Mrs. Christensen. What is the matter, my dear Mrs. Riis?
Mrs. Riis. No words of honour! He has to take an oath when he marries, anyway.
Nordan. But surely two make it all the safer, Mrs. Riis?
Mrs. Riis. No, no! No oath! (Sits down again.)
Christensen. I was struck with our friend Dr. Nordan's remark. Tell me, my dear sir, do you also take it for granted that the sort of thing my son has done ought to be an absolute bar to marriage with an honourable woman?
Nordan. Quite the contrary! I am quite sure it never prevents any one getting married--and remarkably well married. It is only Svava that is behaving in an extraordinary manner in every respect.
Mrs. Christensen. I would not go so far as to say that; but there is one thing that Svava has overlooked. She is acting as if she were free. But she is not by any means free. A betrothal is equivalent to a marriage; at any rate, I am old-fashioned enough to consider it so, And the man to whom I have given my hand is thereby made my master and given authority over me, and I owe to him--as to a superior authority--my respect, whether he act well or ill. I cannot give him notice, or run away from him.
Riis. That is old-fashioned and sensible. I thank you heartily, Mrs. Christensen!
Mrs. Riis. But if it is too late after the betrothal--. (Checks herself.)
Mrs. Christensen. What do you mean, dear Mrs. Riis?
Nordan. Mrs. Riis means that if it is too late after the betrothal, why do people not speak out before they are betrothed?
Christensen. Well, it wouldn't be such a bad thing, would it? I imagine proposals in future being worded somewhat in this way: "My dear Miss So-and-So, up to date I have had such and such a number of love affairs--that is to say, so many big ones and so many little ones." Don't you think it would be a capital way to lead the conversation on to--
Nordan.--to assuring her that she is the only one you have ever loved?
Christensen. Well, not exactly that, but--
Riis (who has gone to the door to meet ALFRED). Ah, that is right! We are so glad you have come!
Alfred. When it came to the point, I could not do anything else--I had to come here.
Riis. Yes, it was only the natural thing to do. (ALFRED comes forward and bows respectfully to SVAVA. She bows slightly, but without looking at him. He steps back again.)