Chapter 27

Lind.

Those were my words; they must be understood,Of course,cum grano salis—

Those were my words; they must be understood,

Of course,cum grano salis—

Falk.

Very good!

Lind.

In theforenoonsI will enjoy my bliss;That I am quite resolved on—

In theforenoonsI will enjoy my bliss;

That I am quite resolved on—

Falk.

Daring man!

Lind.

I have my round of visits to the clan;Time will run anyhow to waste in this;But any further dislocation ofMy study-plan I strongly disapprove.

I have my round of visits to the clan;

Time will run anyhow to waste in this;

But any further dislocation of

My study-plan I strongly disapprove.

Falk.

A week ago, however, you were bentOn going out into God’s world with song.

A week ago, however, you were bent

On going out into God’s world with song.

Lind.

Yes, but I thought the tour a little long;The fourteen days might well be better spent.

Yes, but I thought the tour a little long;

The fourteen days might well be better spent.

Falk.

Nay, but you had another argumentFor staying; how the lovely dale for youWas mountain air and winged warble too.

Nay, but you had another argument

For staying; how the lovely dale for you

Was mountain air and winged warble too.

Lind.

Yes, to be sure, this air is unalloyed;But all its benefits may be enjoyedOver one’s book without the slightest bar.

Yes, to be sure, this air is unalloyed;

But all its benefits may be enjoyed

Over one’s book without the slightest bar.

Falk.

But it was just theBookwhich failed, you see,As Jacob’s ladder—

But it was just theBookwhich failed, you see,

As Jacob’s ladder—

Lind.

How perverse you are!That is what people say when they arefree—

How perverse you are!

That is what people say when they arefree—

Falk[looking at him and folding his hands in silentamazement].

Falk

[looking at him and folding his hands in silent

amazement].

Thou also, Brutus!

Lind[with a shade of confusion and annoyance].

Pray remember, do!That I have other duties now than you;I have myfiancée. Every plighted pair,Those of prolonged experience not excepted,—Whose evidence you would not wish rejected,—Will tell you, that if two are bound to fareThrough life together, they must—

Pray remember, do!

That I have other duties now than you;

I have myfiancée. Every plighted pair,

Those of prolonged experience not excepted,—

Whose evidence you would not wish rejected,—

Will tell you, that if two are bound to fare

Through life together, they must—

Falk.

Prithee spareThe comment; who supplied it?

Prithee spare

The comment; who supplied it?

Lind.

Well, we’ll sayStiver, he’s honest surely; and Miss Jay,Who has such very great experience here,She says—

Well, we’ll say

Stiver, he’s honest surely; and Miss Jay,

Who has such very great experience here,

She says—

Falk.

Well, but the Parson and his—dear?

Lind.

Yes, they’re remarkable. There broods aboveThem such placidity, such quietude,—Conceive, she can’t remember being wooed,Has quite forgotten what is meant by love.

Yes, they’re remarkable. There broods above

Them such placidity, such quietude,—

Conceive, she can’t remember being wooed,

Has quite forgotten what is meant by love.

Falk.

Ah yes, when one has slumber’d over long,The birds of memory refuse their song.

Ah yes, when one has slumber’d over long,

The birds of memory refuse their song.

[Laying his hand onLind’sshoulder, with an ironical look.

You, Lind, slept sound last night, I guarantee?

Lind.

And long. I went to bed in such depression,And yet with such a fever in my brain,I almost doubted if I could be sane.

And long. I went to bed in such depression,

And yet with such a fever in my brain,

I almost doubted if I could be sane.

Falk.

Ah yes, a sort of witchery, you see.

Lind.

Thank God I woke in perfect self-possession.

[During the foregoing sceneStrawmanhas been seen from time to time walking in the background in lively conversation withAnna;Mrs. Strawmanand the children follow.Miss Jaynow appears also, and with herMrs. Halmand other ladies.

Miss Jay[before she enters].

Ah, Mr. Lind.

