Dear me! What do you want, if you please?
Axel. I want to work for myself, to owe my position in life to my own efforts—to become something.
Father. Really.—What a foolish idea! (Moves towards the door.)
Mother. But an idea we must take an interest in. He is our child's husband now, remember. What do you want to be, my boy? Member of Parliament?
Axel. No; but my uncle, who has about the largest legal practice in these parts, offered long ago to hand it over to me.
Mother. But you wouldn't be able to look after it from here, would you, Axel?
Father (at the door). A ridiculous idea!—Come back to breakfast. (Turns to go.)
Mother. That is true, isn't it? You couldn't look after it from here?
Axel. No; but I can move into town.
All. Move into town? (A pause. The FATHER turns back from the door.)
Father. That is still more impossible, of course.
Mother. There must be something at the bottom of this. Is anything worrying you? (Lowering her voice.) Are you in debt?
Axel. No, thanks to the kindness of you two. You have freed me from that.
Mother. Then what is it, Axel? You have been so, strange lately—what is it, my dear boy?
Father. Nonsensical ideas—probably his stomach is disordered. Remember the last time I ate lobster!—Come along in and have a glass of sherry, and you will forget all about it.
Axel. No, it isn't a thing one can forget. It is always in my thoughts—more and more insistently. I must have work for my mind—some outlet for my ambition. I am bored here.
Mother. Two days after your wedding!
Father. Set to work then, for heaven's sake! What is there to hinder you? Would you like to take charge of one of my farms? Or to start some improvements on the estate?—or anything you please! I have no doubt you have ideas, and I will provide the money—only do not let us have any of this fuss!
Axel. But then I shall be indebted to you for everything, and shall feel dependent.
Father. So you would rather feel indebted to your uncle?
Axel. He will give me nothing. I must buy it from him.
Father. Really!—How?
Axel. With my work and my—. Oh well, I suppose you would lend me a little capital?
Father. Not a penny.
Axel. But why?
Father. I will tell you why. Because my son in law must be my son-in-law, and not a speculating lawyer who sits with his door open and a sign hung out to beg for custom.
Axel. Is a lawyer's profession a dishonourable one, then?
Father. No, it is not. But you have been received into one of the oldest and richest families in the country, and you owe some respect to its traditions. Generation after generation, from time immemorial, the heads of our family have been lords of the manor—not office seekers or fortune hunters. The honourable offices I have held have all been offered to me and not sought by me; and I am not going to have you chattering about your university degree or your talents. You shall stay quietly here, and you will be offered more than you want.
Mother. Come, come, my dear, don't get heated over it; that always makes you so unwell. Let us arrive at some arrangement without wrangling. Axel, you must be reasonable; you know he cannot stand any over-exertion. Laura, get your father a glass of water. Come, my dear, let us go back to the dining-room.
Father. Thanks, I have no appetite left now.
Mother. There, you see!—Axel, Axel!
Laura. For shame, Axel!
Mother. Sit down, dear, sit down! My goodness, how hot you are!
Father. It is so warm in here.
Mother. That is the stove. Shut it down, Mathilde!
Laura (to AXEL). You are a nice one, I must say!
Father. The chairs—put them straight! (They do so.) And the table! (They do so.) That is better.
Mother. That is the worst of a stranger in the house—something of this sort may so easily happen.
Father. But a thing like this!—I have never in my life been contradicted before.
Mother. It is for the first and last time! He will soon learn who you are and what is due to you.
Father. And to think that, the first time, it should be my son-in-law that—
Mother. He will regret it for the rest of your life, you may be sure, and when you are gone he will have no peace of mind. We can only hope that the atmosphere of affection in this house will improve him. Really, lately, Axel has behaved as if he were bewitched.
Laura. Yes, hasn't he?
Mother. Good gracious, Laura, do you mean that you—
Laura. No, I didn't mean anything.
Mother. Laura, are you trying to conceal something?
Father. And from us? (Gets up.) Are things as bad as that?
Laura. I assure you, dear people, it is nothing; it is only—
Father and Mother (together). Only—?
Laura. No, no, it is nothing—only you frighten me so.
Father and Mother (together). She is crying!
Mathilde. She is crying!
Father. Now, sir—why is she crying?
Laura. But, father, father—look, I am not crying the least bit.
Mother and Mathilde. Yes, she is crying!
Axel. Yes—and will cry every day until we make a change here! (A pause, while they all look at him.) Well, as so much has been said, it may as well all come out. Our marriage is not a happy one, because it lacks the most essential thing of all.
Mother. Merciful heavens, what are you saying!
Father. Compose yourself; let me talk to him. What do you mean, sir?
Axel. Laura does not love me—
Laura. Yes, that is what he says!
Axel. She hasn't the least idea what love means, and will never learn as long as she is in her father's house.
Mother and Father. Why?
Axel. Because she lives only for her parents; me, she looks upon merely as an elder brother who is to assist her in loving them.
Mother. Is that so distasteful to you, then?
Axel. No, no.
