decree that forbids
you to harbour or succor the exiles----

LADY INGER. Enough, I say!
(After a short silence, adds with an effort:)
You mistake, Elina--it is no outlaw that I look for----

ELINA (rises). Then I have understood you ill indeed.

LADY INGER. Listen to me, my child; but think as you listen;
if indeed you can tame that wild spirit of yours.

ELINA. I am tame, till you have spoken.

LADY INGER. Then hear what I have to say--I have sought, so far
as lay in my power, to keep you in ignorance of all our griefs and
miseries. What could it avail to fill your young heart with wrath
and care? It is not weeping and wailing of women that can free us
from our evil lot; we need the courage and strength of men.

ELINA. Who has told you that, when courage and strength are
indeed needed, I shall be found wanting?

LADY INGER. Hush, child;--I might take you at your word.

ELINA. How mean you, my mother?

LADY INGER. I might call on you for both; I might----; but let
me say my say out first.
Know then that the time seems now to be drawing nigh, towards
which the Danish Council have been working for many a year--the
time for them to strike a final blow at our rights and our freedom.
Therefore must we now----

ELINA (eagerly). Throw off the yoke, my mother?

LADY INGER. No; we must gain breathing-time. The Council is
now sitting in Copenhagen, considering how best to aim the blow.
Most of them are said to hold that there can be no end to dissensions
till Norway and Denmark are one; for if we should still have our
rights as a free land when the time comes to choose the next king,
it is most like that the feud will break out openly. Now the Danish
Councillors would hinder this----

ELINA. Ay, they would hinder it----! But are we to endure such
things? Are we to look on quietly while----?

LADY INGER. No, we will not endure it. But to take up arms--to
begin open warfare--what would come of that, so long as we are not
united? And were we ever less united in this land than we are even
now?--No, if aught is to be done, it must be done secretly and in
silence. Even as I said, we must have time to draw breath. In the
South, a good part of the nobles are for the Dane; but here in the
North they are still in doubt. Therefore King Frederick has sent
hither one of his most trusted councillors, to assure himself with
his own eyes how we stand affected.

ELINA