Lind[toFalk].

They’re after me again!Come, let us go.

They’re after me again!

Come, let us go.

Miss Jay.

Nay, nay, you must remain,Let us make speedy end of the divisionThat has crept in between your love and you.

Nay, nay, you must remain,

Let us make speedy end of the division

That has crept in between your love and you.

Lind.

Are we divided?

Miss Jay[pointing toAnna,who is standing further off in the garden].

Gather the decisionFrom yon red eyes. The foreign mission drewThose tears.

Gather the decision

From yon red eyes. The foreign mission drew

Those tears.

Lind.

But heavens, she was glad to go—

Miss Jay[[scoffing].

Yes, to be sure, one would imagine so!No, my dear Lind, you’ll take another viewWhen you have heard the whole affair discussed;

Yes, to be sure, one would imagine so!

No, my dear Lind, you’ll take another view

When you have heard the whole affair discussed;

Lind.

But then this warfare for the faith, you know,Is my most cherished dream!

But then this warfare for the faith, you know,

Is my most cherished dream!

Miss Jay.

O who would buildOn dreaming in this century of light?Why, Stiver had a dream the other night;There came a letter singularly sealed—

O who would build

On dreaming in this century of light?

Why, Stiver had a dream the other night;

There came a letter singularly sealed—

Mrs. Strawman.

It’streasuresuch a dream prognosticates.

Miss Jay[nodding].

Yes, and next day they sued him for the rates.

[The ladies make a circle roundLindand go in conversation with him into the garden.

Strawman[continuing, toAnna,who faintly tries to escape].

From these considerations, daughter mine,From these considerations, buttressed allWith reason, morals, and the Word Divine,You now perceive that to desert your CallWere absolutely inexcusable.

From these considerations, daughter mine,

From these considerations, buttressed all

With reason, morals, and the Word Divine,

You now perceive that to desert your Call

Were absolutely inexcusable.

Anna[half crying].

Oh! I’m so young—

Strawman.

And it is natural,I own, that one should tremble to essayThese perils, dare the lures that there waylay;But from doubt’s tangle you must now break free,—Be of good cheer and follow Moll and me!

And it is natural,

I own, that one should tremble to essay

These perils, dare the lures that there waylay;

But from doubt’s tangle you must now break free,—

Be of good cheer and follow Moll and me!

Mrs. Strawman.

Yes, your dear mother tells me that I tooWas just as inconsolable as youWhen we received our Call—

Yes, your dear mother tells me that I too

Was just as inconsolable as you

When we received our Call—

Strawman.

And for like cause—The fascination of the town—it was;But when a little money had come in,And the first pairs of infants, twin by twin,She quite got over it.

And for like cause—

The fascination of the town—it was;

But when a little money had come in,

And the first pairs of infants, twin by twin,

She quite got over it.

Falk[sotto vocetoStrawman].

Bravo, you ablePersuader.

Bravo, you able

Persuader.

Strawman[nodding to him and turning again toAnna].

Now you’ve promised me, be stable.Shall man renounce his work? Falk says the CallIs not so very slender after all.Did you not, Falk?

Now you’ve promised me, be stable.

Shall man renounce his work? Falk says the Call

Is not so very slender after all.

Did you not, Falk?

Falk.

Nay, pastor—

Strawman.

To be sure—![ToAnna.Of something then at least you are secure.What’s gained by giving up, if that is so?Look back into the ages long ago,See, Adam, Eve—the Ark, see, pair by pair,Birds in the field—the lilies in the air,The little birds—the little birds—the fishes—

To be sure—!

[ToAnna.

Of something then at least you are secure.

What’s gained by giving up, if that is so?

Look back into the ages long ago,

See, Adam, Eve—the Ark, see, pair by pair,

Birds in the field—the lilies in the air,

The little birds—the little birds—the fishes—

[Continues in a lower tone, as he withdraws withAnna.

[Miss Jayand theAuntsreturn withLind.

