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A GAUNTLET

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The Cover is designed by Mr. Lncien Buchmann

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GAUNTLETBEING THE

NORWEGIAN DRAMAEN HANSKEBY

BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSONTRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BYOSMAN EDWARDS

LONDONLONGMANS, GREEN AND CO.AND NEW YORK : 15 EAST l6TH ST.

1894

[All rights reserved^

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Edinburgh : T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to Her Majesty

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PREFACEON January 20, 1894, ' A Gauntlet' was

thrown down on the stage of the RoyaltyTheatre. Its clang evoked responsive ap-plause from no small part of the audience,unanimous disapproval from the critics. Toaccount for their verdict, one need not accreditMr. H. L. Braekstad with membership of aMoonlight Club. His widely-known transla-tion of the author's first version naturally mis-led his fellow-critics, ignorant of the second,into a supposition that the adaptor had takenthe most unlicensed liberties with the text.Admirers of Norwegian drama have a right toknow exactly what those liberties were. Myown wish was to present the play as it stood,with little or no modification. If London play-goers were equal to Ibsen, undiluted Bjornsonwould not prove too strong for them. But Ihad reckoned without the stage-manager. Notsatisfied with ruthless omission, this potent

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intermediary interpolated some lines, and soeffectually changed others, that the generaleffect was to turn a grave comedy into a semi-serious farce. The character of Mrs. Ries wassoured ; the carefully directed f curtains'robbed of effect. In its final shape

' A Gaunt-let ' was sent to the author, who replied thathe could not spare time for supervision, andthat I must take all responsibility. Reducingthe demand for excision to a minimum in viewof the late stage of the rehearsals, I was re-fused, and had no option but to submit theplay, as ' adapted ' by Mr. George Hawtrey,to its other executioners. It will not surpriseme, however, if the inclement veteran (of TheDaily Telegraph) and the witty franc-tireur (ofThe Star) agree for once in regarding Bjornsonas his own executioner, since most of theirstrictures apply to his ' second thoughts/ herefaithfully set forth.A complete appreciation of the play is,perhaps, impossible, without some knowledgeof its birth, its re-birth, its relationship toother offspring of the same parentage. It wasborn, then, in Paris in 1883. and had for twin-

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brother ' Pastor Sang'

(Over JEvne). Toproduce in one year two plays, which challengedso directly the religious and ethical ideas ofhis countrymen, was characteristic of theauthor, then at the zenith of his 'second youth/as Georg Brandes styles the most strenuousdecade (1873-83) of Bjornson's life. Duringthat period he turned from the fashioning ofexquisite poems, saga-plays, and peasant-tales,from the romantic fatherland of Grundvig andWergeland, to grapple with social problems inseven dramas of modern life. Of the earlierfive, two 'The Editor' and 'The King'took as their milieu the political world; two

' A Bankruptcy and ' The New System 'the commercial ; one, entitled c Leonarda/portrayed the duel between an emancipatedwoman and a bishop-ridden community. If'Pastor Sang' may be regarded as in somemeasure a result of the religious controversy,in which the author engaged before leavingNorway in the autumn of '82, it is equallycertain that the atmosphere of Paris was notwithout effect on the spirit and form of ' AGauntlet.' Too sure an artist to load his

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drama with didactic matter, Bjornson un-burdened his soul four years afterwards in alecture 'Polygamy and Monogamy' whichwas delivered in more than sixty Scandinaviantowns, and of which more than 80,000 copieswere sold in a threepenny edition. He didnot mince words about French ' lubricity.'' Look at the otherwise self-respecting, puncti-lious Frenchman ! when passion seizes him, heloses all those qualities, all power of resistance :an abyss yawns before him, and into it hefalls. . . . The great writers of France have atlast discovered this abyss, and one may say,that the stench of what is now being drawnfrom its depths pervades the world/ It hadinvaded Norway, where Hans Jaeger hadmade a bid for Zola's laurels by publishing'From the Kristiania-Boheme,' and the Govern-ment had confiscated Kristian Krog's novel' Albertine' a plea for the emancipation ofNana from state control. Thus men's mindswere ripe for the poet's denunciation of theunrecognised ' polygamy,' which was sapping' the fine sensibilities of youth, the fertility oftalent, family life and national character ' ; for

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his remedial advocacy of bolder education,greater facility of divorce, the opening of moreemployments to women, and the equalisationof the sexes. It is well to note how stronglyBjornson, the reformer, sympathises with suchideals as those of which Svava is the champion ;for his sympathies do not prevent Bjornson,the artist, from depicting with impartial powerworldly sense and unworldly aspiration, theoutraged cynic and the disillusioned girl. Hisdirection to play the comedy lightly, ' as if ithad no tendenz,' is of a piece with the supremenaturalness of the characters. Nowhere is thedramatist hampered by the pulpiteer.

In 1887 the play was rewritten in the shape,and with the lineaments, which the presenttranslation has endeavoured to reproduce.The first act had been little altered, but thesecond and third were entirely recast ; oneprominent character had been omitted, andthe ending was totally changed. It remains,therefore, to append a brief outline of the firstversion, since comparison of the two shedsinteresting light on the author's constructivemethods.

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ACT IMrs. Ries is discovered in conversation with

' Uncle Nordan,' an old friend of the family,who informs her that Mr. Christensen hasadvanced money to satisfy Mrs. North, andwill expect repayment from Ries. The ex-posure of the latter is thus prepared from thefirst, whereas in the second version no hint isvouchsafed, until Mrs. Ries says (in Act II.) :1 1 could answer you if I chose. You count onmy silence.' The playful and serious scene be-tween Svava and her parents, the talk of thelovers, the revelation of Alf's past by Hoff, arepractically identical in both versions.

ACT IISvava is successively urged by her mother,

father, and Dr. Nordan to forgive Alf. Shereproaches the first with inconsistency, andrecalls an episode of her childhood, when shehad found her mother crying and been told :f Never give way in what you know to be goodand pure, for it always means giving way moreand more ! ' Nordan begs her to take time

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XI

and not decide hastily on a ' doubtful questiondiscussed by serious men and women all overthe world.' She replies impetuously : ' Itonly concerns me, and there 's no doubt aboutit/ Soon after Mr. and Mrs. Christensen call ;a family council is held ; the lovers are sentfor. Alf is humble and conciliatory, but whenthe issue is put plainly to him : ' A woman,then, owes a man her past and future, buta man only owes a woman his future?' heassents. The indignant girl dashes her glovein his face.

NORDANThat was a gauntlet !

CHRISTEXSEXIt is war, then? Well, I understand a little

about war.

ACT IIIEarly on the following morning Alf comeshaggard and sleepless to Dr. Nordan's house,

where he begs permission to remain in orderto see Svava. He is followed by his father enroute for the palace to be presented with other

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knights of St. Olaf. Then Mrs. Ries arrives,and a sharp logomachy ensues. To oldChristensen's disgust Alf refuses to take upthe gauntlet. c I love her more than ever/ hedeclares, 'whatever she may think of me.'It appears that Mrs. Ries has written a letterovernight to her daughter, telling her of herfather's infidelity. As a result, Svava is moreinclined to relent towards Alf, but cannotquite forgive her mother. 'I should havebeen told before ; when I was old enough tounderstand/ To his deeply distressed wifeand child Ries now enters, full of childishdelight in the decoration, which Christensenhas procured for him an unexpected move inthe family-war. Unable or unwilling to per-ceive their suffering, he goads Svava into thedespairing cry : ' You have ruined my homefor me; almost every moment of the pastseems tainted ! ' The final scene between thelovers ends as follows :

ALFMay I ask one thing, one thing, with all my

heart ? Wait for me ! We two have planned out

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our life, and I will carry out the plan . . . alone.Perhaps,, one day, when you see how faithful Ihave been . . . Give me an answer. I must havesomething to live for ! Give me a sign ! Reachout a hand to me !

[Svava turns and reaches out both hands. Hegoes.

MRS. RIESDid you promise him something ?

SVAVAI think so.

[Clings to her mother in great agitation.O. E.

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DRAMATIS PERSONSRIES.MRS. RIES.SVAVA RIES, their daughter.CHRISTENSEN.MRS. CHRISTENSEN.ALP CHRISTENSEN^ their son.HOFF.MARIE, servant in Ries's house.PETER.HANNA, KAMMA, FREDERIKE, and three other

young girls.

Action takes place in Ries's house.

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A GAUNTLETTHE FIRST ACT

A tastefully arranged music-room. In the background,open doors, leading into a park ; on either sideof the doors, windows ; busts on the interveningwalls. On the right are windows; on the lefttwo doors, of which the first leads into Ries'sroom; between the doors, rather forward, apiano : in front of it a music-stool. In theforeground, on both sides, sofas ; infront of theright-hand sofa a small table, chairs, a music-cabinet between the windows on the right, etc.

THE FIRST SCENEMrs. Ries ; immediately after, Ries. Mrs. Ries is

seated on the right-hand sofa, with her faceturned to the park, a magazine in her hand,which she reads from time to time during thefollowing scene. Ries enters from his room.He is in his shirt sleeves, and is fastening hiscottar.

A

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RIESI haven't seen Svava yet.

MRS. RIESSvava has gone out.

RIESGone out ?

MRS. RIESTo the baths.

RIESOh!

[Crosses to the windows on the right, thenvanishes again into his room, but comesback at once, and again crosses to thewindows, busied all the time with his collar.

MRS. RIESPerhaps I can help you ?

RIES

Oh dear no ! Thanks all the same ! Thesenew shirts give one no end of trouble. Ibought them in Paris.

MRS. RIESYes, a whole dozen,, wasn't it ?

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RIESAnd a half. When did you come home last

night ? I did not see you leave.MRS. RIES

No, you were playing cards ; we did notwish to disturb you. About one o'clock, Ishould think. And you ?

