what I must do!
Trust me, I have courage and good-will enough----

NILS LYKKE (listens uneasily). What is this noise and uproar,
Lady Inger? There are people pressing hitherward. What does this
mean?

LADY INGER (in a loud voice). 'Tis the spirits awaking!

(OLAF SKAKTAVL, EINAR HUK, BIORN, FINN, and a number of Peasants
and Retainers come in from the back, on the right.)

THE PEASANTS AND RETAINERS. Hail to Lady Inger Gyldenlove!

LADY INGER (to OLAF SKAKTAVL). Have you told them what is in
hand?

OLAF SKAKTAVL. I have told them all they need to know.

LADY INGER (to the Crowd). Ay, now, my faithful house-folk and
peasants, now must ye arm you as best you can and will. What I
forbade you to-night you have now my fullest leave to do. And
here I present to you the young Count Sture, the coming ruler of
Sweden--and Norway too, if God will it so.

THE WHOLE CROWD. Hail to him! Hail to Count Sture!

(General excitement. The Peasants and Retainers choose out
weapons and put on breastplates and helmets, amid great noise.)

NILS LYKKE (softly and uneasily). The spirits awaking, she said?
I but feigned to conjure up the devil of revolt--'twere a cursed
spite if he got the upper hand of us.

LADY INGER (to NILS STENSSON). Here I give you the first earnest
of our service--thirty mounted men, to follow you as bodyguard.
Trust me--ere you reach the frontier many hundreds will have ranged
themselves under my banner and yours. Go, then, and God be with
you!

NILS STENSSON. Thanks,--Inger Gyldenlove! Thanks--and be sure
that you shall never have cause to shame you for--for Count Sture!
If you see me again I shall have won my father's kingdom.

NILS LYKKE (to himself). Ay, _if_ she see you again!

OLAF SKAKTAVL. The horses wait, good fellows! Are ye ready?

THE PEASANTS. Ay, ay, ay!

NILS LYKKE (uneasily, to LADY INGER). What? You mean not to-
night, even now----?

LADY INGER. This very moment, Sir Knight!

NILS LYKKE. Nay, nay, impossible!

LADY INGER. I have said it.

NILS LYKKE (softly, to NILS STENSSON). Obey her not!

NILS STENSSON. How can I otherwise? I _will_; I _must!_

NILS LYKKE (with authority). And _me!_

NILS STENSSON. I shall keep my word; be sure of that. The
secret shall not pass my lips till you yourself release me. But
she is my mother!

NILS LYKKE (aside). And Jens Bielke in wait on the road!