part as good friends! You are going to America,
and I am going among strangers. Let us go away wishing one another well.

Sannaes (moved). Good-bye, Miss Valborg. (Turns to go.)

Valborg. Mr. Sannaes--shake hands!

Sannaes (stopping). No, Miss Valborg.

Valborg. Don't treat me uncivilly; I have not deserved that. (SANNAES
again turns to go.) Mr. Sannaes!

Sannaes (stopping). You might soil your fingers, Miss Valborg! (Walks
proudly away.)

Valborg (controlling herself with an effort). Well, we have offended
each other now. But why should we not forgive each other as well?

Sannaes. Because you have just offended me for the second time
to-day--and more deeply than the first time.

Valborg. Oh, this is too much! I spoke as I did, because I owed it to
myself not to be put in a false position, and owed it to you to spare
you future disappointment. And you call that insulting you! Which of us
has insulted the other, I should like to know?

Sannaes. You have, by thinking such things of me. Do you realise how
cruelly you have spoilt the happiest action of my life?

Valborg. I have done so quite unintentionally, then. I am only glad that
I was mistaken.

Sannes (bitterly). You are glad! So it really makes you glad to know
that I am not a scoundrel!

Valborg (quietly). Who said anything of the kind?

Sannaes. You! You know the weak spot in my armour; but that you should
on that account believe that I could lay a trap for you and try to trade
on your father's misfortune, Miss Valborg--! No, I cannot shake hands
with any one who has thought so badly of me as that! And, since you have
so persistently insulted me that I have lost all the timidity I used
to feel in your presence, let me tell you this openly; these hands
(stretching out his hands to her) have grown red and ugly in loyal work
for your father, and his daughter should have been above mocking at me
for them! (Turns to go, but stops.) And, one word more. Ask your father
for _his_ hand now, and hold fast to it, instead of deserting him on the
very day that misfortune has overtaken him. That would be more to the
point than worrying about _my_ future. I can look after that for myself.
(Turns again to go, but comes back.) And when, in his service--which
will be no easy service now--your hands bear the same honourable marks
of work as mine do, and are as red as mine, then you will perhaps
understand how you have hurt me! At present you cannot. (He goes quickly