Bishop. You were going to speak about Mrs. Falk, I presume.
Hagbart. Yes!--My dear uncle, don't take it amiss. But all this time I have never been able to keep away from her.
Bishop. Then it is she you have been talking to?
Hagbart. Of course!--and of course, that is to say, to Aagot too. You propose my going away. I cannot! If I could multiply myself by two, or if I could double the length of the days, I should never have enough of being with her! No, I have seen daylight now. On no account can I go away.
Bishop. And you call that seeing daylight! Poor boy!
Hagbart. I cannot discuss it with you. You would no more understand than you did that day when you took away those books of grandmother's from me and put them in the lumber-room.
Bishop. Oh, you are bringing that up again? Well, you are at liberty to do as you please. You shall not have the right to say I have exercised any compulsion.
Hagbart. No, uncle, you are very good--to me.
Bishop. But there is a new fact to be taken into consideration. I have noticed it for some days.
Bishop. In all this conversation we have just had, you have only mentioned Aagot's name twice, at most.
Hagbart. But we were not talking about Aagot.
Bishop. Are you not in love with her any longer?
Hagbart. Not in love with Aagot? (Laughs.) Can you ask that? Do you mean to say--?
Hagbart (laughing again). No, that is quite a misunderstanding on your part, uncle.
Bishop. Well, I say it again: go away for a week or a fortnight, Hagbart! Consider the situation from a distance--both your own position and that of others!
Hagbart. It is impossible, absolutely impossible, uncle. It would be just as useful to say to me: "Lie down and go to sleep for a week or a fortnight, Hagbart; it will do you good"! No. All my faculties are awake at last--yes, at last--so much so, that sometimes I can scarcely control myself.
Hagbart. The very reason why I must go straight ahead, for once in my life! No, I must stay here now.--Well, good morning, uncle! I must go out for a turn.
Bishop. Go to call on Mrs. Falk, you mean.
Hagbart (laughing). Unfortunately I haven't the face to do that till this afternoon; I was there the whole day yesterday. But our conversation has set all my thoughts agog again, and when I have no means of appeasing them I have to go out and walk. Thank you, uncle, for being so indulgent to me!