moment.

Riis (coming up behind her). Are you absolutely mad?

Christensen (half rising). Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen; the two
young people must settle the affair now! (Sits down again.)

Alfred. I must confess I have never thought of what Mrs. Riis has just
said, because such a thing never could happen. No man of honour would
choose a woman of whose past he was not certain. Never!

Mrs. Riis. But what about a woman of honour, Alfred?

Alfred. Ah, that is quite different.

Nordan. To put it precisely: a woman owes a man both her past and her
future; a man owes a woman only his future.

Alfred. Well, if you like to put it that way--yes.

Nordan (to SVAVA, as he gets up). I wanted you to postpone your answer,
my child. But now I think you ought to answer at once. (SVAVA goes up to
ALFRED, flings her glove in his face, and goes straight into her room.
ALFRED turns and looks after her. RIIS disappears into his room on the
right. Every one has risen from their seats. MRS. CHRISTENSEN takes
ALFRED by the arm and goes nut with him; CHRISTENSEN follows them. MRS.
RIIS is standing at the door of the room which SVAVA has locked after
her.)

Nordan. That was throwing down a gauntlet, if you like!

Mrs. Riis (calling through the door). Svava!

Christensen (coming in and speaking to NORDAN, who has taken no notice
of him and has not turned round). Then it is to be war?--Well, I fancy I
know a thing or two about war. (Goes out. NORDAN turns round and stands
looking after him.)

Mrs. Riis (still at the door). Svava! (RIIS comes rushing out of his
room, with his hat on and his gloves and stick in his hand, and follows
the CHRISTENSENS.) Svava!

ACT III

SCENE I

(SCENE.--DR. NORDAN'S garden, behind his neat one-storied house. He is
sitting on a chair in the foreground reading. His old servant, THOMAS,
opens the how door and looks out.)

Thomas. Doctor!

Nordan. What is it? (ALFRED comes into sight in the doorway.) Oh, it is
you! (Gets up.) Well, my boy? You don't look up to much!

Alfred. No, but never mind that. Can you give me a bit of breakfast?

Nordan. Have you had no breakfast yet? Have you not been home then?--not
been home all night?--not since yesterday? (Calls) Thomas!

Alfred. And when I have had something to eat, may I have a talk with
you?

Nordan. Of course, my dear boy. (To THOMAS, who has come out of the
house) Get some breakfast laid in that room, please (pointing to a
window on