MARK. Hall? H'm! I've surely heard that name before. Pardon,
pardon me a question, a somewhat countrified question--

MISS AMELIE.--Don't be bashful!

DR. OeSTERMARK. Is your father still living?

MISS AMELIE. No, he is dead.

DR. OeSTERMARK. Oh, yes. Well, now that I have gone so far, there is
nothing to do but continue. Mr. Hall was--

MISS THERESE. Our father was a director of the Fire Insurance Company of
Goeteborg.

DR. OeSTERMARK. Oh, well, then I beg your pardon. Do you find Paris to
your liking?

MISS AMELIE. Very! Therese, do you remember what I did with my shawl?
Such a cold draught here! [Rises.]

MISS THERESE. You left it in the orchard, no doubt.

DR. OeSTERMARK [Rising]. No, don't go out. Allow me to find it for
you--no--sit still--just sit still.

[Goes out into orchard. After a moment Mrs. Hall comes in from left,
quite comfortable with drink; her cheeks are flaming red and her voice
is uncertain.]

MISS AMELIE. Look, there's mother! And in that condition again! Heavens,
why does she come here? Why did you come here, mother?

MRS. HALL. Keep quiet! I have as much right here as you.

MISS THERESE. Why have you been drinking again? Think if some one should
come!

MRS. HALL. I haven't been drinking. What nonsense!

MISS AMELIE. We will be ruined if the doctor should come back and see
you. Come, let's go in here and you can get a glass of water.

MRS. HALL. It's nice of you to treat your mother like this and say that
she has been drinking, to say such a thing to your own mother!

MISS THERESE. Don't talk, but go in, immediately.

[They lead her in right. Axel and Carl come in from the orchard.]

CARL. Well, you're looking fine, my dear Axel, and you have a manlier
bearing than you used to have.

AXEL. Yes, I have emancipated myself.

CARL. You should have done that at the start, as I did.

AXEL. As you did?

CARL. As I did. Immediately I took my position as head of the family, to
which place I found myself called both because of my superior mind and
my natural abilities.

AXEL. And how did your wife like that?

CARL. Do you know, I forgot to ask her! But to judge by appearances, I
should say that she found things as they should be. They only need real
men--and human beings can be made even out of women.

AXEL. But at least the power should be divided?

CARL. Power cannot be divided! Either obey or command. Either you or I.
I preferred myself to her, and she had to adjust he