The Lady From The Sea | Page 5

Hilde. Have you been bathing, then?
Lyngstrand. Yes; I've been in the water a little while. I saw your mother
down there. She was going into her bathing-machine.
Hilde. Who was?
Lyngstrand. Your mother.
Hilde. Oh! I see. (She puts the stool in front of the rocking- chair.)
Bolette (interrupting). Didn't you see anything of father's boat out on
the fjord?
Lyngstrand. Yes; I thought I saw a sailing-boat that was steering
inland.
Bolette. I'm sure that was father. He's been to visit patients on the
islands. (She is arranging things on the table.)
Lyngstrand (taking a step up the stairs to the verandah). Why, how
everything's decorated here with flowers!
Bolette. Yes; doesn't it look nice?
Lyngstrand. It looks lovely! It looks as if it were some festival day in
the house.
Hilde. That's exactly what it is.
Lyngstrand. I might have guessed it! I'm sure it's your father's birthday.
Bolette (warningly to HILDE). Hm--hm!
Hilde (taking no notice of her). No, mother's.
Lyngstrand. Oh! Your mother's!
Bolette (in low voice, angrily). Really, Hilde!
Hilde (the same). Let me be! (To LYNGSTRAND.) I suppose you're
going home to breakfast now?

Lyngstrand (going down steps). Yes, I suppose I must go and get
something to eat.
Hilde. I'm sure you find the living very good at the hotel!
Lyngstrand. I'm not staying at the hotel now. It was too expensive for
me.
Hilde. Where are you staying, then?
Lyngstrand. I'm staying up at Mrs. Jensen's.
Hilde. What Mrs. Jensen's?
Lyngstrand. The midwife.
Hilde. Excuse me, Mr. Lyngstrand, but I really have other matters to
attend to-
Lyngstrand. Oh! I'm sure I ought not to have said that.
Hilde. Said what?
Lyngstrand. What I said.
Hilde (looking contemptuously at him). I don't understand you in the
least.
Lyngstrand. No, no. But I must say goodbye for the present.
Bolette (comes forward to the steps). Good-bye, good-bye, Mr.
Lyngstrand. You must excuse us now. But another day--when you've
plenty of time--and inclination--you really must come in and see father
and the rest of us.
Lyngstrand. Yes; thanks, very much. I shall be delighted. (Bows, and
goes out through the garden gate. As he goes along the road he bows
again towards the verandah.)
Hilde (in low voice). Adieu, Monsieur! Please remember me to Mother
Jensen.
Bolette (in a low voice, shaking her arm). Hilde! You naughty child!
Are you quite crazy? He might have heard you.
Hilde. Pshaw! Do you think I care about that?
Bolette (looking out to the right). Here's father!
(WANGEL, in travelling dress and carrying a small bag, comes from
the footpath.)
Wangel. See! I'm back again, little girls! (He enters through the garden
gate.)
Bolette (going towards him at the bottom of the garden). Oh! It is
delightful that you've come!
Hilde (also going up to him). Now have you got off for the whole day,

father?
Wangel. Oh! no. I must go down to the office for a little while
presently. I say--do you know if Arnholm has come?
Bolette. Yes; he arrived in the night. We sent to the hotel to enquire.
Wangel. Then you've not seen him yet?
Bolette. No; but he's sure to come here this morning.
Wangel. Yes; he's sure to do that.
Hilde (pulling him). Father, now you must look round.
Wangel (looking towards the verandah). Yes, I see well enough, child.
It's quite festive.
Bolette. Now, don't you think we've arranged it nicely?
Wangel. I must say you have. Are--are we alone at home now?
Hilde. Yes; she's gone to--
Bolette (interrupting quickly). Mother has gone to bathe.
Wangel (looks lovingly at BOLETTE, and pats her head. Then he says,
hesitating). Look here, little ones. Do you want to keep this up all day?
And the flag hoisted, too?
Hilde. Surely you understand that, father!
Wangel. Hm! Yes; but you see--
Bolette (looks at him and nods). Surely you can understand we've been
doing all this in honour of Mr. Arnholm. When such a good friend
comes to see you for the first time-
Hilde (smiling, and shaking him). Think! he who used to be Bolette's
tutor, father!
Wangel (with a half-smile). You're a pair of sly minxes. Well-- good
heavens--after all, it's but natural we should remember her who is no
more with us. Here, Hilde (Gives her his bag), take that down to the
office. No, children. I don't like this--the way, I mean. This habit of
every year--well--what can one say? I suppose it can't be managed any
other way.
Hilde (about to go out of garden, and, with the bag, stops short, turns,
and points out). Look at that gentleman coming up here. I'm sure it's
your tutor.
Bolette (looks in that direction). He? (Laughs.) That is good! Do you
think that middle-aged fellow is Arnholm?
Wangel. Wait