LIND. Pray excuse me, friend. I want a whiff of reason and the weed; I haven’t smoked for three whole days on end. My blood was pulsing in such agitation, I trembled for rejection all the time— FALK. Yes, you may well desire recuperation— LIND. And won’t tobacco’s flavour be sublime! [_Goes out to the right._ MISS JAY _and some other_ LADIES _come out of the garden-room._ MISS JAY [_to_ FALK]. That was _he_ surely? FALK. Yes, your hunted deer. LADIES. To run away from us! OTHERS. For shame! For shame! FALK. ’Tis a bit shy at present, but, no fear, A week of servitude will make him tame. MISS JAY [_looking round_]. Where is he hid? FALK. His present hiding-place Is in the garden loft, our common lair; [_Blandly._ But let me beg you not to seek him there; Give him a breathing time! MISS JAY. Well, good: the grace Will not be long, tho’. FALK. Nay, be generous! Ten minutes,—then begin the game again. He has an English sermon on the brain. MISS JAY. An English—? LADIES. O you laugh! You’re fooling us! FALK. I’m in grim earnest. ’Tis his fixed intention To take a charge among the emigrants, And therefore— MISS JAY [_with horror_]. Heavens, he had the face to mention That mad idea? [_To the ladies._ O quick—fetch all the aunts! Anna, her mother, Mrs. Strawman too. LADIES [_agitated_]. This must be stopped! ALL. We’ll make a great ado! MISS JAY. Thank God, they’re coming. [_To_ ANNA, _who comes from the garden-room with_ STRAWMAN, _his wife and children_, STIVER, GULDSTAD, MRS. HALM _and the other guests._ MISS JAY.