Who win this overplus of bliss? Ah no! FALK [_with almost childish joy_]. It is not you! O God be glorified! What love, what mercy does He not bestow! I shall not see you as another’s bride;— ’Twas but the fire of pain He bade me bear— [_Tries to seize her hand._ O hear me, Svanhild, hear me then— SVANHILD [_pointing quickly to the background_]. See there! [_She goes towards the house. At the same moment_ MRS. HALM, ANNA, MISS JAY, GULDSTAD, STIVER, _and_ LIND _emerge from the background. During the previous scene the sun has set; it is now dark._ MRS. HALM [_to_ SVANHILD]. The Strawmans may be momently expected. Where have you been? MISS JAY [_after glancing at_ FALK]. Your colour’s very high. SVANHILD. A little face-ache; it will soon pass by. MRS. HALM. And yet you walk at nightfall unprotected? Arrange the room, and see that tea is ready; Let everything be nice; I know the lady. [SVANHILD _goes in._ STIVER [_to_ FALK]. What is the colour of this parson’s coat? FALK. I guess bread-taxers would not catch his vote. STIVER. How if one made allusion to the store Of verses, yet unpublished, in my drawer? FALK. It might do something. STIVER. Would to heaven it might! Our wedding’s imminent; our purses light. Courtship’s a very serious affair. FALK. Just so: “_Qu’allais-tu faire dans cette galère?_” STIVER. Is courtship a “galère”? FALK. No, married lives;— All servitude, captivity, and gyves. STIVER [_seeing_ MISS JAY _approach_]. You little know what wealth a man obtains From woman’s eloquence and woman’s brains. MISS JAY [_aside to_ STIVER]. Will Guldstad give us credit, think you? STIVER [_peevishly_]; I Am not quite certain of it yet: I’ll try. [_They withdraw in conversation;_ LIND _and_ ANNA _approach._ LIND [_aside to_ FALK].