RELATIVE. One must pay, to boot, for her croaking?
ONE OF THE PEOPLE. She sings better than the shoemaker sang this morning, when we stood round the corner listening to him. He certainly does not sing ideally about carnations and roses, but a true word spoken at the right moment is also ideal!
RELATIVE. If you don't go, old hag, you'll be locked up!
[Thunder and lightning, wind, rain, commotion.]
SHOEMAKER. Egad! it's raining again. Step inside, gentlemen. [They break up.]
OLD WOMAN. Must that poor wretch in the pillory stand out in the rain?
RELATIVE. If my kinsman, who is so great a personage, can stand outside, then that fellow may as well stay where he is.
SHOEMAKER. It cools these reformers off so nicely to get a little cold water over them. [Trips, stubs toe against a stone.] The damned cobble stones! [Hops into house on one leg. Exit all but Pehr and Old Woman—Lisa.]
LISA. [Throws off disguise.] Well, Pehr! You have become a famous man; your name is now on every one's lips, your picture is being carried round on all streets and public squares and the people hail you as a reformer. Are you satisfied?
PEHR. Yes, Lisa, now I am satisfied with being a reformer!