Oh, deuce take the others—between ourselves, of course. Well, you go down and talk to the waverers. ASLAKSEN. All right. STENSGÅRD. You can tell them that I am pretty much at one with Lundestad—— ASLAKSEN. Trust to me; I know the local situation. STENSGÅRD. One thing more; just to oblige me, Aslaksen, don’t drink to-day. ASLAKSEN. Oh, what do you mean——! STENSGÅRD. We’ll have a jolly evening when it’s all over; but remember what you, as well as I, have at stake; your paper——Come, now, my good fellow, let me see that you can—— ASLAKSEN. There, that’s enough now; I’m old enough to look after myself. [_Goes out to the right._ MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. [_Enters from the left, elaborately dressed._] Now, Mr. Stensgård, I’m at your service. Is it anything of importance——? STENSGÅRD. No, only that I want you to be good enough to let me know when Mr. Monsen comes. MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. He won’t be here to-day. STENSGÅRD. Not to-day? MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. No; he drove past here at four this morning; he’s always driving about nowadays. What’s more, he came in and roused me out of bed—he wanted to borrow money, you must know. STENSGÅRD. Monsen did? MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. Yes. He’s a tremendous man to get through money is Monsen. I hope things may turn out all right for him. And I say the same to you; for I hear you’re going into Parliament. STENSGÅRD. I? Nonsense. Who told you so? MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. Oh, some of Mr. Lundestad’s people. DANIEL HEIRE. [_Enters from the back._] Hee-hee! Good-morning! I’m not in the way, am I? MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. Gracious, no! HEIRE. Good God, how resplendent! Can it be for me that you’ve got yourself up like this? MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. Of course. It’s for you bachelors we get ourselves up, isn’t it? HEIRE. For marrying men, Madam Rundholmen; for marrying men! Unfortunately, my law-suits take up all my time—— MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. Oh, nonsense; you’ve always plenty of time to get married. HEIRE. No; deuce take me if I have! Marriage is a thing you’ve got to give your whole mind to. Well, well—if you can’t have me, you must put up with somebody else. For you ought to marry again. MADAM RUNDHOLMEN. Now, do you know, I’m sometimes of the same opinion.