up to-day, so she should be here by
the day after to-morrow.

Hagbart. It was you I wanted to speak to, Mrs. Falk.

Leonarda. About Aagot?

Hagbart. Yes, about Aagot--amongst other things.

Leonarda. But couldn't you wait--till some other time?

Hagbart. Mrs. Falk, I came straight here from the steamer; so you can
see for yourself--

Leonarda. But if it concerns Aagot, and she is not here?

Hagbart. The part of it that concerns Aagot is soon said. She was
perfectly right--only I did not know it at the time.

Leonarda. Good God!

Hagbart. I do not love Aagot.

Leonarda. But if Aagot loves you?

Hagbart. She has showed me lately that she does not. Did she not tell
you so, plainly?

Leonarda. She was--how shall I put it?--too excited for me to attach
much importance to what she said.

Hagbart. Then she did tell you so. I thought she had--indeed I was sure
of it. Aagot does not love me, but she loves you. She wants you to be
happy.

Leonarda. If you do not love Aagot, it seems to me you ought not to have
come here.

Hagbart. Perhaps you are right. But I am not the same man as I was when
I used to come here before; nor do I come for the same reason.

Leonarda. If you do not love Aagot, I must repeat that you have no right
to be here. You owe that much consideration both to her and to me.

Hagbart. I assure you that it is from nothing but the sincerest
consideration for you that I am here now.

Leonarda (who up to this point has been standing by the tree). Then I
must go!

Hagbart. You won't do that!

Leonarda. You seem to me completely changed.

Hagbart. Thank goodness for that!--because I don't feel any great
respect for the man I was before. Many people can decide such things in
a moment, but it has taken me time to see my course clearly.

Leonarda. I don't understand you.

Hagbart (almost before the words are out of her mouth, coming close to
her). You do understand me!

Leonarda. It would be wicked! Take care!

Hagbart. Your hand is trembling--

Leonarda. That is not true!

Hagbart. They say there is a devil in every one that should not be
waked. It is a foolish saying, because these devils are our vital
forces.

Leonarda. But we ought to have them under control. That is the lesson my
life has taught me; it has cost me dear, and I mean to profit by it.

Hagbart. If I did not believe that it was the impulse of truth itself
that guided me to you, I should not be standing here. I have