t,
Bess, aren't we? Three lusty bairns!

MRS. SCHNAASE. And _we_, with our five!

LASKOWSKI (touched). Do you see, dearie! What am I always tellin' you!
An agriculturalist without children ...

KUNZE. Abraham scored one hundred when the Lord bestowed his son Isaac
upon him.

LASKOWSKI. But a fellow like me can't wait that long--stuff and
nonsense. What if I die and ...

PAUL. You will take care not to do that.

LASKOWSKI. Don't say that, brother! I'm going to die young! I'm sure of
it. An old woman once told my fortune, and she said I wouldn't see more
than fifty. But, do you know what, dearie?

MRS. VON TIEDEMANN (to ANTOINETTE). I suppose you frequently came to
Ellernhof in the old days, Madam von Laskowski?

ANTOINETTE. Why, the departed was my guardian, you know, Mrs.
Von Tiedemann.

MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. Oh yes. I had forgotten that.

VON TIEDEMANN. Do you ride horseback as much as ever, madam?

ANTOINETTE. Now and then, for pastime!

LASKOWSKI. Now don't you say a word, dearie! Why, you're pasted on a
horse all day long, and then from horseback right into the cold, cold
water. Did anybody ever hear the like of it?

PAUL (to ANTOINETTE). Yesterday I had a horseback ride again too,
madam. Have I told you about it? The first time in years. And, what is
more, I got quite near your place. I was even able to see the houses of
Klonowken.

ANTOINETTE. Did you ride through the forest?

PAUL. Of course, through the pine forest of Klonowken, yesterday
morning. Right through the snow.

ANTOINETTE. Why, I was out at the same time.

PAUL (looks at her). You were, madam? Too bad! Why did we not chance to
meet?

ANTOINETTE. I suppose it was not ordained so.

LASKOWSKI (after drinking again). I say, dearie, one of these days when
I die, do you know what I'll do?

MERTENS. If one of us dies, I'll go to Karlsbad, eh, Laskowski?

LASKOWSKI. Listen, dearie! You'll inherit all I have an' marry another
fellow!

PAUL (sternly). Control yourself a bit, Laskowski.

LASKOWSKI (undaunted). Ain't that true, dearie? Tell me that you'll
come to my grave! Promise me that much, dearie! Then I'll die easy.
You'll come along and sit down and cry a few tearies on my grave. (He
chokes down his tears and drinks again.)

VON TIEDEMANN (has also been drinking freely). Well, here's to our
friend, departed in his prime. (He raises his glass to LASKOWSKI.)

MRS. VON TIEDEMANN (disapprovingly). Why, Fritz!

VON TIEDEMANN (c