tlessness has always something a little sad
about it. He is--. (RIIS comes out of his room again.) Do you know what
I heard a cabinet minister say about you yesterday?

Riis. A man of that stamp is sure to say something worth hearing.

Svava. "We all always look upon your father, Miss Riis, as our
Well-dressed man par excellence."

Riis. Ah, a bien dit son excellence! But I can tell you something better
than that. You are getting your father a knighthood.

Svava. I am?

Riis. Yes, who else? Of course the Government has once or twice made
use of me to some small degree in connection with various commercial
treaties; but now, as our great man's brother-in-law, I am going to be
made a Knight of St. Olaf!

Svava. I congratulate you.

Riis. Well, when it rains on the parson it drips on the clerk, you know.

Svava. You are really most unexpectedly modest in your new position.

Riis. Am I not!--And now you shall see me as a modest showman of
beautiful dresses--that is to say, of drawings of dresses--still more
modest than the showman, from the latest play at the Francais.

Svava. Oh no, dad--not now!

Mrs. Riis. We won't start on that till the afternoon.

Riis. One would really think I were the only woman of the lot!
However, as you please. You rule the world! Well, then, I have another
proposition to make, in two parts. Part one, that we sit down!

Svava. We sit down! (She and her father sit.)

Riis. And next, that you tell your newly-returned parent exactly how it
all happened. All about that "riddle," you know!

Svava. Oh, that!--You must excuse me; I cannot t you about that.

Riis. Not in all its sweet details, of course! Good heavens, who would
be so barbarous as to ask such a thing in the first delicious month of
an engagement! No, I of only I want you to tell us what was the primum
mobile in the matter.

Svava. Oh, I understand. Yes, I will tell you that because that really
means teaching you to know Alfred's true character.

Riis. For instance--how did you come to speak to him?

Svava. Well, that was those darling Kindergartens of ours--

Riis. Oho!--Your darling Kindergartens, you mean?

Svava. What, when there are over a hundred girls there--?

Riis. Never mind about that! I suppose he came to bring a donation?

Svava. Yes, he came several times with a donation--

Riis. Aha!

Svava. And one day we were talking about luxury saying that it was
better to use one's time and money in our way,