I will be a king, a kaiser! ÅSE. Oh, God comfort me, he’s losing All the little wits he’d left! PEER. Yes, I will! Just give me time! ÅSE. Give you time, you’ll be a prince, So the saying goes, I think! PEER. You shall see! ÅSE. Oh, hold your tongue You’re as mad as mad can be.— Ah, and yet it’s true enough,— Something might have come of you, Had you not been steeped for ever In your lies and trash and moonshine. Hegstad’s girl was fond of you. Easily you could have won her Had you wooed her with a will—— PEER. Could I? ÅSE. The old man’s too feeble Not to give his child her way. He is stiff-necked in a fashion; But at last ’tis Ingrid rules; And where she leads, step by step Stumps the gaffer, grumbling, after. [_Begins to cry again._ Ah, my Peer!—a golden girl— Land entailed on her! Just think, Had you set your mind upon it, You’d be now a bridegroom brave,— You that stand here grimed and tattered! PEER. [_Briskly._] Come, we’ll go a-wooing then! ÅSE. Where? PEER. At Hegstad! ÅSE. Ah, poor boy; Hegstad way is barred to wooers! PEER. How is that? ÅSE. Ah, woe is me! Lost the moment, lost the luck—— PEER. Speak! ÅSE [_Sobbing_. While in the Wester-hills You in air were riding reindeer, Here Mads Moen’s[28] won the girl! PEER. What! That women’s-bugbear! He—— ÅSE. Ay, she’s taking him for husband. PEER. Wait you here till I have harnessed Horse and waggon—— [_Going._ ÅSE. Spare your pains, They are to be wed to-morrow—— PEER. Pooh; this evening I’ll be there! ÅSE. Fie now! Would you crown our miseries With a load of all men’s scorn? PEER. Never fear; ’twill all go well. [_Shouting and laughing at the same time._ Mother, jump! We’ll spare the waggon; ’Twould take time to fetch the mare up—— [_Lifts her up in his arms._