Oh, you know very well _how_ I mean it. Every day Hilda and Netta come here that I may take example by them. I can _never_ be as well-behaved as they are, and I _will not_ be. Oh, if only I were far away, I daresay I could be good. RÖRLUND. You _are_ good, my dear Dina. DINA. What good does that do me, here? RÖRLUND. Then you are seriously thinking of going away? DINA. I would not remain here a day longer, if _you_ were not here. RÖRLUND. Tell me, Dina—what is it that really makes you like to be with me? DINA. You teach me so much that is beautiful. RÖRLUND. Beautiful? Do you call what I can teach you beautiful? DINA. Yes; or rather—you teach me nothing; but when I hear you speak, it makes me think of so much that is beautiful. RÖRLUND. What do you understand, then, by a beautiful thing? DINA. I have never thought of that. RÖRLUND. Then think of it now. What do you understand by a beautiful thing? DINA. A beautiful thing is something great—and far away. RÖRLUND. H’m.—My dear Dina—I sympathise with you from the bottom of my heart. DINA. Is _that_ all? RÖRLUND. You know very well how unspeakably dear you are to me. DINA. If I were Hilda or Netta you would not be afraid to let any one see it. RÖRLUND. Oh, Dina, you cannot possibly realise the thousand considerations——When a man is singled out as a moral pillar of the society he lives in, why—he cannot be too careful. If I were only sure that people would not misinterpret my motives——But no matter; you must and shall be helped to rise. Dina, shall we make a bargain that when I come—when circumstances permit me to come—and say: Here is my hand—you will take it and be my wife?—Do you promise me that, Dina? DINA. Yes. RÖRLUND. Thank you, thank you!—Oh, Dina, I love you so——Sh! some one is coming. Dina, for my sake—go out to the others. [_She goes out to the coffee-table. At the same moment_ RUMMEL, SANDSTAD, _and_ VIGELAND _enter from the Consul’s office, followed by_ CONSUL BERNICK, _who has a bundle of papers in his hand._ BERNICK. Then that matter is settled. VIGELAND. Yes, with the blessing of God, so let it be. RUMMEL. It is settled, Bernick! A Norseman’s word stands firm as the Dovrefjeld, you know!