I see, thou hast still a request to make of me. I pray thee, speak! Balthilda. My King, if I return home with a well-filled basket, then shall I be mocked by all the women.... And the men shall say---- Teja (_smiling_). And what shall the men say? Balthilda. He esteemeth her so little that--he consenteth not to take food from her hand. Teja. On my word, I assure thee, Balthilda, the men have other things to think on ... yet nevertheless ... reproach thou shalt not suffer through me. Set thy basket there.... Have ye still much of such things? Balthilda. Sire, these two weeks have my mother and I and the women about us put aside the best of our share--flour and fruits--and the fowls have we not killed till this very day. Teja. Then indeed must ye have been mightily hungry, ye women? Balthilda. Ah, it hath done us no hurt, Sire.... It was for a feast. Teja. In truth? Ye believed we should celebrate a feast to-day? Balthilda. Well ... is it then not a feast, Sire? Teja. (_Is silent and bites his nether lip, examining her furtively_.) Wilt thou not be seated, Balthilda?... I should not yet let thee go home! That too would be a reproach, would it not? (Balthilda _is silent and looks down_.) Teja. And if I bade thee, wouldst thou wish to stay? Balthilda. Sire, how should a wife not wish to stay beside her husband? Teja. Hast thou then the feeling in thy heart, that I--am--thy--husband? Balthilda. Indeed, how could it be otherwise? The Bishop hath joined us together. Teja. And wert thou glad when he did it? Balthilda. Yea.... Nay, I was not glad then. Teja. Why not? Balthilda (_with a bright glance_). Perhaps because, because ... I was afraid, Sire, and I was praying. Teja. What didst thou pray? Balthilda. That God would grant to me, his humble handmaid, the power to bring thee the happiness which thou needest, and which thou awaitest from me. Teja. Which I from thee--that didst thou pray? Balthilda. Sire, may I not offer thee the food, and the wine? Teja. Nay, nay!... Hearken, Balthilda: without, by our fires, are warriors--they are hungry--I am not hungry. Balthilda. Sire, give them what thou pleasest ... give them everything!