Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/174



You might have been so good a foster-sister to me, through all the years when we were growing up together.

But it fell out otherwise.

Ay, it fell out otherwise;—we looked at each other, I from my corner, you from yours, but we seldom spoke[Impatiently.] What is keeping him? [ comes with the writing materials.] Are you there? Give me the things!

[ ''seats himself at the table and writes. A little while after,'' comes in; then and

[Looks up and lays down his pen.] Know you, Sir Earl, what I am writing here? [The approaches.] This is to my mother; I thank her for all her love, and kiss her a thousand times—here in the letter you understand. She is to be sent eastward to Borgasyssel, there to live with all queenly honours.

You will not keep her in the palace?

She is too dear to me, Earl;—a king must have none about him whom he loves too well. A king must act with free hands; he must stand alone