Tjaelde. No. (A pause. He puts down the bag and wipes his forehead.) Mrs. Tjaelde. Henning, shall we pray together? Tjaelde. What do you mean? Mrs. Tjaelde. Pray--pray to God to help us? (Bursts into tears. TJAELDE is silent. She falls on her knees.) Come, Henning! You see that all human ingenuity is of no avail! Tjaelde. I know that, only too well. Mrs. Tjaelde. Well, try once, in this hour of our greatest need! (TJAELDE appears to be struggling with his emotion.) You never would! You have never confided in us, or in your God!--never opened your heart to any one! Tjaelde. Be quiet! Mrs. Tjaelde. But what you concealed by day, you used to talk of in the night. We mortals must talk, you know! But I have lain awake and listened to your distress. Now you know why I am no longer good for anything. No sleep at night, and none of your confidence in the daytime. I have suffered even more than you. (TJAELDE throws himself into a chair. She goes to him.) You wanted to run away. When we are afraid of our fellow-men, we have only Him to turn to. Do you think I should be alive now, if it were not for Him? Tjaelde. I have thrown myself imploringly at His feet, but always in vain! Mrs. Tjaelde. Henning, Henning! Tjaelde. Why did He not bless my work and the fight I was making? It is all one now. Mrs. Tjaelde. Ah, there is more to come. Tjaelde (getting up). Yes, the worst is before us now-- Mrs. Tjaelde.--because it is in our own hearts! (A pause. VALBORG appears coming down the stair, but stops at the sight of the others.) What do you want, dear? Valborg (with suppressed emotion). From my room I can see the police watching the house. Are the Receiver's men coming now? Mrs. Tjaelde (sitting down). Yes, my child. After a terrible struggle--how terrible, his God and I alone know--your father has just sent in his declaration of bankruptcy. (VALBORG takes a step or two forward, then stands still. A pause.) Tjaelde (unable to control himself). Now I suppose you will say to me just what Moeller's daughter said to him! Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up). You won't do that, Valborg!--God alone can judge him. Tjaelde. Tell me how cruelly I have wronged you! Tell me that you will never be able to forgive me--(breaking down)--that I have lost your respect and your love for ever! Mrs. Tjaelde. Oh, my child! Tjaelde. That your anger and your shame know no bounds! Valborg. Oh, father, father! (Goes out by the door at the back. TJAELDE tries to cross the room, as if to follow her, but can only stagger as far as the staircase, to which he clings for support. MRS. TJAELDE sinks back into her chair. There is a long pause. Suddenly JAKOBSEN cones in from the outer once, dressed as before except that he has changed his coat. TJAELDE is not aware of his entrance until JAKOBSEN is close to him; then he stretches out his hands to him as if in entreaty, but JAKOBSEN goes right up to him and speaks in a voice choked with rage.)