RIESNot much before half-past two. What a

large partyit was !

MRS. RIESYes ; but not on a luxurious scale ; rather

stingy, I thought, for a betrothal-party.RIES

I am told that was Alfs wish.MRS. RIES

Alf is opposed to luxury. Tell me, how doyou like him ?

RIESVery much. There can't be two opinions

about him.[He again vanishes into his room and comes

back.

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Do you know, I 'm racking my brains over aproblem ?

MRS. RIESIt must be very complicated.

RIESTo be sure, to be sure ! So it is. This

collar is simply. . . . There ! at last ![Goes again into his room and returns, this

time with a tie in his hand.What I 'm puzzled by is our dear girl'scharacter.

MRS. RIESSvava's character ?

RIESYes ; I 'm wondering what traits she has

from you, and what from me ; or, rather, whattraits she inherits from your family, and whatfrom mine, and so forth. Svava is a remark-able girl.

MRS. RIESShe is indeed.

RIESTaken as a whole, she is neither you nor I,

nor even a combination of both.

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MRS. RIESNo, Svava is something more.

RIESYes : ever so much more.[He vanishes again and returns, this time in

his coat, which he brushes from time totime.

What do you say ?MRS. RIES

Nothing. Only, Svava is like my mother.RIES

Well, I must say ! Svava's quiet, pleasantdisposition what are you dreaming of ?

MRS. RIESSvava can be passionate enough.

RIESShe never sets convention at defiance, as

your mother did.MRS. RIES

You never understood niy mother. But Idare say they are different in many things.

RIESI should think they were ! Now, do you

see that I was right to reason with her ever

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since she was quite little ? Do you see that,now ? you objected at the time.MRS. RIES

I objected to your perpetually plaguing herthere was no end to it first one thing, then

another.RIES

Yes, but the result, my love ? the result ?\_He begins to hum.

MRS. RIESWell, you surely won't say your argumentsmade Svava what she is ?

RIES[Vanishing into his room again.] Not only

the arguments but [ from his room] the argu-ments had a great deal to do with it ! Didyou notice her yesterday ? She has plenty ofsavoir vivre. What ? [He comes out again.

MRS. RIESSurely, that is not what we prize most in

Svava ?RIES

No, no! On the steamboat a man askedme if I were related to the Miss Ries who

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founded the Orphanage here. Yes, I said, 1had the honour to be her father. You shouldhave seen the fellow then ! I was quite touched !

MRS. RIESYes, the Orphanage has been a success

from the first.RIES

Was it through the Orphanage that shebecame engaged ?MRS. RIES

You had better ask Svava.RIES

But you 're not noticing me at all my newsuit ?

MRS. RIESIndeed I am !

RIESHaven't you a word of admiration ? The

tout ensemble a harmony in colour, eh?down to the very shoes ! And the pocket-handkerchief to match !

MRS. RIESHow old are you, Ries ?

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RIESHush ! hush ! Well, how old do you sup-

pose people would take me for ?MRS. RIES

For forty, of course.RIES

' Of course ' ? As if it were so self-evident !Let me tell you, this suit is a sort of FestalOverture, composed in Cologne directly Ireceived the telegram about Svava's engage-ment. Think of that ! in Cologne ! not tenhours' journey from Paris ! But I couldn'twait ten hours I was so impressed with myown importance, when I thought that mydaughter was about to marry into the richestfamily in the country.

MRS. RIESDid you only buy that suit ?

What a question ! Wait till my trunkscome from the Custom-house !MRS. RIES

Ah ! then it will be our turn, I suppose I

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RIESYour turn ? Very fortunate for papa wasn't

it ? to be on his way to Paris at the criticalmoment !MRS. RIES

Yes : and you nearly missed the partyaltogether.

RIESOh ! but that was splendid as it turned

out the steamer being so late for suddenlyas if a magician had waved his wand, therewas I in the middle of a fete champetre \ A

party in honour of my own, my only daughterwhere, naturally, I had a most flattering

reception. Never in my life had I been sofeted before.

MRS. RIESWho did you play cards with ?

RIESCan you believe it ? I made up a rubber

with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ? In otherwords, with our host, the Minister of State,and my brother, the Director-General. It 'san exceptional honour for a man to lose hismoney to such distinguished persons, for Iinvariably lose. What 's that you 're reading ?

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The Fortnightly.

10

MRS. RIES

RIESHas there been anything in the last number

or two while I was away ?[Begins to hum a tune.

MRS. RIESYes, here is an article on the very subjectwe Ve been discussing, hereditary transmis-

sion.RIESDo you know this tune ? [He crosses quickly

to the piano.] There 's a rage for it just now.I heard it all over Germany. [He plays andsings a few bars, but breaks off suddenly.] I '11fetch the music before I forget.

[Dives into his room and returns with a pieceof music. He seats himself at the pianoand continues to play and sing.

THE SECOND SCENEThe same. Svava enters by second door on the left.

RIES[Stops at sight of her and jumps upJ\ Good

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morning, my clear girl, good morning ! I 'vescarcely had a chance of saying ( How do youdo ? ' yet. I couldn't get near you at the party.[He kisses her, and advances with her to theforeground.

SVAVAWhy were you so long returning from abroad?

RIESWhy don't people give notice when they

intend to be engaged ?SVAVA

Because they know nothing about it themselves until it happens. Good morning again,mother ! [She kneels beside her.

MRS. RIESAh ! how fresh and sweet you are ! Youwent into the woods after your bath ?

SVAVA[RisingJ\ Yes, and on my way home I met

Alf, who wished me good morning. He'llbe here in a minute. [To RiesJ] And do youknow what / 've seen ? Do you know whatvessels are in the hai'bour ?

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RIESAha ! have they arrived at last ? My two

large yachts ?SVAVA

Yes, they 're close to the bridge ! The deckis like the floor of a ball-room.RIES

Don't you think one might dance on it ?

SVAVAWhat a splendid idea ! No one but you

thinks of such things ! Fancy ! two large boatsside by side, with one deck laid over both, andan awning above

RIESAnd in front a steam tug with a band on

board, and then out to the fiord ! Hurrah !SVAVA

Eveiy one I 've spoken to means to have anawfully jolly time to-morrow. As for me, I feelas excited as a child.

RIESTo tell the truth which one should always

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do I had quite given up all idea of ever see-ing our ' little old maid ' so happy.SVAVA

Yes, indeed ! so had I.

RIESUntil this prince came ?

SVAVAUntil this prince came. He was a long

time coming.RIES

Was he ? And did you have to wait all thattime ?

SVAVANo, certainly not. I never gave him a

thought.RIES

That sounds mysterious.SVAVA

Yes, it is mysterious how two people, whohave known one another from childhood,without giving each other a thought, suddenly

for that is how it was became totally dif-

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ferent. Since one particular moment, Alf hasn'tseemed the same person to me.RIES

While, of course, to the rest of the world heis unchanged ?

SVAVAI hope so.

RIES

Anyhow, he is much livelier I can see that.SVAVA

Yes, I saw you laughing together yesterday.What were you laughing at ?RIES

Can't you guess ? At the lady who had theplace of honour next his mother.

SVAVA AND MRS. RIES[Throwing away the magazineJ\ Ah! 'theDragon ' !

RIESYes. Were they making fun of any one

else ?

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MRS. RIESTo me she is the most repulsive person inthe world, with her knitting-basket, her pug,and her mischievous tongue.

RIESOh ! but when you 're the richest member

of the family, and an old maid, people onlythink you original. We laughed at everythingshe said, and thought it very witty.

MRS. RIESWell, there was a limit to my patience Icame away.

RIESYes, I noticed that. You belong to a dif-

ferent cult. Those who worship the GoldenCalf have a hard time of it. No one is sodependent as the rich.

MRS. RIES[To Svava, who is looking out of the windowJ\

But what actually passed between you andher?RIES

Between you and ' the Dragon ' ? Was any-thing the matter ?

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SVAVAShe was very kind ; she is always kind to me.

MRS. RIESYes, but you left her rather abruptly. She

must have said something ?RIES

About me ?SVAVA

If you must know, she said something dis-agreeable about Alf.

RIESAbout Alf.

SVAVA1 Disagreeable ' is not the right word, per-

haps. She said, ' If at any time you want toknow anything about your Jiance, just cometo me/

RIESShe 's a troll ! a wicked troll ; for there are

good trolls too. And, talking of them, let mecongratulate you on your new morning dress.Under the circumstances it is really stylish.

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SVAVAUnder the circumstances ? Does that mean,

considering you could not be with me tochoose it ?

RIESYes : for I should never have chosen this

trimming though, under the circumstances,it 's not so bad. And the cut ? Dear meJust wait till my trunks come !

SVAVASurprises ?

RIESSplendid surprises ! Stop ! I have some-

thing here as it is. [Goes into his room.SVAVA

[To Mrs. RiesJ] He 's very restless, mamma,more than usual. Don't you notice it ?MRS. RIES

He 's so pleased, my child ! So delighted tobe home againSVAVA

But there 's always something so gentle andwinning about papa . . .

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Ries comes hack.

SVAVA[To him.] Do you know what the Minister

of State said about you yesterday ?

RIESWhat a man of such high position says mustbe worth hearing.

SVAVA' Miss Ries, your father is still our man

fashion par excellence ! '

HIES

Ah, son excellence a bien dit ! But I cantell you something better than that. You shallmake your father decore[He points to his button-hole.SVAVA

I?RIES

Yes, who else ? Already the Governmenthas been of use to me more than once invarious business transactions : but this time

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19I shall accept the order of St. Olaf.

