MISS JAY [continuing].

Of vast resources, I'm informed.

You can imagine how the suitors swarm'd; Gentlemen of the highest reputation.--

MRS. HALM.

Even a baronet made application.

MISS JAY.

But Molly was not to be made their catch.

She had met Strawman upon private stages; To see him was to love him--

FALK.

And despatch The wooing gentry home without their wages?

MRS. HALM.

Was it not just a too romantic match?

MISS JAY.

And then there was a terrible old father, Whose sport was thrusting happy souls apart; She had a guardian also, as I gather, To add fresh torment to her tortured heart.

But each of them was loyal to his vow; A straw-hatched cottage and a snow-white ewe They dream'd of, just enough to nourish two--

MRS. HALM.

Or at the very uttermost a cow,--

MISS JAY.

In short, I've heard it from the lips of both,-- A beck, a byre, two bosoms, and one troth.

FALK.

Ah yes! And then--?

MISS JAY.

She broke with kin and cla.s.s.

FALK.

She broke--?

MRS. HALM.

Broke with them.

FALK.

There's a plucky la.s.s!

MISS JAY.

And fled to Strawman's garret--

FALK.

How? Without-- Ahem, the priestly consecration?

MISS JAY.

Shame!

MRS. HALM.

Fy, fy! my late beloved husband's name Was on the list of sponsors--!

STIVER [to MISS JAY].

The one room Not housing sheep and cattle, I presume.

MISS JAY [to STIVER].

O, but you must consider this, my friend; There is no _Want_ where Love's the guiding star; All's right without if tender Troth's within.

[To Falk.

He loved her to the notes of the guitar, And she gave lessons on the violin--

MRS. HALM.

Then all, of course, on credit they bespoke--

GULDSTAD.

Till, in a year, the timber merchant broke.

MRS. HALM.

Then Strawman had a call to north.

MISS JAY.

And there Vowed, in a letter that I saw (as few did), He lived but for his duty, and for her.

FALK [as if completing her statement].

And with those words his Life's Romance concluded.

MRS. HALM [rising].

How if we should go out upon the lawn, And see if there's no prospect of them yet?

MISS JAY [drawing on her mantle].

It's cool already.

MRS. HALM.

Svanhild, will you get My woollen shawl?--Come ladies, pray!

LIND [to ANNA, un.o.bserved by the others].

Go on!

[SVANHILD goes into the house; the others, except FALK, go towards the back and out to the left.

LIND, who has followed, stops and returns.

LIND.

My friend!

FALK.

Ah, ditto.

LIND.

Falk, your hand! The tide Of joy's so vehement, it will perforce Break out--