How good of you to say so! THE CHAMBERLAIN. And henceforth—since you wish it—you must consider yourself at home here. STENSGÅRD. May I? May I really? [_A knock at the door._ THE CHAMBERLAIN. Come in. _Several_ LEADING MEN _of the neighbourhood,_ TOWN COUNCILLORS, _etc., enter._ THE CHAMBERLAIN _goes to receive them, accepts their congratulations, and converses with them._ THORA. [_Who has meantime entered by the second door on the left._] Mr. Stensgård, let me thank you. STENSGÅRD. You, Miss Bratsberg! THORA. My father has told me how nobly you have acted. STENSGÅRD. But——? THORA. Oh, how we have misjudged you! STENSGÅRD. Have you——? THORA. It was your own fault—— No, no; it was ours. Oh, what would I not do to atone for our error. STENSGÅRD. Would you? You yourself? Would you really——? THORA. All of us would; if we only knew—— THE CHAMBERLAIN. Refreshments for these gentlemen, my child. THORA. They are just coming. [_She retires towards the door again, where a_ SERVANT _at the same moment appears with cake and wine, which are handed round._ STENSGÅRD. Oh, my dear Lundestad! I feel like a conquering god. LUNDESTAD. So you must have felt yesterday, I suppose. STENSGÅRD. Pooh! This is something quite different; the final triumph; the crown of all! There is a glory, a halo, over my life. LUNDESTAD. Oho; dreams of love! STENSGÅRD. Not dreams! Realities, glorious realities! LUNDESTAD. So brother Bastian has brought you the answer? STENSGÅRD. Bastian——? LUNDESTAD. Yes, he gave me a hint yesterday; he had promised to plead your cause with a certain young lady. STENSGÅRD. Oh, what nonsense—— LUNDESTAD. Why make a mystery of it? If you haven’t heard already, I can give you the news. You have won the day, Mr. Stensgård; I have it from Ringdal. STENSGÅRD. What have you from Ringdal? LUNDESTAD. Miss Monsen has accepted you. STENSGÅRD. What? LUNDESTAD. Accepted you, I say. STENSGÅRD. Accepted me! And the father has bolted! LUNDESTAD.