A hillock, covered with bushes and heather. The high-*road runs behind it; a fence between.
Peer Gynt comes along a footpath, goes quickly up to the fence, stops, and looks out over the distant prospect.
Peer.
Yonder lies Hegstad. Soon I'll have reached it.
[Puts one leg over the fence; then hesitates.
Wonder if Ingrid's alone in the house now?
[Shades his eyes with his hand, and looks out.
No; to the farm guests are swarming like midges.— H'm, to turn back now perhaps would be wisest.
[Draws back his leg.
Still they must titter behind your back, And whisper so that it burns right through you.
[Moves a few steps away from the fence, and begins absently plucking leaves.
Ah, if I'd only a good strong dram now.
Or if I could pass to and fro unseen.—
Or were I unknown.—Something proper and strong
Were the best thing of all, for the laughter don't bite then.
[Looks around suddenly as though afraid; then hides among the bushes. Some Wedding-guests[1] pass by, going downwards towards the farm.
A Man.
[In conversation as they pass.]
His father was drunken, his mother is weak.
- ↑ "Sendingsfolk," literally, "folks with presents." When the Norwegian peasants are bidden to a wedding-feast, they bring with them presents of eatables.
