Modern Icelandic Plays Part 45

_Jorunn._

Yet he has been here several times. Once he stayed overnight. Besides you have heard him spoken of, and you know his people. Everybody knows the Hofstad people.

_Ljot._

Father has given his word without asking me. He had no right to do that.

_Jorunn._

You have worked yourself up, Ljot. I don't understand you. Can it really be that you have promised yourself to some one without letting your parents know it?

_Ljot._

I have not.

_Jorunn._

You need not hide anything from me. If you have given your word, you must keep it.

_Ljot._

I told you that I have not.

_Jorunn._

You could not tell your old mother a falsehood! But if you are free and not bound by any promise, this puzzles me. Halfdan is young and a capable man, and his father is one of the richest and most respected farmers in the countryside.

_Ljot._

But I don't care for him. You can't mean that I should marry a man I don't care for. (_Leans over the fence._)

_Jorunn._

Once you are married you will come to care for him. (_Goes to her._) It is a great step you are about to take. Weigh your words well, so that you may not rue them. Be careful not to thrust away happiness when she reaches out her hand to you, or there may come a day when you will repent. You must know that your parents wish nothing but what is good for you.

_Ljot (with tears in her voice)._

It seems to me you are against me, both you and father.

_Jorunn (stroking her hair)._

I believe you are hiding something from your mother. I think I know what it is. You were very much pleased with the bird's skin you got to-day.

(_Ljot is silent._) The winter your father asked me in marriage there came to my home a man who used to go from farm to farm doing odd carpenter jobs. One evening I carried his coffee to him where he was at work. He had a big chest standing there that he kept his tools in. I can remember it plainly; it was yellow. I stood waiting for him to finish his coffee so that I could take the cup back, when he took out of the chest a work-box-- the prettiest thing I've ever seen. It was of dark brown wood, the lid round, with pictures of animals carved on it. He made me a present of it, and when I was about to go, he asked me for a kiss, but I would not give it to him.

_Ljot._

You never told me about this.

_Jorunn._

He was a good-looking man, with big brown eyes. Well, when your father came, my father and mother both wanted me to become his wife. It was not altogether easy for me, but I would not go against their wishes.

I thought it my duty to please them, and besides the other man had never asked me straight out.

_Ljot._

But he was the one you cared for.

_Jorunn._

Perhaps I thought so at the time. (_Silence._) He went away on the night he heard that I was promised to your father. A year after I married your father, he was drowned-- some thought he had taken his own life.

_Ljot._

Maybe that was your doing.

_Jorunn._

How can you say such a thing to your mother!

_Ljot._

Don't be angry with me, mother.

_Jorunn._

A man who cannot bear his fate is not worth much. I should not have been happy as his wife, and I could not wish for a better man than your father. When two people live together a whole lifetime and have an honest will to do what is right by each other, they will come to care for each other, as the years go by. (_Silence._) I have told you this so that you may think it over, but if you feel in your own heart that it is right to go against the wishes of your parents, then you will have to do so. (_Ljot is silent._) You say nothing, my child? I have tried as best I could, in my poor way, to do what seemed my duty. I cannot give my daughter any other or better advice. When the hour of sorrow comes, as it must come to you too, there is nothing else that can bring you peace.

_Ljot._

I will do as you wish.

_Jorunn._

I always knew that I had a good daughter. (_Strokes her hair._) How glad your father will be! This will be a great day for him, and you will never regret that you did as your parents wished. [_Goes in._

(_Ljot stands alone._)

_Enter Einar and Frida from the house._

_Einar (to Frida)._

You can start the bellows. I hope the fire has not gone out. [_They go into the smithy._

_Enter Helgi from the house. He goes into the smithy and comes out again with a turf-spade in his hand._

_Einar (in the door)._

Shall you be home for dinner?