e walls. All have risen meanwhile, and broken up
into new groups. Confusion of voices in the background.)

SCHROCK and RAABE (have intonated the Gaudeamus. At first softly, then
more distinctly the following stanza is sung):

Ubi sunt qui ante nos
In mundo fuere?
Vadite ad superos,
Transite ad inferos,
Ubi jam fuere.

[Illustration: FORDING THE WATER]

GLYSZINSKI (has joined in lustily at the end, and repeats alone). Ubi
jam fuere!

[MERTENS, VON TIEDEMANN, MRS. SCHNAASE, MRS. VON TIEDEMANN stand
in the foreground where they have been conversing in an
undertone.]

MERTENS (in an undertone). Now the pot is boiling!

VON TIEDEMANN (a bit mellow). That's the way a funeral should be! No
airs! The dead won't become alive again anyhow!

MERTENS. Many a man might object to that anyhow!

VON TIEDEMANN. The devil take it. A fellow doesn't want to give up what
he once has!

MERTENS. Wasn't Laskowski superb again!

VON TIEDEMANN. Always is, of late! Never see him any other way!

MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. And then Mrs. Laskowski? Did you watch, Gretchen?

MRS. SCHNAASE. I don't exactly see, Elizabeth!

MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. You _didn't_, how they kept on whispering together?
She hasn't a bit of modesty!

VON TIEDEMANN. I'll bet my head Laskowski will plant himself here some
day. The young man surely can't make it go in the long run. Why he
can't hold on to the estate.

MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. Didn't she bat her eyes again!

MERTENS. She _does_ have eyes!

VON TIEDEMANN. _Does_ she!

MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. Just go ahead and propose to her, the togged-out
thing!... Come on Gretchen!

[Both go off to the left.]

VON TIEDEMANN. Bang!

MERTENS. What do you think of _that_?

VON TIEDEMANN. Let's see if we can find a cocktail! Come on Mertens!
(They go out at the left.)

[PAUL, ANTOINETTE, GLYSZINSKI come over from the right.]

[Illustration: FORDING THE WATER]

GLYSZINSKI (quite intoxicated, to ANTOINETTE). Without a doubt, madam,
a beautiful, sensitive soul will, above all, find expression in the
hand. So would you, perhaps, let me have your hand for a moment....

ANTOINETTE (chilly). For what purpose?

GLYSZINSKI (has seized her hand, impassioned). Only to imprint a kiss
upon these beautiful, soft, delicate, distinguished, aristocratic
finger-tips! (He kisses her finger-tips.)

ANTOINETTE (withdraws her hand). I beg your pardon, sir!

LASKOWSKI (i