[LADY KIRSTEN alone.]
LADY KIRSTEN. The evil and cursed woman!
Happy and gay she is though she knows that Olaf is
to wed another. But that very fact will serve
me well; it will go easier than I had thought.
She looks as innocent as a child, and yet she can
agree to take him as a husband whom I first pick out
for her. And I who thought that she truly loved
Olaf! If he is still ignorant of her real spirit,
he shall soon learn. He shall know her to the
core, he shall know how she has bewitched and lured
him, and then, well, then she is no longer dangerous.
LADY KIRSTEN. [Smiling.] Well, well! Olaf
thought of the same way of saving himself that I did;
so good-natured I had never imagined him.—But
where shall we find the man who is willing to—well,
she is pretty, and I shall not mind a little silver
and even a bit of land. Has Olaf already spoken
to some one? That is hardly thinkable!—Well,
then I shall see to that. I have servants enough
on the estate and—
[Looks out to the right.]
LADY KIRSTEN. Hemming! what if I should try
him! But he saw them together in the mountain
yesterday; he must surely know there is something
between the two. But none the less—he
is a humble serving-man, and poor besides, and weak
of mind—we shall see, we shall see!
* * *
* *
[LADY KIRSTEN. HEMMING from the right.]
HEMMING. [To himself.] Nowhere is Ingeborg to be
found; she will bring me to my grave,—that
is certain. Yesterday she was gracious to me;
she gave me her ring; but then she took it away from
me again; and today she will not so much as look at
me as I pass.
LADY KIRSTEN. [Slowly, as she approaches.] A little
cautious I must be.
LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud.] Ah, Hemming, is it you?
You prefer to wander alone, I see; you keep yourself
away from the servants and maids; when I see such
things I realize very well that you do so not without
reason.
HEMMING. Why, my noble lady! what should—
LADY KIRSTEN. Yes, Hemming! there is something
that you keep all to yourself as you go about; you
are not very cheerful!
HEMMING. [Disconcerted.] Not cheerful? I?
LADY KIRSTEN. [Smiling.] There is here today a young
and beautiful girl whom you fancy very much.
HEMMING. All saints!
LADY KIRSTEN. And she in turn has a fancy for
you.
HEMMING. Me—Whom? I do
not know whom you mean.
LADY KIRSTEN. Come, Hemming, do not speak so;
before me you need not feel ashamed. Yes, yes,
I see clearly, I tell you.
HEMMING. [Aside.] Heaven! she must have noticed
by Ingeborg’s manner that—
LADY KIRSTEN. I have seen that the wedding is
but little joy to you. The trip to the church
you care little about, since you would yourself like
to go as a groom, yet cannot see your way clear.
