Rörlund.

H’m.—My dear Dina—I sympathise with you from the bottom of my heart.

Dina.

Is that all?

Rörlund.

You know very well how unspeakably dear you are to me.

Dina.

If I were Hilda or Netta you would not be afraid to let any one see it.

Rörlund.

Oh, Dina, you cannot possibly realise the thousand considerations——When a man is singled out as a moral pillar of the society he lives in, why—he cannot be too careful. If I were only sure that people would not misinterpret my motives——But no matter; you must and shall be helped to rise. Dina, shall we make a bargain that when I come—when circumstances permit me to come—and say: Here is my hand—you will take it and be my wife?—Do you promise me that, Dina?