e noted.
The lord whom Lucia met in Bergen was a Dane----

ELINA. That too I know.

LADY INGER. And his love was a lie. With guile and soft speeches
he had ensnared her.

ELINA. I know it; but nevertheless she loved him; and had you
had a mother's heart, your daughter's honour had been more to you
than all.

LADY INGER. Not more than her happiness. Do you think that,
with Merete's lot before my eyes, I could sacrifice my second
child to a man that loved her not?

ELINA. Cunning words may befool many, but they befool not me----
Think not I know nothing of all that is passing in our land.
I understand your counsels but too well. I know well that our
Danish lords have no true friend in you. It may be that you hate
them; but your fear them too. When you gave Merete to Vinzents
Lunge the Danes held the mastery on all sides throughout our land.
Three years later, when you forbade Lucia to wed the man she had
given her life to, though he had deceived her,--things were far
different then. The King's Danish governors had shamefully misused
the common people, and you thought it not wise to link yourself
still more closely to the foreign tyrants.
And what have you done to avenge her that had to die so young?
You have done nothing. Well then, I will act in your stead; I
will avenge all the shame they have brought upon our people and
our house.

LADY INGER. You? What will you do?

ELINA. I shall go _my_ way, even as you go yours. What I shall
do I myself know not; but I feel within me the strength to dare
all for our righteous cause.

LADY INGER. Then you have a hard fight before you. I once
promised as you do now--and my hair has grown grey under the burden
of that promise.

ELINA. Good-night! Your guest will soon be here, and at that
meeting I should be out of place.
It may be there is yet time for you---- ----; well, God
strengthen you and guide your way! Forget not that the eyes of
many thousands are fixed upon you. Think on Merete, weeping late
and early over her wasted life. Think on Lucia, sleeping in her
black coffin.
And one thing more. Forget not that in the game you play this
night, your stake is your last child.

(Goes out to the left.)

LADY INGER (looks after her awhile). My last child? You know
not how true was that word---- ---- But the stake is not my child
only. God help me, I am playing to-night for the whole of Norway's
land.
Ah--i