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FALK [coldly].
Her virtues are of every known variety I'm sure.
GULDSTAD.
Not quite; the accent of society She cannot hit exactly; there she loses.
FALK.
A grievous fault.
GULDSTAD.
But if her mother chooses To spend a winter on her, she'll come out of it Queen of them all, I'll wager.
FALK.
Not a doubt of it.
GULDSTAD [laughing].
Young women are odd creatures, to be sure!
FALK [gaily].
Like winter rye-seed, canopied secure By frost and snow, invisibly they sprout.
GULDSTAD.
Then in the festive ball-room bedded out--
FALK.
With equivique and scandal for manure--
GULDSTAD.
And when April sun s.h.i.+nes--
FALK.
There the blade is; The seed shot up in mannikin green ladies!
[LIND comes up and seizes FALK's hand.
LIND.
How well I chose,--past understanding well;-- I feel a bliss that nothing can dispel.
GULDSTAD.
There stands your mistress; tell us, if you can, The right demeanor for a plighted man.
LIND [perturbed].
That's a third person's business to declare.
GULDSTAD [joking].
Ill-tempered! This to Anna's ears I'll bear.
[Goes to the ladies.
LIND [looking after him].
Can such a man be tolerated?
FALK.
You Mistook his aim, however,--
LIND.
And how so?
FALK.
It was not Anna that he had in view.
LIND.
How, was it Svanhild?
FALK.
Well, I hardly know.
[Whimsically.
Forgive me, martyr to another's cause!
LIND.
What do you mean?
FALK.
You've read the news to-night?
LIND.
No.
FALK.
Do so. There 'tis told in black and white Of one who, ill-luck's bitter counsel taking, Had his sound teeth extracted from his jaws Because his cousin-german's teeth were aching.
MISS JAY [looking out to the left].
Here comes the priest!
MRS. HALM.
Now see a man of might!
STIVER.
Five children, six, seven, eight--
FALK.
And, heavens, all recent!
MISS JAY.
Ugh! it is almost to be called indecent.
[A carriage has meantime been heard stopping outside to the left. STRAWMAN, his wife, and eight little girls, all in traveling dress, enter one by one.
MRS. HALM. [advancing to meet them].
Welcome, a hearty welcome!
