-she'd be
guilty of treason. You are working against the emperor, against the
fatherland. Here you have done it right before my very eyes; you have
taken Amelia right out of my arms. You're the woman who's been upsetting
the others, and don't you deny it.

_Hedwig:_

Deny it? I am proud of it.

_Hoffman:_

Then the place for you is in jail. Do you know what will be the end of
you?

_Hedwig:_ [_Suddenly far away._]

Yes, I know, if Franz does not come back. I know; but first [_Clenching
her hands_] I must get my message to the emperor.

_Hoffman:_ [_Very angry._]

You will be shot for treason.

_Hedwig:_ [_Coming back, laughing slightly._]

Shot? Oh, no, Herr Hans, you'd never shoot me!

_Hoffman:_

Why not?

_Hedwig:_

Do I have to tell you, stupid? I am a woman: I can get in the crops; I
can keep the country going while you are away fighting, and, most
important, I might give you a soldier for your next army--for the
kingdom. Don't you see my value? [_Laughs strangely._] Oh, no, you'd
never shoot me!

_Mother:_

There, there, don't excite her, sir.

_Hedwig:_ [_Her head in her hands, on the table._]

God! I wish you would shoot me! If you don't give me back my Franz! I've
no mind to bring a son into the world for this bloody thing you call
war.

_Hoffman:_

I am going straight to headquarters to report you.

[_Starts to go.

Enter Arno excitedly. He is boyish and fair, in his early twenties, and
looks even younger than he really is._]

_Arno:_ [_To Hoffman._]

There's an order to march at once--your regiment.

_Hoffman:_

Now?

_Arno:_

At once. You are wanted. They told me to tell you.

[Illustration: ARNO: You are wanted.]

[_Hoffman moves with military precision to the door; then turns to
Hedwig._]

_Hoffman:_

I shall take the time to report you.

[_Goes._]

_Minna:_ [_To Arno._]

Does Heinrich's regiment go, too?

_Arno:_

Heinrich who?

_Minna:_

Heinrich Berg.

_Arno:_

No. To-morrow.

[_Minna, now thoroughly scared, is slinking to the door when Hedwig
stops her._]

_Hedwig:_

Ha! little Minna, why do you run so fast? Heinrich does not go until
to-morrow. [_Looks at her thoughtfully._] Are you going to be able to
fight it through, little Minna, when the hard days come? If you do give
the empire a soldier, will it be any comfort to know you are helping the
falling birth-rate?

_Minna:_ [_Shivering._]