That’s the way we’ll deal with life, my dear, won’t we?  Let it frown like a blind owl in the sun—­we’ll compel it to smile.

WIFE

And to dance to our songs—­so we will, we two.

MAN

We two.  You’re a good wife, you’re my true friend, you’re a brave little woman, and as long as you are with me I fear nothing.  Poverty, what does it amount to?  To-day we’re poor, to-morrow rich.

WIFE

And what is hunger?  To-day we are hungry, to-morrow satisfied.

MAN

Do you think so?  It’s quite possible.  But I’ll eat a lot.  I shall need so much to satisfy my hunger.  Tell me, do you think this will prove enough?  In the, morning, tea or coffee or chocolate.  You can have your choice.  It’s free.  Then a breakfast of three courses, then lunch, then dinner, then—­

WIFE

More fruit.  I like fruit.

MAN

Very well.  I’ll buy fruit by the barrel, direct from the wholesale market.  It’s cheaper and fresher.  Besides, we’ll have our own garden.

WIFE

But we have no land.

MAN

I’ll buy land.  I’ve always wanted to have my own piece of land.  By the way, I’ll build a house for us and design it too.  Let the rascals see what sort of an architect I am.

WIFE

I should like to live in Italy, close by the sea; in a white marble villa in a grove of lemons and cypresses, with marble steps leading straight down to the blue water.

MAN

I understand.  That’s all right.  But I intend, besides, to build a castle in the mountains of Norway.  Below, the fjord; and above, on the steep mountain, the castle.  We have no paper.  But look, I’ll show it to you on the wall here.  Here is the fjord, you see?

WIFE

Yes, beautiful.

MAN

Here, sparkling blue water gently beating against the green grass; here, beautiful cinnamon-colored stone; and there, in the recess, where this spot is, a bit of blue sky and serene white clouds.

WIFE

Look, there is a white boat floating on the water—­it looks like two swans swimming side by side.

MAN

And up there rises the mountain.  Bright and green below, it turns gloomier and sterner as it ascends—­rugged crags, dark shadows, fallen boulders, and patches of clouds.