How nice it is of you to be so domestic, Mr. Bernick. BERNICK. Ah, the Family is the kernel of society. A good home, upright and trusty friends, a little close-drawn circle, where no disturbing elements cast their shadow—— KRAP _enters from the right, with letters and papers._ KRAP. The foreign mail, Consul—and a telegram from New York. BERNICK. [_Taking it._] Ah, from the owners of the _Indian Girl_. RUMMEL. Oh, the mail is in? Then you must excuse me—— VIGELAND. And me too. SANDSTAD Good-bye, Consul. BERNICK. Good-bye, good-bye, gentlemen. And remember we have a meeting this afternoon at five o’clock. THE THREE. Yes—of course—all right. [_They go out to the right._ BERNICK. [_Who has read the telegram._] Well, this is really too American! Positively shocking——! MRS. BERNICK. Why, Karsten, what is it? BERNICK. Look here, Krap—read this! KRAP. [_Reads._] “Fewest possible repairs; despatch _Indian Girl_ without delay; good season: at worst, cargo will keep her afloat.” Well, I must say—— BERNICK. The cargo keep her afloat! These gentlemen know very well that, if anything should happen, that cargo will send her to the bottom like a stone. RÖRLUND. Ay, this shows the state of things in these vaunted great nations. BERNICK. You are right there—even human life counts for nothing when dollars are at stake. [_To_ KRAP.] Can the _Indian Girl_ be ready for sea in four or five days? KRAP. Yes, if Mr. Vigeland will agree to let the _Palm Tree_ stand over in the meantime. BERNICK. H’m—he will scarcely agree to that. Oh, just look through the mail, please. By the way, did you see Olaf down on the pier? KRAP. No, Consul. [_He goes into Consul’s office._ BERNICK. [_Looking again at the telegram._] These gentlemen think nothing of risking the lives of eighteen men—— HILMAR. Well, it’s a sailor’s calling to brave the elements. It must brace up your nerves to feel that you have only a thin plank between you and eternity—— BERNICK. I should like to see the shipowner among _us_ that would have the conscience to do such a thing! There isn’t one, not a single one. [_Catches sight of_ OLAF.] Ah, thank goodness, nothing has happened to him.