Lona: Hm! Olaf.
Martha: I will give Betty your message. (Goes out by the farther
door on the left.)
Lona: Well, the great and solemn moment is at hand.
Bernick (walking uneasily up and down): Yes, it is.
Lona: At such a moment I should think a man would feel proud and
happy.
Bernick (looking at her): Hm!
Lona: I hear the whole town is to be illuminated.
Bernick: Yes, they have some idea of that sort.
Lona: All the different clubs will assemble with their banners--
your name will blaze out in letters of fire--tonight the
telegraph will flash the news to every part of the country: "In
the bosom of his happy family, Mr. Bernick received the homage of
his fellow citizens, as one of the pillars of society."
Bernick: That is so; and they will begin to cheer outside, and
the crowd will shout in front of my house until I shall be
obliged to go out and bow to them and thank them.
Lona: Obliged to?
Bernick. Do you suppose I shall feel happy at that moment?
Lona: No, I don't suppose you will feel so very happy.
Bernick: Lona, you despise me.
Lona: Not yet.
Bernick: And you have no right to; no right to despise me! Lona,
you can have no idea how utterly alone I stand in this cramped
and stunted community--where I have had, year after year, to
stifle my ambition for a fuller life.
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