Madam expects guests; I must prepare coffee.  See, here she is; let us go.  I must run get the coffee-table. [Exeunt.

SCENE 4

(Enter Geske with a dog in her arms.  Henrich returns with the coffee-table and sets it busily.)

Geske.  Listen, Henrich, is there syrup in the coffee?

Henrich.  No, Mistress!

Geske.  No more “Master” and “Mistress,” Henrich!  I say that once for all.  Run get some syrup and put it into the pot. (Exit Henrich.) I was free from all this hubbub before.  But I suppose that once I am used to it, it will come easier to me.