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Hauptmann, Gerhart, 1862-1946

"The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume I"

_] Wait
a moment! [_He goes on tiptoe to the door leading to the hall and
listens. A door is heard to open and close, and for several moments the
moans of the woman in labour are audible. The DOCTOR, turning to LOTH,
says softly._] Excuse me!
[_And goes out._
_For several seconds, while the slamming of doors is heard and the
sound of people running up and down the stairs, LOTH paces the room.
Then he sits down in the arm-chair in the foreground, right. HELEN
slips in and throws her arms about LOTH, who has not observed her
coming from, behind._
LOTH
[_Looking around and embracing her in turn._] Nellie! [_He drams her down
upon his knee in spite of her gentle resistance. HELEN weeps under his
kisses._] Don't cry, Nellie! Why are you crying so?
HELEN
Why? Oh, if I knew!... I keep thinking that I won't find you here. Just
now I had such a fright ...
LOTH
But why?
HELEN
Because I heard you go out of your room--Oh, and my sister--we poor, poor
women!--oh, she's suffering too much!
LOTH
The pain is soon forgotten and there is no danger of death.
HELEN
Oh, but she is praying so to die. She wails and wails: Do let me die!.


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