Svava. No, I cannot accept that--come what may!

Riis. Do not say any more! Svava, I entreat you! Do not make me too
utterly miserable! Remember that never, until to-day--I never thought
to make you--. If you cannot bear to be with me any more--if you
cannot--then let me go away! It is I that am to blame, I know. Listen,
Svava! It must be I, not you! You must stay here!

Mrs. Riis (listening). Good heavens, there is Alfred!

Riis. Alfred! (A pause. ALFRED appears in the doorway.)

Alfred (after a moment). Perhaps I had better go away again?

Riis (to ALFRED). Go away again?--Go away again, did you say?--No, not
on any account! No!--No, you could not have come at a more fortunate
moment! My boy, my dear boy! Thank you!

Mrs. Riis (to SVAVA). Would you rather be alone--?

Svava. No, no, no!

Riis. You want to speak to Svava, don't you? I think it will be best
for me to leave you together. You need to talk things over frankly with
her--to be alone--naturally! You will excuse me, then, if I leave you,
won't you? I have something very important to do in town, so you will
excuse me! I must hurry and change my clothes--so please excuse me!
(Goes into his room.)

Alfred. Oh, but I can come some other time.

Mrs. Riis. But I expect you would like to talk to her now?

Alfred. It is no question of what I would like. I see--and I heard Dr.
Nordan say--that Miss Riis is quite worn out. But I felt it my duty, all
the same, to call.

Svava. And I thank you for doing so! It is more--far more--than I have
deserved. But I want to tell you at once that what happened yesterday--I
mean, the form my behaviour took yesterday--was due to the fact that,
only an hour before then, something had come to my knowledge that I had
never known before. And that was mixed up with it. (She can scarcely
conceal her emotion.)

Alfred. I knew that to-day you would be regretting what happened
yesterday--you are so good. And that was my only hope of seeing you
again.

Riis (coming out of his room partly dressed to go out). Does any one
want anything done in town? If so, I shall be happy to see to it! It
has occurred to me that perhaps these ladies would like to go away for a
little trip somewhere--what do you two say to that? When one's thoughts
are beginning to get a little--what shall I call it?--a little too much
for one, or perhaps I should rather say a trifle too serious, it is
often a wonderful diversion to go away for a little change.