[Describes a cross on his breast.SVAVA

I congratulate you !RIES

'When it pours on the pastor, it rains onthe clerk/ you know. As father-in-law of ourgreat man

SVAVAYou are really so uncommonly modest in

your new capacity.RIES

Am I not ? And now I will appear in thecharacter of a modest Exhibitor of elegantcostumes or rather, of designs for costumes

still more modest role !SVAVA

Oh no, papa ! Not now !MRS. RIES

Don't let us begin with them till the after-noon!RIES

Really, any one would believe /was the only

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20woman in the house ! Well, as you will.For I have another proposal in two parts.Part 1: Let 's sit down !

SVAVA

We will. [They seat themselves.RIES

[To Svava.] Now that papa has come home,tell him exactly how it all happened. Explainthat mystery,, you know !

SVAVAOh ! indeed ! No, you must excuse me. I

can't tell you !RIES

Not with its tender details ! Good heavens !Who would be so brutal as to ask ? Before youhave been engaged a month ! No : I onlymeant how you came to know each other.

SVAVAOh ! for that I have to thank our preciousOrphanage.

RIESYour precious Orphanage, you mean ?

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21

SVAVANo: we have more than a hundred girls

interested in it now.RIES

Well, go on : so he came with a subscription ?SVAVA

Yes : with several.RIES

Aha!SVAVA

One day we happened to speak of luxury.We thought it so much better to spend timeand money in a good cause than qn luxury.RIES

Well, but what do you mean exactly by' luxury ' ?

SVAVAWe didn't define it, but I said that I con-

sidered luxury immoral.

RIESImmoral ? luxury ?

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22

SVAVAYes : I know that is not your view, but it is

mine.

RIESYour mother's, you mean, and your grand-

mother's.SVAVA

Quite so : but mine too if you have noobjection ?

RIESHeaven forbid !

SVAVAI was telling him of something we saw in

America you, mother, and I don't youremember ? We were at a temperance meet-ing, and saw some ladies drive up, whocame to support Moderation ! Those ladieswell, we didn't know the amount of theirfortunes, but to judge from their horses, toilets,and jewels especially jewels they must havebeen worth

RIESMany thousand dollars !

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SVAVAAnd that is just as much one form of excessas drunkenness is another.

RIESWell, and what then ?

SVAVAAh ! you shrug your shoulders. Alf didn't

shrug his. He began to tell me of hisexperiences ... in the large towns.

RIESHis experiences ?

SVAVAYes: of the gulf between rich and poor,

between boundless want and shameless luxury.

Really ! . . . I thought . . . Well, go on !

SVAVAHe didn't sit unconcerned, trimming his

nails

RIESI beg your pardon !

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SVAVAPray, don't disturb yourself! No; he

prophesied a social revolution, and spoke withthe utmost fervour. Then he explained hisopinions about private property. It was all sounexpected, so novel to me. You should haveseen how noble, how beautiful he looked !

RIESReally? beautiful?

SVAVAYes: at least 7 thought so. And so didmother. Didn't you ?

MRS. RIES[Continuing to read.] Yes, dear.

RIESMothers are always in love with their

daughters' accepted suitors ! But that soonpasses off, when they become sons-in-law.

SVAVAIs that your experience ?

RIESThat is my experience. So Alf Christensen

has grown beautiful ? I suppose I must agreewith you ?

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25

SVAVAAs he stood there, steadfast, frank, andpure for he must be that too !

RIESWhat do you mean by ' pure,' my dear girl ?

SVAVAI mean what the word means.

RIESExactly : what does it mean ?

SVAVAWell, it means, what I hope any one would

understand by it when applied to myself.RIES

What? The word has the same meaningto you neither more nor less whether usedof a man or a woman ?

SVAVAYes, of course.

RIESAnd you imagine that a son of Christen-

sen ?

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26

SVAVA[Rising.'] Father, you hurt me !

RIESHow can Alfs being his father's son hurt

you?SVAVA

In this point he is not his father's son ! Iam not deceived in him !MRS. RIES

I'm just reading about inherited qualities.He need not be an exact copy of his father.RIES

Well, well, as you will ! I fight shy of allyour air-spun theories. They never carry youany further.

SVAVAWhat do you mean ?

RIESDon't be so excited ! Come and sit down !

Besides, how can you know ?SVAVA

How can I know ? What ?

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27

RIESWhy, in each particular case ?

SVAVAHow do I know if a man, with whom I

associate, is a man or a brute ?RIES

Ah ! There we have it. You may be mis-taken, my dear Svava. Come and sit down !

SVAVANo ; I am no more mistaken in him than Iam in you, papa, when you tease me with your

horrible principles. For, in spite of all you say,you are the most refined and delicate . . .

MRS. RIES[Throwing away the magazine.,] Are you going

to keep on that dress, my child ? Won't youchange it before Alf comes ?

SVAVANo, mother, it 's no use trying to turn the

subject ! Too many of my girl friends haverepeated the old story of Beauty and the Beastwith this difference. In their case the lover . . .began by being a Fairy Prince, but when they

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28awoke from their dream he was transformedinto a beast. I won't have anything like that !I won't make that mistake.

MRS. RIESWell, you needn't speak so vehemently.Alf is an honourable young man.

SVAVAYeSj he is. But I have come across so many

shocking cases. And only the other day therewas that affair of Helga Holm !MRS. RIES

Yes, that was dreadful.RIES

What was that ?SVAVA

Haven't you heard ?RIES

No.SVAVA

They are separated.RIES

The Holms ?

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29

SVAVAFor unfaithfulness. She discovered her

husbandRIES

The devil ! Recently ?SVAVA

Quite recently.RIES

Hm ! Well, well !SVAVA

And now I will tell you something, which Ihave never spoken of before. Do you knowthat once long ago I was very nearly en-gaged ?

RIES AND MRS. RIES[Rising.] You, Svava ?

SVAVAYes. I won't say to whom ! I was very,

very young, and he professed oh ! the noblestprinciples, the highest aims ! In this respecthe was exactly the opposite of papa. To say

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30I loved him would be too little. I worshippedhim ! But you must excuse my telling youwhat I discovered, and how. It was at thetime when you all believed I was

MRS. RIESConsumptive ?

RIESWas it then ? [Svava nods.

MRS. RIES[Approaching her.~\ And you never told me

a word ?[Ries goes towards the left.

SVAVAWell, it 's all over now ! But one thing is

quite certain ; when a woman has once hadsuch an experience, she will not let herself bedeceived twice.

[Ries has meamvhik disappeared into hisroom.

MRS. RIESPerhaps it was for your happiness, after all.

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31

SVAVAYes, I am convinced of that ! Well ! it 's all

over now ! But my sufferings were not en-tirely over until I found Alf. Where is papa ?

MRS. RIESPapa ? Here he comes.

RIES[Comes out of his room, with his hat on, in

the act of drawing on a glove.Now, children, I must go to the CustomHouse to see after my trunks. Good-bye, my

dear girl ! [Kisses Svava.] You have made usvery happy, very happy ! But some of yourideas . . . well, well ! [Going o/f.] Good-bye !

MRS. RIESGood-bye !

RIES[Coming back once more, to Svava, while he

again draws on his glove.Did you notice that tune I was playing justnow? In Germany I heard it everywhere.

[He begins to play and sing, but suddenlyhejumps up.

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No, I spoil it. However, there 's the music ;you can learn it for yourself.[He retires to the back, humming.

SVAVAHe is delightful ! There is really some-

thing so artless about him. Did you noticehim yesterday ? He was quite brilliant !MRS. RIES

I wish you could have seen yourself !SVAVA

Yes. I was happy ! Why should I deny it ?Every one was so kind, yes, everybody !

[She embraces her mother.

MRS. RIESNow I must look after the housekeeping a

little.

SVAVA[Accompanying her.] Shall I help you ?

MRS. RIESNo ; stop where you are !

SVAVAWell, I '11 play over papa's tune once or

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33

twice it is really pretty and very soon Alfwill be here !

[Mrs. Ries passes out of second door on theleft. Svava takes her seat at the pianoand begins to play.

THE THIRD SCENESvava. Alf enters on the rightfrom the back.

ALF[Comes softly up and leans over Svava, so

that hisface almost touches hers.Thank you for yesterday !SVAVA

Alf ! I didn't hear you ring.ALF

Your father met me at the door. What apretty tune that is !SVAVA

Yes. And thank you, thank you so muchor yesterday. [They retire to back together.

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ALFYou can't imagine what a success you were.SVAVA

Perhaps I can just a wee bit.ALF

Every one is delighted at home.SVAVA

So they are here.ALF

If even f the Dragon' thought you 'splendid,'you can judge what an impression you made !

SVAVAReally ? I fancied I had offended her.

ALFOh dear no ! But I saw you left her

rather abruptly.SVAVA

Oh, that was nothing ! What have you inyour hand ? A letter ?

ALFYes. Your maid gave it me. Some sharp

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fellow has found out that I should come herein the course of the morning.

SVAVAYou think that was not hard to guess ?

ALFNot very. I must go over to see Edward

Hansen.SVAVA

You can take a short cut through the park.[She points to the left.

ALFI know. And as he writes 'urgent,' and

underlines the wordSVAVA

You can have my key. Here ![Giving it to him.

ALFThanks ! many thanks !

SVAVAOh,, it 's purely selfish ! I shall have you back

again the sooner.

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36

ALFI can stop here till noon

SVAVAOh, longer, much longer can't you ? Wehave such a lot to say to each other about

yesterday.ALF

And about to-morrow too. Do you know, Ihadn't seen your father's floating ball-room ?

SVAVANo ? Did you ever hear of such an idea ? Ishall enjoy myself to-morrow !

ALF/ sha'n't enjoy myself in the least.

SVAVAIs it possible ? Why, everybody will.

ALFExcept me ; and that is why I do want a

talk with you. Couldn't we meet somewhereto-morrow before the party ? Alone ?

