, withdraw my capital from the business by degrees and transfer it
abroad.

Tjaelde. And dissolve our partnership?

Sannaes. You know that at any rate you had decided now to resume the old
style of the firm's name.

Tjaelde. That is true; but, Sannaes, what does it all mean? What is your
reason?

Mrs. Tjaelde. Are you not happy here, where we are all so attached to
you?

Tjaelde. You have quite as good a prospect for the future here as in
America.

Mrs. Tjaelde. We held together in evil days; are we not to hold together
now that good days have come?

Sannaes. I owe you both so much.

Mrs. Tjaelde. Good heavens, it is we that owe you--

Tjaelde.--more than we can ever repay. (Reproachfully.) Sannaes!

(SIGNE comes in, having taken off her cooking apron.)

Signe. Congratulations! Congratulations! Father mother! (Kisses them
both.) Welcome, Sannaes!--But aren't you pleased?--now? (A pause.
VALBORG comes in.)

Valborg. What has happened?

Mrs. Tjaelde. Sannaes wants to leave us, my children (A pause.)

Signe. But, Sannaes--!

Tjaelde. Even if you want to go away, why have you never said a single
word to us about it before? (To the others.) Or has he spoken to any of
you? (MRS. TJAELDE shakes her head.)

Signe. No.

Sannaes. It was because--because--I wanted to be able to go as soon as I
had told you. Otherwise it would be too hard to go.

Tjaelde. You must have very serious grounds for it, then! Has anything
happened to you to--to make it necessary? (SANNAES does not answer.)

Mrs. Tjaelde. And to make it impossible for you to trust any of us?

Sannaes (shyly). I thought I had better keep it to myself. (A pause.)

Tjaelde. That makes it still more painful for us--to think that you
could go about in our little home circle here, where you have shared
everything with us, carrying the secret of this intention hidden in your
heart.

Sannaes. Do not be hard on me! Believe me, if I could stay, I would; and
if I could tell you the reason, I would. (A pause.)

Signe (to her mother, in an undertone). Perhaps he wants to get married?

Mrs. Tjaelde. Would his being here with us make any difference to that?
Any one that Sannaes loved would be dear to us.

Tjaelde (going up to SANNAES and putting an arm round his shoulders).
Tell one of us, then, if you cannot tell us all. Is it nothing we can
help you in?

Sannaes. No.

Tjaelde. But can you judge of that alone? One does not always realise
how much so