Svava. I do not reproach you for anything, mother! I would not do that for the world--my dear mother! I am only so infinitely distressed and appalled at the thought of your having to go about carrying such a secret with you! Never able to be your real self with me for a moment! Always hiding something! And to have to listen to my praises of what so little deserved praise--to see me putting my faith in him, caressing him--oh, mother, mother! Mrs. Riis. Yes, dear, I felt that myself--many and many a time. But I felt that I dared not tell you. It was wrong--so very wrong! I understand that now! But would you have had me leave him at once, as soon as I knew of it myself? Svava. I cannot take upon myself to say. You decided that for yourself. Each one must decide that for herself--according to the measure of her love and her strength. But when the thing went on after I was grown up--! Naturally that was why I made a second mistake. I had been brought up to make mistakes, you see. (RIIS is heard outside the window, humming a tune.) Mrs. Riis. Good heavens, there he is! (RIIS is seen passing the left-hand window. When he reaches the door, however, he stops and, with the words, "Oh, by the bye!" turns back and goes hurriedly out.) Mrs. Riis. You look quite changed, my child! Svava, you frighten me! Surely you are not going to--? Svava. What is it that is in your mind, mother? Mrs. Riis. The thought that, as I have endured so much for your sake, you might make up your mind to endure a little for mine. Svava. A little of this? No, not for a moment! Mrs. Riis. But what are you going to do? Svava. Go away from here at once, of course. Mrs. Riis (with a cry). Then I shall go with you! Svava. You? Away from father? Mrs. Riis. It has been for your sake that I have stayed with him. I won't stay here a day without you!--Ah, you don't want me with you! Svava. Mother, dear--I must have time to accustom myself to the changed state of things. You have quite changed in my eyes too, you see. I have been mistaken in you, and I must get accustomed to that idea. I must be alone!--Oh, don't look so unhappy, dear! Mrs. Riis. And this is the end of it all--this is the end of it! Svava. I cannot act otherwise, dear. I must go away now to my Kindergartens and give up my life entirely to that work. I must, I must! If I cannot be alone there, I must go farther afield. Mrs. Riis. This is the cruellest part of it all--the cruellest part! Listen, is that--? Yes, it is he. Do not say anything now! For my sake say nothing now; I cannot bear anything more on the top of this!--Try to be friendly to him! Svava--do you hear me! (RIIS comes back, still humming a tune; this time he has his overcoat over his arm. SVAVA comes hurriedly forward, and after a moment's hesitation sits down with her back half turned to him, and tries to busy herself with something. RIIS puts down his overcoat. He is in court dress and wears the Order of St. Olaf.)