THE LEAGUE OF YOUTH. (continued 3)
Reading edition
Ringdal.
What’s this I hear? Your daughter engaged?
The Chamberlain.
Yes; what do you say to that?
Ringdal.
I am delighted! But when was it arranged?
Fieldbo.
[Quickly.] I’ll tell you afterwards——
The Chamberlain.
Why, it was arranged on the Seventeenth of May.
Fieldbo.
What?
The Chamberlain.
The day little Miss Ragna was here,
Thora.
Father, father; did you know——?
The Chamberlain.
Yes, my dear; I have known all along.
Fieldbo.
Oh, Chamberlain——!
Thora.
Who can have——?
The Chamberlain.
Another time, I should advise you young ladies not to talk so loud when I am taking my siesta in the bay window.
223Thora.
Oh! so you were behind the curtains?
Fieldbo.
Now I understand!
The Chamberlain.
Yes, you are the one to keep your own counsel——
Fieldbo.
Would it have been of any use for me to speak earlier?
The Chamberlain.
You are right, Fieldbo. These days have taught me a lesson.
Thora.
[Aside to Fieldbo.] Yes, you can keep your own counsel. All this about Mr. Stensgård—why did you tell me nothing?
Fieldbo.
When a hawk is hovering over the dove-cote, one watches and shields his little dove—one does not alarm her.
[They are interrupted by Madam Rundholmen.
Heire.
[To the Chamberlain.] I’m sorry to tell you, Chamberlain, that the settlement of our little legal differences will have to be adjourned indefinitely.
The Chamberlain.
Indeed! Why so?
Heire.
You must know I’ve accepted a post as society reporter on Aslaksen’s paper.
224The Chamberlain.
I am glad to hear it.
Heire.
And of course you’ll understand—with so much business on hand——
The Chamberlain.
Very well, my old friend; I can wait.
Madam Rundholmen.
[To Thora.] Yes, I can tell you he’s cost me many a tear, that bad man. But now I thank the Lord for Bastian. The other was false as the sea-foam; and then he’s a terrible smoker, Miss Bratsberg, and frightfully particular about his meals. I found him a regular gourmand.
A Servant.
[Enters from the left.] Dinner is on the table.
The Chamberlain.
Come along, then, all of you. Mr. Lundestad, you shall sit beside me; and you too, Mr. Aslaksen.
Ringdal.
We shall have a lot of toasts to drink after dinner!
Heire.
Yes; and perhaps an old man may be allowed to put in a claim for the toast of “Absent Friends.”
Lundestad.
One absent friend will return, Mr. Heire.
Heire.
Stensgård?
225Lundestad.
Yes; you’ll see, gentlemen! In ten or fifteen years, Stensgård will either be in Parliament or in the Ministry—perhaps in both at once.[22]
Fieldbo.
In ten or fifteen years? Perhaps; but then he can scarcely stand at the head of the League of Youth.
Heire.
Why not?
Fieldbo.
Why, because by that time his youth will be—questionable.
Heire.
Then he can stand at the head of the Questionable League, sir. That’s what Lundestad means. He says like Napoleon—“It’s the questionable people that make politicians”; hee-hee!
Fieldbo.
Well, after all is said and done, our League shall last through young days and questionable days as well; and it shall continue to be the League of Youth. When Stensgård founded his League, and was carried shoulder-high amid all the enthusiasm of Independence Day, he said—“Providence is on the side of the League of Youth.” I think even Mr. Helle, theologian as he is, will let us apply that saying to ourselves.
226The Chamberlain.
I think so too, my friends; for truly we have been groping and stumbling in darkness; but good angels guided us.
Lundestad.
Oh, for that matter, I think the angels were only middling.
Aslaksen.
Yes; that comes of the local situation, Mr. Lundestad.
THE END.
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