ACT IV.

ACT IV.[An old-fashioned office. Left, office door, separated from the main office by a wooden railing. Between this door and railing are two benches; an old cupboard. In the background; three windows with view of the sunlit sea. In front of the middle window a standing desk and high stool. Right, writing table with telephone—a safe, an inside door. On the walls, notices of wreckage, insurance, maps, etc. In the center a round iron stove.][Kaps,BosandMathildediscovered.]Mathilde.Clemens!——Kaps.[Reading, with pipe in his mouth.]“The following wreckage, viz.: 2,447 ribs, marked Kusta; ten sail sheets, marked ‘M. S. G.’”Mathilde.Stop a moment, Kaps.Kaps.“Four deck beams, two spars, five”——Mathilde.[Giving him a tap.]Finish your reading later.Kaps.Yes, Mevrouw.Bos.[Impatiently.]I have no time now.Mathilde.Then make time. I have written the circular for the tower bell. Say, ring up the Burgomaster.Bos.[Ringing impatiently.]Quick! Connect me with the Burgomaster! Yes! This damn bother while I’m busy. Up to my ears in—[Sweetly.]Are you there? My little wife asks——Mathilde.If Mevrouw will come to the telephone about the circular.Bos.[Irritably.]Yes! yes! Not so long drawn—[Sweetly.]If Mevrouw will come to the telephone a moment? Just so, Burgomaster,—the ladies—hahaha! That’s a good one.[Curtly.]Now? What do you want to say? Cut it short.[ToMathilde.]Mathilde.Here, read this circular out loud. Then it can go to the printers.Bos.[Angrily.]That whole sheet! Are you crazy? Do you think I haven’t anything on my mind! That damned——Mathilde.Keep your temper! Kaps!——Bos.Go to hell![Sweetly.]Yes, Mevrouw. Tomorrow. My wife? No, she can’t come to the telephone herself, she doesn’t know how.[Irritably.]Where is the rag? Hurry up![Reaches out hand for paper.Mathildehands it to him.]My wife has written the circular for the tower bell. Are you listening?[Reads.]“Date, postmark, MM.” What did you say? You would rather have L. S.? Yes, yes, quite right. Do you hear?[Reads.]“You are no doubt acquainted with the new church.”—She says, “No,” the stupid! I am reading, Mevrouw, again. “You are no doubt acquainted with the new church. The church has, as you know, a high tower; that high tower points upward, and that is good, that is fortunate, and truly necessary for many children of our generation”——Mathilde.Read more distinctly.Bos.[ToMathilde.]Shut your mouth. Pardon, I was speaking to my bookkeeper.[In telephone.]Yes—yes—ha, ha, ha—[Reads again from paper.]“But that tower could do something else that also is good. Yes, and very useful. It can mark the time for us children of the times. That it does not do. It stands there since 1882 and has never answered to the question, ‘What time is it?’ That it should do. It was indeed built for it, there are four places visible for faces; for years in allsorts of ways”—Did you say anything? No?—“for years the wish has been expressed by the surrounding inhabitants that they might have a clock—About three hundred guilders are needed. Who will help? The Committee, Mevrouw”—What did you say? Yes, you know the names, of course. Yes, very nicely worded? Yes—Yes—All the ladies of the Committee naturally sign for the same amount, a hundred guilders each? Yes—Yes—Very well—My wife will be at home, Mevrouw.[Rings off angrily.]Damned nonsense!—a hundred guilders gone to the devil! What is it to you if there’s a clock on the damn thing or not?Mathilde.[Turns away.]I’ll let you fry in your own fat.Bos.She’ll be here in her carriage in quarter of an hour.Mathilde.Bejour! bejour! If you drank less grog in the evenings you wouldn’t have such a bad temper in the mornings. Just hand me five guilders.Bos.No, no! You took five guilders out of my purse this morning while I was asleep. I can keep no——Mathilde.I take a rix dollar! What an infamous lie. Just one guilder! Bah, what a man, who counts his money before he goes to bed!Bos.Bejour! bejour!Mathilde.Very well, don’t give it—Then I can treat the Burgomaster’s wife to a glass of gin presently—three jugs of old gin and not a single bottle of port or sherry![Bosangrily throws down two rix dollars.]Say, am I your servant? If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t be throwing rix dollars around!—Bah![Goes off angrily.]Kaps.[Reading.]IJmuiden, 24 December—Today there were four sloops in the market with 500to 800 live and 1,500 to 2,100 dead haddock and some—live cod—The live cod brought 7¼—the dead——Bos.Haven’t you anything else to do?Kaps.The dead haddock brought thirteen and a half guilders a basket.Bos.[Knocking on the desk.]I know all that! Here, take hold! Take your book—turn to the credit page of the Expectation——Kaps.[Looking.]The Jacoba? no, the Queen Wilhelmina? no, the Mathilde? no—the GoodHope?—We can whistle for her. The Expectation?Bos.What was the gross total?Kaps.Fourteen hundred and forty-three guilders and forty-seven cents.Bos.I thought so. How could you be so ungodly stupid, to deduct four guilders, 88, for the widows and orphans’ fund?Kaps.Let’s see.[Figuring.]—1,443—3 per cent off—that’s 1,400—that’s gross three hundred and 87 guilders—yes, it should be three guilders, 88, instead of four, 88.Bos.[Rising.]If you’re going into your dotage, Jackass! you can go. Your errors are always on the wrong side!Kaps.[With a knowing laugh.]There might be something to say against that, Meneer—you didn’t go after me when, when——Bos.Now, that’ll do, that’ll do!——Kaps.And that was an error with a couple of big ciphers after it.[Bosgoes off impatiently at right.]Hehehe! It all depends on what side——[Looks around, seesBosis gone, pokes up the fire; fills his pipe fromBos’stobacco jar, carefully steals a couple of cigars from his box.]Simon.[Entering.]Is Bos here?Kaps.Mynheer Bos, eh?—no.Simon.Is he out?Kaps.Can’t you give me the message?Simon.I ask you, is he out?Kaps.Yes.Simon.No tidings?Kaps.No. Has this running back and forth begun again? Meneer said that when he got news, he——Simon.It will be nine weeks tomorrow.Kaps.The Jacoba came in after fifty-nine days’ lost time.Simon.You are—You know more than you let on.Kaps.Are you loaded already?Simon.Not a drop.Kaps.Then it’s time—I know more, eh? I’m holding off the ships by ropes, eh?Simon.I warned you folks when that ship lay in the docks. What were the words I spoke then, eh?Kaps.[Shrugging his shoulders.]All tales on your part for a glass of gin!Simon.You lie. You was there, and the Miss was there. I says, “The ship is rotten, that caulking was damn useless. That a floating coffin like that”——Kaps.Good! that’s what you said. I don’t deny it. What of it? Are you so clever that when you’re half drunk——Simon.[Angry.]That’s a damned lie!Kaps.Not drunk then, are you such an authority, you a shipmaster’s assistant, that when you say “no,” and the owner and the Insurance Company say “yes,” my employer must put his ship in the dry docks?Simon.Damned rot! I warned you! And now, I say—now, I say—that if Mees, my daughter’s betrothed,not to speak of the others, if Mees—there will be murder.Kaps.You make me laugh! Go get yourself a dram and talk sense.[EnterMarietje.]Simon.Better have stayed outside. No tidings.Marietje.[Softly sobbing.]No tidings.Simon.Murder will come of it.[Both off.]Bos.[Enters.]Who’s here?Kaps.Simon and his daughter. Threats! Are you going out?Bos.Threats! Is the fellow insane? I’ll be back in ten minutes. Whoever comes must wait.Kaps.He spoke of——Bos.I don’t care to hear![Off.]Kaps.[Goes back to his desk; the telephone rings. He solemnly listens at the receiver.]Can’t understand you. I am the bookkeeper. Mynheer will be back in ten minutes. Ring up again.[EnterSaart.]Saart.Good day, my dear.Kaps.You here again? What do you want?Saart.I want you—Jesus! What a cold wind! May I warm my hands a moment?Kaps.Stay on that side of the railing.Saart.Sweet beast! You make me tired. Mynheer Bos just went round the corner.[Warms herself.]No use asking about the Hope. Jesus! Seven families. How lucky that outside of the children there were three unmarried men on board. Nothing washed ashore anywhere?Kaps.No, no!Saart.Now, don’t eat me up.Kaps.I wish you’d stay behind the railing. What do you want?Saart.[Looking in his pocket.]Look out! Oryou’ll break Meneer’s cigars. Old thief![He smiles.]Kaps, do you want to make a guilder?Kaps.That depends.Saart.I’m engaged to Bol, the skipper.Kaps.I congratulate you!Saart.He’s lying here, with a load of peat for the city. Now, how can I marry him?Kaps.How can you?Saart.I can’t; because they don’t know if my husband’s dead.Kaps.The legal limit is——Saart.I know that much myself.Kaps.You must summons him, ‘pro Deo,’ three times in the papers and if he doesn’t come then, and that he’ll not do, for there aren’t any more ghosts in the world, then you can——Saart.Now, if you’d attend to this little matter, Bol and I would always be grateful to you.Kaps.That is lawyer’s business. You must go to the city for that.Saart.Gracious, what botheration! When your common sense tells you I haven’t seen Jacob in three years and the——[Cobusenters, trembling with agitation.]Cob.There are tidings! There are tidings!Kaps.Tidings? What are you telling us?Cob.[Almost crying.]There must be tidings of the boys—of—of—the Hope.Kaps.Nothing![Friendlier.]Now, there is no use in your coming to this office day after day. I haven’t any good news to give you, the bad you already know. Sixty-two days——Cob.The water bailiff received a telegram. Ach, ach, ach; Meneer Kaps, help us out of this uncertainty. My sister—and my niece—are simply insane with grief.[Trembling violently.]Kaps.On my word of honor. Are you running away again?Cob.My niece is sitting alone at home—my sister is at the Priest’s, cleaning house. There must be something—there must be something.Kaps.Who made you believe that?Cob.The water bailiff’s clerk said—said—Ach, dear God——[Off.]Saart.Perhaps he is right.Kaps.Everything is possible.Saart.Has Meneer Bos any hope?Kaps.Hope? Nine weeks! that old ship! after that storm—all things are possible. No, I wouldn’t give a cent for it. Provisions for six weeks. If they had run into an English harbor, we would have had tidings.Clementine.[Enters.]Good day, Saart. Are there visitors inside, Kaps?Kaps.[Looking through window.]The Burgomaster’s carriage. Committee meeting for the clock. A new span. I wish I had their money.Clementine.[Laying her sketch book onKaps’sdesk.]I saw Cobus go by. Poor thing! How he has aged. I hardly recognized him.[Opening the sketch book.]Look. That’s the way he was three months ago, hale and jolly. You may look, too, Kaps.Kaps.No, Miss, I haven’t the time.Saart.Daantje’s death was a blow to him—you always saw them together, always discussing. Now he hasn’t a friend in the “Home”; that makes a big difference.Clementine.Do you recognize these?Saart.Well, that’s Kneir, that’s Barend with the basket on his back, and that’s—[The telephone bell rings.Clementinecloses her book.]Kaps.Meneer is out. They rang once before.Clementine.[Listening at telephone.]Yes!—Papa isn’t here. How long will he be, Kaps?Kaps.Two or three minutes.Clementine.[Startled.]What did you say? A hatch marked 47—and—[Trembling.]—I don’t understand you.[Screams and lets the receiver fall.]Kaps.What’s that? What’s that?Clementine.[Painfully shocked.]I don’t dare listen—Oh, oh!Kaps.Was that the water bailiff?Clementine.[Passionately.]Barend washed ashore. Oh God, now it is ended!Saart.Barend?——Barend?——Clementine.A telegram from Nieuwediep. A hatch—and a corpse——[EnterBos.]Bos.What’s going on here? Why are you crying?Kaps.Tidings of the Good Hope.Bos.Tidings?Kaps.The water bailiff is on the ’phone.Bos.The water bailiff?—Step aside—Go along, you! What are you gaping at?Saart.I—I—[Goes timidly off.]Bos.[Ringing.]Hello! Who is that? The water bailiff? A telegram from Nieuwediep? North of the Hook? I don’t understand a word! Stop your howling! a hatch, you say? 47?—Well, that’s damned—miserable—that! the corpse—advanced stage of decomposition! Barend—mustered in as oldest boy! Recognized by who? by—oh!—The Expectation has come into Nieuwediep disabled? And did Skipper Maatsuiker recognize him? Earrings? Yes, yes, silver earrings. No, never mind that. So it isn’t necessary to send any one from here for the identification? Yes, damned sad—yes—yes—we arein God’s hand—Yes—yes—I no longer had any doubts—thank you—yes—I’d like to get the official report as soon as possible. I will inform the underwriters, bejour![Hangs up the receiver.]I’m simply dead! twelve men!Kaps.Barend? Kneirtje’s son? Washed ashore? That’s—that’s a wonder. I never expected to hear of the ship again. With theClementine.Bos.[Angrily.]Yes—yes—yes—yes—[ToClementine.]Go inside to your mother! What stupidity to repeat what you heard in that woman’s presence. It won’t be five minutes now till half the village is here! Don’t you understand me? You sit there, God save me, and take on as if your lover was aboard——Clementine.Why didn’t you listen?[Sobs softly.]Bos.Listen!Clementine.When Simon, the shipbuilder’s assistant——Bos.The fellow was drunk.Clementine.[Firmly.]He was not!Bos.He was, too! And if he hadn’t been, what right have you to stick your nose into matters you don’t understand?Clementine.Dear God, now I am also guilty——Bos.[Angrily.]Guilty? Guilty! Have the novels you read gone to your head? Guilty! Are you possessed, to use those words after such an accident?Clementine.He said that the ship was a floating coffin. Then I heard you say that in any case it would be the last voyage for the Hope.Bos.[Angrily at first.]That damned boarding school; those damned boarding school fads! Walk if you like through the village like a fool, sketchingthe first rascal or beggar you meet! But don’t blab out things you can be held to account for. A floating coffin! Say, rather, a drunken authority—The North, of Pieterse, and the Surprise and the Willem III and the Young John. I can keep on naming them. Half of the fishing fleet and half the merchant fleet are floating coffins. Did you hear that, Kaps?Kaps.[Timidly.]No, Meneer, I don’t hear anything.Bos.If you had asked me: “Father, how is this?” I would have explained it to you. But you conceited young people meddle with everything and more, too! What stronger proof is there than the yearly inspection of the ships by the underwriters? Do you suppose that when I presently ring up the underwriter and say to him, “Meneer, you can plank down fourteen hundred guilders”—that he does that on loose grounds? You ought to have a face as red as a buoy in shame for the way you flapped out your nonsense! Nonsense, I say! Nonsense; that might take away my good name, if I wasn’t so well known.Clementine.[Sadly.]If I were a ship owner—and I heard——Bos.God preserve the fishery from an owner who makes drawings and cries over pretty vases! I stand as a father at the head of a hundred homes. Business is business. When you get sensitive you go head over heels. What, Kaps?