Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/204

 Bastian.

[Sees Madam Rundholmen, who enters from the left.] Sh! Not a word to any one!

[Goes towards the back.

Stensgård.

[Whispers to Aslaksen.] Give me back the letter.

Aslaksen.

Do you want it back?

Stensgård.

Yes, at once; I shall deliver it myself.

Aslaksen.

Very well; here it is.

[Stensgård thrusts the letter into his pocket, and mixes with the rest.

Madam Rundholmen.

[To Bastian.] What do you say to the election, Mr. Bastian?

Bastian.

I'm delighted. Stensgård and I are bosom friends, you know. I shouldn't be surprised if he got into Parliament.

Madam Rundholmen.

But your father wouldn't much like that.

Bastian.

Oh, father has so many irons in the fire. Besides, if Stensgård's elected, it will still be all in the family, I daresay.

Madam Rundholmen.

How so?