But the daughter hasn’t. STENSGÅRD. Accepted me! In the midst of all this family trouble! How unwomanly! How repellant to any man with the least delicacy of feeling! But the whole thing is a misunderstanding. I never commissioned Bastian—— How could that idiot——? However, it doesn’t matter to me; he must answer for his follies himself. DANIEL HEIRE. [_Enters from the back._] Hee-hee! Quite a gathering! Of course, of course! We are paying our respects, propitiating the powers that be, as the saying goes. May I, too—— THE CHAMBERLAIN. Thanks, thanks, old friend! HEIRE. Oh, I protest, my dear sir? That is too much condescension. [_New_ GUESTS _arrive._] Ah, here we have the myrmidons of justice—the executive—— I say no more. [_Goes over to_ STENSGÅRD.] Ah, my dear fortunate youth, are you there? Your hand! Accept the assurance of an old man’s unfeigned rejoicing. STENSGÅRD. At what? HEIRE. You asked me yesterday to run you down a little to her—you know—— STENSGÅRD. Yes, yes; what then? HEIRE. It was a heartfelt pleasure to me to oblige you—— STENSGÅRD. Well—and what happened then? How did she take it? HEIRE. Like a loving woman, of course—burst into tears; locked herself into her room; would neither answer nor show herself—— STENSGÅRD. Ah, thank goodness! HEIRE. It’s barbarous to subject a widow’s heart to such cruel tests, to go and gloat over her jealous agonies! But love has cat’s eyes—— I say no more! For to-day, as I drove past, there stood Madam Rundholmen, brisk and buxom, at her open window, combing her hair. She looked like a mermaid, if you’ll allow me to say so. Oh, she’s a fine woman! STENSGÅRD. Well, and then? HEIRE. Why, she laughed like one possessed, sir, and waved a letter in the air, and called out “A proposal, Mr. Heire! I’m engaged to be married.” STENSGÅRD. What! Engaged? HEIRE. My hearty congratulations, young man; I’m inexpressibly pleased to be the first to announce to you—— STENSGÅRD. It’s all rubbish! It’s nonsense! HEIRE. What is nonsense? STENSGÅRD. You have misunderstood her; or else she has misunderstood——Engaged! Preposterous! Now that Monsen’s down, she’ll probably—— HEIRE. Not at all, sir, not at all! Madam Rundholmen has solid legs to stand on. STENSGÅRD.