she'll let me know.
Last night we were discussing until late;
We've settled almost everything of weight;
Besides I think it scarcely goes with piety
To have too much of one's beloved's society.

FALK.
Yes, you are right; for daily food we need
A simple diet.

LIND.
Pray, excuse me, friend.
I want a whiff of reason and the weed;
I haven't smoked for three whole days on end.
My blood was pulsing in such agitation,
I trembled for rejection all the time--

FALK.
Yes, you may well desire recuperation--

LIND.
And won't tobacco's flavour be sublime!

[Goes out to the right. MISS JAY and some other
LADIES come out of the garden-room.

MISS JAY [to FALK].
That was he surely?

FALK.
Yes, your hunted deer.

LADIES.
To run away from us!

OTHERS.
For shame! For shame!

FALK.
'Tis a bit shy at present, but, no fear,
A week of servitude will make him tame.

MISS JAY [looking round].
Where is he hid?

FALK.
His present hiding-place
Is in the garden loft, our common lair;
[Blandly.
But let me beg you not to seek him there;
Give him a breathing time!

MISS JAY.
Well, good: the grace
Will not be long, tho'.

FALK.
Nay, be generous!
Ten minutes,--then begin the game again.
He has an English sermon on the brain.

MISS JAY.
An English--?

LADIES.
O you laugh! You're fooling us!

FALK.
I'm in grim earnest. 'Tis his fixed intention
To take a charge among the emigrants,
And therefore--

MISS JAY [with horror].
Heavens, he had the face to mention
That mad idea? [To the ladies.
O quick--fetch all the aunts!
Anna, her mother, Mrs. Strawman too.

LADIES [agitated].
This must be stopped!

ALL.
We'll make a great ado!

MISS JAY.
Thank God, they're coming.

[To ANNA, who comes from the garden-room with STRAWMAN,
his wife and children, STIVER, GULDSTAD, MRS. HALM and
the other guests.

MISS JAY.
Do you know what Lind
Has secretly determined in his mind?
To go as missionary--

ANNA.
Yes, I know.

MRS. HALM.
And you've agreed--!

ANNA [embarrassed].
That I will also go.

MISS JAY [indignant].
He's talked this stuff to you!

LADIES [cl