LADY INGER (to ELINA, who has already reached the door on the
left). Stay here!---- ---- Elina--my child--I have something
to say to you alone.
ELINA. I hear you.
LADY INGER. Elina---- ----you think evil of your mother.
ELINA. I think, to my sorrow, what your deeds have forced me
to think.
LADY INGER. You answer out of the bitterness of your heart.
ELINA. Who has filled my heart with bitterness? From my childhood
I have been wont to look up to you as a great and high-souled woman.
It was in your likeness I pictured the women we read of in the
chronicles and the Book of Heroes. I thought the Lord God himself
had set his seal on your brow, and marked you out as the leader of
the helpless and the oppressed. Knights and nobles sang your praise
in the feast-hall, and the peasants, far and near, called you the
country's pillar and its hope. All thought that through you the
good times were to come again! All thought that through you a new
day was to dawn over the land! The night is still here; and I no
longer know if I dare look for any morning to come through you.
LADY INGER. It is easy to see whence you have learnt such
venomous words. You have let yourself give ear to what the
thoughtless rabble mutters and murmurs about things it can little
judge of.
ELINA. "Truth is in the people's mouth," was your word when they
praised you in speech and song.
LADY INGER. May be so. But if indeed I had chosen to sit here
idle, though it was my part to act--do you not think that such
a choice were burden enough for me, without your adding to its
weight?
ELINA. The weight I add to your burden bears on me as heavily
as on you. Lightly and freely I drew the breath of life, so long
as I had you to believe in. For my pride is my life; and well had
it become me, if you had remained what once you were.
LADY INGER. And what proves to you I have not? Elina, how can
you know so surely that you are not doing your mother wrong?
ELINA (vehemently). Oh, that I were!
LADY INGER. Peace! You have no right to call your mother to
account---- With a single word I could---- ----; but it would be
an ill word for you to hear; you must await what time shall bring;
may be that----
ELINA (turns to go). Sleep well, my mother!
LADY INGER (hesitates). Nay, stay with me; I have still somewhat--
Come nearer;--you must hear me, Elina!
(Sits down by the table in front of the window.)
ELINA. I am listening.
LADY INGER. For as silent as you are, I know well that you often
long to be gone from here. Ostrat is too lonely and lifeless for
you.
ELINA. Do you wonder at that, my mother?
LADY INGER. It rests with you whether all this shall henceforth
be changed.
ELINA. How so?
LADY INGER. Listen.--I look for a guest to-night.
ELINA (comes nearer). A guest?
LADY INGER. A stranger, who must remain a stranger to all. None
must know whence he comes or whither he goes.
ELINA (throws herself, with a cry of joy, at her mother's feet
and seizes her hands). My mother! My mother! Forgive me, if you
can, all the wrong I have done you!
LADY INGER. What do you mean? Elina, I do not understand you.
ELINA. Then they were all deceived! You are still true at heart!