Signe. Very well. (Takes off her engagement ring and holds it between her finger and her thumb, as she rocks herself and hums a tune.) Hamar. Oh, I don't say anything about _you_; but look at Valborg! Look at your father! He hasn't even as much as offered me a mount on his new horse! Signe. He has had something else to think about--possibly something even more important than that. (Goes on humming.) Hamar. Oh, do be nice, Signe! You must admit that my feelings are very natural. Indeed, to speak quite candidly--because I know I can say anything to you--it seems to me that, as I am to be his son-in-law and am in a cavalry regiment, and as he has no sons of his own, I might almost expect that--that he would make me a present of the horse. Signe. Ha, ha, ha! Hamar. Does it seem so unreasonable to you? Signe. Ha, ha, ha! Hamar. Why do you laugh at what I say, Signe? It seems to me that it would reflect very well on your family if, when my friends admired my horse, I could say: "My father-in-law made me a present of it." Because, you know, there isn't a finer horse in the whole of Norway. Signe. And that is the reason why you should have it? Ha, ha, ha! Hamar. I won't stand it! Signe. The peerless lieutenant on the peerless horse! Ha, ha, ha! Hamar. Signe, be quiet! Signe. You are so funny! (Begins to hum again.) Hamar. Listen, Signe! No one has so much influence with your father as you.--Oh, do listen! Can't you talk seriously for a moment? Signe. I should like to! (Goes on humming.) Hamar. My idea was that, if that horse were mine, I would stay here for the summer and break it in thoroughly. (SIGNE stops rocking herself and humming. HAMAR comes up to her chair and leans over her.) In that case I would not go back till the autumn, and then you could come with the horse and me into town. Wouldn't that be delightful? Signe (after looking at him for a moment). Oh, yes, my dear, you always have such delightful ideas! Hamar. Don't I! But the whole thing depends, of course, on whether you can get the horse from your father. Will you try, darling? Signe. And then you would stay here all the summer? Hamar. All the summer! Signe. So as to break in the horse. Hamar. Just to break in the horse! Signe. And I would go with you into town in the autumn--that was what you said, wasn't it? Hamar. Yes; wouldn't it be jolly? Signe. Shall you take the bay horse to stay with your Aunt Ulla too? Hamar (laughing). What? Signe. Well, you have spent your furlough here simply for the sake of that horse--I know that well enough--and you propose to stay here, just to break it in-and then you propose that the horse and I should go to your aunt's-- Hamar. But, Signe, what do you--? Signe (beginning to rock herself furiously). Ugh! Go away! Hamar. Jealous of a horse! Ha, ha, ha! Signe. Go away to the stables. Hamar. Is that meant for a punishment? Because it would be more amusing there than it is here.