SVAVAWill you come over here, then ?

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37

ALFYes, but wouldn't it be better if we went

out for a row ?SVAVA

Just as you like.ALF

Ah ! thanks. Quite early, mind. I can'tspare you a moment; and the party onlykeeps you away from me. Why didn't wefind each other sooner ?

SVAVABecause we hadn't reached the right stage.

ALFHow can you tell ? I believe we weremeant for one another.

SVAVAWe suit each other very well don't you

think so ?ALF

Uncommonly well ! But we can't be surethat that isn't partly the result of what wewere before.

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38

SVAVAThere ! that 's what I said !

ALFNow I must be off: the letter says ' in haste.'

[They retire to the back.SVAVA

One minute can make no difference ! Doyou know, when I saw you yesterday amongthe others I didn't recognise you ? You werequite changed. You had become some oneelse.

ALFAh ! that 's always the way, darling ! there

are some things one never sees except in con-nection with others. Now I realise for thefirst time how tall you are, and how, when youbow, you bend the least little bit to oneside. Now I know exactly the colour of yourcomplexion, your hair, your neck . . .

SVAVAExcuse me, it 's my turn to speak !

ALFWell, then ?

[Both, having reached the door at the back,turn round again and advance to thefront.

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SVAVAWhen you looked at me and leaned on me

just now, I had such a strange sensation; Ifelt that I was blushing to the roots of my hair.

ALFReally? That isn't how I felt. When-

ever any one danced with you I felt mad withjealousy. Yes, you may look at me ! I be-grudged you to him yes, I begrudged you toevery one ! My God ! I can't bear any oneto touch you! [They embraced] But I 've notyet told you what I like best of all.

SVAVAAnd that is ?

ALFThis. If I saw you far off, among the

others, it might be only a flying gleam of yourarm, I loved to think : This arm has clung tomy shoulder, to my neck, and to no otherin the whole world ! It is mine it belongsto me, and to no one, 110 one, no one else !Why, how 's this ? Are we back againalready ? This is sorcery ! Well, I must gonow. [Moves towards back.] Good-bye !

[Lets Svava go, and at once embraces heragain.

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40

Why was not this happiness mine years ago ?Good-bye !

SVAVAI think I '11 come with you.

ALFYes, do !

SVAVANo : I had better practise this tune until

papa comes back. I shall have no time lateron. Good-bye,, then. [The house bell rings.

ALFHere comes some one ! Send him off soon,

whoever he is. We want to be alone.[Hastens through the left-hand door at theback. Svava gazes after him. She isjustin the act ofgoing to the piano when Marieenters.

THE FOURTH SCENESvava. Marie. Later, Hojf.

MARIE[From second door on the left.] A man is herewho

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41

SVAVADo you know him ?MARIE

No.SVAVA

What sort of man ?MARIE

Well, he is rather . . . rather . . .SVAVA

Suspicious-looking ?MARIE

Oh dear no ! Quite a respectable man.SVAVA

Tell him papa is not at home.MARIE

I have told him so ; but he wishes to speakto you, Miss.

SVAVAOh ! ask mother to come. But no, why

should she ? Show him in.[Marie goes out through same door by whichHoffnow enters.

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HOFFHave I the honour to address Miss Ries ?Yes, I see you are she. My name is HoffKarl Hoff, commercial traveller. In iron,Miss, in iron

SVAVAYes ; but what have I ?HOFF

Well, you see, if I 'd been an ordinary stay-at-home householder, like other people, a goodmany things would never have happened !

SVAVAWhat would never have happened ?

HOFF[Draws out a pocket-book and takes a letterfrom it.

Will you be so kind so kind as to readthis ? Or perhaps you would rather not ?

SVAVAWell, how can I tell ?

HOFFNo, of course : you must first . . . if you

please [Hands her the letter.

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SVAVA[Reading.] ' This evening between ten and

eleven that is if "the Noodle" doesn'tcome home 1 love you with all my soulPut a light in the passage window/

HOFFI am ' the Noodle.'

SVAVABut I don't understand

HOFFHere is another !

[He hands her a second letter.SVAVA

' I am conscience-stricken. Your coughfrightens me, and just now, when you areexpecting . . .' But what in the world has allthis to do with me ?

HOFF[After some reflection.] Well, what do you

think of it ?SVAVA

Is it some one I ought to help ?

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HOFFNo ; she needs no help now, poor creature !She is dead.SVAVA

Dead ? Was it your wife ?HOFF

Yes, it was my wife. I found these and onemore ... in a little case. At the bottom laythe letters these are not the only ones andjust above them was a little wadding in whichwas a pair of earrings., together with a fewtrinkets . . . presents from her mother. Andthen I found these bracelets look ! they aredecidedly too expensive for her mother tohave given her!

SVAVAShe died suddenly then, before

HOFFWell, I can't say. Consumptive people

never think they are going to die, else, nodoubt, she would have hidden all this away.Ah ! she was so gentle, so delicate ! May Itake a seat ?

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SVAVAPray do ! [Hoft takes a seatJ] Are there

any children ?HOFF

[After some consideration.'] I believe not.

SVAVAYou believe not ? I asked, because I thought

you had come about our Orphanage. I neednot say this is most painful for me !

HOFFYes ; so I thought, so I thought ! I 'm not

at all sure whether I ... but there ! you don'tunderstand !

SVAVANo, indeed I can't.

HOFFNo, no, of course not ! I 've heard so much

good of you for many years; and my wife usedto praise you too.

SVAVADid she know me ?

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46

HOFFShe was Maren Tang she was a companion

SVAVATo Mrs. Christensen, my future mother-in-

law ? So it was she ? Why, she was an edu-cated, quiet, lady-like girl. Surely you havemade some mistake ? A few notes without asignature, without even a date ?

HOFFDidn't you know the writing ?

SVAVAI ? No. It 's disguised, isn't it ?

HOFFYes, but not very much, I think.

SVAVAHad you not a special object in coming tome ?

HOFFI had ; but I think I will let it alone. I see

well enough you don't understand such things.Perhaps you think my mind is slightly affected.Well, it wouldn't be surprising.

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47

SVAVAStill, you must have had an object ?

HOFFSo I had ! You see, this Orphanage

SVAVAOh ! it is about that, then !

HOFFNo, not exactly. But it's owing to theOrphanage that I have thought so highly of

you for a long time past and a good manyothers have done the same. If I may takethe liberty of saying so, I never saw anyfashionable young lady before occupy herselfwith something useful. Never before. I amonly a poor, broken-down merchant. I haveto travel for other firms now, and I 've metwith many misfortunes. Perhaps I was toblame for most of them. But you see, I wasanxious that you should be spared ! I thoughtto myself, it's incumbent on me . . . mypositive duty ! . . . But now, when I sit faceto face with you ... I only feel that I 'mvery miserable. No, I want nothing from you,nothing at all.

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48

SVAVAI don't understand you.

HOFFYou mustn't bother any more about me. I

beg your pardon a thousand times, a thousandtimes ! [He rises to his feet.~\ No, pleasedon't trouble your head about me in the least !Forget me altogether ! I have not been here.That 'sail!

[He meets Alfat the door, just as the latter isentering. When Hoff observes that Svavais looking attentively, he goes hastily out.

THE FIFTH SCENESvava. A If. Last of all, Ries.

Svava, who has remarked the agitation of both men,utters a muffled shriek. She hastens towardsA If, but, as soon as she has looked him in theface, staggers back in sudden horror. A/f triesto support her.

SVAVADon't touch me.

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[She hastens through the second door on theleft. From the outside is heard the slam-ming of the door and the drawing of abolt. Then, for a moment only, violentsobbing, somewhat subdued by distance.Outside Hies is -heard to hum the sametune as before, and immediately after heenters

THE CURTAIN FALLS.

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THE SECOND ACTThe same room. The afternoon.

THE FIRST SCENEMrs. Ries. Marie.

MARIEThe gardener is here. He wishes to knowhow soon we are to bring in the flowers and

decorate the music-room.

MRS. RIESAt once ! ... Or rather ...I'm not quite

sure, Marie.MARIE

Well, we can't put it off any longer, m'am, ifwe 're to have any decorations at all.MRS. RIES

Oh ! we have plenty of time by to-morrowafternoon !

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51

MARIEYes ; but to-morrow there will be so many

other things to do. Oh dear, Mrs. Ries, whatis the matter ? I saw Miss Svava go out justnow looking so unhappy.

MRS. RIESWell, she must tell you herself, Marie !

[Sits down and begins to cry. A ring isheard at the door.

MARIEPerhaps that is she. [Peeps out.] No ; it

is the ladies' trio. Must we have them now ?MRS. RIES

Oh dear ! They want to practise, I suppose.The trio is to be sung to-morrow at the party

if there is to be one.MARIE

[Surprised.] What do you say ?MRS. RIES

Svava must tell you herself ! We had bettersit up late and do the work, Marie. I can'tundertake anything now.

[The trio is heard outside.

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MARIEShall I tell the gardener he had better bring

the flowers to-night ?

MRS. RIES

Yes, do, Marie. [Marie goes out.

THE SECOND SCENEMrs. Ries. The Ladies' Trio.

Six girls enter, each with a bouquet in her hand, ledby Peter, tripping in waltz measure. Peterhastens at once to the piano and begins theaccompaniment. The girls advance to Mrs.Ries, and move about her in waltz-time, whileone couple dances round and round her. Whenthey come to the words: 'Hand in hand nowturning, turning,' theyform a close circle roundher. The dance is repeated.

WALTZDawn, brightly breaking,Blissful awaking,When Love is born, like a flower set free,When, in high splendour,

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53

Magical, tender,Venus soars up from the heart of the sea.Rich to completeness,Spring scatters sweetness ;Airs with glad greeting teem,Beckon with scent and gleam,Harmonies falling,Beauties enthralling,

Blend, reeling forth in a riotous stream.

