You know the answer I must make you:

I never can accept you in your way.

Falk [coldly, breaking off].

Then there’s an end of it; the world may take you!

[Svanhild has silently turned away. She supports her hands upon the verandah railing, and rests her head upon them.

Falk.

[Walks several times up and down, takes a cigar, stops near her and says, after a pause:

You think the topic of my talk to-night

Extremely ludicrous, I should not wonder?

[Pauses for an answer. Svanhild is silent.