rom her winter home!
A twofold music in my breast I bear,
A cither with diversely sounding strings,
One for life's joy, a treble loud and clear,
And one deep note that quivers as it sings.
[To individuals among the STUDENTS.
You have the palette?--You the note-book? Good,
Swarm then, my bees, into the leafy wood,
Till at night-fall with pollen-laden thigh,
Home to our mighty mother-queen we fly!

[Turning to the company, while the STUDENTS depart and
and the Chorus of the First Act is faintly heard outside.

Forgive me my offences great and small,
I resent nothing;-- [Softly.
but remember all.

STRAWMAN [beaming with happiness].
Now fortune's garden once again is green!
My wife has hopes,--a sweet presentiment--
[Draws him whispering apart.
She lately whispered of a glad event--
[Inaudible words intervene.
If all goes well . . . at Michaelmas . . . thirteen!

STIVER [With MISS JAY on his arm, turning to FALK, smiles
triumphantly, and says, pointing to STRAWMAN:
I'm going to start a household, flush of pelf!

MISS JAY [with an ironical courtesy].
I shall put on my wedding-ring next Yule.

ANNA [similarly, as she takes LIND's arm].
My Lind will stay, the Church can mind itself--

LIND [hiding his embarrassment].
And seek an opening in a ladies' school.

MRS. HALM.
I cultivate my Anna's capabilities--

GULDSTAD [gravely].
An unromantic poem I mean to make
Of one who only lives for duty's sake.

FALK [with a smile to the whole company].
I go to scale the Future's possibilities!
Farewell! [Softly to SVANHILD.
God bless thee, bride of my life's dawn,
Where'er I be, to nobler deed thou'lt wake me.

[Waves his hat and follows the STUDENTS.

SVANHILD [Looks after him a moment, then says softly but firmly:
Now over is my life, by lea and lawn,
The leaves are falling;--now the world may take me.

[At this moment the piano strikes up a dance, and
champagne corks explode in the background. The
gentlemen hurry to and fro with their ladies on
their arms. GULDSTAD approaches SVANHILD and
bows: she starts momentarily, then collects
herself and gives him her hand. MRS. HALM and
her family, who have watched the scene in suspense,
throng about them with expressions of rapture,
which are overpowered by the music and the