Falk.

Hurrah! Here come the veterans in array;The old guard charging to retrieve the day!

Hurrah! Here come the veterans in array;

The old guard charging to retrieve the day!

Miss Jay.

Ah, in exact accordance with our wishes![Aside.Wehavehim, Falk!—Now let us tackleher![ApproachesAnna.

Ah, in exact accordance with our wishes!

[Aside.

Wehavehim, Falk!—Now let us tackleher!

[ApproachesAnna.

Strawman[with a deprecating motion].

She needs no secular solicitation;The Spirit has spoken, what can Earth bestead—?[Modestly.If in some small degree my words have sped,Power was vouchsafed me—!

She needs no secular solicitation;

The Spirit has spoken, what can Earth bestead—?

[Modestly.

If in some small degree my words have sped,

Power was vouchsafed me—!

Mrs. Halm.

Come, no more evasion,Bring them together!

Come, no more evasion,

Bring them together!

Aunts[with emotion].

Ah, how exquisite!

Strawman.

Yes, can there be a heart so dull and deadAs not to be entranced at such a sight!It is so thrilling and so penetrating,So lacerating, so exhilarating,To see an innocent babe devoutly layIts offering on Duty’s altar.

Yes, can there be a heart so dull and dead

As not to be entranced at such a sight!

It is so thrilling and so penetrating,

So lacerating, so exhilarating,

To see an innocent babe devoutly lay

Its offering on Duty’s altar.

Mrs. Halm.

Nay,Her family have also done their part.

Nay,

Her family have also done their part.

Miss Jay.

I and the Aunts—I should imagine so.You, Lind, may have the key to Anna’s heart,[Presses his hand.But we possess a picklock, you must know,Able to open where the key avails not.And if in years to come, cares throng and thwart,Only apply to us, our friendship fails not.

I and the Aunts—I should imagine so.

You, Lind, may have the key to Anna’s heart,

[Presses his hand.

But we possess a picklock, you must know,

Able to open where the key avails not.

And if in years to come, cares throng and thwart,

Only apply to us, our friendship fails not.

Mrs. Halm.

Yes, we shall hover round you all your life,—

Miss Jay.

And shield you from the fiend of wedded strife.

Strawman.

Enchanting group! Love, friendship, hour of gladness,Yet so pathetically touched with sadness.[Turning toLind.But now, young man, pray make an end of this.[LeadingAnnato him.Take thy betrothed—receive her—with a kiss!

Enchanting group! Love, friendship, hour of gladness,

Yet so pathetically touched with sadness.

[Turning toLind.

But now, young man, pray make an end of this.

[LeadingAnnato him.

Take thy betrothed—receive her—with a kiss!

Lind[giving his hand toAnna].

I stay at home!

Anna[at the same moment].

I go with you!

Anna[amazed].

You stay?

Lind[equally so].

You go with me?

Anna[with a helpless glance at the company].

Why, then, we are divided as before!

Lind.

What’s this?

The Ladies.

What now?

Miss Jay[excitedly].

Our wills are all at war—

Strawman.

She gave her solemn word to cross the seaWith him!

She gave her solemn word to cross the sea

With him!

Miss Jay.

And he gave his to stay ashoreWith her!

And he gave his to stay ashore

With her!

Falk[laughing].

They both complied; what would you more!

Strawman.

These complications are too much for me.[Goes towards the background.

These complications are too much for me.

[Goes towards the background.

Aunts[to one another].

How in the world came they to disagree?

Mrs. Halm.

[ToGuldstadandStiver,who have been walking in the garden and now approach.

The spirit of discord’s in possession here.[Talks aside to them.

The spirit of discord’s in possession here.

[Talks aside to them.

Mrs. Strawman.

[ToMiss Jay,noticing that the table is being laid.

There comes the tea.

Miss Jay[curtly].

Thank heaven.

Falk.

Hurrah! a cheerFor love and friendship, maiden aunts and tea!

