ÅSE. Fetch a ladder; I must be down! That devil Peer—— SECOND WOMAN. Peer! Your son? ÅSE. Now you can say You have seen how he behaves. FIRST WOMAN. We’ll bear witness. ÅSE. Only help me; Straight to Hegstad will I hasten—— SECOND WOMAN. Is he there? FIRST WOMAN. You’ll be revenged, then; Aslak Smith will be there too. ÅSE. [_Wringing her hands._] Oh, God help me with my boy; They will kill him ere they’re done! FIRST WOMAN. Oh, that lot has oft been talked of; Comfort you: what must be must be! SECOND WOMAN. She is utterly demented. [_Calls up the hill._ Eivind, Anders! Hei! Come here! A MAN’S VOICE. What’s amiss? SECOND WOMAN. Peer Gynt has perched his Mother on the mill-house roof! SCENE SECOND. _A hillock, covered with bushes and heather. The highroad runs behind it; a fence between._ _PEER GYNT comes along a footpath, goes quickly up to the fence, stops, and looks out over the distant prospect._ PEER. Yonder lies Hegstad. Soon I’ll have reached it. [_Puts one leg over the fence; then hesitates._ Wonder if Ingrid’s alone in the house now? [_Shades his eyes with his hand, and looks out._ No; to the farm guests are swarming like midges.— H’m, to turn back now perhaps would be wisest. [_Draws back his leg._ Still they must titter behind your back, And whisper so that it burns right through you. [_Moves a few steps away from the fence, and begins absently plucking leaves._ Ah, if I’d only a good strong dram now. Or if I could pass to and fro unseen.— Or were I unknown.—Something proper and strong Were the best thing of all, for the laughter don’t bite then. [_Looks around suddenly as though afraid; then hides among the bushes. Some WEDDING-GUESTS[30] pass by, going downwards towards the farm._ A MAN. [_In conversation as they pass._] His father was drunken, his mother is weak. A WOMAN. Ay, then it’s no wonder the lad’s good for nought. [_They pass on. Presently PEER GYNT comes forward, his face flushed with shame. He peers after them._