to herself). Night after night I have heard her
steps in there. I have heard her whispering and moaning like a
soul in pain. And what says the song---- Ah, now I know! Now
I know that----

BIORN. Hush!

(LADY INGER GYLDENLOVE enters rapidly from the hall, without
noticing the others; she goes to the window, draws the
curtain, and gazes out as if watching for some one on the
high road; after a while, she turns and goes slowly back
into the hall.)

ELINA (softly, following her with her eyes). White as a corpse----!

(An uproar of many voices is heard outside the door on the right.)

BIORN. What can this be?

ELINA. Go out and see what is amiss.

(EINAR HUK, the bailiff, appears in the ante-room, with a crowd
of Retainers and Peasants.)

EINAR HUK (in the doorway). Straight in to her! And see you
lose not heart!

BIORN. What do you seek?

EINAR HUK. Lady Inger herself.

BIORN. Lady Inger? So late?

EINAR HUK. Late, but time enough, I wot.

THE PEASANTS. Yes, yes; she must hear us now!

(The whole rabble crowds into the room. At the same moment,
LADY INGER appears in the doorway of the hall. A sudden
silence.)

LADY INGER. What would you with me?

EINAR HUK. We sought you, noble lady, to----

LADY INGER. Well, speak out!

EINAR HUK. Why, we are not ashamed of our errand. In one word,
we come to pray you for weapons and leave----

LADY INGER. Weapons and leave----? And for what?

EINAR HUK. There has come a rumour from Sweden that the people
of the Dales have risen against King Gustav----

LADY INGER. The people of the Dales?

EINAR HUK. Ay, so the tidings run, and they seem sure enough.

LADY INGER. Well, if it were so, what have you to do with the
Dale-folk's rising?

THE PEASANTS. We will join them! We will help! We will free
ourselves!

LADY INGER (aside). Can the time be come?

EINAR HUK. From all our borderlands the peasants are pouring
across to the Dales. Even outlaws that have wandered for years
in the mountains are venturing down to the homesteads again, and
drawing men together, and whetting their rusty swords.

LADY INGER (after a pause). Tell me, men, have you thought
well of this? Have you counted the cost, if King Gustav's men
should win?

BIORN (softly and imploringly to LADY INGER). Count the cost
to the Danes if King Gustav's