ong and thwart,
Only apply to us, our friendship fails not.

MRS. HALM.
Yes, we shall hover round you all your life,--

MISS JAY.
And shield you from the fiend of wedded strife.

STRAWMAN.
Enchanting group! Love, friendship, hour of gladness,
Yet so pathetically touched with sadness.
[Turning to LIND.
But now, young man, pray make an end of this.
[Leading ANNA to him.
Take thy betrothed--receive her--with a kiss!

LIND [giving his hand to ANNA].
I stay at home!

ANNA [at the same moment].
I go with you!

ANNA [amazed].
You stay?

LIND [equally so].
You go with me?

ANNA [with a helpless glance at the company].
Why, then, we are divided as before!

LIND.
What's this?

THE LADIES.
What now?

MISS JAY [excitedly].
Our wills are at war--

STRAWMAN.
She gave her solemn word to cross the sea
With him!

MISS JAY.
And he gave his to stay ashore
With her!

FALK [laughing].
They both complied; what would you more!

STRAWMAN.
These complications are too much for me.
[Goes toward the background.

AUNTS [to one another].
How in the world came they to disagree?

MRS. HALM
[To GULDSTAD and STIVER, who have been walking
in the garden and now approach.
The spirit of discord's in possession of her.
[Talks aside to them.

MRS. STRAWMAN
[To MISS JAY, noticing that the table is
being laid.
There comes the tea.

MISS JAY [curtly].
Thank heaven.

FALK.
Hurrah! a cheer
For love and friendship, maiden aunts and tea!

STIVER.
But if the case stands thus, the whole proceeding
May easily be ended with a laugh;
All turns upon a single paragraph,
Which bids the wife attend the spouse. No pleading
Can wrest an ordinance so clearly stated--

MISS JAY.
Doubtless, but does that help us to agree?

STRAWMAN.
She must obey a law that heaven dictated.

STIVER.
But Lind can circumvent that law, you see.
[To LIND.
Put off your journey, and then--budge no jot.

AUNTS [delighted].
Yes, that's the way!

MRS HALM.
Agreed!

MISS JAY.
That cuts the knot.

[SVANHILD and the maids have meantime laid the
tea-table beside the verandah steps. At MRS. HALM's