But here, in this house, you may dwell till you die. ÅSE. Ay, the cat and I live on charity. KARI. God help you, mother; your Peer’s cost you dear. ÅSE. Peer? Why, you’re out of your senses, sure! Ingrid came home none the worse in the end. The right thing had been to hold Satan to reckoning;— He was the sinner, ay, he and none other; The ugly beast tempted my poor boy astray! KARI. Had I not better send word to the parson? Mayhap you’re worse than you think you are. ÅSE. To the parson? Truly I almost think so. [_Starts up._ But, oh God, I can’t! I’m the boy’s own mother; And help him I must; it’s no more than my duty; I must do what I can when the rest forsake him. They’ve left him his coat; I must patch it up. I wish I dared snap up the fur-rug as well! What’s come of the hose? KARI. They are there, ’mid that rubbish. ÅSE. [_Rummaging about._] Why, what have we here? I declare it’s an old Casting-ladle, Kari! With this he would play Button-moulder, would melt, and then shape, and then stamp them. One day—there was company—in the boy came, And begged of his father a lump of tin. “Not tin,” says Jon, “but King Christian’s coin; Silver; to show you’re the son of Jon Gynt.” God pardon him, Jon; he was drunk, you see, And then he cared neither for tin nor for gold. Here are the hose. Oh, they’re nothing but holes; They want darning, Kari! KARI. Indeed but they do. ÅSE. When that is done, I must get to bed; I feel so broken, and frail, and ill—— [_Joyfully._ Two woollen-shirts, Kari;—they’ve passed them by! KARI. So they have indeed. ÅSE. It’s a bit of luck. One of the two you may put aside; Or rather, I think we’ll e’en take them both;— The one he has on is so worn and thin. KARI. But oh, Mother Åse, I fear it’s a sin. ÅSE. Maybe; but remember the priest holds out Pardon for this and our other sinnings. SCENE THIRD. _In front of a settlers newly-built hut in the forest. A reindeer’s horns over the door. The snow is lying deep around. It is dusk._ _PEER GYNT is standing outside the door, fastening a large wooden bar to it._