AXEL. And Bertha allows that kind in my house!
BERTHA. What does this mean? Have you insulted the young ladies?
BERTHA. They came out of here crying and declared that they couldn't stay in the company of you gentlemen any longer! What has happened?
BERTHA. They are my friends! Isn't that enough?
[Dr. Östermark comes in from the orchard.]
DR. ÖSTERMARK. What does this mean? What have you done to the little girls who ran away? I offered to help them with their wraps, but they refused to be helped and had tears in their eyes.
CARL [To Bertha]. I must ask you, are they your friends?
BERTHA. Yes, they are! But if my protection is not sufficient, then perhaps Doctor Östermark will take them under his wing, considering that he has a certain claim to them.
CARL. But a mistake has been made here. You mean that I, who have had certain relations with these girls, should appear as their cavalier?
CARL. Chance, such as one has with such women!
DR. ÖSTERMARK. But I don't understand what _I_ have got to do with these young ladies.
BERTHA. _You_ would prefer to have nothing to do with your deserted children.
DR. ÖSTERMARK. My children! But I don't understand.
BERTHA. They are your two daughters--daughters of your divorced wife.
DR. ÖSTERMARK. Since you consider that you have the right to be personal and make my affairs the subject of public discussion, I will answer you publicly. You seem to have taken the trouble to find out that I am not a widower. Good! My marriage, which was childless, was dissolved twenty years ago. Since then I have entered into another relation, and we have a child that is just five years old. These grown girls, therefore, cannot be my children. Now you know the whole matter.
BERTHA. But your wife--whom you threw out upon the world--
DR. ÖSTERMARK.--No, that wasn't the case either. She walked out, or staggered, if you prefer it, and then she received half my income until at last I found out that--enough said. If you could conceive what it cost me of work and self-denial to support two establishments, you would have spared me this unpleasant moment, but your kind wouldn't consider anything like that. You needn't know any more, as it really doesn't concern you.
BERTHA. But it would amuse me to know why your first wife left you.