What?
NEUMANN
He said something, Mr. Dreissiger. His lips are moving.
DREISSIGER
What--what is it, boy?
BOY
[_Whispers._] I'm h-hungry.
WOMAN
I think he says--
DREISSIGER
We'll find out. Don't stop. Let us get him into my room. He can lie on
the sofa there, We'll hear what the doctor says.
_DREISSIGER, NEUMANN, and the woman lead the boy into the office. The
weavers begin to behave like school-children when their master has
left the classroom. They stretch themselves, whisper, move from one
foot to the other, and in the course of a few moments are conversing
loudly._
OLD BAUMERT
I believe as how Becker was right.
CHORUS OF WEAVERS AND WOMEN
"He did say something like that."--"It's nothin' new here to fall down
from hunger."--"God knows what's to come of 'em in winter if this cuttin'
down o' wages goes on."--"An' this year the potatoes aren't no good at
all."--"Things'll get worse and worse till we're all done for together."
OLD BAUMERT
The best thing a man could do would be to put a rope round his neck and
hang hisself on his own loom, like weaver Nentwich. [_To another old
weaver._] Here, take a pinch. I was at Neurode yesterday.
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