l are whispering to each other.]

PAUL, Shall I take you out, madam?

ANTOINETTE (with a supreme effort). No, thank you, I shall remain!
(Sits down again.)

LASKOWSKI (with a stupid stare). Just stay here, dearie! Just stay
here!

PAUL. Now do be quiet, Laskowski. (Also sits down again.)

LASKOWSKI Ain't I quiet, brother? Quiet!... Quiet!... Quiet!... Quiet
as the grave! Damn it all. I wonder how your father feels now.

KUNZE. We are happy, but he is happier.

ANTOINETTE (frantically controlling herself). Help yourselves, ladies
and gentlemen! Mr. von Tiedemann, don't be backward!

VON TIEDEMANN. I'm getting my share.

MERTENS. So am I. I don't let things affect my appetite.

LASKOWSKI (singing half audibly). Jinks, do you have to die, young as
you are ... young as ...

MRS. BOROWSKI (to PAUL). Now it has come, just as the departed always
wished.

PAUL. How so, Mrs. Borowski?

MRS. BOROWSKI. That you would be back, Paul, and that everything about
the estate would go right on as before! If he could only look down upon
that.

PAUL (nervously). Yes!

VON TIEDEMANN (leans over to PAUL). Settled fact is it, Mr. Warkentin?
Really going to get into the harness?

LASKOWSKI (pricking up his ears). Can't do it, old chap! Come on!...
Can't begin to do it!

PAUL. I do intend to, Mr. von Tiedemann.

VON TIEDEMANN. Well, you'd better think that over! Not every one can
match your father as an agriculturalist.

PAUL. With a little honest effort ...

VON TIEDEMANN. If _that_ were all! To begin with, you can't match your
father physically. You have to be accustomed to such things. In all
kinds of weather! And then ... No child's play to farm now-a-days!
Starvation prices for grain! Simply a shame! If that continues I'll
vouch that all this blooming farming will go to the devil within twenty
years!

MRS. VON TIEDEMANN (shaking her head). To think of having you speak
that way, Fritz!

VON TIEDEMANN. Of course, if a fellow has a few pennies to fall back
on, it's not so bad. But how many are there who have. The rest will
go broke!

LASKOWSKI (hums again). The Count of Luxemburg has squandered all his
cash ... cash ... cash ...

VON TIEDEMANN (eagerly). And who will have the advantage? The few who
have money. They will buy for a song and some day, when times are
better again, they will sell for twice as much. Some day they are
likely to roll in wealth!

LASKOWSKI (as before). Has squandered all his cash ...