not jealous of you.

Leonarda. Be quiet!

Aagot. Only you must let me go away for a few days--I must get things
straight in my mind. (Bursts into tears.) Oh, aunt--for pity's sake--do
you love him? (LEONARDA tries to get away from her.) I don't love him
any longer! If you love him, aunt, I will give him up!

Leonarda. At least hold your tongue about it, here in another person's
house!--If you are not coming with me, I am going home by myself.

Aagot. Then I shall never follow you.

Leonarda. You are completely out of your senses!

Aagot. Yes; I cannot live, unless you speak to me gently and look at me
kindly.--God keep you, aunt, now and always!

Leonarda (turning to her). My child!

Aagot. Ah! (Throws herself into her arms.)

Leonarda. Let us go home!

Aagot. Yes.

[Curtain.]

ACT III

(SCENE--The garden at LEONARDA FALK'S house some days later. On the
left, a summer-house with table and chairs. A large basket, half full of
apples, is on the table. LEONARDA is standing talking to PEDERSEN.)

Leonarda. Very well, Pedersen; if the horses are not needed here, we may
as well send to fetch Miss Aagot home. Can we send to-day?

Pedersen. Certainly, ma'am.

Leonarda. Then please send Hans as soon as possible with a pair of
horses to the hill farm for her. It is too cold for her to be up there
now, anyway.

Pedersen. I will do so. (Turns to go.)

Leonarda. By the way, Pedersen, how has that little affair of yours been
going?

Pedersen. Oh--

Leonarda. Come to me this evening. We will see if we can continue our
little talk about it.

Pedersen. I have been wishing for that for a long time, ma'am.

Leonarda. Yes, for the last eight or ten days I have not been able to
think of anything properly.

Pedersen. We have all noticed that there has been something wrong with
you, ma'am.

Leonarda. We all have our troubles. (PEDERSEN waits; but as LEONARDA
begins to pick apples carefully from a young tree and put them in
a small basket that is on her arm, he goes out to the left. HAGBART
appears from the right, and stands for a minute without her seeing him.)

Hagbart. Mrs. Falk! (LEONARDA gives a. little scream.) I beg your
pardon, but I have been looking for you everywhere. How are you? I have
only just this moment got back.

Leonarda. Aagot is not at home.

Hagbart. I know. Has she been away the whole time?

Leonarda. Yes.

Hagbart. Will she be away long?

Leonarda. I am sending the horses