That’s not a very nice way to put it. But what’s the matter with you? You look quite ill. Good God, I haven’t gone and blasted your hopes, have I? STENSGÅRD. How do you mean? LUNDESTAD. Yes, yes—I see it all. Old fool that I am! My dear Mr. Stensgård, if you really love the girl, what does it matter whether she is rich or poor? STENSGÅRD. Matter? No, of course—— LUNDESTAD. Good Lord, we all know happiness isn’t a matter of money. STENSGÅRD. Of course not. LUNDESTAD. And with industry and determination you’ll soon be on your feet again. Don’t let poverty frighten you. I know what love is; I went into all that in my young days. A happy home; a faithful woman——! My dear young friend, beware how you take any step that may involve you in life-long self-reproach. STENSGÅRD. But what will become of your plans? LUNDESTAD. Oh, they must go as best they can. I couldn’t think of demanding the sacrifice of your heart! STENSGÅRD. But I will make the sacrifice. Yes, I will show you that I have the strength for it. Think of the longing multitude out there: they claim me with a sort of voiceless pathos. I cannot, I dare not, fail them! LUNDESTAD. Yes, but the stake in the district——? STENSGÅRD. I shall take measures to fulfil the demands of my fellow citizens in that respect, Mr. Lundestad. I see a way, a new way; and I will follow it up. I renounce the happiness of toiling in obscurity for the woman I love. I say to my fellow countrymen: “Here I am—take me!” LUNDESTAD. [_Looks at him in quiet admiration and presses his hand._] You are indeed a man of rare gifts, Mr. Stensgård. [_Goes out to the right._ [STENSGÅRD _paces the room several times, now stopping for a moment at the window, now running his fingers through his hair. Presently_ BASTIAN MONSEN _enters from the back._ BASTIAN. Here I am, my dear friend.[20] STENSGÅRD. Where have you come from? BASTIAN. From the Nation. STENSGÅRD. The Nation? What does that mean? BASTIAN. Don’t you know what the Nation means? It means the People; the common people; those who have nothing, and are nothing; those who lie chained—— STENSGÅRD. What monkey-tricks are these, I should like to know? BASTIAN. Monkey-tricks? STENSGÅRD.