The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
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Chapter 769 : But surely you will not go away?
ROBERT.
No, Katharine, I shall remain here.
[_Exit_ K
But surely you will not go away?
ROBERT.
No, Katharine, I shall remain here.
[_Exit_ KATHARINE.]
SCENE VI
ROBERT, _alone; later_, G.o.dFREY; finally MoLLER _with two workingmen_.
ROBERT (_looks for some time after_ KATHARINE; _then walks up and down_).
I wonder whether she will come? Whether she will leave her father for my sake?
[_Stops_.]
I shall go into the world as a hunter. I am young, strong, and understand my profession thoroughly--why should I not succeed?
[_Losing himself in thought_.]
And then--when I come home from the forest--healthily tired out by my work in the open air--and she has been watching for me--and comes to meet me--and takes my gun, so as to have something to carry--and hangs it on her shoulder--and my hunter's house standing like that one yonder--the trees rustling--and I holding her in my arms, exclaiming jubilantly: Only that happiness is happiness which one owes to one's own efforts!--And then--
[_The report of a gun is heard, and startles him_.]
G.o.dFREY (_still behind the scenes, groaning_).
Scoundrel!
ROBERT.
What is that?
G.o.dFREY (_staggers upon the scene_; ROBERT _hurries toward him and catches him just as he is falling down_).
I--am--done for--
ROBERT.
G.o.dfrey! For heaven's sake! Has some one shot you? Hallo! Is n.o.body near? Hallo! Help!
MoLLER (_behind the scenes_).
Hurry up, men! Over there! The shouting comes from the path!
ROBERT.
People are coming. Come here, come here! Help!
MoLLER (_as before_).
That is Mr. Robert's voice.
ROBERT.
If help is to be of any avail here, it must come quickly.
[_Opens_ G.o.dFREY'S _coat and vest_.]
MoLLER.
To be sure, it is you, Mr. Stein.
[_Enters with two workingmen_.]
But--
ROBERT.
Moller, is that you? Look here what has happened!--Are you still alive, G.o.dfrey?
G.o.dFREY.
Still--but--
MoLLER (_coming up_).
G.o.dfrey! Merciful heavens!
ROBERT.
Shot from ambush. The bullet entered at the back.
MoLLER.
G.o.dfrey, speak! Who did it?
G.o.dFREY.
He had--the rifle--with the yellow strap--
ROBERT.
Andrew's rifle?
G.o.dFREY.
