at--because your son is the only
one to blame in this matter.

Christensen. My son is not in the least to blame in the matter! He
has not done the slightest thing that could harm or discredit the
Riis's--not the slightest thing! He is a man of honour, who has given
Miss Riis his promise and has kept it. Will any one dare to contradict
that? Or to suggest that he will not keep his promise? If any one doubts
him, it is an insult. Dr. Nordan! In this matter the alternatives are
either an apology and peace--or war. For I am not going to put up with
this sort of thing; and if my son puts up with it, I shall despise him.

Nordan. Oh, I quite believe your son had every honourable intention
when he gave his promise. And very likely he would have kept it, too; I
cannot say for certain, because I have learnt to doubt. I am a doctor--I
have seen too much--and he did not appear to great advantage yesterday.
You really must forgive my saying so--but after the liveliness of his
young days, coupled with the tendencies he has inherited, do you think
he really had any right to be surprised if people doubted him?--if his
fiancee doubted him? Had he really any right to feel insulted, or
to demand apologies? Apologies for what? For having doubted his
virtue?--Just consider that!

Christensen. Why, what--?

Nordan. One moment! I was only half done. You said something about a
reconciliation, you know; of course by that you meant a marriage. If
your son is willing to marry a woman who distrusts him, then I shall
despise him.

Christensen. Really--!

Nordan. Yes, indeed I shall. Our opinions are as different as all that.
To my way of thinking, your son's only course is to submit--and wait; to
keep silence, and wait--always supposing, of course, that he still loves
her. That is my view of it.

Christensen. Well, I imagine that there are very few candidates for
matrimony who have not been guilty of what my son has been guilty of;
indeed, I am sure of it. And I imagine, too, that they have the same
unfortunate "hereditary tendencies"--an expression on which you laid
stress out of special friendship for me. But is that any reason
why girls who are betrothed should behave as Miss Riis has been
doing?--scream, and run away, and create a scandal? We should not be
able to hear ourselves speak! It would be the queerest sort of anarchy
the world has ever seen! Why, such doctrines as that are contrary to
the very nature and order of things! They