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_ ACT II - SCENE IV
SCENE--The apartment where the COUNT, ELEONORA, CHRISTINA, _&c., were dancing.
Enter Mrs. ULRICA, eading the two children.
Christina.
Ha! Mrs. Ulrica, and her little godson.
Mrs. Ulrica.
My lady, I beg pardon for presuming to interrupt; but I was so proud of my little godson and his sister, though not my goddaughter, that I couldn't but bring them up, through the very midst of the company, to my master, to praise them according to their deserts; for nobody can praise those that deserve it so well as my master--to my fancy.
Eleonora
(aside).
Nor to mine.
Mrs. Ulrica.
Here's a purse, sir, which this little boy and girl of mine found in the woods as they were going home; and, like honest children, as they are, they came back with it directly to me, thinking that it was mine.
Helmaar.
Shake hands, my honest little fellow
--this is just what I should have expected
from a godson of Mrs. Ulrica, and a son of--
Mrs. Ulrica
(aside to the Count).
Oh, Lord bless you, sir, don't tell him--My lady
--(to Christina)
--would you take the children out of hearing?
Eleon
(to the children).
Come with us, my dears.
[Exeunt ladies and children.]
Mrs. Ulrica.
Don't, sir, pray, tell the children any thing about their father: they don't know that their father's here, though they've just seen him; and I've been striving all I can to keep the secret, and to keep the father here all night, that I may have the pleasure of seeing the meeting of father and mother and children at their own cottage to-morrow. I would not miss the sight of their meeting for fifty pounds; and yet I shall not see it after all--for Christiern will go, all I can say or do. Lord bless me! I forgot to bolt him in when I came up with the children--the bird's flown, for certain
--(going in a great hurry).
Helmaar.
Good Mrs. Ulrica, you need not be alarmed; your prisoner is very safe, I can assure you, though you forgot to bolt him in: I have given him an employment that will detain him a full hour, for I design to have the pleasure of restoring my deliverer myself to his family.
Mrs. Ulrica.
Oh! that will be delightful!--Then you'll keep him here all night!--but that will vex him terribly; and of all the days and nights of the year, one wouldn't have any body vexed this day or night, more especially the man, who, as I may say, is the cause of all our illuminations, and rejoicings, and dancings--no, no, happen what will, we must not have him vexed.
Helmaar.
He shall not be vexed, I promise you; and, if it be necessary to keep your heart from breaking, my good Mrs. Ulrica, I'll tell you a secret, which I had intended, I own, to have kept from you one half hour longer.
Mrs. Ulrica.
A secret! dear sir, half an hour's a great while, to keep a secret from one when it's about one's friends: pray, if it be proper--but you are the best judge--I should be very glad to hear just a little hint of the matter, to prepare me.
Helmaar.
Then prepare in a few minutes to see the happy meeting between Christiern and his family: I have sent to his cottage for his wife, to desire that she would come hither immediately.
Mrs. Ulrica.
Oh! a thousand thanks to you, sir;
but I'm afraid the messenger will let the cat out of the bag.
Helmaar.
The man I have sent can keep a secret
--Which way did the Lady Eleonora go?
--Are those peasants in the hall?
[Exit Count.]
Mrs. Ulrica
(following).
She went towards the west drawing-room, I think, sir.
--Yes, sir, the peasants are at supper in the hall.
(Aside)
Bless me! I wonder what messenger he sent, for I don't know many-
-men I mean--fit to be trusted with a secret.
[Exit.] _
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