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 shines--

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!