No More Learning

And I may as well tell you frankly that I have told her
all. But do not fear her. She will say nothing. But
who would have dreamt of your taking into your house
that little creature who played angels in the theatre, and
scampered about here? What became of her parents?

BERNICK: I wrote you all that happened. The
drunken scoundrel, after leaving his wife, was killed in
a drinking bout. After the wife died it was through
Martha that we took little Dina in charge.

To the amazement of the Bernicks and some others, Johan makes it known
that he has asked Dina to be his wife, and that she has consented. To
their further astonishment and annoyance, Lona declares her profound
approval of this engagement. Moreover, Lona now challenges Bernick
to clear his soul of the lie on which he has stood for these fifteen
years. It is a three-fold lie--the lie towards Lona, then the lie
towards Betty, then the lie towards Johan. But Bernick shrinks from
the terrible shame that would come on him as one of the "pillars of
society. "


ACT III

SCENE. --CONSUL BERNICK'S _garden-room again_.
KRAP _is
speaking to the_ CONSUL.

KRAP: The _Palm Tree_ can sail to-morrow, but as for
the _Indian Girl_, in my opinion she will not get far. I
have been secretly examining the bottom of the ship,
where the repairs have been pushed on very fast. The
rotten place is patched up, and made to look like new, for
Aune has been working himself all night at it. There is
some villainy at work. I believe Aune wants, out of
revenge for the use of the new machines, to send that
ship to the bottom of the sea.

BERNICK: This is horrible. True, Aune is an agitator
who is spreading discontent, but this is inconceivable.

[KRAP _goes out, and presently_ LONA HESSEL _enters_.

BERNICK: Well, Lona, what do you think of me now?

LONA: Just what I thought before. A lie more or
less----

BERNICK: I can talk to you more confidentially than
to others. I shall hide nothing from you. I had a part
in spreading that rumour about Johan and the cash-box.
But make allowance for me. Our house when I came
home from my foreign tour was threatened with ruin,
and one misfortune followed another.