BIÖRN. Lady Inger? So late? EINAR HUK. Late, but time enough, I wot. THE PEASANTS. Yes, yes; she must hear us now! [_The whole rabble crowds into the room. At the same moment_ LADY INGER _appears in the doorway of the hall. A sudden silence._ LADY INGER. What would you with me? EINAR HUK. We sought you, noble lady, to—— LADY INGER. Well—say on! EINAR HUK. Why, we are not ashamed of our errand. In one word—we come to pray you for weapons and leave—— LADY INGER. Weapons and leave—? And for what? EINAR HUK. There has come a rumour from Sweden that the people of the Dales have risen against King Gustav—— LADY INGER. The people of the Dales? EINAR HUK. Ay, so the tidings run, and they seem sure enough. LADY INGER. Well—if it were so—what have you to do with, the Dale-folk’s rising? THE PEASANTS. We will join them! We will help. We will free ourselves! LADY INGER. [_To herself._] Can the time be come? EINAR HUK. From all our borderlands the peasants are pouring across to the Dales. Even outlaws that have wandered for years in the mountains are venturing down to the homesteads again, and drawing men together, and whetting their rusty swords. LADY INGER. [_After a pause._] Tell me, men—have you thought well of this? Have you counted the cost, if King Gustav’s men should win? BIÖRN. [_Softly and imploringly to_ LADY INGER.] Count the cost to the Danes if King Gustav’s men should lose. LADY INGER. [_Evasively._] That reckoning is not for me to make. [_Turns to the people._ You know that King Gustav is sure of help from Denmark. King Frederick is his friend, and will never leave him in the lurch—-—- EINAR HUK. But if the people were now to rise all over Norway’s land?—if we all rose as one man, nobles and peasants together?—Ay, Lady Inger Gyldenlöve, the time we have waited for is surely come. We have but to rise now to drive the strangers from the land. THE PEASANTS.