in a halo of reconciliation and affection
for him!

Aagot. But who is responsible for that, I should like to know! And you
talk about your life here having made you clumsy and ugly--you, who can
manufacture a goddess of victory like me!

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 l