Yes; they had so much to do at home. BERNICK. Of course. And the others are not coming either, I suppose? MRS. BERNICK. No; something has prevented them too. BERNICK. I was sure it would. Where is Olaf? MRS. BERNICK. I allowed him to go for a walk with Dina. BERNICK. H’m; that scatter-brained hussy, Dina——! How could she go and forthwith strike up a friendship with Johan——! MRS. BERNICK. Why, my dear Karsten, Dina has no idea—— BERNICK. Well, then, Johan at least should have had tact enough to take no notice of her. I could see Vigeland’s expressive glances. MRS. BERNICK. [_Dropping her work into her lap._] Karsten, can you understand what has brought them home? BERNICK. Well, he has a farm over there, that doesn’t seem to be very flourishing; and _she_ mentioned yesterday that they had to travel second-class—— MRS. BERNICK. Yes, I was afraid it must be something of that sort. But that _she_ should have come with him! She! After the terrible way she insulted you——! BERNICK. Oh, don’t think of those old stories. MRS. BERNICK. How can I think of anything else? He is my own brother——; and yet it is not of him that I think, but of all the unpleasantness it will bring upon you. Karsten, I am so dreadfully afraid that—— BERNICK. What are you afraid of? MRS. BERNICK. Might they not think of arresting him for that money your mother lost? BERNICK. What nonsense! Who can prove that she lost the money? MRS. BERNICK. Why, the whole town knows it, unfortunately; and you said yourself—— BERNICK. I said nothing. The town knows nothing whatever of the matter; it was all idle gossip. MRS. BERNICK. Oh, how noble you are, Karsten. BERNICK. Put all those old stories out of your head, I say! You don’t know how you torture me by raking them up again. [_He walks up and down the room;_ _then he throws his stick away from him._] To think of their coming home just at this time, when so much depends on unmixed good-feeling, both in the press and in the town! There will be paragraphs in the papers all over the country-side. Whether I receive them well or ill, my action will be discussed, my motives turned inside out. People will rip up all those old stories—just as you do. In a society like ours——[_Tosses down his gloves upon the table._] And there isn’t a soul here that I can confide in, or that can give me any support.