Know then that the time seems now to be drawing nigh, towards which the Danish Council have been working for many a year—the time, I mean, for them to strike the last blow at our rights and our freedom. Therefore must we now—— ELINA. [_Eagerly._] Openly rebel, my mother? LADY INGER. No; we must gain breathing-time. The Council is now assembled at Copenhagen, considering how best to go to work. Most of them hold, ’tis said, that there can be no end to dissensions till Norway and Denmark are one; for should we still possess our rights as a free land when the time comes to choose the next king, ’tis most like that the feud will break out openly. Now the Danish councillors would hinder this—— ELINA. Ay, they would hinder it—! But are we to endure such things? Are we to look on quietly while——? LADY INGER. No, we will not endure it. But to take up arms—to declare open war—what would come of that, so long as we are not united? And were we ever less united in this land than we are even now?—No, if aught is to be accomplished, it must be secretly and in silence. Even as I said, we must have time to draw breath. In the South, a good part of the nobles are for the Dane; but here in the North they are still in doubt. Therefore has King Frederick sent hither one of his most trusted councillors, to assure himself with his own eyes how we stand affected. ELINA. [_In suspense._] Well—and then——? LADY INGER. He is the guest I look for to-night. ELINA. He comes hither? And to-night? LADY INGER. A trading ship brought him to Trondhiem yesterday. News has just reached me of his approach; he may be here within the hour. ELINA. And you do not bethink you, my mother, how ’twill endanger your fame thus to receive the Danish envoy? Do not the people already look on you with distrustful eyes? How can you hope that, when the time comes, they will let you rule and guide them, if it be known that—— LADY INGER. Fear not. All this I have fully weighed; but there is no danger. His errand in Norway is a secret; he has come unknown to Trondhiem, and unknown shall he be our guest at Östråt. ELINA. And the name of this Danish lord——? LADY INGER. It sounds well, Elina; Denmark has scarce a nobler name.