Christensen (coming in and speaking to NORDAN, who has taken no notice of him and has not turned round). Then it is to be war?--Well, I fancy I know a thing or two about war. (Goes out. NORDAN turns round and stands looking after him.) Mrs. Riis (still at the door). Svava! (RIIS comes rushing out of his room, with his hat on and his gloves and stick in his hand, and follows the CHRISTENSENS.) Svava! ACT III SCENE I (SCENE.--DR. NORDAN'S garden, behind his neat one-storied house. He is sitting on a chair in the foreground reading. His old servant, THOMAS, opens the how door and looks out.) Thomas. Doctor! Nordan. What is it? (ALFRED comes into sight in the doorway.) Oh, it is you! (Gets up.) Well, my boy? You don't look up to much! Alfred. No, but never mind that. Can you give me a bit of breakfast? Nordan. Have you had no breakfast yet? Have you not been home then?--not been home all night?--not since yesterday? (Calls) Thomas! Alfred. And when I have had something to eat, may I have a talk with you? Nordan. Of course, my dear boy. (To THOMAS, who has come out of the house) Get some breakfast laid in that room, please (pointing to a window on the left). Alfred. And may I have a wash too? Nordan. Go with Thomas. I will be with you directly. (ALFRED and THOMAS go into the house. Then a carriage is heard stopping outside.) There is a carriage. Go and see who it is, Thomas. I won't see any patients! I am going away to-morrow. Thomas. It is Mr. Christensen. (Goes into the house again.) Nordan. Oho! (Goes to the window on the left.) Alfred! Alfred (coming to the window). Yes? Nordan. It is your father! If you do not want to be seen, pull down the blind. (The blind is dulled dawn.) Thomas (showing in CHRISTENSEN). Will you come this way please, sir. (CHRISTENSEN is in court dress protected by a dustcoat, and wears the cross of a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Olaf.) Christensen. I hope I do not disturb you, doctor? Nordan. Not at all!--In full dress! I congratulate you. Christensen. Yes, we newly-fledged knights have to go to Court to-day. But do you mind if I spend a minute or two here with you before I go on to the palace?--Any news from over there? From the Riis's? Nordan. No. They are sitting waiting for the "war" to begin, I expect. Christensen. They shall not have to wait long, then! I have made up my mind to begin it to-day. Has she come to her senses, by any chance? Women usually feel things like that very acutely. But they usually get over it, too. Nordan. I do not think so. But I bow before your experience. Christensen. Thank you! I should think that, as an old hand at playing the buffer in family jars, you had a much greater experience. Yesterday she was like an electric eel! And she gave her shock, too! The boy has not been home since. I am almost glad of that; it shows he has some sense of shame. I was beginning to doubt it. Nordan. It is the coming "war" that interests me.