Yes, here! Here there are fine manners; life moves gracefully here; the very floors seem laid to be trodden only by lacquered shoes. Here the arm-chairs are deep and the ladies sink exquisitely into them. Here conversation moves lightly and elegantly, like a game at battledore; here no blunders come plumping in to make an awkward silence. Oh, Fieldbo—here I feel for the first time what distinction means! Yes, we have indeed an aristocracy of our own; a little circle; an aristocracy of culture; and to it I will belong. Don’t you yourself feel the refining influence of this place? Don’t you feel that wealth here loses its grossness? When I think of Monsen’s money, I seem to see piles of fetid bank-notes and greasy mortgages—but here! here it is shimmering silver! And the people are the same. Look at the Chamberlain—what a fine high-bred old fellow! FIELDBO. He is indeed. STENSGÅRD. And the son—alert, straightforward, capable! FIELDBO. Certainly. STENSGÅRD. And then the daughter-in-law! Isn’t she a pearl? Good God, what a rich, what a fascinating nature! FIELDBO. Thora—Miss Bratsberg has that too. STENSGÅRD. Oh yes; but she is less remarkable. FIELDBO. Oh, you don’t know her. You don’t know how deep, and steadfast, and true her nature is. STENSGÅRD. But oh, the daughter-in-law! So frank, almost reckless; and yet so appreciative, so irresistible—— FIELDBO. Why, I really believe you’re in love with her. STENSGÅRD. With a married woman? Are you crazy? What good would _that_ do me? No, but I am falling in love—I can feel that plainly. Yes, she is indeed deep, and steadfast, and true. FIELDBO. Who? STENSGÅRD. Miss Bratsberg, of course. FIELDBO. What? You’re never thinking of——? STENSGÅRD. Yes, by heaven I am! FIELDBO. I assure you it’s quite out of the question. STENSGÅRD. Ho-ho! Will rules the world, my dear fellow! We shall see if it doesn’t. FIELDBO. Why, this is the merest extravagance! Yesterday it was Miss Monsen—— STENSGÅRD. Oh, I was too hasty about that; besides, you yourself advised me not to—— FIELDBO. I advise you most emphatically to dismiss all thought of either of them. STENSGÅRD. Indeed! Perhaps you yourself think of throwing the handkerchief to one of them? FIELDBO. I? No, I assure you—— STENSGÅRD.