[Kapsmakes a motion that he cannot hear.]Now, go to your mother. The Burgomaster’s wife is making a call.Kaps.Here is the muster roll.[Reading.]Willem Hengst, aged thirty-seven, married, four children——Bos.Wait a moment till my daughter——Clementine.I won’t speak another word.Kaps.[Reading on.]Jacob Zwart, aged thirty-five years, married, three children. Gerrit Plas, aged twenty-five years, married, one child. Geert Vermeer, unmarried, aged twenty-six years. Nellis Boom, aged thirty-five years, married, seven children. Klaas Steen, aged twenty-four years, married. Solomon Bergen, aged twenty-five years, married, one child. Mari Stad, aged forty-five years, married. Mees, aged nineteen years. Jacob Boom, aged twenty years. Barend Vermeer, aged nineteen years. Pietje Stappers, aged twelve years.Bos.[Cast down.]Seven homes.Clementine.Sixteen children.[EnterTruusandMarietje.]Truus.[Panting.]Are there tidings? Tidings of my little son?[Wild despair.]Ach, God! Ach, God; don’t make me unhappy, Meneer!——Bos.I’m sorry, Mrs. Stappers——Marietje.[Shrieking.]It can’t be! It can’t be! You lie!—It isn’t possible!——Bos.[Gently.]The Burgomaster at Nieuwediep has telegraphed the water bailiff. Barend Vermeer was washed ashore. You know what that means, and a hatch of the 47——Truus.[Loudly.]Oh, Mother Mary, must I lose that child, too? that lamb of twelve years![With a whimpering cry.]Oh, oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh, oh!—Pietje—Pietje——Marietje.[Bewildered.]Then—Then—[Bursts into a hysterical laugh.]Hahaha!—Hahaha!——Bos.Give her a glass of water.Marietje.[Striking the glass fromClementine’shand.]Go away! Go away![Falling on her knees, her hands catching hold of the railing gate.]Let me die!—Let me die, please, dear God, dear God!Clementine.[Sobbing.]Come Marietje, be calm; get up.Truus.On his first voyage. And so brave; as he stood there, waving, when the ship—[Sobs loudly.]Bos.It can’t be helped, Truus. It is a visitation. There hasn’t been a storm like that in years. Think of Hengst with four children, and Jacob and Gerrit—And, although it’s no consolation, I will hand you your boy’s wages today, if you like. Both of you go home now and resign yourselves to the inevitable—take her with you—she seems——Marietje.[With trembling sobs.]I don’t want to go home. I want to die, die——Clementine.[Supporting her.]Cry, Marietje, cry, poor lamb——[They go off.]Bos.[Angrily walking back and forth.]What’s the matter with you? Are you too lazy to put pen to paper today? You needn’t answer! Have you the Widows’ and Orphans’ fund at hand? Well!Kaps.[Shuffling to the safe.]The top drawer is still locked.[Bosthrows him the keys.]Oh, thank you.[Opens the safe, shuffles back toBos’sdesk with the book.]If you please, Meneer.Bos.Ninety-five widows, fourteen old sailors and fishermen.Kaps.Yes, the fund fell short some time ago. We will have to put in another appeal.Mathilde.[Entering.]Clemens, what a misfortune! The Burgomaster’s wife asks if you will come in for a moment. She sits there crying.Bos.No! Crying enough here. No time!Mathilde.Ach! Ach! Kaps, here is the copy for the circular. Hurry, do you hear!Bos.Talk to her about making a public appeal for the unfortunates.Mathilde.Yes, but, Clemens, isn’t that overdoing it, two begging parties?Bos.I will do it myself, then—[Both exit.]Clementine.[Enters. Softly weeping.]Kaps! Kaps![Goes to his desk and sits down opposite to him.]I feel so miserable——Kaps.Very unwise, Miss. Many ships go down. The Good Hope scarcely counts. I have it here. Where is it? where is it? The statement of Veritas for October—October alone; lost, 105 sailing vessels and 30 steamships—that’s a low estimate; fifteen hundred dead in one month.[Pointing to the sea.]Yes, when you see it as it appears today, so smooth, with the floating gulls, you wouldn’t believe that it murders so many people.[EnterJoandCobus.]Clementine.[ToJoandCobus,who sit alone in a dazed way.]Come in, Jo. Jo![Joslowly shakes her head.]Cob.[Trembling.]We have just run from home—for Saart just as I said—just as I said——[EnterBos.]Bos.[ToJo.]Here, sit down.[Shoves a chair by the stove.]You stay where you are, Cobus. You have no doubt heard?——Jo.[Sobbing.]About Barend? Yes, but Geert! It happens so often that they get off in row boats.Bos.I can’t give you that consolation. Not only was there a hatch, but the corpse was in an extreme state of dissolution.Jo.[Anxiously.]Yes! Yes! But if it shouldn’t be Barend. Who says it was Barend?Bos.Skipper Maatsuiker of the Expectation identified him, and the earrings.Jo.Maatsuiker? Maatsuiker? And if—he shouldbe mistaken——I’ve come to ask you for money, Meneer, so I can go to the Helder myself.Bos.Come, that’s foolish!Jo.[Crying.]Barend must be buried any way.Bos.The Burgomaster of Nieuwediep will take care of that——[EnterSimon.]Simon.[Drunk.]I—I—heard——[Makes a strong gesture towardsBos.]Bos.[Nervous vehemence.]Get out, you drunken sot!Simon.[Stammering.]I—I—won’t murder you. I—I—have no evil intentions——Bos.[Trembling.]Send for a policeman, Kaps. Must that drunken fellow——Simon.[Steadying himself by holding to the gate.]No—stay where you are—I’m going—I—I—only wanted to say how nicely it came out—with—with—The Good Hope.Bos.You get out, immediately!Simon.Don’t come so close to me—never come so close to a man with a knife——No-o-o-o—I have no bad intentions. I only wanted to say, that I warned you—when—she lay in the docks.Bos.You lie, you rascal!Simon.Now just for the joke of it—you ask—ask—ask your bookkeeper and your daughter—who were there——Bos.[Vehemently.]That’s a lie. You’re not worth an answer, you sot! I have nothing to do with you! My business is with your employer. Did you understand me, Kaps?Simon.My employer—doesn’t do the caulking himself.[ToKaps,who has advanced to the gate.]Didn’t I warn him?—wasn’t you there?Kaps.[Looking anxiously atBos.]No, I wasn’t there, and even if I was, I didn’t hear anything.Bos.[ToClementine.]And now, you! Did that drunken sot——Clementine.[Almost crying with anxiety.]Papa!Bos.[Threatening.]As my daughter do you permit——[Grimly.]Answer me!Clementine.[Anxiously.]I don’t remember——Simon.That’s low—that’s low—damned low! I said, the ship was rotten—rotten——Bos.A drunken man’s stories. You’re trying to drag in my bookkeeper and daughter, and you hear——Cob.Yes, but—yes, but—now I remember also——Bos.By thunder! you warned us too, eh?Cob.No, no, that would be lying. But your daughter—your daughter says now that she hadn’t heard the ship was rotten. And on the second night of the storm, when she was alone with me at my sister Kneirtje’s, she did say that—that——Clementine.[Trembling.]Did I—say——Cob.Yes, that you did! That very evening. These are my own words to you: “Now you are fibbing, Miss; for if your father knew the Good Hope was rotten”——Jo.[Springing up wildly, speaking with piercing distinctness.]You, you lie! You began to cry. You were afraid ships would be lost. I was there, and Truus was there, and——Oh, you adders!Bos.[Banging his desk with his fist.]Adders? Adders? You scum! Who gives you your feed, year in, year out? Haven’t you decency enough to believe us instead of that drunken beggar who reels as he stands there?Jo.[Raving with anger.]Believe you? You! She lies and you lie!Bos.[Threatening.]Get out of my office!Jo.You had Barend dragged on board by the police; Geert was too proud to be taken! Thief! thief![Overwrought, hysterical laugh.]No, no, you needn’t point to your door! We are going. If I staid here any longer I would spit in your face—spit in your face![Makes threatening gesture.]Cob.[Restraining her.]Come—come——Bos.[After a silence.]For your Aunt’s sake I will consider that you are overwrought; otherwise—otherwise——The Good Hope was seaworthy, was seaworthy! Have I no loss? Even if the ship was insured? And even had the fellow warned me—which is a lie, could I, a business man, take the word of a drunkard who can no longer get a job because he is unable to handle tools?Simon.[Stammering.]I—I told you and him and her—that a floating coffin like that. That stands fast!Jo.[Bursting out.]Oh! oh! Geert and Barend and Mees and the others! Oh God, how could you allow it![Sinks on the chair sobbing.]Give me the money to go to Nieuwediep myself, then I won’t speak of it any more.Bos.[Vindictively.]No! Not a red cent! A girl that talks to me as rudely as you did——Jo.[Confused, crying.]I don’t know what I said—and—and—I don’t believe that you—that you—that you would be worse than the devil.Bos.The water-bailiff says that it isn’t necessary to send any one to Nieuwediep.Jo.[Staggering to the door.]Not necessary! Not necessary! What will become of me now?——[CobusandSimonfollow her out.][Boswalks back and forth.Kapscreeps up on his stool.]Bos.[ToClementine.]And you—don’t you ever dare to set foot again in my office.Clementine.[With a terrified look.]No, never again.[A long pause.]Father, I ask myself[Bursts into sobs.]how I can ever again respect you? Ever again respect myself?[Exits.]Bos.Crazy! She would be capable of ruining my good name—with her boarding-school whims. Who ever comes now you send away, understand? Trash! Rabble! That whole set are no good! That damned drunkard! That fellow that stinks of gin![Sound ofJelle’sfiddle outside.]That too?[At the window.]Go on! No, not a cent![The music stops.]I am simply worn out.[Falls into his chair, takes upClementine’ssketch book; spitefully turns the leaves; throws it on the floor; stoops, jerks out a couple of leaves, tears them up. Sits in thought a moment, then rings the telephone.]Hello! with Dirksen—Dirksen, I say, the underwriter![Waits, looking sombre.]Hello! Are you there, Dirksen? It’s all up with the Good Hope. A hatch with my mark washed ashore and the body of a sailor.[Changing to quarrelsome tone.]What do you say? I should say not! No question of it! Sixty-two days! The probabilities are too small.[Calmer.]Good! I shall wait for you here at my office. But be quick about it! Yes, fourteen hundred guilders. Bejour.[Rings off; at the last wordsKneirtjehas entered.]Kneirtje.[Absently.]I——[She sinks on the bench, patiently weeping.]Bos.[At the safe, without seeing her.]Have you mislaid the policies? You never put a damn thing in its place.Kaps.[Pointing from his stool.]The policies are higher, behind the stocks.Bos.[Snappishly.]All right, shut your mouth, now![Turning around with the policies in his hand.]Why don’t you knock?Kneirtje.I wanted to——Bos.[Peevishly.]You’ve come five minutes too late. That hussy that lives with you has been in here kicking up such a scandal that I came near telephoning for the police.[Crossly.]Come in. Close the gate after you.Kneirtje.[Speaking with difficulty.]Is it true—is it true that——The priest said——[Bosnods with a sombre expression.]Oh, oh——[She stares helplessly, her arms hang limp.]Bos.I have sympathy for you. I know you as a respectable woman—and your husband too. But your children! I’m sorry to have to say it to you now after such a blow, your children and that niece of yours have never been any good.[Kneirtje’shead sinks down.]How many years haven’t we had you around, until your son Geert threatened me with his fists, mocked my grey hairs, and all but threw me out of your house—and your other son——[Frightened.]Kneirtje! Kneirtje![Rising.]Kaps! Water![Bathing her forehead and wrists.]I’ll be damned! I’ll be damned!Kaps.Shall I call Mevrouw or your daughter?Bos.No! Stay here! she’s coming to.[Kneir.with long drawn out sobs, sits looking before her with a dazed stare.]Kaps.Kneir——Bos.Keep still! Let her have her cry.Kneirtje.[In an agonized voice, broken with sobs.]He didn’t want to go! He didn’t want togo! And with my own hands I loosened his fingers from the door post.[Moans softly.]Bos.[In a muffled voice.]You have no cause to reproach yourself——Kneirtje.[In the same voice as before.]Before he went I hung his father’s rings in his ears. Like—like a lamb to the slaughter——Bos.Come——Kneirtje.[Panting.]And my oldest boy that I didn’t bid good bye——“If you’re too late”—these were his words—“I’ll never look at you again.”—“Never look at you again!”Bos.[Strongly moved.]Stop! in God’s name, stop!——Kneirtje.Twelve years ago—when the Clementine—I sat here as I am now.[Sobs with her face between her trembling old hands.]Bos.Come now, be strong.[Mathildeenters.]Mathilde.Clemens! Ach, poor, dear Kneir, I am so sorry for you. It’s dreadful! It is frightful! Two sons!Kneirtje.[Staring.]My husband and four sons——Mathilde.[Consoling.]But don’t you worry. We have written an appeal, the Burgomaster’s wife and I, and it’s going to be in all the papers tomorrow. Here, Kaps——[HandsKapsa sheet of paper which he places on desk—Bosmotions to her to go.]Let her wait a while, Clemens.[Sweetly.]I have a couple of cold chops—that will brace her up—and—and—let’s make up with her. You have no objections to her coming again to do the cleaning? We won’t forget you, do you hear? Good day, Kneir. Be brave.[Exits.]Bos.No, we will not forget you.Kneirtje.Now, my only hope is—my niece’s child.Bos.[Surprised.]A child?Kneirtje.That misfortune is added. She is with child by my son——[Softly smiling.]Misfortune? No, that isn’t a misfortune now——Bos.And you sit and tell that? This immorality under your own roof? Don’t you know the rules of the fund, that no aid can be extended to anyone leading an immoral life, or whose conduct does not meet with our approval?Kneirtje.[Submissive voice.]I leave it to the gentlemen themselves—to do for me—the gentlemen——Bos.It will be a tussle with the Committee—the committee of the fund—your son had been in prison and sang revolutionary songs. And your niece who——However, I will do my best. I shall recommend you, but I can’t promise anything. There are seven new families, awaiting aid, sixteen new orphans.[Rising and closing the safe.]No, sit awhile longer. My wife wants to give you something to take home with you.[Exits.]Mathilde.[Invisible.]Kaps! Kaps![The bookkeeper rises, disappears for a moment, and returns with a dish and an enamelled pan.]Kaps.[Kindly.]If you will return the dish when it’s convenient, and if you’ll come again Saturday, to do the cleaning.[She stares vacantly. He closes her nerveless hands about the dish and pan; shuffles back to his stool. A silence.Kneirtjesits motionless, in dazed agony; mumbles—moves her lips—rises with difficulty, stumbles out of the office.]Kaps.[Taking up sheet of paper from desk.]Appeal, for the newspapers![Smiling sardonically, he comes to the foreground; leaning onBos’sdesk, hereads.]“Benevolent Fellow Countrymen: Again we urge upon your generosity an appeal in behalf of a number of destitute widows and orphans. The lugger Good Hope——[As he continues reading.]CURTAIN.

