Ellida. Protect? What is there to protect me from? I am not threatened by any outward power. The terror lies deeper, Wangel.
The terror is--the attraction in my own mind. And what can you do against that?
Wangel. I can strengthen and urge you to fight against it.
Ellida. Yes; if I wished to fight against it.
Wangel. Then you do not wish to?
Ellida. Oh! I don't know myself.
Wangel. Tonight all will be decided, dear Ellida-Ellida (bursting out). Yes, think! The decision so near--the decision for one's whole life!
Wangel. And then tomorrow--Ellida. Tomorrow! Perhaps my real future will have been ruined.
Wangel. Your real--Ellida. The whole, full life of freedom lost--lost for me, and perhaps for him also.
Wangel (in a lower tone, seizing her wrist). Ellida, do you love this stranger?
Ellida. Do I? Oh, how can I tell! I only know that to me he is a terror, and that--Wangel. And that--
Ellida (tearing herself away). And that it is to him I think I belong.
Wangel (bowing his head). I begin to understand better.
Ellida. And what remedy have you for that? What advice to give me?
Wangel (looking sadly at her). Tomorrow he will be gone, then the misfortune will be averted from your head; and then I will consent to set you free. We will cry off the bargain tomorrow, Ellida.
Ellida. Ah, Wangel, tomorrow! That is too late.
Wangel (looking towards garden). The children--the children!
Let us spare them, at least for the present.
(ARNHOLM, BOLETTE, HILDE, and LYNGSTRAND come into the garden.
LYNGSTRAND says goodbye in the garden, and goes out. The rest come into the room.)Arnholm. You must know we have been making plans.
Hilde. We're going out to the fjord tonight and--Bolette. No; you mustn't tell.
Wangel. We two, also, have been making plans.
Arnholm. Ah!--really?
Wangel. Tomorrow Ellida is going away to Skjoldviken for a time.
Bolette. Going away?
Arnholm. Now, look here, that's very sensible, Mrs. Wangel.
Wangel. Ellida wants to go home again--home to the sea.
Hilde (springing towards ELLIDA). You are going away--away from us?
Ellida (frightened). Hilde! What is the matter?
Hilde (controlling herself). Oh, it's nothing. (In a low voice, turning from her.) Are only you going?
Bolette (anxiously). Father--I see it--you, too, are going--to Skjoldviken!
Wangel. No, no! Perhaps I shall run out there every now and again.
Bolette. And come here to us?
Wangel. I will--Bolette. Every now and again!
Wangel. Dear child, it must be. (He crosses the room.)Arnholm (whispers). We will talk it over later, Bolette. (He crosses to WANGEL. They speak in low tones up stage by the door.)Ellida (aside to BOLETTE). What was the matter with Hilde? She looked quite scared.
Bolette. Have you never noticed what Hilde goes about here, day in, day out, hungering for?
Ellida. Hungering for?
Bolette. Ever since you came into the house?
Ellida. No, no. What is it?
Bolette. One loving word from you.
Ellida. Oh! If there should be something for me to do here!
(She clasps her hands together over her head, and looks fixedly in front of her, as if torn by contending thoughts and emotions.
WANGEL and ARNHOLM come across the room whispering. BOLETTE goes to the side room, and looks in. Then she throws open the door.)Bolette. Father, dear--the table is laid--if you--Wangel (with forced composure). Is it, child? That's well. Come, Arnholm! We'll go in and drink a farewell cup--with the "Lady from the Sea." (They go out through the right.)
