ost?

--Don't talk to me of it! It gets on my nerves, my brother's
extravagance does. I often quarrel with him because he's so
improvident.

--They say a stork brings babies. What sort of a stork is it?

_[The young men burst out laughing._

--Don't talk nonsense. I gave birth to five children right in your
presence, and I'm no stork, thank the Lord.

_[The young men burst our laughing again. The Elderly Woman eyes them
long and sternly._

--It's only a superstition. Children are born in an absolutely natural
way, firmly established by science. They've moved to new quarters now.

--Who?

--The engineer and his wife. Their old place was chilly and damp. They
complained to the landlord several times, but he paid no attention.

--I think it's better to live in a small place that's warm than in a
large place that's damp. You are liable to catch your death of cold
and rheumatism if you live in a damp house.

--I have a friend, too, who lives in a very damp house. And I too.
Very damp.

--There are so many damp places nowadays.

--Tell me, please--I've been wanting to ask you a long time--how do
you remove a grease stain from light-colored material?

--Woollen?

--No, silk.

_[The child's crying is heard behind the scene._

--Take a piece of ice and rub it on the spot hard. Then take a hot
iron and press the spot.

--No? Fancy, how simple! I heard benzine was better.

--No, benzine is good for dark material. For light goods ice is
better.

--I wonder whether smoking is allowed here. Somehow at never occurred
to me before whether one may or may not smoke where there is a
new-born baby.

--It never occurred to me either. How strange! I know it isn't proper
to smoke at funerals, but here--

--Nonsense! Of course you may smoke.

--Smoking is a bad habit just the same. You are still a very young man
and ought to take good care of your health. There are many occasions
in life when good health is highly essential.

--But smoking stimulates.

--Believe me, it's a very unhealthy stimulant. When I was young and
reckless, I was also guilty of using, or rather abusing, tobacco--

--Mamma, listen to him crying. My, how he's crying! Does he want milk,
mamma?

_[The young men burst out laughing. The Elderly Woman looks at them
sternly._

CURTAIN

THE SECOND SCENE

LOVE AND POVERTY

_The entire place is filled with a warm, bright light. A large, very
poor room, high walls, the color of old