[An old-fashioned office. Left, office door, separated from the main office by a wooden railing. Between this door and railing are two benches; an old cupboard. In the background; three windows with view of the sunlit sea. In front of the middle window a standing desk and high stool. Right, writing table with telephone—a safe, an inside door. On the walls, notices of wreckage, insurance, maps, etc. In the center a round iron stove.]

[Kaps,BosandMathildediscovered.]

Mathilde.Clemens!——

Mathilde.

Clemens!——

Kaps.[Reading, with pipe in his mouth.]“The following wreckage, viz.: 2,447 ribs, marked Kusta; ten sail sheets, marked ‘M. S. G.’”

Kaps.

[Reading, with pipe in his mouth.]“The following wreckage, viz.: 2,447 ribs, marked Kusta; ten sail sheets, marked ‘M. S. G.’”

Mathilde.Stop a moment, Kaps.

Mathilde.

Stop a moment, Kaps.

Kaps.“Four deck beams, two spars, five”——

Kaps.

“Four deck beams, two spars, five”——

Mathilde.[Giving him a tap.]Finish your reading later.

Mathilde.

[Giving him a tap.]Finish your reading later.

Kaps.Yes, Mevrouw.

Kaps.

Yes, Mevrouw.

Bos.[Impatiently.]I have no time now.

Bos.

[Impatiently.]I have no time now.

Mathilde.Then make time. I have written the circular for the tower bell. Say, ring up the Burgomaster.

Mathilde.

Then make time. I have written the circular for the tower bell. Say, ring up the Burgomaster.

Bos.[Ringing impatiently.]Quick! Connect me with the Burgomaster! Yes! This damn bother while I’m busy. Up to my ears in—[Sweetly.]Are you there? My little wife asks——

Bos.

[Ringing impatiently.]Quick! Connect me with the Burgomaster! Yes! This damn bother while I’m busy. Up to my ears in—[Sweetly.]Are you there? My little wife asks——

Mathilde.If Mevrouw will come to the telephone about the circular.

Mathilde.

If Mevrouw will come to the telephone about the circular.

Bos.[Irritably.]Yes! yes! Not so long drawn—[Sweetly.]If Mevrouw will come to the telephone a moment? Just so, Burgomaster,—the ladies—hahaha! That’s a good one.[Curtly.]Now? What do you want to say? Cut it short.[ToMathilde.]

Bos.

[Irritably.]Yes! yes! Not so long drawn—[Sweetly.]If Mevrouw will come to the telephone a moment? Just so, Burgomaster,—the ladies—hahaha! That’s a good one.[Curtly.]Now? What do you want to say? Cut it short.[ToMathilde.]

Mathilde.Here, read this circular out loud. Then it can go to the printers.

Mathilde.

Here, read this circular out loud. Then it can go to the printers.

Bos.[Angrily.]That whole sheet! Are you crazy? Do you think I haven’t anything on my mind! That damned——

Bos.

[Angrily.]That whole sheet! Are you crazy? Do you think I haven’t anything on my mind! That damned——

Mathilde.Keep your temper! Kaps!——

Mathilde.

Keep your temper! Kaps!——

Bos.Go to hell![Sweetly.]Yes, Mevrouw. Tomorrow. My wife? No, she can’t come to the telephone herself, she doesn’t know how.[Irritably.]Where is the rag? Hurry up![Reaches out hand for paper.Mathildehands it to him.]My wife has written the circular for the tower bell. Are you listening?[Reads.]“Date, postmark, MM.” What did you say? You would rather have L. S.? Yes, yes, quite right. Do you hear?[Reads.]“You are no doubt acquainted with the new church.”—She says, “No,” the stupid! I am reading, Mevrouw, again. “You are no doubt acquainted with the new church. The church has, as you know, a high tower; that high tower points upward, and that is good, that is fortunate, and truly necessary for many children of our generation”——

Bos.

