d.
There were times when I loathed myself. What had I to do? Nought
but to endure terror and scorn and bring forth daughters into the
world. My daughters! God forgive me if I have had no mother's
heart towards them. My wifely duties were as serfdom to me; how
then could I love my daughters? Oh, how different with my son!
_He_ was the child of my very soul. He was the one thing that
brought to mind the time when I was a woman and nought but a
woman--and him they had taken from me! He was growing up among
strangers, who might sow in him the seed of destruction! Olaf
Skaktavl--had I wandered like you on the lonely hills, hunted
and forsaken, in winter and storm--if I had but held my child
in my arms,--trust me, I had not sorrowed and wept so sore as I
have sorrowed and wept for him from his birth even to this hour.

OLAF SKAKTAVL. There is my hand. I have judged you too hardly,
Lady Inger! Command me even as before; I will obey.--Ay, by all
the saints, I know what it is to sorrow for a child.

LADY INGER. Yours was slain by bloody men. But what is death
to the restless terror of all these long years?

NILS LYKKE. Mark, then--'tis in your power to end this terror.
You have but to reconcile the opposing parties, and neither will
think of seizing on your child as a pledge of your faith.

LADY INGER (to herself). This is the vengeance of Heaven.
(Looks at him.) In one word, what do you demand?

NILS LYKKE. I demand first that you shall call the people of
the northern districts to arms, in support of the disaffected in
Sweden.

LADY INGER. And next----?

NILS LYKKE. ----that you do your best to advance young Count
Sture's ancestral claim to the throne of Sweden.

LADY INGER. His? You demand that I----?

OLAF SKAKTAVL (softly). It is the wish of many Swedes, and
'twould serve our turn too.

NILS LYKKE. You hesitate, lady? You tremble for your son's
safety. What better can you wish than to see his half-brother
on the throne?

LADY INGER (in thought). True--true----

NILS LYKKE (looks at her sharply). Unless there be other plans
afoot----

LADY INGER. What mean you?

NILS LYKKE. Inger Gyldenlove might have a mind to be a--a
kings mother.

LADY INGER. No, no! Give me back my child, and let who will
have the crowns.
But know you so surely that Count Sture is willing----?

NILS LYKKE. Of that he will himself assure you.

LADY INGER. Himself