Gudmund is an honourable man; he shall have her. Think,
Margit, what good days we shall have with them for neighbours. We
will go a-visiting each other, and then will we sit the live-long
day, each with his wife on his knee, drinking and talking of this
and that.
MARGIT.
[Whose mental struggle is visibly becoming more severe,
involuntarily takes out the phial as she says:] No doubt no doubt!
BENGT.
Ha, ha, ha! it may be that at first Gudmund will look askance
at me when I take you in my arms; but that, I doubt not, he will
soon get over.
MARGIT.
This is more than woman can bear! [Pours the contents of the
phial into the goblet, goes to the window and throws out the phial,
then says, without looking at him.] Your beaker is full.
BENGT.
Then bring it hither!
MARGIT.
[Battling in an agony of indecision, at last says.] I pray you
drink no more to-night!
BENGT.
[Leans back in his chair and laughs.] Oho! You are impatient
for my coming? Get you in; I will follow you soon.
MARGIT.
[Suddenly decided.] Your beaker is full. [Points.] There it is.
[She goes quickly out to the left.
BENGT.
[Rising.] I like her well. It repents me not a whit that I
took her to wife, though of heritage she owned no more than yonder
goblet and the brooches of her wedding gown.
[He goes to the table at the window and takes the goblet.
[A HOUSE-CARL enters hurriedly and with scared looks, from
the back.
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