Go to hell![Sweetly.]Yes, Mevrouw. Tomorrow. My wife? No, she can’t come to the telephone herself, she doesn’t know how.[Irritably.]Where is the rag? Hurry up![Reaches out hand for paper.Mathildehands it to him.]My wife has written the circular for the tower bell. Are you listening?[Reads.]“Date, postmark, MM.” What did you say? You would rather have L. S.? Yes, yes, quite right. Do you hear?[Reads.]“You are no doubt acquainted with the new church.”—She says, “No,” the stupid! I am reading, Mevrouw, again. “You are no doubt acquainted with the new church. The church has, as you know, a high tower; that high tower points upward, and that is good, that is fortunate, and truly necessary for many children of our generation”——

Mathilde.Read more distinctly.

Mathilde.

Read more distinctly.

Bos.[ToMathilde.]Shut your mouth. Pardon, I was speaking to my bookkeeper.[In telephone.]Yes—yes—ha, ha, ha—[Reads again from paper.]“But that tower could do something else that also is good. Yes, and very useful. It can mark the time for us children of the times. That it does not do. It stands there since 1882 and has never answered to the question, ‘What time is it?’ That it should do. It was indeed built for it, there are four places visible for faces; for years in allsorts of ways”—Did you say anything? No?—“for years the wish has been expressed by the surrounding inhabitants that they might have a clock—About three hundred guilders are needed. Who will help? The Committee, Mevrouw”—What did you say? Yes, you know the names, of course. Yes, very nicely worded? Yes—Yes—All the ladies of the Committee naturally sign for the same amount, a hundred guilders each? Yes—Yes—Very well—My wife will be at home, Mevrouw.[Rings off angrily.]Damned nonsense!—a hundred guilders gone to the devil! What is it to you if there’s a clock on the damn thing or not?

Bos.

[ToMathilde.]Shut your mouth. Pardon, I was speaking to my bookkeeper.[In telephone.]Yes—yes—ha, ha, ha—[Reads again from paper.]“But that tower could do something else that also is good. Yes, and very useful. It can mark the time for us children of the times. That it does not do. It stands there since 1882 and has never answered to the question, ‘What time is it?’ That it should do. It was indeed built for it, there are four places visible for faces; for years in allsorts of ways”—Did you say anything? No?—“for years the wish has been expressed by the surrounding inhabitants that they might have a clock—About three hundred guilders are needed. Who will help? The Committee, Mevrouw”—What did you say? Yes, you know the names, of course. Yes, very nicely worded? Yes—Yes—All the ladies of the Committee naturally sign for the same amount, a hundred guilders each? Yes—Yes—Very well—My wife will be at home, Mevrouw.[Rings off angrily.]Damned nonsense!—a hundred guilders gone to the devil! What is it to you if there’s a clock on the damn thing or not?

Mathilde.[Turns away.]I’ll let you fry in your own fat.

Mathilde.

[Turns away.]I’ll let you fry in your own fat.

Bos.She’ll be here in her carriage in quarter of an hour.

Bos.

She’ll be here in her carriage in quarter of an hour.

Mathilde.Bejour! bejour! If you drank less grog in the evenings you wouldn’t have such a bad temper in the mornings. Just hand me five guilders.

Mathilde.

Bejour! bejour! If you drank less grog in the evenings you wouldn’t have such a bad temper in the mornings. Just hand me five guilders.

Bos.No, no! You took five guilders out of my purse this morning while I was asleep. I can keep no——

Bos.

No, no! You took five guilders out of my purse this morning while I was asleep. I can keep no——

Mathilde.I take a rix dollar! What an infamous lie. Just one guilder! Bah, what a man, who counts his money before he goes to bed!

Mathilde.

I take a rix dollar! What an infamous lie. Just one guilder! Bah, what a man, who counts his money before he goes to bed!

Bos.Bejour! bejour!

Bos.

Bejour! bejour!

Mathilde.Very well, don’t give it—Then I can treat the Burgomaster’s wife to a glass of gin presently—three jugs of old gin and not a single bottle of port or sherry![Bosangrily throws down two rix dollars.]Say, am I your servant? If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t be throwing rix dollars around!—Bah![Goes off angrily.]

Mathilde.

Very well, don’t give it—Then I can treat the Burgomaster’s wife to a glass of gin presently—three jugs of old gin and not a single bottle of port or sherry![Bosangrily throws down two rix dollars.]Say, am I your servant? If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t be throwing rix dollars around!—Bah![Goes off angrily.]

Kaps.[Reading.]IJmuiden, 24 December—Today there were four sloops in the market with 500to 800 live and 1,500 to 2,100 dead haddock and some—live cod—The live cod brought 7¼—the dead——

Kaps.

[Reading.]IJmuiden, 24 December—Today there were four sloops in the market with 500to 800 live and 1,500 to 2,100 dead haddock and some—live cod—The live cod brought 7¼—the dead——

Bos.Haven’t you anything else to do?

Bos.

Haven’t you anything else to do?

Kaps.The dead haddock brought thirteen and a half guilders a basket.

Kaps.

The dead haddock brought thirteen and a half guilders a basket.

Bos.[Knocking on the desk.]I know all that! Here, take hold! Take your book—turn to the credit page of the Expectation——

Bos.

[Knocking on the desk.]I know all that! Here, take hold! Take your book—turn to the credit page of the Expectation——

Kaps.[Looking.]The Jacoba? no, the Queen Wilhelmina? no, the Mathilde? no—the GoodHope?—We can whistle for her. The Expectation?

Kaps.

[Looking.]The Jacoba? no, the Queen Wilhelmina? no, the Mathilde? no—the GoodHope?—We can whistle for her. The Expectation?

Bos.What was the gross total?

Bos.

What was the gross total?

Kaps.Fourteen hundred and forty-three guilders and forty-seven cents.

Kaps.

Fourteen hundred and forty-three guilders and forty-seven cents.

Bos.I thought so. How could you be so ungodly stupid, to deduct four guilders, 88, for the widows and orphans’ fund?

Bos.

I thought so. How could you be so ungodly stupid, to deduct four guilders, 88, for the widows and orphans’ fund?

Kaps.Let’s see.[Figuring.]—1,443—3 per cent off—that’s 1,400—that’s gross three hundred and 87 guilders—yes, it should be three guilders, 88, instead of four, 88.

Kaps.

Let’s see.[Figuring.]—1,443—3 per cent off—that’s 1,400—that’s gross three hundred and 87 guilders—yes, it should be three guilders, 88, instead of four, 88.

Bos.[Rising.]If you’re going into your dotage, Jackass! you can go. Your errors are always on the wrong side!

Bos.

[Rising.]If you’re going into your dotage, Jackass! you can go. Your errors are always on the wrong side!

Kaps.[With a knowing laugh.]There might be something to say against that, Meneer—you didn’t go after me when, when——

Kaps.

[With a knowing laugh.]There might be something to say against that, Meneer—you didn’t go after me when, when——

Bos.Now, that’ll do, that’ll do!——

Bos.

Now, that’ll do, that’ll do!——

Kaps.And that was an error with a couple of big ciphers after it.[Bosgoes off impatiently at right.]Hehehe! It all depends on what side——

Kaps.

And that was an error with a couple of big ciphers after it.[Bosgoes off impatiently at right.]Hehehe! It all depends on what side——

[Looks around, seesBosis gone, pokes up the fire; fills his pipe fromBos’stobacco jar, carefully steals a couple of cigars from his box.]

Simon.[Entering.]Is Bos here?

Simon.

[Entering.]Is Bos here?

Kaps.Mynheer Bos, eh?—no.

Kaps.

Mynheer Bos, eh?—no.

Simon.Is he out?

Simon.

Is he out?

Kaps.Can’t you give me the message?

Kaps.

Can’t you give me the message?

Simon.I ask you, is he out?

Simon.

I ask you, is he out?

Kaps.Yes.

Kaps.

Yes.

Simon.No tidings?

Simon.

No tidings?

Kaps.No. Has this running back and forth begun again? Meneer said that when he got news, he——

Kaps.

No. Has this running back and forth begun again? Meneer said that when he got news, he——

Simon.It will be nine weeks tomorrow.

Simon.

It will be nine weeks tomorrow.

Kaps.The Jacoba came in after fifty-nine days’ lost time.

Kaps.

The Jacoba came in after fifty-nine days’ lost time.

Simon.You are—You know more than you let on.

Simon.

You are—You know more than you let on.

Kaps.Are you loaded already?

Kaps.

Are you loaded already?

Simon.Not a drop.

Simon.

Not a drop.

Kaps.Then it’s time—I know more, eh? I’m holding off the ships by ropes, eh?

Kaps.

Then it’s time—I know more, eh? I’m holding off the ships by ropes, eh?

Simon.I warned you folks when that ship lay in the docks. What were the words I spoke then, eh?

Simon.

I warned you folks when that ship lay in the docks. What were the words I spoke then, eh?

Kaps.[Shrugging his shoulders.]All tales on your part for a glass of gin!

Kaps.

[Shrugging his shoulders.]All tales on your part for a glass of gin!

Simon.You lie. You was there, and the Miss was there. I says, “The ship is rotten, that caulking was damn useless. That a floating coffin like that”——

Simon.

You lie. You was there, and the Miss was there. I says, “The ship is rotten, that caulking was damn useless. That a floating coffin like that”——

Kaps.Good! that’s what you said. I don’t deny it. What of it? Are you so clever that when you’re half drunk——

Kaps.

Good! that’s what you said. I don’t deny it. What of it? Are you so clever that when you’re half drunk——

Simon.[Angry.]That’s a damned lie!

Simon.

[Angry.]That’s a damned lie!

Kaps.Not drunk then, are you such an authority, you a shipmaster’s assistant, that when you say “no,” and the owner and the Insurance Company say “yes,” my employer must put his ship in the dry docks?

Kaps.

Not drunk then, are you such an authority, you a shipmaster’s assistant, that when you say “no,” and the owner and the Insurance Company say “yes,” my employer must put his ship in the dry docks?

Simon.Damned rot! I warned you! And now, I say—now, I say—that if Mees, my daughter’s betrothed,not to speak of the others, if Mees—there will be murder.

Simon.

Damned rot! I warned you! And now, I say—now, I say—that if Mees, my daughter’s betrothed,not to speak of the others, if Mees—there will be murder.

Kaps.You make me laugh! Go get yourself a dram and talk sense.

Kaps.

You make me laugh! Go get yourself a dram and talk sense.

[EnterMarietje.]

Simon.Better have stayed outside. No tidings.

Simon.

Better have stayed outside. No tidings.

Marietje.[Softly sobbing.]No tidings.

Marietje.

[Softly sobbing.]No tidings.

Simon.Murder will come of it.[Both off.]

Simon.

Murder will come of it.[Both off.]

Bos.[Enters.]Who’s here?

Bos.

[Enters.]Who’s here?

Kaps.Simon and his daughter. Threats! Are you going out?

Kaps.

Simon and his daughter. Threats! Are you going out?

Bos.Threats! Is the fellow insane? I’ll be back in ten minutes. Whoever comes must wait.

Bos.

Threats! Is the fellow insane? I’ll be back in ten minutes. Whoever comes must wait.

Kaps.He spoke of——

Kaps.

He spoke of——

Bos.I don’t care to hear![Off.]

Bos.

I don’t care to hear![Off.]

Kaps.[Goes back to his desk; the telephone rings. He solemnly listens at the receiver.]Can’t understand you. I am the bookkeeper. Mynheer will be back in ten minutes. Ring up again.

Kaps.

[Goes back to his desk; the telephone rings. He solemnly listens at the receiver.]Can’t understand you. I am the bookkeeper. Mynheer will be back in ten minutes. Ring up again.

[EnterSaart.]

Saart.Good day, my dear.

Saart.

Good day, my dear.

Kaps.You here again? What do you want?

