Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/34

 Lundestad.

[Laying his hand on the chair:] No, the table is reserved, and there's an end of it.

Monsen.

[Rising.] Come, Mr. Stensgård; there are just as good seats over there. [Crosses to the right.] Waiter! Ha, no waiters either. The Committee should have seen to that in time. Oh, Aslaksen, just go in and get us four bottles of champagne. Order the dearest; tell them to put it down to Monsen!

[Aslaksen goes into the tent; the three others seat themselves.

Lundestad.

[Goes quietly over to them and addresses Stensgård.]

I hope you won't take it ill

Monsen.

Take it ill! Good gracious, no! Not in the least.

Lundestad.

[Still to Stensgård.] It's not my doing; it's the Committee that decided

Monsen.

Of course. The Committee orders, and we must obey.

Lundestad.

[As before.] You see, we are on the Chamberlain's own ground here. He has been so kind as to throw open his park and garden for this evening; so we thought