Alfred. Ah, that is quite different.
Nordan. To put it precisely: a woman owes
a man both her past and her future; a man owes a woman
only his future.
Alfred. Well, if you like to put it that way—yes.
Nordan (to SVAVA, as he gets up). I wanted you
to postpone your answer, my child. But now I
think you ought to answer at once. (SVAVA goes
up to ALFRED, flings her glove in his face, and goes
straight into her room. ALFRED turns and looks
after her. RIIS disappears into his room on the
right. Every one has risen from their seats.
MRS. CHRISTENSEN takes ALFRED by the arm and goes
nut with him; CHRISTENSEN follows them. MRS. RIIS
is standing at the door of the room which SVAVA has
locked after her.)
Nordan. That was throwing down a gauntlet, if
you like!
Mrs. Riis (calling through the door). Svava!
Christensen (coming in and speaking to NORDAN, who
has taken no notice of him and has not turned round).
Then it is to be war?— Well, I fancy I
know a thing or two about war. (Goes out. NORDAN
turns round and stands looking after him.)
Mrs. Riis (still at the door). Svava! (RIIS comes
rushing out of his room, with his hat on and his gloves
and stick in his hand, and follows the CHRISTENSENS.)
Svava!
SCENE I
(SCENE.—DR. NORDAN’S garden, behind
his neat one-storied house. He is sitting on
a chair in the foreground reading. His old servant,
THOMAS, opens the how door and looks out.)
Thomas. Doctor!
Nordan. What is it? (ALFRED comes into sight
in the doorway.) Oh, it is you! (Gets up.) Well, my
boy? You don’t look up to much!
Alfred. No, but never mind that. Can you
give me a bit of breakfast?
Nordan. Have you had no breakfast yet? Have
you not been home then?—not been home all
night?—not since yesterday? (Calls) Thomas!
Alfred. And when I have had something to eat,
may I have a talk with you?
Nordan. Of course, my dear boy. (To THOMAS, who
has come out of the house) Get some breakfast laid
in that room, please (pointing to a window on the
left).
Alfred. And may I have a wash too?
Nordan. Go with Thomas. I will be with you
directly. (ALFRED and THOMAS go into the house.
Then a carriage is heard stopping outside.) There
is a carriage. Go and see who it is, Thomas.
I won’t see any patients! I am going away
to-morrow.
Thomas. It is Mr. Christensen. (Goes into the
house again.)
Nordan. Oho! (Goes to the window on the left.)
Alfred!
Alfred (coming to the window). Yes?
Nordan. It is your father! If you do not
want to be seen, pull down the blind. (The blind is
dulled dawn.)
Thomas (showing in CHRISTENSEN). Will you come
this way please, sir. (CHRISTENSEN is in court dress
protected by a dustcoat, and wears the cross of a
Knight Commander of the Order of St. Olaf.)
