Mother. That was beautiful, children!
Father. As beautiful as if we were young again
ourselves, and had found one another!—How
well he told it, too!
Mother. Yes, it was just as if it was all happening
before our eyes!
Father. Wasn’t it?—He’s
a very gifted man.
Mother (in a low voice). He will do something
big!
Father (in the same tones). Ay, a big man—and
one of our family!
Axel (who has advanced towards the foreground with
Laura). So that was your answer, Laura?
Laura. You haven’t remembered everything.
Mother. Is there something more? Let us
hear some more!
Axel. What did you say, then?
Laura. You know I said that something had held
me back a long, long time! I saw well enough
that you were fond of me, but I was afraid it was
only as you would be fond of a child.
Axel. Laura!
Laura. I am not so clever as—as some
others, you know; but I am not a child any longer,
because now I love you!
Axel. You are a child, all the same!
Father (to the mother). But what about our
arrangements? We were to have gone on our travels
at once.
Axel. No, stay with us a few days now! (Laura
makes a sign to him.) Not?
Laura (softly). I would rather be alone with
you, now.
Mother. What are you saying, Laura?
Laura. I?—I was saying that I should
like to ask you, if you are going abroad now, to take
Mathilde with you.
Mother. That is very nice of you, Laura, to remember
Mathilde. People generally say that newly-married
couples think of no one but themselves.
Father. No, Laura is not like that!
All. No, Laura is not like that!
Laura (gently). Mathilde, forgive me! (They embrace,
and Laura says softly:) I understand you now
for the first time!
Mathilde. Not quite.
Laura. I know that I should never have got Axel,
but for you.
Mathilde. That is true.
Laura. Oh, Mathilde, I am so happy now!
Mathilde. And I wish you every happiness.
Axel (taking Laura’s arm). Now you
may go and travel abroad,
Mathilde!
Mathilde. Yes!—and my next book shall
be a better one.
Axel. Your next—?
[Curtain.]
A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS
The bishop.
Cornelia, his sister.
Hagbart, his nephew.
The grandmother.
Leonarda Falk.
Aagot, her niece.
General Rosen.
Chief justice Rost.
Mrs. Rost.
Pedersen, agent to Mrs. Falk.
Hans.
A Maid.