Kaps.

You here again? What do you want?

Saart.I want you—Jesus! What a cold wind! May I warm my hands a moment?

Saart.

I want you—Jesus! What a cold wind! May I warm my hands a moment?

Kaps.Stay on that side of the railing.

Kaps.

Stay on that side of the railing.

Saart.Sweet beast! You make me tired. Mynheer Bos just went round the corner.[Warms herself.]No use asking about the Hope. Jesus! Seven families. How lucky that outside of the children there were three unmarried men on board. Nothing washed ashore anywhere?

Saart.

Sweet beast! You make me tired. Mynheer Bos just went round the corner.[Warms herself.]No use asking about the Hope. Jesus! Seven families. How lucky that outside of the children there were three unmarried men on board. Nothing washed ashore anywhere?

Kaps.No, no!

Kaps.

No, no!

Saart.Now, don’t eat me up.

Saart.

Now, don’t eat me up.

Kaps.I wish you’d stay behind the railing. What do you want?

Kaps.

I wish you’d stay behind the railing. What do you want?

Saart.[Looking in his pocket.]Look out! Oryou’ll break Meneer’s cigars. Old thief![He smiles.]Kaps, do you want to make a guilder?

Saart.

[Looking in his pocket.]Look out! Oryou’ll break Meneer’s cigars. Old thief![He smiles.]Kaps, do you want to make a guilder?

Kaps.That depends.

Kaps.

That depends.

Saart.I’m engaged to Bol, the skipper.

Saart.

I’m engaged to Bol, the skipper.

Kaps.I congratulate you!

Kaps.

I congratulate you!

Saart.He’s lying here, with a load of peat for the city. Now, how can I marry him?

Saart.

He’s lying here, with a load of peat for the city. Now, how can I marry him?

Kaps.How can you?

Kaps.

How can you?

Saart.I can’t; because they don’t know if my husband’s dead.

Saart.

I can’t; because they don’t know if my husband’s dead.

Kaps.The legal limit is——

Kaps.

The legal limit is——

Saart.I know that much myself.

Saart.

I know that much myself.

Kaps.You must summons him, ‘pro Deo,’ three times in the papers and if he doesn’t come then, and that he’ll not do, for there aren’t any more ghosts in the world, then you can——

Kaps.

You must summons him, ‘pro Deo,’ three times in the papers and if he doesn’t come then, and that he’ll not do, for there aren’t any more ghosts in the world, then you can——

Saart.Now, if you’d attend to this little matter, Bol and I would always be grateful to you.

Saart.

Now, if you’d attend to this little matter, Bol and I would always be grateful to you.

Kaps.That is lawyer’s business. You must go to the city for that.

Kaps.

That is lawyer’s business. You must go to the city for that.

Saart.Gracious, what botheration! When your common sense tells you I haven’t seen Jacob in three years and the——

Saart.

Gracious, what botheration! When your common sense tells you I haven’t seen Jacob in three years and the——

[Cobusenters, trembling with agitation.]

Cob.There are tidings! There are tidings!

Cob.

There are tidings! There are tidings!

Kaps.Tidings? What are you telling us?

Kaps.

Tidings? What are you telling us?

Cob.[Almost crying.]There must be tidings of the boys—of—of—the Hope.

Cob.

[Almost crying.]There must be tidings of the boys—of—of—the Hope.

Kaps.Nothing![Friendlier.]Now, there is no use in your coming to this office day after day. I haven’t any good news to give you, the bad you already know. Sixty-two days——

Kaps.

Nothing![Friendlier.]Now, there is no use in your coming to this office day after day. I haven’t any good news to give you, the bad you already know. Sixty-two days——

Cob.The water bailiff received a telegram. Ach, ach, ach; Meneer Kaps, help us out of this uncertainty. My sister—and my niece—are simply insane with grief.[Trembling violently.]

Cob.

The water bailiff received a telegram. Ach, ach, ach; Meneer Kaps, help us out of this uncertainty. My sister—and my niece—are simply insane with grief.[Trembling violently.]

Kaps.On my word of honor. Are you running away again?

Kaps.

On my word of honor. Are you running away again?

Cob.My niece is sitting alone at home—my sister is at the Priest’s, cleaning house. There must be something—there must be something.

Cob.

My niece is sitting alone at home—my sister is at the Priest’s, cleaning house. There must be something—there must be something.

Kaps.Who made you believe that?

Kaps.

Who made you believe that?

Cob.The water bailiff’s clerk said—said—Ach, dear God——[Off.]

Cob.

The water bailiff’s clerk said—said—Ach, dear God——[Off.]

Saart.Perhaps he is right.

Saart.

Perhaps he is right.

Kaps.Everything is possible.

Kaps.

Everything is possible.

Saart.Has Meneer Bos any hope?

Saart.

Has Meneer Bos any hope?

Kaps.Hope? Nine weeks! that old ship! after that storm—all things are possible. No, I wouldn’t give a cent for it. Provisions for six weeks. If they had run into an English harbor, we would have had tidings.

Kaps.

Hope? Nine weeks! that old ship! after that storm—all things are possible. No, I wouldn’t give a cent for it. Provisions for six weeks. If they had run into an English harbor, we would have had tidings.

Clementine.[Enters.]Good day, Saart. Are there visitors inside, Kaps?

Clementine.

[Enters.]Good day, Saart. Are there visitors inside, Kaps?

Kaps.[Looking through window.]The Burgomaster’s carriage. Committee meeting for the clock. A new span. I wish I had their money.

Kaps.

[Looking through window.]The Burgomaster’s carriage. Committee meeting for the clock. A new span. I wish I had their money.

Clementine.[Laying her sketch book onKaps’sdesk.]I saw Cobus go by. Poor thing! How he has aged. I hardly recognized him.[Opening the sketch book.]Look. That’s the way he was three months ago, hale and jolly. You may look, too, Kaps.

Clementine.

[Laying her sketch book onKaps’sdesk.]I saw Cobus go by. Poor thing! How he has aged. I hardly recognized him.[Opening the sketch book.]Look. That’s the way he was three months ago, hale and jolly. You may look, too, Kaps.

Kaps.No, Miss, I haven’t the time.

Kaps.

No, Miss, I haven’t the time.

Saart.Daantje’s death was a blow to him—you always saw them together, always discussing. Now he hasn’t a friend in the “Home”; that makes a big difference.

Saart.

Daantje’s death was a blow to him—you always saw them together, always discussing. Now he hasn’t a friend in the “Home”; that makes a big difference.

Clementine.Do you recognize these?

Clementine.

Do you recognize these?

Saart.Well, that’s Kneir, that’s Barend with the basket on his back, and that’s—[The telephone bell rings.Clementinecloses her book.]

Saart.

Well, that’s Kneir, that’s Barend with the basket on his back, and that’s—[The telephone bell rings.Clementinecloses her book.]

Kaps.Meneer is out. They rang once before.

Kaps.

Meneer is out. They rang once before.

Clementine.[Listening at telephone.]Yes!—Papa isn’t here. How long will he be, Kaps?

Clementine.

[Listening at telephone.]Yes!—Papa isn’t here. How long will he be, Kaps?

Kaps.Two or three minutes.

Kaps.

Two or three minutes.

Clementine.[Startled.]What did you say? A hatch marked 47—and—[Trembling.]—I don’t understand you.[Screams and lets the receiver fall.]

Clementine.

[Startled.]What did you say? A hatch marked 47—and—[Trembling.]—I don’t understand you.[Screams and lets the receiver fall.]

Kaps.What’s that? What’s that?

Kaps.

What’s that? What’s that?

Clementine.[Painfully shocked.]I don’t dare listen—Oh, oh!

Clementine.

[Painfully shocked.]I don’t dare listen—Oh, oh!

Kaps.Was that the water bailiff?

Kaps.

Was that the water bailiff?

Clementine.[Passionately.]Barend washed ashore. Oh God, now it is ended!

Clementine.

[Passionately.]Barend washed ashore. Oh God, now it is ended!

Saart.Barend?——Barend?——

Saart.

Barend?——Barend?——

Clementine.A telegram from Nieuwediep. A hatch—and a corpse——

Clementine.

A telegram from Nieuwediep. A hatch—and a corpse——

[EnterBos.]

Bos.What’s going on here? Why are you crying?

Bos.

What’s going on here? Why are you crying?

Kaps.Tidings of the Good Hope.

Kaps.

Tidings of the Good Hope.

Bos.Tidings?

Bos.

Tidings?

Kaps.The water bailiff is on the ’phone.

Kaps.

The water bailiff is on the ’phone.

Bos.The water bailiff?—Step aside—Go along, you! What are you gaping at?

Bos.

The water bailiff?—Step aside—Go along, you! What are you gaping at?

Saart.I—I—[Goes timidly off.]

Saart.

I—I—[Goes timidly off.]

Bos.[Ringing.]Hello! Who is that? The water bailiff? A telegram from Nieuwediep? North of the Hook? I don’t understand a word! Stop your howling! a hatch, you say? 47?—Well, that’s damned—miserable—that! the corpse—advanced stage of decomposition! Barend—mustered in as oldest boy! Recognized by who? by—oh!—The Expectation has come into Nieuwediep disabled? And did Skipper Maatsuiker recognize him? Earrings? Yes, yes, silver earrings. No, never mind that. So it isn’t necessary to send any one from here for the identification? Yes, damned sad—yes—yes—we arein God’s hand—Yes—yes—I no longer had any doubts—thank you—yes—I’d like to get the official report as soon as possible. I will inform the underwriters, bejour![Hangs up the receiver.]I’m simply dead! twelve men!

Bos.

[Ringing.]Hello! Who is that? The water bailiff? A telegram from Nieuwediep? North of the Hook? I don’t understand a word! Stop your howling! a hatch, you say? 47?—Well, that’s damned—miserable—that! the corpse—advanced stage of decomposition! Barend—mustered in as oldest boy! Recognized by who? by—oh!—The Expectation has come into Nieuwediep disabled? And did Skipper Maatsuiker recognize him? Earrings? Yes, yes, silver earrings. No, never mind that. So it isn’t necessary to send any one from here for the identification? Yes, damned sad—yes—yes—we arein God’s hand—Yes—yes—I no longer had any doubts—thank you—yes—I’d like to get the official report as soon as possible. I will inform the underwriters, bejour![Hangs up the receiver.]I’m simply dead! twelve men!

Kaps.Barend? Kneirtje’s son? Washed ashore? That’s—that’s a wonder. I never expected to hear of the ship again. With theClementine.

Kaps.

Barend? Kneirtje’s son? Washed ashore? That’s—that’s a wonder. I never expected to hear of the ship again. With theClementine.

Bos.[Angrily.]Yes—yes—yes—yes—[ToClementine.]Go inside to your mother! What stupidity to repeat what you heard in that woman’s presence. It won’t be five minutes now till half the village is here! Don’t you understand me? You sit there, God save me, and take on as if your lover was aboard——

Bos.

[Angrily.]Yes—yes—yes—yes—[ToClementine.]Go inside to your mother! What stupidity to repeat what you heard in that woman’s presence. It won’t be five minutes now till half the village is here! Don’t you understand me? You sit there, God save me, and take on as if your lover was aboard——

Clementine.Why didn’t you listen?[Sobs softly.]

Clementine.

Why didn’t you listen?[Sobs softly.]

Bos.Listen!

Bos.

Listen!

Clementine.When Simon, the shipbuilder’s assistant——

Clementine.

