Helmaar. Then prepare in a few minutes to see the happy meeting between Christiern and his family: I have sent to his cottage for his wife, to desire that she would come hither immediately.
Mrs. Ulrica. Oh! a thousand thanks to you, sir; but I’m afraid the messenger will let the cat out of the bag.
Helmaar. The man I have sent can keep a secret—Which way did the Lady Eleonora go?—Are those peasants in the hall? {Exit Count.}
Mrs. Ulrica (following). She went towards the west drawing-room, I think, sir.—Yes, sir, the peasants are at supper in the hall. (Aside) Bless me! I wonder what messenger he sent, for I don’t know many—men I mean—fit to be trusted with a secret. {Exit.}
SCENE—An apartment in Count HELMAAR’S Castle.—ELEONORA.—CHRISTINA.—Little KATE and ULRIC asleep on the floor.
Eleon. Poor creatures! they were quite tired by sitting up so late: is their mother come yet?
Christina. Not yet; but she will soon be here, for my brother told Aleftson to make all possible haste. Do you know where my brother is?—he is not among the dancers. I expected to have found him sighing at the Lady Eleonora’s feet.
Eleon. He is much better employed than in sighing at any body’s feet; he is gone down into the great hall, to see and reward some poor peasants who have brought home the knapsacks of those unfortunate soldiers who fell in the last battle:—your good Mrs. Ulrica found out that these peasants were in the village near us—she sent for them, got a plentiful supper ready, and the count is now speaking to them.
Christina. And can you forgive my ungallant brother for thinking of vulgar boors, when he ought to be intent on nothing but your bright eyes?—then all I can say is, you are both of you just fit for one another: every fool, indeed, saw that long ago.
{A cry behind the scenes of “Long line Count Helmaar! Long live the good count! long live the poor man’s friend!”}