MATS 'S FATHER. [To KERSTI] My daughter now—the old ties have been loosed! [He goes out.
SHERUT. [To KERSTI] Why so pale? What draws all the blood to your heart? What is weighing on it?
KERSTI. [Raising her head at last to give the SHERIFF a furious look] Nothing!
SHERIFF. So little is a lot!
KERSTI. Go!
SHERIFF. When you ride, I'll go ahead of you—but we won't be headed for the same place. When you kneel, I shall be standing, but the cold steel you'll taste won't be in my hands.
KERSTI. Oh, I wish you'd break your neck!
SHERIFF. [Putting the palm of his hand on her neck] Take care of your own! [He goes out.
The rest of MATS'S relatives file past her, greeting her coldly.
The fiddlers have in the meantime taken their places, and several old men have sat down at the table reserved for them and begun to smoke. Now the fiddlers strike up an old Swedish polka. (See the musical appendix, Melody No. 17.)
At the same time the NECK begins to play the melody heard in the first scene, but so powerfully that it sounds like two violins. (See musical appendix, Melody No. 18.)
As soon as the dance music is heard, cries of "Off with the crown!" are raised, first in the loft, and then in the living-room.
KERSTI becomes alarmed.
The PASTOR goes up to her.
FIDDLERS. [Crying, as they become aware of the playing of the NECK] Who is cutting in?