[Smiles and looks at him.] Am I to take these as oracular utterances, Mr. Ulfheim?

ULFHEIM.

Lord preserve me from playing the oracle! [Urgently, pointing up towards the heights.] But don’t you see that the storm is upon us?  Don’t you hear the blasts of wind?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[Listening.] They sound like the prelude to the Resurrection Day.

ULFHEIM.

They are storm-blasts form the peaks, man!  Just look how the clouds are rolling and sinking—­soon they’ll be all around us like a winding -sheet!

IRENE.

[With a start and shiver.] I know that sheet!

MAIA.

[Drawing ULFHEIM away.] Let us make haste and get down.

ULFHEIM.

[To PROFESSOR RUBEK.] I cannot help more than one.  Take refuge in the hut in the mean-time—­while the storm lasts.  Then I shall send people up to fetch the two of you away.

IRENE.

[In terror.] To fetch us away!  No, no!

ULFHEIM.

[Harshly.] To take you by force if necessary—­for it’s a matter of life and death here.  Now, you know it. [To MAIA.] Come, then—­and don’t fear to trust yourself in your comrade’s hands.

MAIA.

[Clinging to him.] Oh, how I shall rejoice and sing, if I get down with a whole skin!

ULFHEIM.

[Begins the descent and calls to the others.] You’ll wait, then, in the hut, till the men come with ropes, and fetch you away.

    [ULFHEIM, with MAIA in his arms, clambers rapidly but warily down
       the precipice.

IRENE.

[Looks for some time at PROFESSOR RUBEK with terror-stricken eyes.] Did you hear that, Arnold?—­men are coming up to fetch me away!  Many men will come up here—–­

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

Do not be alarmed, Irene!

IRENE.

[In growing terror.] And she, the woman in black—­she will come too.  For she must have missed me long ago.  And then she will seize me, Arnold!  And put me in the strait-waistcoat.  Oh, she has it with her, in her box.  I have seen it with my own eyes—–­

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

Not a soul shall be suffered to touch you.

IRENE.