Leonarda. No, I don't complain when I see you and hear you--when I have you with me! That is worth paying a price for. It was selfish of me to think for a moment that the price was too high. You are in the springtime of your life--while I-- Aagot. You? What is wrong with your life? Leonarda. I am beginning to think my life is over. Aagot. Yours? Your life over? Oh, you pain me by saying such a thing. Leonarda. I am very happy--very happy about all this! Believe me that is so. But you know-- Aagot. I know how tremendously and incomprehensibly you have changed! Leonarda. Go, my child--and bring him back! Aagot. How delicious that sounds! Bring him back! (Gets up, then stops.) Thank you, my dear, sweet, darling aunt! (She runs out. LEONARDA falls into a chair by the table and buries her head in her hands. AAGOT'S voice is heard without: "Yes, come along!" and HAGBART'S, answering: "Is it true?") Aagot (coming in with HAGBART). Come along! (LEONARDA gets up, dries her eyes, and meets them with a smile.) Aunt, here he is! Hagbart. Mrs. Falk! Leonarda. Forgive me! Hagbart. What?--No, you must forgive me! I haven t been able to ask you to! I-- Aagot. We can talk about that another time! Let aunt look at you now! Leonarda. You two won't disappoint one another. I can see that. Aagot. It is wonderfully sweet of you, aunt! Leonarda. Yes, love one another! Bring some beauty, some warmth, some colour into this cold house! Aagot. Oh, aunt--! Leonarda. Have you kissed her yet? (AAGOT moves a little away from HAGBART.) Go on! (They embrace.) Aagot (running from him to LEONARDA). But, dearest aunt, are you crying? Leonarda. Don't bother about me!--Have you told your uncle, the bishop, about it? Hagbart. Not yet. Leonarda. You haven't?--Well, you have the worst of it before you yet, I am afraid. Hagbart. No; now that I have got as far as this, nothing shall stand in my way! Aagot. Do you hear that, aunt? [Curtain.] ACT II (SCENE.--A room in the BISHOP's house, some weeks later. A door at the back of the room leads to another large room. Another door in the right-hand wall; windows in the left. Well forward, by one of the windows, a large easy-chair. Farther back, a writing-desk and chair. On the right, near the door, a couch, and chairs ranged along the wall. Chairs also alongside the door at the back. The Bishop is sitting on the couch, talking to HAGBART.) Bishop. My dear Hagbart, you keep on telling me that you have acted up to your convictions. Very well, do you want to forbid my acting up to mine? Hagbart. You know that all I ask, uncle, is that you will see her and talk to her first. Bishop. But if that is exactly what I don't wish to do? You have made things difficult for us, you know, by choosing a wife out of your own class--although at the same time we have grown fonder of her every day, and are ready to do anything for _her_. But farther than that we cannot go. Do you want to read my letter? Hagbart. No.