BRITA. Well, so she says.
KERSTI. Then she is lying!
BRITA. As midwife she has been sworn, although I couldn't tell whether her oath be false or fair. Just now she swears that she doesn't lie.
KERSTI lets her head droop again.
BRITA. Hold up your head! Can't you look people in the face?
KERSTI. [To the other girls] Say something, girls! [Silence.
BRITA. It's hard to say anything when one has seen nothing. But nevertheless—one knows what one knows!
SHERIFF. [Appearing in the doorway] I am making free It won't matter if an old fellow like me gets in to the girls—although the boys have to keep out!
BRITA. [Shaking her fist in the face of KERSTI] But you'll never wear the crown!
KERSTI. You don't say!