LIND:     Seek it wherever you will, but don't expect

              My mother in law to smile, as her household's wrecked

              To pieces, and her curtains ripped in shreds.

 

FALK:   Can our landlady, who's already sacrificed

              Seven nieces and a daughter, protest at all,

              At losing a few paltry household goods?

             

LIND (Angrily) : But can't you see it's so irresponsible?

              And it's not just you: I'm also compromised.

              Well, settle with her as you can.    But keep in mind,

              That lamp was mine: I bought the globe and shade -.

 

FALK:   My conscience is not the slightest bit dismayed.

              While the good Lord's bright summer sun still shines,

              Why need a lamp?

 

LIND:                                  How ridiculous you're being.

              I   take it you forget our summer's short.

              But I   remember the exams approaching

              At Christmas, and   I don't intend to be caught.

 

FALK (Eyes wide) : You're thinking of the future?

 

LIND:                                                                         You bet I am!

              I've very much invested in that exam.

 

FALK:    But   – don't you remember – last evening – what you pledged?

To live for the moment only? – You alleged

              You'd settle for a mediocre grade,

              Because you felt you'd captured the glorious bird

              Of Fortune; were filled with the sense you stood,

              With the earth's riches all before you spread.

 

LIND:   It's what I said .   It should be taken though,

              Naturally, cum grano salis –

 

FALK                                                     No!

             

LIND:     In the mornings I'll take in my happiness

              I'm firmly resolved on that.

 

FALK:                                                   Bravo!

 

LIND:     I must call on my new family;   say ‘hallo'.

              That time would have been wasted anyway.

              But more would be unpardonably remiss:

              I'll keep to a strict schedule every day.

 

FALK:   You were resolved, only a week before, in

              Traveling through the wide world with your song.

             

LIND:     I decided that world-trip would take too long.

              I must use my time better than troubadoring.

 

FALK:   You claimed still loftier grounds for staying here.

              You rhapsodized our valley's bird-filled air

              Bettered the mountain breezes and the heights.

 

LIND:   Yes, true enough.   I grant the air here's healthier;

              And sitting still can have its own delights –  

              The quiet contemplation of a book.

 

FALK:    Books! You claimed they were wings too weak

              For flights to heaven.

 

LIND:                                         God, you're like a leech!

                One says that sort of thing when unattached.

 

FALK (Regards him with folded hands in silent astonishment) :

              You too,   Brutus!

 

LIND: (With a tinge of embarrassment and annoyance) :

                                            Come now, you must agree

              I've other duties, unlike you; which must be

              Above all to my fiancée.   Put anyone to the test

              In my position, who's been engaged for long;

              People I hope you wouldn't blame in the least.

              All would insist, when a couple have been cast

              On life's pilgrimage –

             

FALK:                                          Spare me that old song!

              Where did you learn it – ?

 

LIND:                                                 Well, from Styver, for instance.

              He wouldn't lie under any circumstance.

              Then there's Miss Skjaere, who knows so much of life

              Who says –

 

FALK:                       Why not the good priest and his wife?

 

LIND:    Well, with that pair it's quite peculiar;

              They're so very much at peace, so without care.

              Imagine, she can't remember her engagement;

              As if all memory of love's dispelled.

 

FALK:   When the spirit goes to sleep, in their derangement

              The birds of memory totally rebel.

              (Lays his hand on   LIND's shoulder and regards him ironically) :

              And so, dear Lind, did you   sleep well last night?

 

LIND:     I slept for hours: I went to bed worn out.

              At the same time though, I was unable to unwind;

              In fact, I feared I was going out of my mind.

 

FALK:     It was   a kind of spell under which you lay.

 

LIND:     But God be thanked, at least I woke up O.K.

 

( During this scene STRÅMAND has intermittently come into view with   ANNA, with whom he is animatedly conversing.   MRS STRÅMAND and the children follow in train.    MISS SKJAERE now shows herself, accompanied by   MRS. HALM and the other ladies.)

 

MISS SKJAERE (Even before entering) :   Mr. Lind!

 

LIND (To   FALK):                                                        Look now they're following

              Again.   Let's go.

 

MISS SKJAERE:              Stay!   Where do you think your going?

              We must quickly set about ending this disagreement,

              That seems to have taken place between Anna and you.

 

LIND:   We disagree?

 

MISS SKJAERE (Pointing to   ANNA, who lingers on in the garden)

                                           You can see for yourself it's true.

              Those streaming tears - their cause is evident –

              Over there in America - !

 

LIND:                                              But good Lord

              She is all in favor –

 

MISS SJAERE (Sarcastically) :   It looks as if she's in accord!

              No, my lad, you'll be thinking otherwise,

              When we go into the matter at more leisure.

 

LIND:    But this fight for the faith's the project I most treasure,

             The future I dream of –

 

MISS SKJAERE:                      Well you can be sure,

              Between dreams and civilized life a great gulf lies.

              Our Mr. Styver, dreamt the other evening

              About a letter with irregular borders –

 

MRS. STRÅMAND: And we all know that's   a sign of taxes pending.

 

MISS SJAERE (Nodding) : And lo! – the next mail brings the taxman's orders!

 

(The ladies gather around   LIND as they walk through the garden, talking)

 

STRÅMAND (Continuing t o ANNA who vainly tries to avoid him) :

              Upon these grounds, dearly beloved child               

              Upon these grounds, with full authority                                                                         

              Both from morality and revelation,                                                                                                

              We must conclude, such swerving from tradition

              Is like grasping at air –a willful act of folly.

