ÅSE. Wine! Has he cakes as well, Peer? PEER. Cakes? Ay, a heaped-up dish. And the dean’s wife[63] is getting ready Your coffee and your dessert. ÅSE. Lord, Lord! shall we two come together? PEER. As freely as ever you will. ÅSE. Oh, deary, Peer, what a frolic You’re driving me to, poor soul! PEER. [_Cracking his whip._] Gee-up; will you stir yourself, Black-boy! ÅSE. Peer, dear, you’re driving right? PEER. [_Cracking his whip again._] Ay, broad is the way. ÅSE. This journey, It makes me so weak and tired. PEER. There’s the castle rising before us; The drive will be over soon. ÅSE. I will lie back and close my eyes then, And trust me to you, my boy! PEER. Come up with you, Granë, my trotter! In the castle the throng is great; They bustle and swarm to the gateway: Peer Gynt and his mother are here! What say you, Master Saint Peter? Shall mother not enter in? You may search a long time, I tell you, Ere you find such an honest old soul. Myself I don’t want to speak of; I can turn at the castle gate. If you’ll treat me, I’ll take it kindly; If not, I’ll go off just as pleased. I have made up as many flim-flams As the devil at the pulpit desk, And called my old mother a hen, too, Because she would cackle and crow. But her you shall honour and reverence, And make her at home indeed; There comes not a soul to beat her From the parishes nowadays.— Ho-ho; here comes God the Father! Saint Peter! you’re in for it now! [_In a deep voice._ “Have done with these jack-in-office airs, sir; Mother Åse shall enter free!” [_Laughs loudly, and turns towards his mother._ Ay, didn’t I know what would happen? Now they dance to another tune! [_Uneasily._ Why, what makes your eyes so glassy? Mother! Have you gone out of your wits——? [_Goes to the head of the bed._ You mustn’t lie there and stare so——! Speak, mother; it’s I, your boy! [_Feels her forehead and hands cautiously; then throws the string on the chair, and says softly_: