MONS. Stand up for yourself, Inghel, and tell the truth. The King is a gracious gentleman who won't mind a plain word in proper time.
INGHEL. Don't you worry. I have said my say to kings before now. [He goes out.
OLAVUS. Well, Nils, how is the mining nowadays?
NILS. Not bad, thank you. The last fall flood left a little water in the mine, but otherwise we have nothing to complain of.
OLAVUS. Times are good, then?
NILS. Well, you might say so.... Hm! Good times will mean better taxes, I suppose?
OLAVUS. I know nothing about the taxes. [Pause; then to ANDERS PERSSON] And how about the crops? I hear you have plenty of tilled ground, too.
ANDERS. Oh, yes, and plenty of cattle in the pastures, too.
OLAVUS. Old Dalecarlia is a pretty good country, is it not?
MONS. [Giving ANDERS a poke with his elbow] Yes, everything is fat here—dripping with fat, so that one can eat the bark off the trees even.