Hand in hand now turning, turning,Steals through every maid a yearning ;Captive we by dreams enclosen,Each is dreaming of her chosen,Dreams of wedding and of wooing,Love's obtaining, Love's undoing.Fetterless forcesLie at Life's sources,

Fires, that must mingle in madness of strife,Till, by their roaringCurrents' out-pouring

Mightily moulded, at last blossoms life.Twine the wreath busily,Speed the dance dizzily,

Swiftly desire to fulfilment is winging.Lovers ! Love guide you,Dream-like, beside you,On ever on to the sound of our singing !

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ALLGood-morning, auntie ! How are you,auntie ? How jolly it was yesterday !

HANNAJust fancy, auntie, we kept it up until five

this morning !KAMMA and FREDERIKE

We went into the woods and sang.HANNA

We haven't been to bed at all.THE OTHERS

No : not one of us !SEVERALWe have been together all this morning !

FREDERIKEYes, and we saw the pleasure-boats, too !

HANNA and KAMMAWe went on boardALL

And danced !

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55

HANNAOh, it was splendid !

FREDERIKEAh ! how jolly it will be to-morrow !

ALLO auntie !KAMMA

And now we '11 practise the trio for tomorrow. Isn't the new waltz charming ?

MRS. RIESYes, indeed.

PETERWe shall have a pretty practice to-day !

KAMMAPeter is as cross as a bear to-day.

HANNAYes, odious !

ALL THE OTHERSSimply odious, auntie !

KAMMAYou know in the waltz it says : ' Blissful

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56

awaking, when Love is born, like a flower setfree ?

' Well, every time he roars out ' Painfulawaking ! '

ALLHa, ha, ha !

HANNAHe's as dull as ditch water !

FREDERIKEHe 's only tired, poor fellow ! He 's so

blase! It was a shame to keep him up allnight.

ALLPoor thing !

PETERThank you! I appreciate your sympathy,if I am blase.

HANNAWhere is Svava, auntie ?

MRS. RIESShe has gone out.

KAMMAWithher/rtnce?

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MRS. RIESNo, alone.

SEVERALAlone ?

PETERHa, ha, ha !

FREDERIKE and KAMMABe quiet !

HANNAI can guess where she is !

ANOTHERSo can I !

HANNAShe is at Helga Holm's, auntie !

FREDERIKEIsn't it shocking about Helga ?

MRS. RIESIndeed it is, child.

HANNATo be so deceived in her husband !

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ALLShocking !

MRS. RIESStill, I wasn't altogether surprised.

FREDERIKEWhy ? Was he always like that ?

KAMMABefore he was married ?

MRS. RIESYes. And, as the French say, 'Qui boit,

boira/

ALLThere, you hear that, Peter? You hear

that?PETER

It may be true of Holm, but not of every-body. I think you are all crazy !

MRS. RIESNo, of course it is not true of everybody.There are exceptions.

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PETERThere, you hear that ? You hear that ?

SOMEWe didn't say ' everybody ' !

PETERYes, you did, you little geese !

*

ALL1 Little geese/ auntie !

MRS RIESThere are exceptions. But, as a rule, I find

that either a man is faithful to one woman onprinciple, or else, his principles allow him tobe unfaithful. At any rate, that 's my opinion.

SEVERALPeter, Peter, you hear that ?

HANNAYou must always be faithful, do you under-stand ?

PETERFiddle-de-dee ! To whom, if I 'm not

married ?

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HANNATo yourself, stupid !PETER

Ah! Rubbish!ALL

[Except HannaJ] Did you hear, auntie?Peter says ' Rubbish ! '

THE THIRD SCENEAs before. Svava enters hastily from the Park;

on seeing the others wishes to turn back.

PETERHere 's Svava !

ALLHere's Svava! [They go to meet her, draw

her in with them, and all talk at once.] Here'sa bouquet for you ! How charming you wereyesterday ! We have not been to bed allnight ! We have been singing in the wood.We have been about together all day. Nowwe are going to practise the trio.

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HANNAWhy, Svava, what is the matter with you ?

KAMMAIs there anything wrong ?

MRS. RIESDon't you see, she has just come from

Helga Holm ?ALL

[Except HannaJ] Of course she has !MRS. RIES

Helga is her bosom friend, you know.SEVERAL

[In an undertone.} So she is.SVAVA

How lovely the flowers are ! Thank you,thank you very much ! Shall we put them inwater at once, mother ?MRS. RIES

Yes, I will see to it.[She touches a bell. T/ie maid appears, and,

at a signfrom her mistress, brings a basin,while Mrs. Ries busies herselfin arrangingtheflowers during thefollowing dialogue.

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SVAVAHow fresh and sweet they are ! We must

take great care of them, else they '11 die, too,very soon! Yes, you're quite right; I havebeen with Helga Holm. Where else should Ihave been ?

KAMMAIsn't it shocking ? The whole town is talk-

ing about it.SVAVA

Really ?SEVERAL

The whole town !SVAVA

Well, there'll be still more to talk about !

HANNAWill there ?

SEVERALWill there ?

SVAVAYes. But that's splendid, that the whole

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town should be talking about it ! That is asit should be ! Every one should talk about it !. . . Oh, I think I must go out into the airagain !

MRS. RIES[Who is tying up the stalks and putting theflowers in a glass.Take off your hat, darling !

SVAVAAh ! yes : I didn't think of that.

HANNAYou look so strange, Svava !

ALLYes,, she does.

SVAVADo I ? Well, I must have been out more

than two hours, and all that time I have heardnothing but ' Tell me, tell me, tell me ! ' Icouldn't bear it any longer !

MRS. RIES[Goes hastily up to Svava.] Come with me,come to your room, dear ! You want rest.

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SVAVARest ? Now ? If only I could scream or cry !When you have been deceived

MRS. RIES[Quickly interrupting.'] Like Helga Holm ?

SVAVALike Helga Holm? Yes, Helga Holm!Ah ! no : I must speak out. All this time Ihave scarcely said a dozen words. My God !

MRS. RIESHush ! Come with me, then, come and tellme !

SVAVANo, you don't understand. I didn't mean

that. What I have heard shall never pass mylips. No ! I must say something to warnthese girls. There is one thing we womennever learn

HANNAWhat is that ?

SVAVAHow easily and how often we deceive our-

selves ! The greatest precaution is no use.

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65

We are mistaken, again and again ! A manfolds his arm round you and says : ' I can'tbear any one else to touch you ! ' Gazinginto your eyes, as he walks beside you, hesays : ' When I see in the ball-room only aflying gleam of your arm, I think, This armhas clung to my neck, and to no other noother in the whole world ! ' [ With risingemotion.] Can she believe, then, that his armhas embraced . . . that he ...

[She bursts into tears.

MRS. RIESListen to me, Svava !

SVAVADon't believe him ! He '11 only make a

fool of you too ! [She draws back.MRS. RIES

You have had a dreadful shock, darling.Don't speak of it again.

PETERThere '11 be no party here to-morrow, you '11

see!SEVERAL

Oh, hold your tongue !E

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66

PETERI can see it in her face. She is in no mood

for giving a party.FREDERIKE

But Svava ?[She

looks round for Svava, who has steppedaside.HANNA

[To Mrs. Ries.] Auntie, is it true ?KAMMA

[To Mrs. Ries.] Won't there be a party ?ALL

[Coming near.] Oh yes ! Oh yes !MRS. RIES

I hope so. ALL[Surrounding Svava.] What about the party ?

SVAVAWhat do you say ?

PETERYou're not in the mood for giving a party

here to-morrow, are you ?

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SVAVAOh ! the party ! Must we give one to-morrow ? [Goes up to Mrs. Ries.

PETERThere ! you see !

MRS. RIESOf course there will be a party. Of course !

SVAVAYes, of course !

ALLThere will be a party ! there will be a

party ! Hurrah !PETER

Hurrah ! So much for their sympathy withHelga Holm ! Hurrah !

FREDERIKETake care, Peter ; you shall pay for that !

ALLCome : let 's throw him out !

[They rush at Peter.PETER

No, no : I've an idea.

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HANNAWhat is it ?

PETERLet 's sing the waltz to Svava. It will put

her in good spirits.ALL

Yes!MRS. RIES

Oh no, children ! don't ! Why not take aboat instead, and sing it out there on thewater ?

ALL THE GIRLS and PETEROh yes ! yes !

PETERBut we '11 sing it here, too, that Svava may

hear how well it goes already ![He goes to the piano, the girls with him,

while the music is distributed.

SVAVA[To Mrs Ries, who is again busy with the

flowers.'] Send them away, do send themaway !

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MRS. RIESVery well!

SVAVA[As before.] There can be no party here to-morrow !

MRS. RIESJust wait a little !

[All the girls march out in pairs, led byPeter, in waltz-time, and pass, singing, bySvava and Mrs. Ries. Mrs. Ries makesa sign to Peter to lead the procession out,which he does. The song is heard out-side.

SVAVAOh, my head, my head ! I feel as if it were

splitting ! And yet I 've scarcely said a worduntil just now.

MRS. RIESYou are too excited. You must control

yourself, my child ! You can't stand this !SVAVA

I shall never have peace again !MRS. RIES

Where have you been ?

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SVAVAOh, didn't you guess ? And you talk of a

party ! You looked so shocked, that you mademe say ' yes ' too ! There can be no questionof a party here. Besides, why should we giveone now ?

MRS. RIESYou surely wouldn't have sent all those

children away with such a rebuff? I was onthorns.

SVAVAWell, it makes no difference to me !

Nothing can make any difference now !

