[Dr. Östermark comes in from the orchard.]
DR. ÖSTERMARK. What does this mean? What have you done to the little girls who ran away? I offered to help them with their wraps, but they refused to be helped and had tears in their eyes.
CARL [To Bertha]. I must ask you, are they your friends?
BERTHA. Yes, they are! But if my protection is not sufficient, then perhaps Doctor Östermark will take them under his wing, considering that he has a certain claim to them.
CARL. But a mistake has been made here. You mean that I, who have had certain relations with these girls, should appear as their cavalier?
BERTHA. What sort of relations?
CARL. Chance, such as one has with such women!
BERTHA. Such women? That's a lie!
CARL. I'm not in the habit of lying.
DR. ÖSTERMARK. But I don't understand what I have got to do with these young ladies.