Laura (gently). Mathilde, forgive me! (They embrace, and LAURA says softly:) I understand you now for the first time! Mathilde. Not quite. Laura. I know that I should never have got Axel, but for you. Mathilde. That is true. Laura. Oh, Mathilde, I am so happy now! Mathilde. And I wish you every happiness. Axel (taking LAURA'S arm). Now you may go and travel abroad, Mathilde! Mathilde. Yes!--and my next book shall be a better one. Axel. Your next--? [Curtain.] LEONARDA A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS DRAMATIS PERSONAE The BISHOP. CORNELIA, his sister. HAGBART, his nephew. The GRANDMOTHER. LEONARDA FALK. AAGOT, her niece. GENERAL ROSEN. CHIEF JUSTICE ROeST. MRS. ROeST. PEDERSEN, agent to Mrs. Falk. HANS. A Maid. ACT I (SCENE.--A large room in LEONARDA FALK's house. At the back, folding doors which are standing open. Antique furniture. LEONARDA, dressed in a riding-habit, is standing beside a writing-desk on the left, talking to her agent PEDERSEN.) Leonarda. It is a complete loss. Pedersen. But, Mrs. Falk-- Leonarda. A loss, every scrap of it. I can't sell burnt bricks. How much is there of it? Two kilns' full, that is 24,000 bricks--at their present price about thirty pounds' worth. What am I to do with you?--send you about your business? Pedersen. Madam, it is the first time-- Leonarda. No, indeed it is not; that is to say, it is certainly the first time the bricks have been burnt, but your accounts have been wrong over and over again, so that I have been led into sending out faulty invoices. What is the matter with you? Pedersen. Madam, I beg--. [Enter HANS.] Hans. Your horse is saddled, madam, and the General is coming up the avenue. Leonarda. Very well. (HANS goes out.) Have you taken to drink, Pedersen? Pedersen. No, madam. Leonarda. That wouldn't be like you. But what is it? You look quite changed.--Pedersen! I believe I know! I saw you rowing back across the river last night, from the summer-house in the wood. Are you in love? (PEDERSEN turns away.) So that is it. And crossed in love? (She goes up to him, puts her hand on his shoulder and stands with her back turned to the audience, as he does.) Are you engaged to her? Pedersen. Yes. Leonarda. Then she is not treating you well? She is not true to you? (Stoops and looks into his face.) And you love her in spite of it? (Moves away from him.) Then you are a weak man, Pedersen. We cannot possibly love those who are false to us. (Draws on one of her gloves.) We may suffer horribly for a while; but love them--no! Pedersen (still turning away from her). It is easy for those to talk who have not experienced it. Leonarda. Experienced it?--You never can tell that. Come to me this evening at seven o'clock. Pedersen. Yes, madam. Leonarda. I will talk things over with you then. We will go for a stroll together. Pedersen. Thank you, madam.