When Simon, the shipbuilder’s assistant——

Bos.The fellow was drunk.

Bos.

The fellow was drunk.

Clementine.[Firmly.]He was not!

Clementine.

[Firmly.]He was not!

Bos.He was, too! And if he hadn’t been, what right have you to stick your nose into matters you don’t understand?

Bos.

He was, too! And if he hadn’t been, what right have you to stick your nose into matters you don’t understand?

Clementine.Dear God, now I am also guilty——

Clementine.

Dear God, now I am also guilty——

Bos.[Angrily.]Guilty? Guilty! Have the novels you read gone to your head? Guilty! Are you possessed, to use those words after such an accident?

Bos.

[Angrily.]Guilty? Guilty! Have the novels you read gone to your head? Guilty! Are you possessed, to use those words after such an accident?

Clementine.He said that the ship was a floating coffin. Then I heard you say that in any case it would be the last voyage for the Hope.

Clementine.

He said that the ship was a floating coffin. Then I heard you say that in any case it would be the last voyage for the Hope.

Bos.[Angrily at first.]That damned boarding school; those damned boarding school fads! Walk if you like through the village like a fool, sketchingthe first rascal or beggar you meet! But don’t blab out things you can be held to account for. A floating coffin! Say, rather, a drunken authority—The North, of Pieterse, and the Surprise and the Willem III and the Young John. I can keep on naming them. Half of the fishing fleet and half the merchant fleet are floating coffins. Did you hear that, Kaps?

Bos.

[Angrily at first.]That damned boarding school; those damned boarding school fads! Walk if you like through the village like a fool, sketchingthe first rascal or beggar you meet! But don’t blab out things you can be held to account for. A floating coffin! Say, rather, a drunken authority—The North, of Pieterse, and the Surprise and the Willem III and the Young John. I can keep on naming them. Half of the fishing fleet and half the merchant fleet are floating coffins. Did you hear that, Kaps?

Kaps.[Timidly.]No, Meneer, I don’t hear anything.

Kaps.

[Timidly.]No, Meneer, I don’t hear anything.

Bos.If you had asked me: “Father, how is this?” I would have explained it to you. But you conceited young people meddle with everything and more, too! What stronger proof is there than the yearly inspection of the ships by the underwriters? Do you suppose that when I presently ring up the underwriter and say to him, “Meneer, you can plank down fourteen hundred guilders”—that he does that on loose grounds? You ought to have a face as red as a buoy in shame for the way you flapped out your nonsense! Nonsense, I say! Nonsense; that might take away my good name, if I wasn’t so well known.

Bos.

If you had asked me: “Father, how is this?” I would have explained it to you. But you conceited young people meddle with everything and more, too! What stronger proof is there than the yearly inspection of the ships by the underwriters? Do you suppose that when I presently ring up the underwriter and say to him, “Meneer, you can plank down fourteen hundred guilders”—that he does that on loose grounds? You ought to have a face as red as a buoy in shame for the way you flapped out your nonsense! Nonsense, I say! Nonsense; that might take away my good name, if I wasn’t so well known.

Clementine.[Sadly.]If I were a ship owner—and I heard——

Clementine.

[Sadly.]If I were a ship owner—and I heard——

Bos.God preserve the fishery from an owner who makes drawings and cries over pretty vases! I stand as a father at the head of a hundred homes. Business is business. When you get sensitive you go head over heels. What, Kaps?[Kapsmakes a motion that he cannot hear.]Now, go to your mother. The Burgomaster’s wife is making a call.

Bos.

God preserve the fishery from an owner who makes drawings and cries over pretty vases! I stand as a father at the head of a hundred homes. Business is business. When you get sensitive you go head over heels. What, Kaps?[Kapsmakes a motion that he cannot hear.]Now, go to your mother. The Burgomaster’s wife is making a call.

Kaps.Here is the muster roll.[Reading.]Willem Hengst, aged thirty-seven, married, four children——

Kaps.

Here is the muster roll.[Reading.]Willem Hengst, aged thirty-seven, married, four children——

Bos.Wait a moment till my daughter——

Bos.

Wait a moment till my daughter——

Clementine.I won’t speak another word.

Clementine.

I won’t speak another word.

Kaps.[Reading on.]Jacob Zwart, aged thirty-five years, married, three children. Gerrit Plas, aged twenty-five years, married, one child. Geert Vermeer, unmarried, aged twenty-six years. Nellis Boom, aged thirty-five years, married, seven children. Klaas Steen, aged twenty-four years, married. Solomon Bergen, aged twenty-five years, married, one child. Mari Stad, aged forty-five years, married. Mees, aged nineteen years. Jacob Boom, aged twenty years. Barend Vermeer, aged nineteen years. Pietje Stappers, aged twelve years.

Kaps.

[Reading on.]Jacob Zwart, aged thirty-five years, married, three children. Gerrit Plas, aged twenty-five years, married, one child. Geert Vermeer, unmarried, aged twenty-six years. Nellis Boom, aged thirty-five years, married, seven children. Klaas Steen, aged twenty-four years, married. Solomon Bergen, aged twenty-five years, married, one child. Mari Stad, aged forty-five years, married. Mees, aged nineteen years. Jacob Boom, aged twenty years. Barend Vermeer, aged nineteen years. Pietje Stappers, aged twelve years.

Bos.[Cast down.]Seven homes.

Bos.

[Cast down.]Seven homes.

Clementine.Sixteen children.

Clementine.

Sixteen children.

[EnterTruusandMarietje.]

Truus.[Panting.]Are there tidings? Tidings of my little son?[Wild despair.]Ach, God! Ach, God; don’t make me unhappy, Meneer!——

Truus.

[Panting.]Are there tidings? Tidings of my little son?[Wild despair.]Ach, God! Ach, God; don’t make me unhappy, Meneer!——

Bos.I’m sorry, Mrs. Stappers——

Bos.

I’m sorry, Mrs. Stappers——

Marietje.[Shrieking.]It can’t be! It can’t be! You lie!—It isn’t possible!——

Marietje.

[Shrieking.]It can’t be! It can’t be! You lie!—It isn’t possible!——

Bos.[Gently.]The Burgomaster at Nieuwediep has telegraphed the water bailiff. Barend Vermeer was washed ashore. You know what that means, and a hatch of the 47——

Bos.

[Gently.]The Burgomaster at Nieuwediep has telegraphed the water bailiff. Barend Vermeer was washed ashore. You know what that means, and a hatch of the 47——

Truus.[Loudly.]Oh, Mother Mary, must I lose that child, too? that lamb of twelve years![With a whimpering cry.]Oh, oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh, oh!—Pietje—Pietje——

Truus.

[Loudly.]Oh, Mother Mary, must I lose that child, too? that lamb of twelve years![With a whimpering cry.]Oh, oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh, oh!—Pietje—Pietje——

Marietje.[Bewildered.]Then—Then—[Bursts into a hysterical laugh.]Hahaha!—Hahaha!——

Marietje.

[Bewildered.]Then—Then—[Bursts into a hysterical laugh.]Hahaha!—Hahaha!——

Bos.Give her a glass of water.

Bos.

Give her a glass of water.

Marietje.[Striking the glass fromClementine’shand.]Go away! Go away![Falling on her knees, her hands catching hold of the railing gate.]Let me die!—Let me die, please, dear God, dear God!

Marietje.

[Striking the glass fromClementine’shand.]Go away! Go away![Falling on her knees, her hands catching hold of the railing gate.]Let me die!—Let me die, please, dear God, dear God!

Clementine.[Sobbing.]Come Marietje, be calm; get up.

Clementine.

[Sobbing.]Come Marietje, be calm; get up.

Truus.On his first voyage. And so brave; as he stood there, waving, when the ship—[Sobs loudly.]

Truus.

On his first voyage. And so brave; as he stood there, waving, when the ship—[Sobs loudly.]

Bos.It can’t be helped, Truus. It is a visitation. There hasn’t been a storm like that in years. Think of Hengst with four children, and Jacob and Gerrit—And, although it’s no consolation, I will hand you your boy’s wages today, if you like. Both of you go home now and resign yourselves to the inevitable—take her with you—she seems——

Bos.

It can’t be helped, Truus. It is a visitation. There hasn’t been a storm like that in years. Think of Hengst with four children, and Jacob and Gerrit—And, although it’s no consolation, I will hand you your boy’s wages today, if you like. Both of you go home now and resign yourselves to the inevitable—take her with you—she seems——

Marietje.[With trembling sobs.]I don’t want to go home. I want to die, die——

Marietje.

[With trembling sobs.]I don’t want to go home. I want to die, die——

Clementine.[Supporting her.]Cry, Marietje, cry, poor lamb——

Clementine.

[Supporting her.]Cry, Marietje, cry, poor lamb——

[They go off.]

Bos.[Angrily walking back and forth.]What’s the matter with you? Are you too lazy to put pen to paper today? You needn’t answer! Have you the Widows’ and Orphans’ fund at hand? Well!

Bos.

[Angrily walking back and forth.]What’s the matter with you? Are you too lazy to put pen to paper today? You needn’t answer! Have you the Widows’ and Orphans’ fund at hand? Well!

Kaps.[Shuffling to the safe.]The top drawer is still locked.[Bosthrows him the keys.]Oh, thank you.[Opens the safe, shuffles back toBos’sdesk with the book.]If you please, Meneer.

Kaps.

[Shuffling to the safe.]The top drawer is still locked.[Bosthrows him the keys.]Oh, thank you.[Opens the safe, shuffles back toBos’sdesk with the book.]If you please, Meneer.

Bos.Ninety-five widows, fourteen old sailors and fishermen.

Bos.

Ninety-five widows, fourteen old sailors and fishermen.

Kaps.Yes, the fund fell short some time ago. We will have to put in another appeal.

Kaps.

Yes, the fund fell short some time ago. We will have to put in another appeal.

Mathilde.[Entering.]Clemens, what a misfortune! The Burgomaster’s wife asks if you will come in for a moment. She sits there crying.

Mathilde.

[Entering.]Clemens, what a misfortune! The Burgomaster’s wife asks if you will come in for a moment. She sits there crying.

Bos.No! Crying enough here. No time!

Bos.

No! Crying enough here. No time!

Mathilde.Ach! Ach! Kaps, here is the copy for the circular. Hurry, do you hear!

Mathilde.

Ach! Ach! Kaps, here is the copy for the circular. Hurry, do you hear!

Bos.Talk to her about making a public appeal for the unfortunates.

Bos.

Talk to her about making a public appeal for the unfortunates.

Mathilde.Yes, but, Clemens, isn’t that overdoing it, two begging parties?

Mathilde.

Yes, but, Clemens, isn’t that overdoing it, two begging parties?

Bos.I will do it myself, then—[Both exit.]

Bos.

I will do it myself, then—[Both exit.]

Clementine.[Enters. Softly weeping.]Kaps! Kaps![Goes to his desk and sits down opposite to him.]I feel so miserable——

Clementine.

[Enters. Softly weeping.]Kaps! Kaps![Goes to his desk and sits down opposite to him.]I feel so miserable——

Kaps.Very unwise, Miss. Many ships go down. The Good Hope scarcely counts. I have it here. Where is it? where is it? The statement of Veritas for October—October alone; lost, 105 sailing vessels and 30 steamships—that’s a low estimate; fifteen hundred dead in one month.[Pointing to the sea.]Yes, when you see it as it appears today, so smooth, with the floating gulls, you wouldn’t believe that it murders so many people.

Kaps.