MRS. RIESYes ; but we can't put off the party. Weowe it to ourselves as much as to the Christen-

sens ! Here comes papa !

SVAVAPapa too ! Well, let him come ! . . . though

I feel so weak, so dizzy ! I can't begin a fightnow : but I know well enough what he wants.

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71

THE FOURTH SCENEAs before. Ries entersfrom the back.

RIES[To Svava.] Oh! are you there? Why,

Svava, what are you thinking of? [He comesnearer.] Now listen, my dear girl ! Let metell you, that Mr. Christensen has just tele-phoned to my office, asking if I am at home.[He looks at his watchj\ In a minute he willbe here.

SVAVAI won't speak to him !

[She makes as if to go away.RIES

Very well ! But you must stop here andspeak to me \ Wait a moment ! I 'm onlygoing into my room to put away my new hat.I 'm rather dusty, too. [Goes into his room.

MRS. RIESOf course Mr. Christensen will come ! I

quite expected him. If you break off your

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72engagement with Alf, and for no other reasonthan this, you will involve the Christensens ina very great scandal. Haven't you realisedthat?

SVAVASo it is 7 who will cause the scandal?

That 's very fine ! It's all my fault !MRS. RIES

The scandal doesn't consist in the thingitself, but in its exposure.

SVAVAExactly ! exactly !

MRS. RIESDon't think that so unimportant ! One day

you will know what it means. It is not soeasy to reform the world.

SVAVAI have no wish to reform it. I only \vish to

protect myself that is all !RIES

[Coming back.~\ Of course, the moment Iget home I come in for a bother of this kind.Well, I suppose it couldn't be helped. Indeed,

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73that's your only excuse. Oh! by the way,I just met a man in the street who was atthe party last night. He was talking aboutit. The chief clerk at ... what 's his name ?[To Svava.] You know him. He owns thatcharming little place along the fiord theplace you liked so much? [To Mrs. RiesJ\With the Moorish dovecot . . . ?

MRS. HIESKlinger ?

RIESAh ! Klinger, Klinger. It seems he isanxious to sell it. Oh ! and he said : ' Youmay well feel flattered at your daughter'sreception last night ; it was a perfect triumph.I pictured her on a high throne, with thewhole Christensen family including "theDragon" drawing her chariot.' I assureyou, those were his very words. Think ofthe honour you reflect on us, child ! Andwhat a splendid position you will have ! . . .And so you want to jump down from yourpedestal ? Well, you won't get much by that.You will simply fall smash ! before you knowwhere you are. Do you imagine that anywell-to-do family anywhere would submit tosuch an insult, such a slur upon their favourite

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child ? Eh ? If you hadn't been suffering fromintense excitement, I should have thought youout of your wits to say what you did. And ifyou take no thought for your own welfare, atleast consider ours ! On my word, I might justas well have taken a passage to America ! I didthink of it when I passed the quay and sawthe Angelo lying ready to sail !

SVAVA[Who has hitherto been leaning on the piano,

during thefollowing scene alternately movesafew steps towards the back of the stage,and sinks into an easy chair before thepiano, keeping her face towards theaudience and letting her arms fall overthe back of the chair.We had better go to America !

RIESBetter go to America ? go to America ? A

grand idea, isn't it ? Such ridiculous nonsense !You seem to think it 's as easy to cross theAtlantic as to cross the street. Whateverfolly Alf Christensen may have committed Iknow nothing about it it can't have been sovery bad ! [Svava changes her position at thepiano. ~\ Come, for God's sake, Svava !

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75

SVAVAPray, don't drag God's name into it !

RIESWhy not? I should have thought the

matter quite serious enough. Doesn't thecommandment run : ' Little children,, forgiveone another' or something like it? I amnot sure of the exact words. We ought to for-give one another ; we ought to help one whohas gone astray. It's our duty. Help himto become better ... by degrees !

MRS. RIESAhem!

RIESWell, it's not my business to preach mor-

ality ; it sits badly on me, I know. It 's veryseldom I do. But, all the same, you can't doaway with one eternal truth : the woman'sduty is to be forbearing to the man, to winhim by gentleness and love, in short, by for-bearance. And I don't know any one so admir-ably adapted for such a work as yourself,Svava. You seem especially gifted. Thenagain, you have had so much experience I

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76mean with children. For it 's the same sort ofthing. In fact, I consider it woman's noblestvocation !

SVAVA[Who has taken up her old position at the

piano.What ?RIES

What . . . ? Haven't you been paying atten-tion ? Why to ... to ... to .. . you surelydon't need to ask? to exert an ennoblinginfluence through marriage, to make herhusband's life spotless, like ...

SVAVA

Like soap ?RIES

Soap ? Who the devil is talking aboutsoap ?

MRS. RIESHa, ha, ha !

RIES[To his wife.} Oh, you find that witty ?

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77

SVAVAIt comes to this, then. Marriage is a huge

laundry for men, where we girls are to standready, each, I suppose, at her wash-tub,and each with her piece of soap. Is thatwhat you mean ?

MRS. RIESHa, ha, ha !

RIESI don't think it 's a subject for laughter.

MRS. RIESHa, ha, ha !

RIESReally, I think these violent attacks 011

marriage should be left to the more licentioussections of society.

SVAVATo the men, do you mean ?MRS. RIES

Ha, ha, ha !

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78

RIESMen more licentious than women? Takethe women you see at a ball, for instance !With their shoulders bared to the public gaze !And who is the most successful with them ?Why, your Don Juans unquestionably ! Theyfind such men ' so delightful ' ! ' so piquant ' !Of course! Don't confine your censures to men !You are so taken up with this modern Lamen-tation over Men, that you forget what theworld is like. You forget your own natures.I assure you, you do. [To Mrs. Ries.]

Thisis all your fault.

MRS. RIESMine ?

SVAVA[ Who has been walking tip and down, standsstill.

Mother's fault?RIES

[To his wife.] It is the same nonsense yourmother always talked. Just the same ! Andnow you have put it into Svava's head ! Thisbabble about a 'beast of prey,' and aboutman's 'freedom to prey on woman/ hinderingall other freedom ! Is that never going to dieout?

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79

MRS. RIESI could answer you if I chose. You counton my silence.

RIESWell, help me, then, confound it! It's a

matter of life and death for us. We shall allbe turned into the streets if she doesn't mind.

MRS. RIESIt's not quite so bad as that; although

it is serious, as I told Svava.RIES

Oh, I'm glad of that. And, pray, how amI to answer Christensen ? That 's what worriesme. For, with all his elegance and polish,there's not a more revengeful tiger in thewhole town. His bite is even worse than ' theDragon's.' They are not related for nothing.Am I to say : ' Pardon me, my dear Mr.Christensen, but my daughter is very sensitiveon this point ; she cannot reconcile herself tothe idea that your son actually ventured tolove some one else before he knew her.' Isthat what I'm to say? God knows how Icame to be the father of such a paragon ofvirtue !

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80

SVAVABravo ! I only beg leave to correct one word.

RIESWell ?

SVAVAI think you said ' love.'

RIESWell?

SVAVAI never reproached Alf with loving anotherwoman.

RIES

No?SVAVA

No, certainly not !RIES

Oh ah! I understand!- He was associatedwith another woman. Unhappy man ! Hewas associated with another woman before hehad the honour and good fortune to know ofyour existence !

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81

SVAVAWith one other ?

RIESWell, say with two !

SVAVAWith two ?

RIESDeuce take it ! with several, then ! How

everything is buzzed round in this accursedtown !

MRS. RIESHa, ha, ha !

RIESYes : laugh away ! But I ask you in all

seriousness for my part, I find this mattervery serious [To Svava\ would any one butyou be so absurdly unreasonable ? A youngman is not to be allowed to take a fancy toany one, until you appear on the scene in allyour majestic virtue ? I never met with sucharrogance in my life ! Never !

SVAVAArrogance ? To claim from another what is

expected of yourself ?

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83

SVAVA[Who has been seated, rises."] Do you really

wish me to make my home with a man likethat ?

RIESWhat in the world do you mean ?SVAVA

Do you suppose I don't know what it is ?Mothers often come to our Orphanage, whoneed help more than the children. And thetales they tell ! To hear them is like gazingdown into a black, bottomless hell. Think ofwhat it means, to admit such a pest into ahome !

RIESWhat are you dreaming of, Svava? Can't

you believe that all that sort of thing ceasesat marriage ? Can't you believe a man's wordof honour ?

MRS. RIESHa, ha, ha !

RIESWell, well and if a little slip does occur

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so long as they love each other, . . . and youdo love him, don't you, Svava ? You can't denyit. Well, then, simply trust your parents !

[Svava breaks away to the left. At thesame moment the door bell rings.

MRS. RIES[Rising.] That 's Christensen ! I 'm going !

[She tries to follow Svava.

RIESNo : you are not going ! You mustn't go !Not both of you ! All right ! Then I shall

go too ! [Approaches her.

MRS. RIES[Holdmg him back.] I have nothing to say

to Christensen !

RIESAnd have I ? Have I any part in all this

virtue ?MRS. RIES

Oh ! as to virtue Christensen and youyou and Christensen are really partie egale !

[She goes out.

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85RIES

De la haute morale ! [He turns round andadvances to the front.] Yes : a pretty moral,to leave me alone to eat up what they'vecooked. It 's not my fault. I '11 be obtuse,I '11 know nothing about it. Yes : that 's whatI '11 do ! If he shows his teeth, I '11 showmine ! I shall say straight out : ' I knownothing at all, haven't heard a word aboutit!' I'll say: 'The thing can't possibly goany further if no one has mentioned it evento me.' Yes : I '11

saythat ; that 's what I '11

do ! [The door bell rings again.] Hullo ! He 'sstill outside ! Ho, ho ! I sha'n't open thedoor to you, my dear friend ! Stop ! I '11say : ' Let the young folk make it up ! Weneedn't mind what a woman says when shehas lost her temper. Let them make it upthemselves ! ' Yes ; that 's the way to lookat it ! That 's the best thing. I 'm quitea diplomatist !

