in the Dales as leader of the peasants; their numbers are
growing day by day; and--as perhaps you know--they are finding
friends among the peasants on this side of the border-hills.

LADY INGER (who has in the meantime regained her composure). Sir
Councillor,--you speak of all these things as though they must of
necessity be known to me. What ground have I given you to believe
so? I know, and wish to know, nothing. All my care is to live
quietly within my own domain; I give no helping hand to the rebels;
but neither must you count on me if it be your purpose to put
them down.

NILS LYKKE (in a low voice). Would you still be inactive, if
it were my purpose to stand by them?

LADY INGER. How am I to understand you?

NILS LYKKE. Have you not seen whither I have been aiming all this
time?--Well, I will tell you all, honestly and straightforwardly.
Know, then, that the King and his Council see clearly that we can
have no sure footing in Norway so long as the nobles and the people
continue, as now, to think themselves wronged and oppressed. We
understand to the full that willing allies are better than sullen
subjects; and we have therefore no heartier wish than to loosen the
bonds that hamper _us_, in effect, quite as straitly as you. But
you will scarce deny that the temper of Norway towards us makes
such a step too dangerous--so long as we have no sure support
behind us.

LADY INGER. And this support----?

NILS LYKKE. Should naturally come from Sweden. But, mark well,
not so long as Gustav Vasa holds the helm; _his_ reckoning with
Denmark is not settled yet, and mayhap never will be. But a new
king of Sweden, who had the people with him, and who owed his throne
to the help of Denmark---- ---- Well, you begin to understand me?
_Then_ we could safely say to you Norwegians: "Take back your old
ancestral rights; choose you a ruler after your own mind; be our
friends in need, as we will be in yours!"--Mark you well, Lady
Inger, herein is our generosity less than it may seem; for you
must see that, far from weakening, 'twill rather strengthen us.
And now I have opened my heart to you so fully, do you too cast
away all mistrust. And therefore (confidently)--the knight from
Sweden, who came hither an hour before me----

LADY INGER. Then you already know of his coming?

NILS LYKKE. Most certainly. It is him I seek.

LADY INGER (to herself). Strange! It must be as Olaf Skaktavl
sa