 

  ANNA (Half in tears) :   Oh, I'm so inexperienced and uncertain –

 

.STRÅMAND:   And it's perfectly natural you should entertain

              Fear of the pitfalls that again and again

              Ensnare your path.   Yet mitigate your terror;

              And let my wife and I serve for your mirror. .

 

MRS. STRÅMAND: Yes, and your mother reminded me today

              How I was as reluctant as you are now,

              When I received the call –

 

STRÅMAND:                                    You remember how

              Painful it seemed to leave town and go away?

              And yet, together somehow, we contrived.

              And afterwards, when the first twins arrived,

              The storm had passed.

 

FALK (Quietly to   STRÅMAND): Bravo!   That's the best

              Way to be talking!

 

STRÅMAND:                     Therefore, stay steadfast

              To your promise and don't waver. Falk assures me,

              The backing for this calling's guaranteed.

              Isn't that so?

 

FALK:                          Well, pastor –

 

STRÅMAND:                                   So there, that's fine!

              There's something here to work upon in time.

              That being so, why should we be downcast?

              Take comfort from the examples of the past!

              From Adam and Eve, the animals in the Ark,

              Lilies of the air, birds of the fields, and mark

              The little birds - little birds? – er, little fishes…..

(Continuing quietly as he goes off with   ANNA)

 

FALK (As   MISS SKJAERE and the aunts enter with LIND):

              Hurrah!   Reinforcements for fresh skirmishes;

              All the old guard lined up in battle order –

 

MISS SKAERE: How very fortunate now to have found her.

              We've secured him, Falk.   Now it's time to sound her .

                           (Approaches   ANNA)

             

STRÅMAND: (With a commanding gesture) :

              She has no need of any worldly guidance

              For where the holy spirit's holding sway

              Earth can retire. (Modestly)   This small power I may

              Claim to be granted.

 

MRS. HALM:                          Well then, let's at once

              See them reconciled!

 

THE AUNTS (Moved, exclaiming):   Blest heavens, how sublime!

 

STRÅMAND:   Truly!   Is there a soul so deaf and blind

              Not to find such an example awe-inspiring?

              So elevating, so utterly edifying,

              And soul-awakening, to behold a child

              So young and trembling, offering with mild

              Obedience, her sacrifice to duty.

 

MRS. HALM:                                           Yes, but

              It's fair to note her family played its part.

 

MISS SKJAERE:   Yes, the aunts and I may take a little credit!

              You, Lind, may possess the key to her heart's core,

              But we, her friends, can claim the subtle art,

              Of opening the lock when the key fails.

                            (Pressing his hand) :

              So, if in time, that key should not avail,

              We'll be there to face whatever trouble's in store.  

 

MRS. HALM: Yes, we will be standing by you all the while.

 

MISS SKJAERE: To shield you from the threat of a lovers' war!

 

STRÅMAND:   Ah, such a wall of loving care and friendship!

  A time of joy and yet of mournful bliss

              (Turning to   LIND)

              But now, young man, it's time to wind things up!

                              (Leads   ANNA to him)

                    Receive your bride – receive her – for a kiss.

 

LIND (Taking   ANNA's hand):   I'm not going!

 

ANNA (At the same moment) :                               I'm going!

 

ANNA (Surprised) :                                                             You're not ?

 

LIND (Amazed) :                                                                                                  You are?

 

ANNA (Looking helplessly at the observers) :  

              But now we're exactly where we were before!

 

LIND:   What do we do now?

 

THE LADIES                          What now?

 

MISS SKJAERE (Eagerly) :                        I think it's clear

              There's some mistake –

 

STRÅMAND:                             She solemnly swore

              To go with him!

 

MISS SKJARE:                 And Lind swore he would stay .

 

FALK (Laughing) :   They both surrendered, what more do you want?

 

STRÅMAND: These complications are too much for me!

              (Retires to the background)

 

THE AUNTS (Talking at once) :

                What's to be done?    Things can't stay as they are.           

 

MRS. HALM (To   GULDSTAD and STYVER, who have been walking in the garden and now are approaching) :

              This really is a pretty circumstance!

 

MRS. STRÅMAND (to   MISS SKJAERE,   as she watches the table being laid) :

              Here comes the tea.

 

MISS SKJAEARE:              Well, God be thanked!

 

FALK:                                                                          Hurrah

              For friendship, tea, young lovers and old aunts!

 

STYVER:   But in this circumstance lies the solution,

              Which can be framed to general satisfaction.

              The bond contains a paragraph that states

              “The wife shall follow where the husband leads”.

              The words are clear, whichever way one reads.

 

MISS SKJAERE: What if they are?   How does that help this case?

 

STRÅMAND: She must obey what Heaven ordains for her.

 

STYVER:   But Lind can find a way around that law.

              He doesn't move, but stays just where he is.

 

THE AUNTS (Joyfully) :   Yes, that is it!

 

MRS. HALM:                                           Of course.

 

MISS SKJAERE:                                                                 That ends the business!

 

Meanwhile, SVANHILD and the girls have been laying the tea-table below the veranda steps.   At   MRS. HALM's invitation, the ladies sit round the table.   The rest of the company take their places on the veranda or in the summer house or round about the garden.    FalK sits on the veranda.   Tea is drunk during the following)