KERSTI. With or without! What no one sees and no one knows does not exist.
MATS. Let me think. [He sits silent for a few moments] All right! And furthermore?
KERSTI. To hook what's big, you must overlook what's less.
MATS. Which does not mean the little one!
KERSTI. Do you mean to prove false?
MATS. I don't! Not to you, Kersti!
KERSTI. Suppose now—the banns have been read, the wedding is under way, but the little one sleeps in the forest. Who will haste to the house, and milk the cows, and see that baby lacks nothing? Who, I ask?
MATS. Well may you ask! [He broods a while] If we only dared.... What was that you said?
KERSTI. Not a word.
MATS. It seems to me If we only dared....