c4">Amelia:

But whom did you marry, Minna?

Minna:

Heinrich Berg.

Amelia: [Dubious.]

That loafer!

Minna:

He's all right. He's a soldier now. Why, he may be a hero, fighting for the fatherland; and that makes a lot of difference, Amelia.

Hoffman:

What did I tell you?

Minna:

I probably wouldn't have picked him out in peace-times, but it is different now. He only asked me last night. Of course he may get killed. They said we'd have a widow's pension fund,—us and our children,—forever and ever, if the boys didn't come back. So, you see, I won't be out anything. Anyway, it's for the country. We'll be famous, as war brides. Even the name sounds glorious, doesn't it? War bride! Isn't that fine?

Hoffman:

Here's a little lady who will hear herself called that to-morrow. [Takes Amelia's hand.]

Minna: [Clapping her hands.]

Amelia a war bride, too! Good!

Hoffman:

You'll be proud to hear her called that, won't you, Mother? Give us your blessing.

Minna:

I'd rather be a wife or a widow any day than be an old maid; and to be a war bride—oh!

[Amelia is blushing and tremulous.]

Mother: [With a far-away look.]

It is for the fatherland, Amelia. Aye, aye, the masters have said so. It is the will and judgment of those higher than us. They are wise. Our country will need children. Aye. Say yes, my daughter. You will not say no when your country bids you! It is your emperor, your country, who asks, more than Hans Hoffman.

Amelia: [Impressed, and questions herself to see if her patriotism is strong enough to stand the test, while Hoffman, charmed by Amelia's gentleness, is moved by more personal feeling.]

Hoffman: [Kissing Amelia on both cheeks.]

There, it's all settled. [A faint cheer is heard without.] To-morrow they will cheer you like that; and when I go, I shall have a bride to wave me good-by instead of—

[Enter Hedwig.

She stands in the doorway, looking out on the distant crowds. She is tall, well built, and carries herself proudly. Strong, intelligent features, but pale. Her eyes are large with anxiety. She has soft, wavy black hair. An inward flame seems to be consuming her.

The sounds continue in the distance, cheering, disputing mingled with far bugle-calls and marching feet.]

Hedwig: [Contemptuously.]

Ha!

[The sound startles the others. They turn.]

All:

Hedwig!

Hedwig:

[Still in the doorway, looking out.]

War brides!

Minna: [Pertly.]

You're a war bride yourself, Hedwig.

Hedwig: [Turns quickly, locates Minna, almost springs at her.]

Don't you dare to call me a war bride! My ring is gold. See. [Seizes Minna's hand, and then throws it from her.] Not iron, like yours.

Minna:

[Boldly taunting.]

They even call you the first war bride.

Hedwig: [Furious, towering over her, her hand on her shoulder.]

Say why, why?

Minna: [Weakening.]

Because you were the first one to be married when the war broke out.

Hedwig: [Both hands on her shoulders.]

Because the Government commanded? Because they bribed me with the promise of a widow's pension? Tell the truth.

Minna: [Faintly.]

No. Let me go.

Hedwig:

So! And how long had Franz and I been engaged? Now say.

Minna: [Beginning to be frightened.]

Two years.

Hedwig: [Flinging her off.]

Of course. Everybody knows it. Every village this side the river knew we were to be married this summer. We've dreamed and worked for nothing else all these months. It had nothing to do with the war—our love, our marriage. So, you see, I am no war bride. [Walks scornfully away.] Not like you, anyway.

[They all stare at her.]

Hoffman: [Stepping forward indignantly.]

I don't know why you should have this contempt for our war brides, and speak like that.

Hedwig: [Sits down, half turned away. She shrugs her shoulders, and her lips curl in a little smile.]

Hoffman:

They are coming to the rescue of their country. Saving it; else it will perish.

Hedwig: [Bitterly.]

Ha!

Hoffman: [Waxing warmer.]

They are the saviors of the future.

Hedwig: [Sadly.]

The future!

Mother: [Softly, laying her hand on Hedwig's shoulder.]

Hedwig, be more respectful. Herr Hoffman is a lieutenant.

Hoffman:

When we are gone,—the best of us,—what will the country do if it has no children?

Hedwig:

Why didn't you think of that before—before you started this wicked war?

Hoffman:

I tell you it is a glory to be a war bride. There!

Hedwig: [With a shrug.]

A breeding-machine! [They all draw back.] Why not call it what it is? Speak the naked truth for once.

Hoffman:

You'll take that back to-morrow, when your sister stands up in the church with me.

Hedwig: [Starting up.]

Amelia? Marry you? No! Amelia, is this true?

Amelia: [Hesitating, troubled, and uncertain.]

They tell me I must—for the fatherland.

Hedwig:

Marry this man, whom you scarcely know, whom surely you cannot love! Why, you make a mock of marriage! It isn't that they have tempted you with the widow's pension? It is so tiny; it's next to nothing. Surely you wouldn't yield to that?

Amelia: [Frightened.]

I did want to go as a nurse, but the priests and the generals—they say we must marry—to—for the fatherland, Hedwig.

Hoffman: [To Hedwig.]

I command you to be silent!

Hedwig:

Not when my sister's happiness is at stake. If you come back, she will have to live with you the rest of her life.

Hoffman:

That isn't the question now. We are going away—the best of us—to be shot, most likely. Don't you suppose we want to send some part of ourselves into the future, since we can't live ourselves? There, that's straight; and right, too.

Hedwig: [Nodding slowly.]

What I said—to breed a soldier for the empire; to restock the land. [Fiercely.] And for what? For food for the next generation's cannon. Oh, it is an insult to our womanhood! You violate all that makes marriage sacred! [Agitated, she walks about the room.] Are we women never to get up out of the dust? You never asked us if we wanted this war, yet you ask us to gather in the crops, cut the wood, keep the world going, drudge and slave, and wait, and agonize, lose our all, and go on bearing more men—and more—to be shot down! If we breed the men for you, why don't you let us say what is to become of them? Do we want them shot—the very breath of our life?

Hoffman:

It is for the fatherland.

Hedwig:

You use us, and use us—dolls, beasts of