The festivities proceed. An old fiddler and more peasants appear. The men sit down on one side of the room, the women on the other, and the former lover, Mikko, thinking himself the bridegroom-elect, cheerfully invites every one to dance. The old fiddler strikes up a merry air, and they dance the jenka, a sort of schottische, joyously. Gaiety prevails, the girl's father being apparently as happy as his guests, when the door opens and the rector of the parish and other distinguished guests enter.
"Where is the bride?" it is asked.
No one knew exactly how to answer; Johannes no longer wishes to marry her, and she refuses to marry her former lover, Mikko.
Again the priest asks: "Where is the bride?"
After waiting some time the door opens slowly. Anna Liisa enters and is greeted—as is usual on such occasions—by cries of Eläköön, eläköön (let her live!) in chorus. Answering with the unusual words: "Let God's Holy Spirit live in us!" the girl advanced into the room and stood before them, robed in the black gown which it is the fashion for peasant brides in Finland to wear. The clergyman addressed her as a bride.
"I am not a bride," she replies, as she stands sadly alone in her black robe.
"What do you mean? the banns have just been read," he asks.
"All is broken off between Johannes and me," she tragically replies, and then, turning to the clergyman, she says: "My conscience won't keep it any longer; for four years long I have——"
Mikko and his mother try all they can to prevent her speaking.
But the clergyman, seeing the girl wishes to say something, thrusts them aside and exhorts her to proceed.