[He goes to the piano and plays an ingratiat-ing air.

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86

THE FIFTH SCENERies. Christensen.

CHRISTENSEN[Enters slowly, and stands still for a moment

in the background.Bravo, bravo !

RIES

Ah ! pardon me ! I didn't see you, neverheard you come in !CHRISTENSEN

Pray, don't mention it ! Your playing isdelightful. There 's nothing wrong, then ?

RIESEh? What do you mean? What shouldbe wrong ? Oh ! you mean that affair of this

morning ? That unfortunate business with thatclumsy Hoff? Bah! mere woman's chatter !What a woman says or writes on the impulseof the moment needn't be taken aupied de lettreeh ? We know, that 's soon over. Won'tyou take a seat ?

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87

CHRISTENSENThanks. To-day I Ve just a twinge in my

foot again . . . nothing serious . . . merelya touch . . .

R1ESGout?

CHRISTENSENConfound you ! don't call it ! It will come

at once. There 's no danger, then ?

RIESNot so far as I know ! Let the young folkmake it up themselves. Don't you think so ?

CHRISTENSENWhere are the ladies ?

RIESI don't know.

CHRISTENSENIn-deed ? I suppose they knew that I was

coming ?RIES

No or rather,, yes ! I expect I told them.Aren't you thirsty after your walk ?

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88

CHRISTENSENNo, thank you. Ahem ! ahem ! Can it

have passed over so quickly ?RIES

Passed over ? What ? Oh ! you mean thataffair of this morning ? Well, really, I knownothing about it.

CHRISTENSENI thought we should have an open rupture,

a scandal, and all that !RIES

Ah ! Ha, ha, ha !CHRISTENSEN

Well, I 'm very glad. You are so confident,Mr. Ries. I can't share your feeling at all.These things are dangerous especially thefirst time, you know.

RIES

Yes, between married people.CHRISTENSEN

Oh ! between engaged people they 're evenmore dangerous. Once you 're married well,

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89

of course, you are married. But in this casedon't you see ? And if there 's danger forAlf, well, then, there may be danger forothers as well !

RIESFor others ?

CHRISTENSENYes ... If such a very strong light is thrownon my son's window, no doubt some of the rays

will fall on mine too. That light what dopainters call it ?

RIESReflected light ?

CHRISTENSENReflected light ! Exactly !

RIESHo, ho !

CHRISTENSENYes, laugh away ! You must have your joke.

But, between you and me, what are these ideasthat your daughter has ?

RIESShall I tell you exactly ?

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92school. Her parents' house, of course, has longbeen recognised as a pattern of good morals.But still, isn't she old enough to read French ?Or, in any case, our own literature? TheseScandinavian authors don't write for thenursery. And, then, there 's this Orphanage,which your daughter founded didn't she ?She must hear all kinds of stories told thereby the mothers? And travelled too, hasn'tshe?

RIESAgood deal.

CHRISTENSENWell, there you are ! And not with her

eyes shut. She had you with her. So shemust know a little about life, anyhow !

Yes : and what she didn't know before, shemust have learnt by now . . . since she becameacquainted with your family.

CHRISTENSENYou mean, that she is in a position to com-

pare . . . ?

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CHRISTENSENI knew you would. If people were to take

things too seriously marriage, for examplewell, to take only one instance, all the greatcities would be ruined. They would collapse,for want of air, like a squeezed india-rubberball ! No, let us make no mistake, my dearMr. Ries, if your daughter behaves like this, andcauses unpleasantness then well, then

RIESWhat then ?

CHRISTENSENThen it will be my turn. I shall begin.

You ? What do you mean ?CHRISTENSEN

She shall have tit for tat.RIES

You '11 tell her your ideas ? I don't under-stand.

CHRISTENSENNot only my ideas. I '11 take care it isn't onlyon my windows that the what 's the painter'sname for it ?

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96alone, and so had my daughter, instead ofmaking such a stir. For my part, I shall bebest pleased if all ends quietly. And that ismost likely to happen, in my opinion, if weparents take no more trouble about it.

CHRISTENSENYou really think so ?

RIESI do.

CHRISTENSENCan you guarantee that ?

RIESGuarantee it ? How can I ?

CHRISTENSENWell, that 's your affair, /must have some

security, and, for various reasons, I choose you.RIES

Me?CHRISTENSEN

There 's no peace for the wicked. After thebanquet, the bill. Don't you see ?

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97

RIESNo, I don't ! Such wit is beyond me.And the moral ?

CHRISTENSENWhy, in this bad world innocent people

often have to suffer, you know. That is themoral. Do you happen to know Mrs. North ?

RIESMrs. . . . Mrs. . . . s . . s . ; . s . . ? No !

CHRISTENSENAh ! think again ! The pretty youngwidow the Englishwoman with the pale

mother. What? You really can't remem-ber her? And yet I used to see you playduets with her !

RIESOh ! that woman ! of course I know her. I

couldn't remember the name, and couldn'tquite understand how you came to speak ofher just now. Why did you ?

CHRISTENSENA little while ago she fell into some money

difficulties such as may happen to the best of

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99

RIES[Springs wp.] Coming here ?

CHRISTENSENYes. She used to come here often enough

. . . at one time. When you used to playduets together.RIES

Not latterly.CHRISTENSEN

I wasn't aware of that. She said nothing tome about it. We made an appointment tomeet she and I here.RIES

You and Mrs. North ? To meet here ?Now ?CHRISTENSEN

She is going on board to-night. TheAngela is lying ready to sail.

RIESOf course I shall be pleased to see Mrs.

North. It can't matter to me. I havenothing against her. But I don't see why

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100

my wife should meet her here,, if shedoesn't wish it. And she certainly doesn't.Therefore Mrs. North can't come. It is im-possible.

CHRISTENSENWell, but your wife isn't at home ? Surelyyou can receive her ?

RIESImpossible ! Suppose my wife came in ?

They mustn't meet on any account.CHRISTENSEN

Well, shall I . . . ?

RIES

Oh dear no ! But, of course, if Mrs. Northdoes come, you won't mind my going out toinduce her to go away ?

CHRISTENSENOf course not. [He rises.] So you, too,

are afraid of the reflected light ?

RIESNot in the least. I am simply considering

my wife.

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101

CHRISTENSENThat's really very nice of you. It isn't

every one who does that. [The door bell rings.]There she is I believe already.RIES

Mrs. North ? Impossible ![He rushes to the window.

CHRISTENSENI've often noticed how punctual she is.

English, you know ![He goes to the other window.

RIES[At the windowJ] Yes, by Jove ! there she is !

CHRISTENSENOf course you will let her in at once.

RIESExcuse me ! On no account. I must

prevent it. [He hastens to the door.CHRISTENSEN

[At the window.] Hallo ! why, your wife isat home.

RIES[Standing still] My wife ? Where is she ?

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104

MRS. RIESMrs. North is here !

RIESWhat? Who? Oh ah! Mrs. North!

[He rises] In half a minute, I '11 . . . Mydear, what can she want here ? [He goes tothe door, but turns back.] Oh ! my hat ! I begyour pardon ! [Goes into his room. At thismoment the Trio is heard in the distance. Hecomes back.] Ah ! the Trio ! How lovelymusic sounds on the water ! Now what canthis woman want from me?

[Retires by right to the back.

CHRISTENSEN[To Mrs Ries.] How lucky that I was able

to see you ! Your husband had no idea youwere at home !MRS. RIES

[Goes up to him.] This is your work !

CHRISTENSENWhat do you mean ?MRS. RIES

Mrs. North's visit.

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105

CHRISTENSENTo say good-bye ?

MRS. RIESYou know the secret of this house. And

you intend to use it against us.[She bursts into tears. Svava enters quickly,and in great astonishment, by the right,from the back, as though to seek an ex-planation, but stops still when she observesthat Christensen is still there, and seesthat Mrs. Ries is crying ; she withdrawsnoiselessly, through the second door onthe left.

CHRISTENSENI and mine wish for nothing better than to

live on good terms with you and yours. Youknow that quite well. But if your daughterpersists in bringing disgrace, perhaps calamity,on all of us for my son takes the mattergreatly to heart why, in that case, Mrs. Ries,in that case . . .

MRS. RIESYou are a wicked man !

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106

CHRISTENSENAnd a good man. Both together. I onlywish to say this : If you expose my son., I '11

expose your husband !MRS. RIES

What barbarity ! [Svava is heard to titter ashriek.] Svava !

[She sinks into a chair.

CHRISTENSEN[After a pause.] I didn't wish that ! I didn'tintend that ! [In going out.] However, enfin ! l

[Passes by the right to the back.

THE SEVENTH SCENEMrs. Ries. Svava enters slowlyfrom the left.

MRS. RIES[Moves a few steps forward, then stops still.]

Listen to me, before you judge, listen to me !1 At the representation in Christiania the Second

Act closes with the Sixth Scene, with Christensen's1 Enfin ! '

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107

SVAVA[ Waves her aside with a gesture of the handand head, goes straight to the table, sitsdown before it, lays her arm on the table,and leans her head on her arm, while she

staresfixedly in front of her.This is too much in one day !MRS. RIES

Let me explain to you. Let me tell you[She stops short.

SVAVAOh no ! Let me be alone !

[Mrs. Ries goes out silently, after lookingback several times.

MEANWHILE THE CURTAIN FALLS.

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THE THIRD ACTThe same room on the next morning, decorated with

flowersfor the party. The table on the right islaidfor breakfastfor two persons.