Very unwise, Miss. Many ships go down. The Good Hope scarcely counts. I have it here. Where is it? where is it? The statement of Veritas for October—October alone; lost, 105 sailing vessels and 30 steamships—that’s a low estimate; fifteen hundred dead in one month.[Pointing to the sea.]Yes, when you see it as it appears today, so smooth, with the floating gulls, you wouldn’t believe that it murders so many people.

[EnterJoandCobus.]

Clementine.[ToJoandCobus,who sit alone in a dazed way.]Come in, Jo. Jo![Joslowly shakes her head.]

Clementine.

[ToJoandCobus,who sit alone in a dazed way.]Come in, Jo. Jo![Joslowly shakes her head.]

Cob.[Trembling.]We have just run from home—for Saart just as I said—just as I said——

Cob.

[Trembling.]We have just run from home—for Saart just as I said—just as I said——

[EnterBos.]

Bos.[ToJo.]Here, sit down.[Shoves a chair by the stove.]You stay where you are, Cobus. You have no doubt heard?——

Bos.

[ToJo.]Here, sit down.[Shoves a chair by the stove.]You stay where you are, Cobus. You have no doubt heard?——

Jo.[Sobbing.]About Barend? Yes, but Geert! It happens so often that they get off in row boats.

Jo.

[Sobbing.]About Barend? Yes, but Geert! It happens so often that they get off in row boats.

Bos.I can’t give you that consolation. Not only was there a hatch, but the corpse was in an extreme state of dissolution.

Bos.

I can’t give you that consolation. Not only was there a hatch, but the corpse was in an extreme state of dissolution.

Jo.[Anxiously.]Yes! Yes! But if it shouldn’t be Barend. Who says it was Barend?

Jo.

[Anxiously.]Yes! Yes! But if it shouldn’t be Barend. Who says it was Barend?

Bos.Skipper Maatsuiker of the Expectation identified him, and the earrings.

Bos.

Skipper Maatsuiker of the Expectation identified him, and the earrings.

Jo.Maatsuiker? Maatsuiker? And if—he shouldbe mistaken——I’ve come to ask you for money, Meneer, so I can go to the Helder myself.

Jo.

Maatsuiker? Maatsuiker? And if—he shouldbe mistaken——I’ve come to ask you for money, Meneer, so I can go to the Helder myself.

Bos.Come, that’s foolish!

Bos.

Come, that’s foolish!

Jo.[Crying.]Barend must be buried any way.

Jo.

[Crying.]Barend must be buried any way.

Bos.The Burgomaster of Nieuwediep will take care of that——

Bos.

The Burgomaster of Nieuwediep will take care of that——

[EnterSimon.]

Simon.[Drunk.]I—I—heard——[Makes a strong gesture towardsBos.]

Simon.

[Drunk.]I—I—heard——[Makes a strong gesture towardsBos.]

Bos.[Nervous vehemence.]Get out, you drunken sot!

Bos.

[Nervous vehemence.]Get out, you drunken sot!

Simon.[Stammering.]I—I—won’t murder you. I—I—have no evil intentions——

Simon.

[Stammering.]I—I—won’t murder you. I—I—have no evil intentions——

Bos.[Trembling.]Send for a policeman, Kaps. Must that drunken fellow——

Bos.

[Trembling.]Send for a policeman, Kaps. Must that drunken fellow——

Simon.[Steadying himself by holding to the gate.]No—stay where you are—I’m going—I—I—only wanted to say how nicely it came out—with—with—The Good Hope.

Simon.

[Steadying himself by holding to the gate.]No—stay where you are—I’m going—I—I—only wanted to say how nicely it came out—with—with—The Good Hope.

Bos.You get out, immediately!

Bos.

You get out, immediately!

Simon.Don’t come so close to me—never come so close to a man with a knife——No-o-o-o—I have no bad intentions. I only wanted to say, that I warned you—when—she lay in the docks.

Simon.

Don’t come so close to me—never come so close to a man with a knife——No-o-o-o—I have no bad intentions. I only wanted to say, that I warned you—when—she lay in the docks.

Bos.You lie, you rascal!

Bos.

You lie, you rascal!

Simon.Now just for the joke of it—you ask—ask—ask your bookkeeper and your daughter—who were there——

Simon.

Now just for the joke of it—you ask—ask—ask your bookkeeper and your daughter—who were there——

Bos.[Vehemently.]That’s a lie. You’re not worth an answer, you sot! I have nothing to do with you! My business is with your employer. Did you understand me, Kaps?

Bos.

[Vehemently.]That’s a lie. You’re not worth an answer, you sot! I have nothing to do with you! My business is with your employer. Did you understand me, Kaps?

Simon.My employer—doesn’t do the caulking himself.[ToKaps,who has advanced to the gate.]Didn’t I warn him?—wasn’t you there?

Simon.

My employer—doesn’t do the caulking himself.[ToKaps,who has advanced to the gate.]Didn’t I warn him?—wasn’t you there?

Kaps.[Looking anxiously atBos.]No, I wasn’t there, and even if I was, I didn’t hear anything.

Kaps.

[Looking anxiously atBos.]No, I wasn’t there, and even if I was, I didn’t hear anything.

Bos.[ToClementine.]And now, you! Did that drunken sot——

Bos.

[ToClementine.]And now, you! Did that drunken sot——

Clementine.[Almost crying with anxiety.]Papa!

Clementine.

[Almost crying with anxiety.]Papa!

Bos.[Threatening.]As my daughter do you permit——[Grimly.]Answer me!

Bos.

[Threatening.]As my daughter do you permit——[Grimly.]Answer me!

Clementine.[Anxiously.]I don’t remember——

Clementine.

[Anxiously.]I don’t remember——

Simon.That’s low—that’s low—damned low! I said, the ship was rotten—rotten——

Simon.

That’s low—that’s low—damned low! I said, the ship was rotten—rotten——

Bos.A drunken man’s stories. You’re trying to drag in my bookkeeper and daughter, and you hear——

Bos.

A drunken man’s stories. You’re trying to drag in my bookkeeper and daughter, and you hear——

Cob.Yes, but—yes, but—now I remember also——

Cob.

Yes, but—yes, but—now I remember also——

Bos.By thunder! you warned us too, eh?

Bos.

By thunder! you warned us too, eh?

Cob.No, no, that would be lying. But your daughter—your daughter says now that she hadn’t heard the ship was rotten. And on the second night of the storm, when she was alone with me at my sister Kneirtje’s, she did say that—that——

Cob.

No, no, that would be lying. But your daughter—your daughter says now that she hadn’t heard the ship was rotten. And on the second night of the storm, when she was alone with me at my sister Kneirtje’s, she did say that—that——

Clementine.[Trembling.]Did I—say——

Clementine.

[Trembling.]Did I—say——

Cob.Yes, that you did! That very evening. These are my own words to you: “Now you are fibbing, Miss; for if your father knew the Good Hope was rotten”——

Cob.

Yes, that you did! That very evening. These are my own words to you: “Now you are fibbing, Miss; for if your father knew the Good Hope was rotten”——

Jo.[Springing up wildly, speaking with piercing distinctness.]You, you lie! You began to cry. You were afraid ships would be lost. I was there, and Truus was there, and——Oh, you adders!

Jo.

[Springing up wildly, speaking with piercing distinctness.]You, you lie! You began to cry. You were afraid ships would be lost. I was there, and Truus was there, and——Oh, you adders!

Bos.[Banging his desk with his fist.]Adders? Adders? You scum! Who gives you your feed, year in, year out? Haven’t you decency enough to believe us instead of that drunken beggar who reels as he stands there?

Bos.

[Banging his desk with his fist.]Adders? Adders? You scum! Who gives you your feed, year in, year out? Haven’t you decency enough to believe us instead of that drunken beggar who reels as he stands there?

Jo.[Raving with anger.]Believe you? You! She lies and you lie!

Jo.

[Raving with anger.]Believe you? You! She lies and you lie!

Bos.[Threatening.]Get out of my office!

Bos.

[Threatening.]Get out of my office!

Jo.You had Barend dragged on board by the police; Geert was too proud to be taken! Thief! thief![Overwrought, hysterical laugh.]No, no, you needn’t point to your door! We are going. If I staid here any longer I would spit in your face—spit in your face![Makes threatening gesture.]

Jo.

You had Barend dragged on board by the police; Geert was too proud to be taken! Thief! thief![Overwrought, hysterical laugh.]No, no, you needn’t point to your door! We are going. If I staid here any longer I would spit in your face—spit in your face![Makes threatening gesture.]

Cob.[Restraining her.]Come—come——

Cob.

[Restraining her.]Come—come——

Bos.[After a silence.]For your Aunt’s sake I will consider that you are overwrought; otherwise—otherwise——The Good Hope was seaworthy, was seaworthy! Have I no loss? Even if the ship was insured? And even had the fellow warned me—which is a lie, could I, a business man, take the word of a drunkard who can no longer get a job because he is unable to handle tools?

Bos.

[After a silence.]For your Aunt’s sake I will consider that you are overwrought; otherwise—otherwise——The Good Hope was seaworthy, was seaworthy! Have I no loss? Even if the ship was insured? And even had the fellow warned me—which is a lie, could I, a business man, take the word of a drunkard who can no longer get a job because he is unable to handle tools?

Simon.[Stammering.]I—I told you and him and her—that a floating coffin like that. That stands fast!

Simon.

[Stammering.]I—I told you and him and her—that a floating coffin like that. That stands fast!

Jo.[Bursting out.]Oh! oh! Geert and Barend and Mees and the others! Oh God, how could you allow it![Sinks on the chair sobbing.]Give me the money to go to Nieuwediep myself, then I won’t speak of it any more.

Jo.

[Bursting out.]Oh! oh! Geert and Barend and Mees and the others! Oh God, how could you allow it![Sinks on the chair sobbing.]Give me the money to go to Nieuwediep myself, then I won’t speak of it any more.

Bos.[Vindictively.]No! Not a red cent! A girl that talks to me as rudely as you did——

Bos.

[Vindictively.]No! Not a red cent! A girl that talks to me as rudely as you did——

Jo.[Confused, crying.]I don’t know what I said—and—and—I don’t believe that you—that you—that you would be worse than the devil.

Jo.

[Confused, crying.]I don’t know what I said—and—and—I don’t believe that you—that you—that you would be worse than the devil.

Bos.The water-bailiff says that it isn’t necessary to send any one to Nieuwediep.

Bos.

The water-bailiff says that it isn’t necessary to send any one to Nieuwediep.

Jo.[Staggering to the door.]Not necessary! Not necessary! What will become of me now?——

Jo.

[Staggering to the door.]Not necessary! Not necessary! What will become of me now?——

[CobusandSimonfollow her out.]

[Boswalks back and forth.Kapscreeps up on his stool.]

Bos.[ToClementine.]And you—don’t you ever dare to set foot again in my office.

Bos.

[ToClementine.]And you—don’t you ever dare to set foot again in my office.

Clementine.[With a terrified look.]No, never again.[A long pause.]Father, I ask myself[Bursts into sobs.]how I can ever again respect you? Ever again respect myself?[Exits.]

Clementine.

[With a terrified look.]No, never again.[A long pause.]Father, I ask myself[Bursts into sobs.]how I can ever again respect you? Ever again respect myself?[Exits.]

Bos.Crazy! She would be capable of ruining my good name—with her boarding-school whims. Who ever comes now you send away, understand? Trash! Rabble! That whole set are no good! That damned drunkard! That fellow that stinks of gin![Sound ofJelle’sfiddle outside.]That too?[At the window.]Go on! No, not a cent![The music stops.]I am simply worn out.[Falls into his chair, takes upClementine’ssketch book; spitefully turns the leaves; throws it on the floor; stoops, jerks out a couple of leaves, tears them up. Sits in thought a moment, then rings the telephone.]Hello! with Dirksen—Dirksen, I say, the underwriter![Waits, looking sombre.]Hello! Are you there, Dirksen? It’s all up with the Good Hope. A hatch with my mark washed ashore and the body of a sailor.[Changing to quarrelsome tone.]What do you say? I should say not! No question of it! Sixty-two days! The probabilities are too small.[Calmer.]Good! I shall wait for you here at my office. But be quick about it! Yes, fourteen hundred guilders. Bejour.[Rings off; at the last wordsKneirtjehas entered.]

Bos.

Crazy! She would be capable of ruining my good name—with her boarding-school whims. Who ever comes now you send away, understand? Trash! Rabble! That whole set are no good! That damned drunkard! That fellow that stinks of gin![Sound ofJelle’sfiddle outside.]That too?[At the window.]Go on! No, not a cent![The music stops.]I am simply worn out.[Falls into his chair, takes upClementine’ssketch book; spitefully turns the leaves; throws it on the floor; stoops, jerks out a couple of leaves, tears them up. Sits in thought a moment, then rings the telephone.]Hello! with Dirksen—Dirksen, I say, the underwriter![Waits, looking sombre.]Hello! Are you there, Dirksen? It’s all up with the Good Hope. A hatch with my mark washed ashore and the body of a sailor.[Changing to quarrelsome tone.]What do you say? I should say not! No question of it! Sixty-two days! The probabilities are too small.[Calmer.]Good! I shall wait for you here at my office. But be quick about it! Yes, fourteen hundred guilders. Bejour.[Rings off; at the last wordsKneirtjehas entered.]

Kneirtje.[Absently.]I——[She sinks on the bench, patiently weeping.]

Kneirtje.

[Absently.]I——[She sinks on the bench, patiently weeping.]

Bos.[At the safe, without seeing her.]Have you mislaid the policies? You never put a damn thing in its place.

Bos.

[At the safe, without seeing her.]Have you mislaid the policies? You never put a damn thing in its place.

Kaps.[Pointing from his stool.]The policies are higher, behind the stocks.

Kaps.

[Pointing from his stool.]The policies are higher, behind the stocks.

Bos.[Snappishly.]All right, shut your mouth, now![Turning around with the policies in his hand.]Why don’t you knock?

Bos.

[Snappishly.]All right, shut your mouth, now![Turning around with the policies in his hand.]Why don’t you knock?

Kneirtje.I wanted to——

Kneirtje.

I wanted to——

Bos.[Peevishly.]You’ve come five minutes too late. That hussy that lives with you has been in here kicking up such a scandal that I came near telephoning for the police.[Crossly.]Come in. Close the gate after you.

Bos.

[Peevishly.]You’ve come five minutes too late. That hussy that lives with you has been in here kicking up such a scandal that I came near telephoning for the police.[Crossly.]Come in. Close the gate after you.

Kneirtje.[Speaking with difficulty.]Is it true—is it true that——The priest said——[Bosnods with a sombre expression.]Oh, oh——[She stares helplessly, her arms hang limp.]

Kneirtje.

[Speaking with difficulty.]Is it true—is it true that——The priest said——[Bosnods with a sombre expression.]Oh, oh——[She stares helplessly, her arms hang limp.]

Bos.I have sympathy for you. I know you as a respectable woman—and your husband too. But your children! I’m sorry to have to say it to you now after such a blow, your children and that niece of yours have never been any good.[Kneirtje’shead sinks down.]How many years haven’t we had you around, until your son Geert threatened me with his fists, mocked my grey hairs, and all but threw me out of your house—and your other son——[Frightened.]Kneirtje! Kneirtje![Rising.]Kaps! Water![Bathing her forehead and wrists.]I’ll be damned! I’ll be damned!

Bos.

I have sympathy for you. I know you as a respectable woman—and your husband too. But your children! I’m sorry to have to say it to you now after such a blow, your children and that niece of yours have never been any good.[Kneirtje’shead sinks down.]How many years haven’t we had you around, until your son Geert threatened me with his fists, mocked my grey hairs, and all but threw me out of your house—and your other son——[Frightened.]Kneirtje! Kneirtje![Rising.]Kaps! Water![Bathing her forehead and wrists.]I’ll be damned! I’ll be damned!

Kaps.Shall I call Mevrouw or your daughter?

Kaps.

Shall I call Mevrouw or your daughter?

Bos.No! Stay here! she’s coming to.[Kneir.with long drawn out sobs, sits looking before her with a dazed stare.]

Bos.

No! Stay here! she’s coming to.[Kneir.with long drawn out sobs, sits looking before her with a dazed stare.]

Kaps.Kneir——

Kaps.

Kneir——

Bos.Keep still! Let her have her cry.

Bos.

Keep still! Let her have her cry.

Kneirtje.[In an agonized voice, broken with sobs.]He didn’t want to go! He didn’t want togo! And with my own hands I loosened his fingers from the door post.[Moans softly.]

Kneirtje.

[In an agonized voice, broken with sobs.]He didn’t want to go! He didn’t want togo! And with my own hands I loosened his fingers from the door post.[Moans softly.]

Bos.[In a muffled voice.]You have no cause to reproach yourself——

Bos.

[In a muffled voice.]You have no cause to reproach yourself——

Kneirtje.[In the same voice as before.]Before he went I hung his father’s rings in his ears. Like—like a lamb to the slaughter——

Kneirtje.

[In the same voice as before.]Before he went I hung his father’s rings in his ears. Like—like a lamb to the slaughter——

Bos.Come——

Bos.

Come——

Kneirtje.[Panting.]And my oldest boy that I didn’t bid good bye——“If you’re too late”—these were his words—“I’ll never look at you again.”—“Never look at you again!”

Kneirtje.

[Panting.]And my oldest boy that I didn’t bid good bye——“If you’re too late”—these were his words—“I’ll never look at you again.”—“Never look at you again!”

Bos.[Strongly moved.]Stop! in God’s name, stop!——

Bos.

[Strongly moved.]Stop! in God’s name, stop!——

Kneirtje.Twelve years ago—when the Clementine—I sat here as I am now.[Sobs with her face between her trembling old hands.]

Kneirtje.

Twelve years ago—when the Clementine—I sat here as I am now.[Sobs with her face between her trembling old hands.]

Bos.Come now, be strong.

Bos.

Come now, be strong.

[Mathildeenters.]

Mathilde.Clemens! Ach, poor, dear Kneir, I am so sorry for you. It’s dreadful! It is frightful! Two sons!

Mathilde.

Clemens! Ach, poor, dear Kneir, I am so sorry for you. It’s dreadful! It is frightful! Two sons!

Kneirtje.[Staring.]My husband and four sons——

Kneirtje.

[Staring.]My husband and four sons——

Mathilde.[Consoling.]But don’t you worry. We have written an appeal, the Burgomaster’s wife and I, and it’s going to be in all the papers tomorrow. Here, Kaps——[HandsKapsa sheet of paper which he places on desk—Bosmotions to her to go.]Let her wait a while, Clemens.[Sweetly.]I have a couple of cold chops—that will brace her up—and—and—let’s make up with her. You have no objections to her coming again to do the cleaning? We won’t forget you, do you hear? Good day, Kneir. Be brave.[Exits.]

Mathilde.

[Consoling.]But don’t you worry. We have written an appeal, the Burgomaster’s wife and I, and it’s going to be in all the papers tomorrow. Here, Kaps——[HandsKapsa sheet of paper which he places on desk—Bosmotions to her to go.]Let her wait a while, Clemens.[Sweetly.]I have a couple of cold chops—that will brace her up—and—and—let’s make up with her. You have no objections to her coming again to do the cleaning? We won’t forget you, do you hear? Good day, Kneir. Be brave.[Exits.]

Bos.No, we will not forget you.

Bos.

No, we will not forget you.

Kneirtje.Now, my only hope is—my niece’s child.

Kneirtje.

Now, my only hope is—my niece’s child.

Bos.[Surprised.]A child?

Bos.

[Surprised.]A child?

Kneirtje.That misfortune is added. She is with child by my son——[Softly smiling.]Misfortune? No, that isn’t a misfortune now——

Kneirtje.

That misfortune is added. She is with child by my son——[Softly smiling.]Misfortune? No, that isn’t a misfortune now——

Bos.And you sit and tell that? This immorality under your own roof? Don’t you know the rules of the fund, that no aid can be extended to anyone leading an immoral life, or whose conduct does not meet with our approval?

Bos.

And you sit and tell that? This immorality under your own roof? Don’t you know the rules of the fund, that no aid can be extended to anyone leading an immoral life, or whose conduct does not meet with our approval?

Kneirtje.[Submissive voice.]I leave it to the gentlemen themselves—to do for me—the gentlemen——

Kneirtje.

[Submissive voice.]I leave it to the gentlemen themselves—to do for me—the gentlemen——

Bos.It will be a tussle with the Committee—the committee of the fund—your son had been in prison and sang revolutionary songs. And your niece who——However, I will do my best. I shall recommend you, but I can’t promise anything. There are seven new families, awaiting aid, sixteen new orphans.[Rising and closing the safe.]No, sit awhile longer. My wife wants to give you something to take home with you.[Exits.]

Bos.

It will be a tussle with the Committee—the committee of the fund—your son had been in prison and sang revolutionary songs. And your niece who——However, I will do my best. I shall recommend you, but I can’t promise anything. There are seven new families, awaiting aid, sixteen new orphans.[Rising and closing the safe.]No, sit awhile longer. My wife wants to give you something to take home with you.[Exits.]

Mathilde.[Invisible.]Kaps! Kaps![The bookkeeper rises, disappears for a moment, and returns with a dish and an enamelled pan.]

Mathilde.

[Invisible.]Kaps! Kaps![The bookkeeper rises, disappears for a moment, and returns with a dish and an enamelled pan.]

Kaps.[Kindly.]If you will return the dish when it’s convenient, and if you’ll come again Saturday, to do the cleaning.[She stares vacantly. He closes her nerveless hands about the dish and pan; shuffles back to his stool. A silence.Kneirtjesits motionless, in dazed agony; mumbles—moves her lips—rises with difficulty, stumbles out of the office.]

Kaps.

[Kindly.]If you will return the dish when it’s convenient, and if you’ll come again Saturday, to do the cleaning.[She stares vacantly. He closes her nerveless hands about the dish and pan; shuffles back to his stool. A silence.Kneirtjesits motionless, in dazed agony; mumbles—moves her lips—rises with difficulty, stumbles out of the office.]

Kaps.[Taking up sheet of paper from desk.]Appeal, for the newspapers![Smiling sardonically, he comes to the foreground; leaning onBos’sdesk, hereads.]“Benevolent Fellow Countrymen: Again we urge upon your generosity an appeal in behalf of a number of destitute widows and orphans. The lugger Good Hope——[As he continues reading.]

Kaps.

[Taking up sheet of paper from desk.]Appeal, for the newspapers![Smiling sardonically, he comes to the foreground; leaning onBos’sdesk, hereads.]“Benevolent Fellow Countrymen: Again we urge upon your generosity an appeal in behalf of a number of destitute widows and orphans. The lugger Good Hope——[As he continues reading.]

CURTAIN.

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