Oh, Hilmar, what are you saying?

Hilmar.

Oh, nothing, nothing. Only here he escapes safe and sound from railway[railway] accidents, and fights with Californian bears and Blackfoot Indians; why, he’s not even scalped——Ugh! here they are.

Bernick.

[Looks down the street.] Olaf with them too.

Hilmar.

Yes, of course; catch them letting people forget that they belong to the first family in the town. Look, look, there come all the loafers out of the drug-store to stare at them and make remarks. Really, this is too much for my nerves; how a man under such circumstances is to hold high the banner of the ideal——

Bernick.

They are coming straight here. Listen, Betty: it is my decided wish that you should be as friendly as possible to them.

Mrs. Bernick.