[The Preceding. LADY KIRSTEN comes with her HOUSE
CARLS from the left.]
LADY KIRSTEN. [To her followers, without noticing the others.]
Now just a little farther and I am sure we shall find him.
LADY KIRSTEN. [Taken aback, aside.] Arne of Guldvik! Heaven
help me!
ARNE. [As he goes to meet her.] The peace of God, Lady Kirsten
Liljekrans!
LADY KIRSTEN. [Composes herself and gives him her hand.] The
peace of God to you!
LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] Does he then know nothing?
ARNE. [Contentedly.] And well met at the boundary! Indeed,
this pleases me; yet almost too great is the honor you show me.
LADY KIRSTEN. What mean you?
ARNE. I mean too great is the honor you show me, when you travel
miles over fields and wildernesses in order to bid me welcome on
your land.
LADY KIRSTEN. Ah, Lord Arne--
LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] He knows nothing as yet!
ARNE. And that on a day like this, when you have enough things
to attend to; 'tis at your house we celebrate the wedding of our
children, since my estate lies too far from the church, and yet
you come here to meet me with all your servants.
LADY KIRSTEN. [Embarrassed.] I beg you, say no more about that.
ARNE. Aye, I will speak of it loudly; the village people have
said that you pride yourself on your noble birth, that you look
down upon me and mine, and that you entered into the agreement
only in order to put an end to the long-standing disputes which
grew troublesome now that you have become a widow and begin to
grow old; and if that had not been the case, you would never--
LADY KIRSTEN. How can you listen to what evil tongues invent?
No more will we think of our differences which have lasted since
the days of your ancestors. I think our families have suffered
enough these years, yours as well as mine. Look around you, Lord
Arne! Is not the hillside here like the wildest of upland
pastures? And yet in our fathers' days it was a region much
frequented and rich. A bridge there was across the river, and a
highway from Guldvik to my father's house. But with fire and
sword they sallied forth from both sides; they laid everything
waste that they came upon, for it seemed to them that they were
too near neighbors. Now all sorts of weeds grow in the highway,
the bridge is broken, and it is only the bear and the wolf that
make their homes here.
ARNE. Yes, they ran the road around the mountain below; it is a
good deal longer and they could thus better keep an eye on one
another; but there is little need of that now,--which is well and
good for both of us.
LADY KIRSTEN. To be sure, to be sure! But Ingeborg, the bride,
where is she? I do not see her, and the bridesmaids likewise are
lacking; surely she is not--
ARNE. She follows in the rear; she must shortly be here.
But--listen, Lady Kirsten! One thing I will tell you, as well
first as last, although, I should think, you know it. Ingeborg
has at times whims and moods,--I swear to you she has them,
however well disciplined she may be.
LADY KIRSTEN. [Expectant.] Well, what then?
LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] Is she too--
ARNE. Such things you must tame; I, as her father, will never
succeed, but you will no doubt find ways and means.
LADY KIRSTEN. Aye, rest you assured.
LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] And Olaf, who is nowhere to be seen!
HEMMING. [Who has looked out to the right.] There comes
Mistress Ingeborg.
HEMMING. [Aside.] How fair she is advancing foremost in the
group!
LADY KIRSTEN. [Slowly to her servants.] You will keep silent
about your errand up here.
A SERVANT. You may be sure of that.
HEMMING. [Aside, sighing, as he continues to look out
to the right.] Ah, happy is Olaf, who will have her!
* * * * *