FORESTER.

You stepped forward?—­

[Rises.]

ANDREW.

And said he was a miserable slanderer.  And that, moreover, he had no business to give orders in the forest.

FORESTER (straightens himself).

In the forest.

ANDREW.

And that he should go where he belonged.

FORESTER (emphatically).

Where he belonged.

[Sits down.]

And he—­

ANDREW.

Laughed.

FORESTER (rises and sits down again; whistles, and drums on the table).

Go on.

ANDREW.

And said:  “What does that fellow want?”

FORESTER (in a loud voice).

Andrew!

ANDREW.

Father—­

FORESTER.

And you?  Go on, go on.

ANDREW.

“Hasn’t he plants from my forest in his hand?” [Lowering his voice.]

“Hold that thief who steals wood and plants.”

FORESTER (short pause).

And they—­

ANDREW.

Held me.

FORESTER.

And you—­

ANDREW.

They were too many.  My resistance was of no avail—­

FORESTER (acting as if he were present at the fight).

Was of no avail.  They were six against one.

ANDREW.

I was furious when I saw what he intended to do.  They took off my clothes.  I told him to shoot me, otherwise I would shoot him if he let me escape with my life.  At that he laughed.  They—­had—­to hold—­me.

FORESTER (jumps up).

And he—­

ANDREW (reluctantly, imploring).

Father—­

FORESTER.

And he—­he—­

ANDREW.

He—­

FORESTER (faintly).

He—­

ANDREW (beside himself).

Father, I cannot say it.  No man in God’s world has ever dared to do that to me!

FORESTER (drawing a deep breath).

Be quiet now.  Say it later—­Andrew.

[Pause.  He passes by ANDREW, who now steps over to SOPHY.]

Fine weather today, pastor.  All at once the old rheumatism in my arm begins to bother me again.—­And the gnats are flying so low.  We shall have a thunderstorm before the day is over.—­Andrew, he did—­I never did, and a stranger—­a—­say nothing, Andrew—­I understand you.

[Goes up and down.]

SOPHY (to ANDREW).

How unfortunate that you provoked Godfrey yesterday!

WEILER.

Haven’t I foretold it?

SOPHY.

You are deathly pale.  I will give you some drops—­

FORESTER (drawn up to his full height, stops before ANDREW.  SOPHY timidly draws back).

Listen, Andrew.  And you, Weiler.

[WEILER advances.]