r first
shot, you don't find it so easy to get another; they have grown wary!

Jakobsen (who during this conversation has been screwing up his courage
to address TJAELDE). I--I am a pig, I am! I know that!

Tjaelde (taking his hand). Oh, come, Jakobsen--!

Jakobsen. A great blundering pig!--But I know it now!

Tjaelde. That's all right! I can tell you I am delighted to be able to
set affairs straight between you and me.

Jakobsen. I don't know what to answer. It goes to my heart! (Shakes his
hand heartily.) You are a far better man than I,--and I said so to my
wife. "He's a splendid fellow," I said.

Tjaelde (releasing his hand). Let us forget everything except the happy
days we have had together, Jakobsen! How do things go at the Brewery?

Jakobsen. At the Brewery! As long as folk ladle beer into their stomachs
at the rate they do now--

Berent. Jakobsen was kind enough to drive me out here. We had a most
amusing drive. He is a character.

Jakobsen (in an anxious undertone, to TJAELDE). What does he mean by
that?

Tjaelde. That you are different from most people.

Jakobsen. Ah!--I didn't feel sure, you know, whether he wasn't sitting
there making game of me, all the way here.

Tjaelde. How can you think such a thing? (To BERENT.) Do come into the
house. Excuse my going first; but my wife is not always quite prepared
to receive visitors since she has been able to do so little for herself.
(Goes into the house.)

Berent. I don't think Mr. Tjaelde seems to me to be looking in quite as
good form as I expected?

Jakobsen. Don't you? I didn't notice anything.

Berent. Perhaps I am mistaken. I think he meant us to follow him in,
didn't he?

Jakobsen. So I understood.

Berent. Then, as you have brought me so far, you must take me in to Mrs.
Tjaelde.

Jakobsen. I am quite at your service, sir. I have the deepest respect
for Mrs. Tjaelde--(hurriedly)--and of course for Mr. Tjaelde too. Of
course.

Berent. Yes. Well, let us go in.

Jakobsen. Let us go in. (He tries anxiously to keep in step with
BERENT'S peculiar walk, but finds it difficult.)

Berent. I think you had better not try. My step suits very few.

Jakobsen. Oh, I shall manage--! (They go out to the left. SANNAES comes
hurriedly in from the right, and crosses the stage; looks around; then
comes across to the foreground and leans with his back against a tree.
VALBORG comes in a moment later, comes forward, sees him, and laughs.)

Sannaes. T