reak free,--
Be of good cheer and follow Moll and me!

MRS. STRAWMAN.
Yes, your dear mother tells me that I too
Was just as inconsolable as you
When we received our Call--

STRAWMAN.
And for like cause--
The fascination of the town--it was;
But when a little money had come in,
And the first pairs of infants, twin by twin,
She quite got over it.

FALK [sotto voce to STRAWMAN].
Bravo, you able
Persuader.

STRAWMAN [nodding to him and turning again to ANNA].
Now you've promised me, be stable.
Shall man renounce his work? Falk says the Call
Is not so very slender after all.
Did you not, Falk?

FALK.
Nay, pastor--

STRAWMAN.
To be sure--!
[To ANNA.
Of something then at least you are secure.
What's gained by giving up, if that is so?
Look back into the ages long ago,
See, Adam, Eve--the Ark, see, pair by pair,
Birds in the field--the lilies in the air,
The little birds--the little birds--the fishes--

[Continues in a lower tone, as he withdraws with
ANNA.

[MISS JAY and the AUNTS return with LIND.

FALK.
Hurrah! Here come the veterans in array;
The old guard charging to retrieve the day!

MISS JAY.
Ah, in exact accordance with out wishes!
[Aside.
We have him, Falk!--Now let us tackle her!
[Approaches ANNA.

STRAWMAN [with a deprecating motion].
She needs no secular solicitation;
The Spirit has spoken, what can Earth bestead--?
[Modestly.
If in some small degree my words have sped,
Power was vouchsafed me--!

MRS. HALM.
Come, no more evasion,
Bring them together!

AUNTS [with emotion].
Ah, how exquisite.

STRAWMAN.
Yes, can there be a heart so dull and dead
As not to be entranced at such a sight!
It is so thrilling and so penetrating,
So lacerating, so exhilarating,
To see an innocent babe devoutly lay
Its offering on Duty's altar.

MRS. HALM.
Nay,
Her family have also done their part.

MISS JAY.
I and the Aunts--I should imagine so.
You, Lind, may have the key to Anna's heart,
[Presses his hand.
But we possess a picklock, you must know,
Able to open where the key avails not.
And if in years to come, cares thr