Mrs. Ulrica. Here’s a purse, sir, which this little boy and girl of mine found in the woods as they were going home; and, like honest children, as they are, they came back with it directly to me, thinking that it was mine.
Helmaar. Shake hands, my honest little fellow—this is just what I should have expected from a godson of Mrs. Ulrica, and a son of—
Mrs. Ulrica (aside to the Count). Oh, Lord bless you, sir, don’t tell him—My lady—(to Christina)—would you take the children out of hearing?
Eleon. (to the children). Come with us, my dears.
{Exeunt ladies and children.}
Mrs. Ulrica. Don’t, sir, pray, tell the children any thing about their father: they don’t know that their father’s here, though they’ve just seen him; and I’ve been striving all I can to keep the secret, and to keep the father here all night, that I may have the pleasure of seeing the meeting of father and mother and children at their own cottage to-morrow. I would not miss the sight of their meeting for fifty pounds; and yet I shall not see it after all—for Christiern will go, all I can say or do. Lord bless me! I forgot to bolt him in when I came up with the children—the bird’s flown, for certain—(going in a great hurry).
Helmaar. Good Mrs. Ulrica, you need not be alarmed; your prisoner is very safe, I can assure you, though you forgot to bolt him in: I have given him an employment that will detain him a full hour, for I design to have the pleasure of restoring my deliverer myself to his family.
Mrs. Ulrica. Oh! that will be delightful!—Then you’ll keep him here all night!—but that will vex him terribly; and of all the days and nights of the year, one wouldn’t have any body vexed this day or night, more especially the man, who, as I may say, is the cause of all our illuminations, and rejoicings, and dancings—no, no, happen what will, we must not have him vexed.
Helmaar. He shall not be vexed, I promise you; and, if it be necessary to keep your heart from breaking, my good Mrs. Ulrica, I’ll tell you a secret, which I had intended, I own, to have kept from you one half hour longer.
Mrs. Ulrica. A secret! dear sir, half an hour’s a great while, to keep a secret from one when it’s about one’s friends: pray, if it be proper—but you are the best judge—I should be very glad to hear just a little hint of the matter, to prepare me.