Guldstad [gravely]. An unromantic poem I mean to make Of one who only lives for duty's sake. Falk [with a smile to the whole company]. I go to scale the Future's possibilities! Farewell!
[Softly to Svanhild.
God bless thee, bride of my life's dawn, Where'er I be, to nobler deed thou'lt wake me.
[Waves his hat and follows the Students.
Svanhild.
[Looks after him a moment, then says, softly but firmly:
Now over is my life, by lea and lawn,
The leaves are falling;—now the world may take me.
[At this moment the piano strikes up a dance, and champagne corks explode in the background. The gentlemen hurry to and fro with their ladies on their arms. Guldstad approaches Svanhild and bows: she starts momentarily, then collects herself and gives him her hand. Mrs. Halm and her family, who have watched the scene in suspense, throng about them with expressions of rapture, which are overpowered by the music and the merriment of the dancers in the garden.
[But from the country the following chorus rings loud and defiant through the dance music:
