door Bara is seen sitting with her elbows on the table and her face in her hands. For a moment Lena stands in the light, shielding her eyes with her hand. Finally she sobs.)
Lena (Brokenly).—Bara, Bara!
ACT II
Scene: Same as Act I, only slightly re-arranged as to furniture. It ts almost a year after the close of the first act. Erna is now the wife of Burris. It is late afternoon on July 17. At the back may be seen a threatening black cloud, still low in the west. The atmosphere is that of an approaching summer storm. From the court comes the noise of the harvest rush.
As the curtain rises Lena is seated in her nook. Bara is putting things to rights. Voices of the men are heard from without.
The voice of the head steward: “John, how much longer will you make me shout at you? Change those horses at once, and don’t give them more than one measure of oats. Now be back before I miss you again—and don’t drive the poor colts to death. Be human!”
John’s voice.—“No hurry, sir. Last night it looked exactly like this and it went round. And the day before too, and it cleared up before sunset . . . Gee, there! Hell and murder! Damn that bay!”
The clanging of chains and harness, gradually fading in the distance.
Steward’s voice—“The wheat from the uplands must be in today rain or shine. All the devils in hell would be in it if we couldn’t do that much with six teams. Jack, George! Hump yourselves everybody. You are so all-fired slow!”
Bara.—Did you hear that, my lady? How he opened his mouth and made the air blue?
Lena.—Who?
Bara.—Who else but that Jack of mine. His language rose to high heaven.
Lena.—What’s the matter with your Jack?
Bara.—Hm! The rascal thinks he should be promoted to second steward. He says that the present one is getting old and will soon be sent to tend the sheep, and that he, Jack, will be put in his place.
