ebted to you for everything, and shall feel
dependent.

Father. So you would rather feel indebted to your uncle?

Axel. He will give me nothing. I must buy it from him.

Father. Really!--How?

Axel. With my work and my--. Oh well, I suppose you would lend me a
little capital?

Father. Not a penny.

Axel. But why?

Father. I will tell you why. Because my son in law must be my
son-in-law, and not a speculating lawyer who sits with his door open and
a sign hung out to beg for custom.

Axel. Is a lawyer's profession a dishonourable one, then?

Father. No, it is not. But you have been received into one of the oldest
and richest families in the country, and you owe some respect to its
traditions. Generation after generation, from time immemorial, the
heads of our family have been lords of the manor--not office seekers
or fortune hunters. The honourable offices I have held have all been
offered to me and not sought by me; and I am not going to have you
chattering about your university degree or your talents. You shall stay
quietly here, and you will be offered more than you want.

Mother. Come, come, my dear, don't get heated over it; that always makes
you so unwell. Let us arrive at some arrangement without wrangling.
Axel, you must be reasonable; you know he cannot stand any
over-exertion. Laura, get your father a glass of water. Come, my dear,
let us go back to the dining-room.

Father. Thanks, I have no appetite left now.

Mother. There, you see!--Axel, Axel!

Laura. For shame, Axel!

Mother. Sit down, dear, sit down! My goodness, how hot you are!

Father. It is so warm in here.

Mother. That is the stove. Shut it down, Mathilde!

Laura (to AXEL). You are a nice one, I must say!

Father. The chairs--put them straight! (They do so.) And the table!
(They do so.) That is better.

Mother. That is the worst of a stranger in the house--something of this
sort may so easily happen.

Father. But a thing like this!--I have never in my life been
contradicted before.

Mother. It is for the first and last time! He will soon learn who you
are and what is due to you.

Father. And to think that, the first time, it should be my son-in-law
that--

Mother. He will regret it for the rest of your life, you may be sure,
and when you are gone he will have no peace of mind. We can only hope
that the atmosphere of affection in this house will improve him. Really,
lately, Axel has behaved as if he were bewitched.