ed to be patient.

Hagbart. Yes, grandmother.

Grandmother. I have seen so many generations--so many different ways of
behaving. In my day we were tolerant.

Hagbart. I enjoyed reading your books so much, grand mother!

Grandmother. Of course you did.--Are we alone?

Hagbart. Yes, grandmother.

Grandmother. I am quite in love with your fiancee, Hagbart. She is like
what girls were in my day.

Hagbart. Courageous, weren't they?

Grandmother. Yes, and independent. They seem quite different
nowadays.--Are we alone?

Hagbart. Yes.

Grandmother. You get married--and I will come and live with you and her.
Hush!

Hagbart. Do you mean it?

Grandmother. Hush! (Looks out of the window.) There is Justice Rost
coming, with his wife. Go and tell your uncle!

Hagbart. Yes.

Grandmother. I might have expected it. They came up from the country
yesterday.

Hagbart. Good-bye, then, grandmother!

Grandmother. Good-bye, my boy! (HAGBART goes out to the right. The door
at the back is opened. CORNELIA ushers in ROeST and MRS. ROeST.)

Cornelia. Please walk in!

Mrs. Rost. Thank you! You must excuse us for calling so early. We came
up from the country yesterday, and my husband has to go to the courts
for a little while!

Rost. I have to go to the courts to-day. (The BISHOP conies in from the
right.)

Bishop. Welcome!

Rost and Mrs. Rost. Thank you!

Mrs. Rost. You must excuse our calling so early; but we came up from the
country yesterday, and my husband has to go to the courts to-day.

Rost. I have to go to the courts for a little while.

Bishop. I know.

Mrs. Rost. And there is the old lady in her chair already!

Rost. Good morning, my dear madam!

Mrs. Rost. Good morning!--No, please don't get up!

Grandmother. Oh, I can get up still.

Rost. Ah, I wish I were as active as you!

Mrs. Rost. My husband was saying to Miss Cornelia only last night--

Grandmother. You need not strain yourself so. I can hear perfectly well.
(The others exchange glances.)

Rost. I was saying to Miss Cornelia only last night--we met for a few
moments after the service--

Grandmother. I know, I know.

Rost. I said I had never known any one of over ninety have all their
faculties so remarkably clear--

Mrs. Rost.--so remarkably clear as yours! And such good health, too! My
husband has suffered a great deal from asthma lately.

Rost. I have suffered a great deal from asthma lately.

Mrs. Rost. And I from a heart trou