No More Learning

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. I was almost in
despair, and in my distraction got into that difficulty
which ended with the disappearance of Johan. Then
after you and he left various reports were spread. Some
folks declared that he had taken the money to America.
I was in such difficulty that I did not say a word to contradict
the rumours.

LONA: So a lie has made you one of the pillars of
society.

JOHAN (_entering_): I have come to tell you that I intend
not only to marry Dina Dorf, but to remain here and
to defy all these liars. Yesterday I promised to keep
silence, but now I need the truth. You must set me free
by telling the truth, that I may win Dina.