I don't understand how you can pity a felon and a thief.

_Halla._

Nor do I understand it myself, but somehow I do. You have just asked me if I would be your wife. Surely you will grant me the first thing I ask of you!

_Bjrn._

One would think you were pleading for your best friend.

_Halla._

I may have cared more for him than I knew myself. If you will let him get away, I shall have no objection to making our two farms into one.

_Bjrn._

I never thought your overseer would be the means of my getting you for a wife, but I yield on those terms. Once we are married, you will surely forget him. But he must be gone from here within twenty-four hours, and I want you to know that if he ever shows himself in these parts again, he will have to take his punishment.

_Halla._

You need have no fear that he will ever come back here.

_Bjrn._

Then let us forget all about him. You have saved him from jail for a time, but he's sure to end there any way. (_Goes to her._) Who would have thought that you should become my little wife! (_Tries to put his arm around her waist._)

_Halla (draws back)._

So many things happen that we do not look for.

_Enter Kari._

_Bjrn._

You are just in time. It will surely please you to hear that your mistress is to marry me within a short time.

_Kari (turning to Halla)._

What does this mean?

_Bjrn (laughing)._

You hadn't expected this. (_Goes to Halla._) My sweetheart might give me a kiss.

_Halla (warding him off)._

No, no!

_Kari_ (_grasping Bjrn's arm_). That man lies! She is mine. (_To Halla._) If you two get married to-morrow, still you are mine.

_Bjrn._

Has my brother's wife become a harlot? [_Exit._

_Halla._

What have you done, Kari? It was to save you I promised to be his wife.

I hoped to get a chance to speak to you. He has the letter and is going to give you up to the judge to-day.

_Kari._

I could not bear that man to touch you.

_Halla._

You must run for the horses and flee!

_Kari._

That would be madness. The others have just as good horses. We must take what comes. I shall deny everything.

_Halla._

What good would that do? It is impossible to mistake the description.

I have read it myself.

_Kari._

Did you really mean to marry the bailiff to save my life?

_Halla._

I lied to him, so that I could flee with you. I hate him.

_Kari._

I love you, Halla.

_Halla (in rising fear)._

What shall we do? (_Wrings her hands._) It is all my fault for holding you back. (_On the point of weeping._) I am an unhappy woman.

_Kari._

You must not cry. Even if I faced the death warrant, I should not be sorry that I stayed. (_Kisses her hands._) These summer days we have had together-- in all eternity no one can take them from us.

_Halla (withdraws her hands excitedly)._

Don't you know of any way? Say that the bailiff is your enemy and has had the letter framed up.