THE FIRST SCENEMrs. Ries and Mrs. Christensen enter from the

back ; the latter in a hat and with a shawl overher arm, which Mrs. Ries takesfrom her. Enterlater, Marie.

MRS. CHRISTENSENIt was extremely kind of you to see me. Iam sure you must be very busy.

MRS. RIESAnd I am so grateful to you for coming. Iwanted to have a talk with you.

MRS. CHRISTENSENWell, what do you say to our having the

party here to-day after all ? Do you know,I 'm sure it 's the best thing to do ? If theengagement is to be broken off, at any rate, itmustn't be in this way.

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109MRS. RIES

I thoroughly agree with you.MRS. CHRISTENSEN

Think of the gossip it would cause ! Twodays after the engagement had been an-nounced ! MRS. RIES

Still, it is very trying for Svava.MRS. CHRISTENSEN

Of course. But she need only show her-self and say she is unwell. By the way, yourhusband asked to be remembered to you.

MRS. RIESHas he been round to see you already ?

MRS. CHRISTENSENHe came expressly to fetch Alf. What anamusing man your husband is !

MRS. RIESAnd your son had no objection ?

MRS. CHRISTENSENHow can you ask ? If we 're to have the

party, of course the young folk must have atalk together first !

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MRS. RIESSo we thought !

MRS. CHRISTENSENOf course ! She takes it more sensibly, I

hear, to-day.MRS. RIES

As regards the party, yes. Won't you sitdown ?MRS. CHRISTENSEN

[Seats herself.] Thank you. What doesshe say, Mrs. Ries ?

MRS. RIESI 've scarcely spoken to her myself. I 've

not had a chance yet ; I 've so much dependingon me to-day. What a blessing it is that westill have old Marie with us !

[Marie enters at this moment with thechocolate.

MRS. CHRISTENSENGood morning, Marie !MARIE

Good morning, Mrs. Christensen !

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Ill

MRS. CHRISTENSENHow is Miss Ries ?MARIE

Thank you, she was not at all well yester-day

after Mr. Christensen called.

MRS. CHRISTENSENChristensen ? Did he call yesterday ?

MARIEYesterday evening.

MRS. CHRISTENSENYesterday evening ? My husband ?

MRS. RIESHe just dropped in to see Ries.

MRS. CHRISTENSENIndeed ? He said nothing about it.

MARIE[While sheJills the cups.]' I think she takes

it more sensibly to-day. She cries a gooddeal still ; but she went for her bath, and atea little breakfast. Now she 's out for a walk.

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112

MRS. RIESPray,, help yourself!

MRS. CHRISTENSEN[Leans forward.} Thanks ! What does she

say, Marie ?MARIE

She doesn't say much. But she's moreresigned to the idea of the party.

MRS. CHRISTENSENIs she ?

MARIEShe thinks the party cannot be put off.

MRS. CHRISTENSENOf course not !

MARIEShe quite sees that. I told her so myself.

MRS. RIESWon't you tiy this cake ? It 's a specialty.

MRS. CHRISTENSEN[Taking zV.] Thanks very much ! What

does she say about Alf ?

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113

MARIEShe said to-day : ' Perhaps I 've been un-just to him/

MRS. CHRISTENSEN

Ah, indeed she has, Marie. So she seesthat now ?MARIE

And then she began to cry. I didn't liketo bother her any more.

MRS. CHRISTENSENThank you, Marie, thank you ! [Marie goes

out.] Aren't you pleased ? You hear whatMarie says ?MARIE

[Turns round.] What?

MRS. CHRISTENSENI didn't call you : I only mentioned yourname.

MARIEOh, I see ! [She goes out.

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114-

MRS. CHRISTENSENYou are upset, Mrs. Ries. I should so liketo have a little talk with you. We mothersunderstand these things so much better thanmen.

MRS. RIESI thought that too.

MRS. CHRISTENSENMay I ?

MRS. RIES[Helping her.] I beg your pardon ? I 'm

forgetting everything !

MRS. CHRISTENSENYour cake is delicious. As to what hap-

pened yesterday, of course it was awfullyunpleasant that affair with Hoif. To thinkthat he should have the impertinence ! Thisis how it came about : Miss Tang I thinkyou knew Miss Tang ? used to live with us.But Christensen is so strict: he won't haveanything of that sort in the house. So we hadto send Alf away and she got married. Iassure you, Mrs. Ries, no one was any thewiser. Alf is so discreet in these matters

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115

you wouldn't believe how discreet he is. IfHoff hadn't found those tiresome letters, hewould never have known anything. AndChristensen will soon put that to rights, youmay be quite sure ! No one knows a word aboutit : that 's the great thing, Mrs. Ries. Menwill be men, and we can't alter them.

MRS. RIESAh, if Mrs. HoflTs were the only case !

MRS. CHRISTENSENBut surely there are no others ?

MRS. RIESIndeed there are. Yesterday afternoon

Svava went straight off to Miss HonoriaChristensen.

MRS. CHRISTENSENTo ' the Dragon ' ? My dear Mrs. Ries,what a thing to do !

MRS. RIESAnd there she learned a great deal.

MRS. CHRISTENSENOh ! but you mustn't believe her, Mrs Ries.

Everyone knows 'the Dragon/ Once she

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was taken in herself, and she has made a deadset at all engagements ever since ; it 's a well-known fact ! She has made a good deal ofmischief before now ; she 's a spiteful woman.

MRS. RIESSpiteful she may be, but she 's not a liar.

MRS. CHRISTENSENThe Christensens are not in the habit of

lying. But, Mrs. Ries, .... she may bemisinformed by others !

MRS. RIESAll this has shocked my daughter terribly.

MRS. CHRISTENSENOf course. Isn't ' the Dragon ' detestable ?She almost hates Alf and do you know why ?

Because he has such a good reputation.

MRS. RIESYes, he has.

MRS. CHRISTENSENIndeed he has !

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MRS. RIESStill, he has been rather wild, hasn't he,

however discreet ? . . . And, if a man doesn'tresist temptation early in life, but gives waytime after time, you can't expect him to havemuch character, can you ?

MRS. CHRISTENSENNo : you 're quite right ! [She reaches across

the table. ~\ You must forgive me ! I havehad no breakfast yet. I have got into thebad habit of lying very late in the morning.

MRS. RIESPlease help yourself ! I didn't say that

because I expect any more from your son thanfrom others.

MRS. CHRISTENSENNo, most young men are alike. Just fancy,

Mrs. Ries, I knew nothing about such thingswhen I married.MRS. RIES

We didn't know much in those days ; or, ifwe did, we thought no more about it. How-ever, many of us had all the more to learnafterwards, Mrs. Christensen.

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MRS. CHRISTENSENDon't speak of it !

MRS. RIESI think we ought to speak of it more than

ever, for it's just that which concerns us now.

MRS. CHRISTENSENOh, I must tell you something ! The other

day I was looking through a history belongingto my daughter she 's a student, you know.I read there that the bridal costume thewhite robe, the veil, and all that is nothingbut the old sacrificial dress, handed down fromthe time when human beings were offered upto Moloch. The same is true of the wreath,worn by the innocent victims. It mademe cry, Mrs. Ries. [Marie comes in with asmall bottle of champagne.] O my dear Mrs.Ries !

MRS. RIESI'm told that now and then at breakfast

you

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119

MRS. CHRISTENSENTrue. But why should you take so much

trouble ? Still, you wouldn't believe whatgood champagne does, when you have hadno sleep. And, I expect, neither you nor Islept particularly well last night.[Marie, who meanwhile has poured out the

champagne and Jilled up the glasses, goesout.

MRS. RIES

[Offering a glass to Mrs. ChristenscnJ] Allowme.MRS. CHRISTENSEN

Let 's drink this toast : That all may comeright again !

MRS. RIESYes : I could wish for nothing better. If

onlyMRS. CHRISTENSEN

Oh, you may be quite easy. Alf has sucha refined nature.

MRS. RIESIs he true ?

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MRS. CHRISTENSENTrue as steel ! {They drink.] You must

drink it all ! Else it won't do you good.MRS. RIES

Yes, I really think-[She empties her glass and Jills up Mrs.

Christenseris.

MRS. CHRISTENSENOf course, one mustn't be unjust, either I

mean, to men. For, after all, such mengenerally make the best husbands, Mrs. Ries.We can't deny that.

MRS. RIESThey make us comfortable, do you mean ?

MRS. CHRISTENSENYes, and treat their wives with respect. It

is so, as a rule.MRS. RIES

They are very obliging.MRS. CHRISTENSEN

Most obliging, and much more attentive thanother husbands. Let us give them their due.

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wine, to keep me company. It will do yougood. May I ? [She takes the bottle and poursthe rest of the wine into Mrs. Ries's glass andher own.] The chaplain very often calls aboutthis time in the morning. And then we sit andchat together, just as you and I are doing now.[She takes her glass] Well, may everythingend happily, Mrs. Ries ! [They drink.

MRS. RIESI can't finish it.

MRS. CHRISTENSENNo ? Then if you '11 excuse me I will.One so soon feels at home with you, Mrs. Ries.You must come to see me oftener. About

this time is the best. I suppose you go tohear the chaplain's sermons, don't you?

MRS. RIESNo ; I haven't cared about going to church

lately.

MRS. CHRISTENSENOh ! but you should. If we hadn't the con-

solation of religion, Mrs. Ries ! I 'm sure, veryoften, I don't know where . . .

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123

THE SECOND SCENEAs before. Ries.

RIES[Comes in from the back tvith a furledflag in

his hand, which he puts down on the right,and then steps to thefront.Look here !

MRS. CHRISTENSENBack already ?

RIESYes, and I brought Alf : I only waited tillhe had finished dressing. I wished him to

come before Svava