Haakon. I had a servant once--it is about five years ago now--a good, capable fellow. He used to take potatoes for me to the distillery every day, and every evening came back drunk. So I spoke to him seriously about it; and his answer was: "How do you suppose our brandy-merchants are to grow rich, if chaps like me don't drink pretty hard?" You know the man; he went into your service afterwards. But from that day I have never sold a potato to a distillery. Evje. But, my dear Mr. Rejn, we cannot be held responsible for the use to which such rascals put God's gifts! Haakon. No--no--I suppose not; still, I am not going to have anything more to do with it. Evje (to HALVDAN). Do you think your brother will not be home before the meeting? Halvdan. I should think he would; there is plenty of time yet. Evje. There is; but I should have liked to take him home with me first. The fact is (laughs) I have promised my wife and daughter not to go home without him. You know what women are! Shall I just go into his room and wait for him? There is something I want to talk to him about, you know. Halvdan. I don't think there is a fire in there. Evje. Oh, well, never mind--I will sit here. I have got a newspaper to read, and you two must go on with your talk just as if I were not here! I shall hear nothing, because I have something to read that interests me. (He pulls a chair up to the table on the right with its back to HALVDAN. HAAKON brings the lamp from the table at the back.) Ah, thank you very much! Now, just talk away as if I were not here! (Takes the paper from his pocket and sits down.) Haakon (sitting down again beside his brother). I should have liked to go to the meeting, too. Halvdan. Of course you must go! You will hear Harald tell them how each nation has its own appointed task in the world; that is why it _is_ a nation. But, as long as it does not realise the fact, its politics will be nothing but wrangling between the various class-interests--a haphazard struggle for power. Our nation has never got beyond that point! I have shouted myself to death over what is a mere market. Evje (to himself, striking the table with his fist). The whole commercial community is insulted in this insult to me! I will stir them up at the meeting, and insist on our taking our revenge in common! Haakon. I don't think things will be any better until we are better Christians. Men think of nothing nowadays but themselves and their position. Evje (to himself). No, no-that wouldn't do. What would people say? They would only say I was badly hit by this. Halvdan (half to himself). A Christian nation, thinking of nothing but its own interests--that is to say, power! Equality and Liberty have no meaning for it. Haakon, it surely will be bliss for a wounded soul to be taken into the Everlasting Love, high above all this so-called Christianity of the world! For my soul is sorely wounded! Evje (to himself ). If only I could strike him dead!