Give it to me! No, you must not! You have
too much to live for.

[Illustration: AMELIA: No, you must not! You have too much to live for.]

_Hedwig:_ [_Dazed._]

To live for? Me?

_Amelia:_

Why, yes, you are going to be a mother.

_Hedwig:_

A mother? Like her? [_Looks sadly at the bereaved old mother._] Look at
her! Poor Mother! And they never asked her if she wanted this thing to
be! Oh, no! I shall never take it like that--never! But you are right,
Amelia. I have something to do first.

[_Lets Amelia put the pistol away in the cupboard._] I must send a
message to the emperor. [_The others are more alarmed for her in this
mood than in her grief._]

You said you were going to the front to be a nurse, Amelia. Can you take
this message for me? I might take it myself, perhaps.

_Amelia:_ [_Hesitating, not knowing what to say or do._]

Let me give you some tea, Hedwig.

[_Voices are heard outside, and the sounds of sorrow. Some one near the
house is weeping. A wild look and a fierce resolve light Hedwig's
face._]

_Hedwig:_ [_Rushing from the house._]

They have taken my Franz!

_Mother:_

Get her back! I feared it. Grief has made her mad.

[_Amelia runs out. A clamor of voices outside. Hedwig can be heard
indistinctly speaking to the women. Finally her voice alone is heard,
and in a moment she appears, backing into the doorway, still talking to
the women._]

_Hedwig:_ [_A tragic light in her face, and hand uplifted._]

I shall send a message to the emperor. If ten thousand women send one
like it, there will be peace and no more war. Then they will hear our
tears.

_A Voice:_

What is the message? Tell us!

_Hedwig:_

Soon you will know. [_Loudly._] But I tell you now, _don't bear any more
children_ until they promise you there will be no more war.

_Hertz:_ [_Suddenly appearing. Amelia follows._]

I heard you. I declare you under arrest. Come with me. You will be shot
for treason.

_Mother:_ [_Fearfully, drawing him aside._]

Don't say that, sir. Wait. Oh, no, you can't do that!

[_She gets out her work-basket, and shows him the baby things she has
been knitting, and glances significantly at Hedwig. A horrid smile comes
into the man's face. Hedwig, snatches the things and crushes them to her
breast as if sacrilege had been committed._]

_Hertz:_

Is this true? You expect--

_Hedwig:_ [_Proudly, scornfully._]

You will not shoot me if I give you a sold