Hurrah! a cheer

For love and friendship, maiden aunts and tea!

Stiver.

But if the case stands thus, the whole proceedingMay easily be ended with a laugh;All turns upon a single paragraph,Which bids the wife attend the spouse. No pleadingCan wrest an ordinance so clearly stated—

But if the case stands thus, the whole proceeding

May easily be ended with a laugh;

All turns upon a single paragraph,

Which bids the wife attend the spouse. No pleading

Can wrest an ordinance so clearly stated—

Miss Jay.

Doubtless, but does that help us to agree?

Strawman.

She must obey a law that heaven dictated.

Stiver.

But Lind can circumvent that law, you see.[ToLind.Put off your journey, and then—budge no jot.

But Lind can circumvent that law, you see.

[ToLind.

Put off your journey, and then—budge no jot.

Aunts[delighted].

Yes, that’s the way!

Mrs. Halm..

Agreed!

Miss Jay.

That cuts the knot.

[Svanhildand the maids have meantime laid the tea-table beside the verandah steps. AtMrs. Halm’sinvitation the ladies sit down. The rest of the company take their places, partly on the verandahand in the summer-house, partly in the garden.Falksits on the verandah. During the following scene they drink tea.

Mrs. Halm[smiling].

And so our little storm is overblown.Such summer showers do good when they are gone;The sunshine greets us with a double boon,And promises a cloudless afternoon.

And so our little storm is overblown.

Such summer showers do good when they are gone;

The sunshine greets us with a double boon,

And promises a cloudless afternoon.

Miss Jay.

Ah yes, Love’s blossom without rainy skiesWould never thrive according to our wishes.

Ah yes, Love’s blossom without rainy skies

Would never thrive according to our wishes.

Falk.

In dry land set it, and it forthwith dies;For in so far the flowers are like the fishes—

In dry land set it, and it forthwith dies;

For in so far the flowers are like the fishes—

Svanhild.

Nay, for Love lives, you know, upon the air—

Miss Jay.

Which is the death of fishes—

Falk.

So I say.

Miss Jay.

Aha, we’ve put a bridle on you there!

Mrs. Strawman.

The tea is good, one knows by the bouquet.

Falk.

Well, let us keep the simile you chose.Love is a flower; for if heaven’s blessed rainFall short, it all but pines to death—[Pauses.

Well, let us keep the simile you chose.

Love is a flower; for if heaven’s blessed rain

Fall short, it all but pines to death—

[Pauses.

Miss Jay.

What then?

Falk[with a gallant bow].

Then come the aunts with the reviving hose.—But poets have this simile employed,And men for scores of centuries enjoyed,—Yet hardly one its secret sense has hit;For flowers are manifold and infinite.Say, then, what flower is love? Name me, who knows,The flower most like it?

Then come the aunts with the reviving hose.—

But poets have this simile employed,

And men for scores of centuries enjoyed,—

Yet hardly one its secret sense has hit;

For flowers are manifold and infinite.

Say, then, what flower is love? Name me, who knows,

The flower most like it?

Miss Jay.

Why, it is the rose;Good gracious, that’s exceedingly well known;—Love, all agree, lends life a rosy tone.

Why, it is the rose;

Good gracious, that’s exceedingly well known;—

Love, all agree, lends life a rosy tone.

A Young Lady.

It is the snowdrop; growing, snow enfurled;Till it peer forth, undreamt of by the world.

It is the snowdrop; growing, snow enfurled;

Till it peer forth, undreamt of by the world.

An Aunt.

It is the dandelion,—made robustBy dint of human heel and horse hoof thrust;Nay, shooting forth afresh when it is smitten,As Pedersen so charmingly has written.

It is the dandelion,—made robust

By dint of human heel and horse hoof thrust;

Nay, shooting forth afresh when it is smitten,

As Pedersen so charmingly has written.

Lind.

It is the bluebell,—ringing in for allYoung hearts life’s joyous Whitsun festival.

