sk for your blessing; we must do without that! But
I have come to tell you the fact, because it was my duty to do so.--Does
it grieve you so much?

Bishop. Yes.

Hagbart. Uncle, I feel hurt at that.

Bishop. My boy--!

Hagbart. I feel hurt both on her account and on my own. It shows that
you know neither of us.

Bishop. Let us sit down and talk quietly, Hagbart.

Hagbart. I must ask you to make no attempt to persuade me to alter my
decision.

Bishop. Make your mind easy on that score. Your feelings do you
honour--and I know now that she is worthy of them.

Hagbart. What--do you say that? (They sit down.)

Bishop. My dear Hagbart, let me tell you this at once. I have gone
through an experience, too, since the last time we met. And it has
taught me that I had no right to treat Mrs. Falk as I did.

Hagbart. Is it possible?

Bishop. I judged her both too quickly and too harshly. That is one of
our besetting sins. And I have paid too much heed to the opinion of
others, and too little to the charity that should give us courage to do
good. She, whom I despised, has taught me that.

Hagbart. You do not know how grateful and how happy you have made me by
saying that!

Bishop. I have something more to say. At the time we held that unjust
opinion of her, we misled you--for you relied on our opinion then--until
you ended by sharing our views and being even more vehement in the
matter than we, as young people will. That created a reaction in you,
which in the end led to love. If that love had been a sin, we should
have been to blame for it.

Hagbart. Is it a sin, then?

Bishop. No. But when you felt that we were inclined to look upon it
in that light, that very fact stirred up your sense of justice and
increased your love. You have a noble heart.

Hagbart. Ah, how I shall love you after this, uncle!

Bishop. And that is why I wanted you to sit down here just now,
Hagbart--to beg your pardon--and hers. And my congregation's, too. It
is my duty to guide them, but I was not willing to trust them enough.
By far the greater number among them are good people; they would have
followed me if I had had the courage to go forward.

Hagbart. Uncle, I admire and revere you more than I have ever done
before--more than any one has ever done!

Bishop (getting up). My dear boy!

Hagbart (throwing himself into his arms). Uncle!

Bishop. Is your love strong enough to bear--

Hagbart. Anything!

Bishop. Because sometimes