s.

Riis. Exactly--but I want to know what meaning attach to the word.

Svava. Well--the meaning that I hope any one would attach to it if they
used the word of me.

Riis. Do you attach the same meaning to it if it is used' of a man, as
you would if it were used of a girl?

Svava. Yes, of course.

Riis. And do you suppose that Christensen's son--

Svava (getting up). Father, you are insulting me!

Riis. How can the fact of his being his father's son I an insult to you?

Svava. In that respect he is not his father's son! I am not likely to
make any mistake in a thing of that sort!

Mrs. Riis. I am just reading about inherited tendencies. It is Not
necessary to suppose that he has inherited all his father's.

Riis. Oh, well--have it as you please! I am afraid all these superhuman
theories of yours. You will never get through the world with them.

Svava. What do you mean?--Mother, what does father mean?

Mrs. Riis. I suppose he means that all men are alike. And one must allow
that it is true.

Svava. You do not really mean that?

Riis. But why get so excited about it?--Come and sit down! And, besides,
how can you possibly tell?

Svava. Tell? What?

Riis. Well, in each individual case--

Svava.--whether the man I see standing before me or walking past me is
an unclean, disgusting beast--or a man?

Riis. Etcetera, etcetera!--You may make mistakes, my dear Svava?

Svava. No--not any more than I should make a mistake about you, father,
when you begin to tease me with your horrid principles! Because, in
spite of them, you are the chastest and most refined man I know.

Mrs. Riis (laying down her book). Are you going to keep that morning
frock on, dear child? Won't you change your dress before Alfred comes?

Svava. No, mother, I am not going to be put off like that.--By this time
I have seen so many of my girl friends giving themselves trustfully to
their "fairy prince," as they think, and waking in the arms of a beast.
I shall not risk that! I shall not make that mistake!

Mrs. Riis. Well, as it is, there is no occasion for you to get heated
about it. Alfred is a man of honour.

Svava. He is. But I have heard of one shocking experience after another.
There was poor Helga, only a month ago! And I myself--I can speak about
it now, for I am happy now and feel secure--I can tell you now why I
have been so long about it. For a long time I did nut dare to trust
myself; because I too have been on the brink o