It is the bluebell,—ringing in for all

Young hearts life’s joyous Whitsun festival.

Mrs. Halm.

No, ’tis an evergreen,—as fresh and gayIn desolate December as in May.

No, ’tis an evergreen,—as fresh and gay

In desolate December as in May.

Guldstad.

No, Iceland moss, dry gathered,—far the bestCure for young ladies with a wounded breast.

No, Iceland moss, dry gathered,—far the best

Cure for young ladies with a wounded breast.

A Gentleman.

No, the wild chestnut tree,—in high reputeFor household fuel, but with a bitter fruit.

No, the wild chestnut tree,—in high repute

For household fuel, but with a bitter fruit.

Svanhild.

No, a camellia; at our balls, ’tis said,The chief adornment of a lady’s head.

No, a camellia; at our balls, ’tis said,

The chief adornment of a lady’s head.

Mrs. Strawman.

No, it is like a flower, O such a bright one;—Stay now—a blue one, no, it was a white one—What is its name—? Dear me—the one I met—;Well it is singular how I forget!

No, it is like a flower, O such a bright one;—

Stay now—a blue one, no, it was a white one—

What is its name—? Dear me—the one I met—;

Well it is singular how I forget!

Stiver.

None of these flower similitudes will run.The flowerpot is a likelier candidate.There’s only room in it, at once, forone;But by progressive stages it holdseight.

None of these flower similitudes will run.

The flowerpot is a likelier candidate.

There’s only room in it, at once, forone;

But by progressive stages it holdseight.

Strawman[with his little girls round him].

No, love’s a pear tree; in the spring like snowWith myriad blossoms, which in summer growTo pearlets; in the parent’s sap each shares;—And with God’s help they’ll all alike prove pears.

No, love’s a pear tree; in the spring like snow

With myriad blossoms, which in summer grow

To pearlets; in the parent’s sap each shares;—

And with God’s help they’ll all alike prove pears.

Falk.

So many heads, so many sentences!No, you all grope and blunder off the line.Each simile’s at fault; I’ll tell you mine;—You’re free to turn and wrest it as you please.[Rises as if to make a speech.In the remotest east there grows a plant;And the sun’s cousin’s garden is its haunt—

So many heads, so many sentences!

No, you all grope and blunder off the line.

Each simile’s at fault; I’ll tell you mine;—

You’re free to turn and wrest it as you please.

[Rises as if to make a speech.

In the remotest east there grows a plant;

And the sun’s cousin’s garden is its haunt—

The Ladies.

Ah, it’s the tea-plant!

Falk.

Yes.

Mrs. Strawman.

His voice is soLike Strawman’s when he—

His voice is so

Like Strawman’s when he—

Strawman.

Don’t disturb his flow.

Falk.

It has its home in fabled lands serene;Thousands of miles of desert lie between;—Fill up, Lind!—So.—Now in a tea-oration,I’ll show of tea and Love the true relation.[The guests cluster round him.It has its home in the romantic land;Alas, Love’s home is also in Romance,Only the Sun’s descendants understandThe herb’s right cultivation and advance.With Love it is not otherwise than so.Blood of the Sun along the veins must flowIf Love indeed therein is to strike root,And burgeon into blossom, into fruit.

It has its home in fabled lands serene;

Thousands of miles of desert lie between;—

Fill up, Lind!—So.—Now in a tea-oration,

I’ll show of tea and Love the true relation.

[The guests cluster round him.

It has its home in the romantic land;

Alas, Love’s home is also in Romance,

Only the Sun’s descendants understand

The herb’s right cultivation and advance.

With Love it is not otherwise than so.

Blood of the Sun along the veins must flow

If Love indeed therein is to strike root,

And burgeon into blossom, into fruit.

Miss Jay.

But China is an ancient land; you holdIn consequence that tea is very old—

But China is an ancient land; you hold

In consequence that tea is very old—

Strawman.

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