, and she was quite unconscious of it
herself. I used to ask myself what was the reason of it--how it could
be that it had been her lot to grow up so free and wholesome. I realised
that it was because I had been oblivious to what I lacked myself, that I
had been so fanatically severe upon others. I knew it is humiliating
to confess it, but it is true. I have always been blundering and
impetuous.--But what was I going to say?

Bishop. You were going to speak about Mrs. Falk, I presume.

Hagbart. Yes!--My dear uncle, don't take it amiss. But all this time I
have never been able to keep away from her.

Bishop. Then it is she you have been talking to?

Hagbart. Of course!--and of course, that is to say, to Aagot too. You
propose my going away. I cannot! If I could multiply myself by two, or
if I could double the length of the days, I should never have enough
of being with her! No, I have seen daylight now. On no account can I go
away.

Bishop. And you call that seeing daylight! Poor boy!

Hagbart. I cannot discuss it with you. You would no more understand than
you did that day when you took away those books of grandmother's from me
and put them in the lumber-room.

Bishop. Oh, you are bringing that up again? Well, you are at liberty to
do as you please. You shall not have the right to say I have exercised
any compulsion.

Hagbart. No, uncle, you are very good--to me.

Bishop. But there is a new fact to be taken into consideration. I have
noticed it for some days.

Hagbart. What do you mean?

Bishop. In all this conversation we have just had, you have only
mentioned Aagot's name twice, at most.

Hagbart. But we were not talking about Aagot.

Bishop. Are you not in love with her any longer?

Hagbart. Not in love with Aagot? (Laughs.) Can you ask that? Do you mean
to say--?

Bishop. Yes, I mean to say--

Hagbart (laughing again). No, that is quite a misunderstanding on your
part, uncle.

Bishop. Well, I say it again: go away for a week or a fortnight,
Hagbart! Consider the situation from a distance--both your own position
and that of others!

Hagbart. It is impossible, absolutely impossible, uncle. It would be
just as useful to say to me: "Lie down and go to sleep for a week or a
fortnight, Hagbart; it will do you good"! No. All my faculties are awake
at last--yes, at last--so much so, that sometimes I can scarcely control
myself.

Bishop. That is the very reason.

Hagbart. The very reason why I mus