[_Drawing his chair nearer._] Pray don’t speak of it, dear lady. Do not all of you make sacrifices for a good cause? And do you not make them willingly and gladly? The Lapsed and Lost, for whom we are working, are like wounded soldiers on a battlefield; you, ladies, are the Red Cross Guild, the Sisters of Mercy, who pick lint for these unhappy sufferers, tie the bandages gently round the wounds, dress, and heal them—— MRS. BERNICK. It must be a great blessing to see everything in so beautiful a light. RÖRLUND. The gift is largely inborn; but it can in some measure be acquired. The great point is to see things in the light of a serious vocation. What do _you_ say, Miss Bernick? Do you not find that you have, as it were, firmer ground under your feet since you have devoted your life to your school-work? MARTHA. I scarcely know what to say. Often, when I am pent up in the schoolroom, I wish I were far out upon the stormy sea. RÖRLUND. Yes, yes; that is temptation, my dear Miss Bernick. You must bar the door against such an unquiet guest. The stormy sea—of course you do not mean that literally; you mean the great billowing world, where so many go to wreck. And do you really find so much to attract you in the life you hear rushing and surging outside? Just look out into the street. Look at the people in the sweltering sunshine, toiling and moiling over their paltry affairs! Ours, surely, is the better part, sitting here in the pleasant shade, and turning our backs toward the quarter from which disturbance might arise. MARTHA. Yes, no doubt you are quite right—— RÖRLUND. And in a house like this—in a good and pure home, where the Family is seen in its fairest shape—where peace and unity reign——[_To MRS. BERNICK._] What are you listening to, Mrs. Bernick? MRS. BERNICK. [_Who has turned towards the door of the Consul’s room._] How loudly they are talking in there! RÖRLUND. Is anything particular going on? MRS. BERNICK. I don’t know. There is evidently some one with my husband. HILMAR TÖNNESEN, _with a cigar in his mouth, comes in by the door on the right, but stops on seeing so many ladies._ HILMAR. Oh, I beg your pardon—— [_Turning to go._ MRS. BERNICK. Come in, Hilmar, come in; you are not disturbing us. Do you want anything? HILMAR. No, I just happened to be passing. Good-morning, ladies. [_To_ MRS. BERNICK.] Well, what is going to come of it? MRS. BERNICK. Of what? HILMAR. You know Bernick has called a cabinet council. MRS. BERNICK.