Leonarda. Then please send Hans as soon as possible with a pair of horses to the hill farm for her. It is too cold for her to be up there now, anyway.
Pedersen. I will do so. (Turns to go.)
Leonarda. By the way, Pedersen, how has that little affair of yours been going?
Pedersen. Oh—
Leonarda. Come to me this evening. We will see if we can continue our little talk about it.
Pedersen. I have been wishing for that for a long time, ma'am.
Leonarda. Yes, for the last eight or ten days I have not been able to think of anything properly.
Pedersen. We have all noticed that there has been something wrong with you, ma'am.
Leonarda. We all have our troubles. (PEDERSEN waits; but as LEONARDA begins to pick apples carefully from a young tree and put them in a small basket that is on her arm, he goes out to the left. HAGBART appears from the right, and stands for a minute without her seeing him.)
Hagbart. Mrs. Falk! (LEONARDA gives a. little scream.) I beg your pardon, but I have been looking for you everywhere. How are you? I have only just this moment got back.