She suddenly sinks back.
“Go now, young woman,” she says. “I have no more time. I must go. Go now, and look out for them who ride on the storm-cloud!”
Thereupon she renews her wandering. Her features relax, her glance turns inward. The countess and Madame Scharling have to leave her.
As soon as they are back again among the dancers the young countess goes straight to Gösta Berling.
“I can greet you from the major’s wife,” she says. “She is waiting for you to get her out of prison.”
“Then she must go on waiting, countess.”
“Oh, help her, Herr Berling!”
Gösta stares gloomily before him. “No,” he says, “why should I help her? What thanks do I owe her? Everything she has done for me has been to my ruin.”
“But Herr Berling—”
“If she had not existed,” he says angrily, “I would now be sleeping up there in the forest. Is it my duty to risk my life for her, because she has made me a pensioner at Ekeby? Do you think much credit goes with that profession?”