HADDA PADDA [is heard calling, almost out of breath].  I wanted to catch you before you went down. [Enters.] There was nobody else at home to bring the spade, so I offered to do it.

INGOLF.  Did you tell mother we were coming here?

HADDA PADDA.  She asked.  She saw you walk up the mountain.  I told her you had lost your diamond ring in the gorge, and you and Steindor were going down to look for it.

INGOLF.  Did she send you with the spade?

HADDA PADDA.  No, she said, that if she had known it, she would have asked you to take a spade along, and get some angelicas for the garden.  That is why I followed you. [Walks out and drives the spade in the ground.] Have you been down already?

INGOLF.  Yes, we have.

HADDA PADDA.  Did you find your diamond ring?

INGOLF.  We did not find your pearls.—­Yes, I had to tell Steindor.  I went down first and searched very carefully; then I asked Steindor to go down,—­I thought he might have better luck.

STEINDOR.  They will never be found.

HADDA PADDA.  They MUST be found; they SHALL be found.

INGOLF[looks questioningly into her eyes].  Are you sure they did not fall beyond that lowest rock? [Points in the direction.]

HADDA PADDA [eagerly, and returning his glance calmly].  No, no.  I saw them fall, just by the big stone.  You haven’t looked carefully enough.  It has really taken you no time at all.

INGOLF.  I hunted for them everywhere, as if I were searching for a needle.

STEINDOR.  I can’t search any better than I have,

HADDA PADDA.  Then it is due to the fog.  Probably I have to wait till later ...  No, I can’t go home without them.

STEINDOR.  The fog is not so dense, that they couldn’t be found on its account.  You can see all around, down in the gorge.  Just look!

HADDA PADDA [walks out to the edge, looks down, turns round abruptly].  Did you search in the pool near the big stone?  It might have fallen there.

STEINDOR.  I took a look at it, but I didn’t see anything.

INGOLF.  I would have seen them glitter in the water, if they were there.

HADDA PADDA.  Glitter in the water!  And the pool covered with duck-weed!  So that’s how you searched!—­Did you look all through the duck-weed, did you fish it out of the pond, to see if the pearls were hidden in it?

INGOLF.  No, I didn’t do that.

STEINDOR.  No, it may be possible—­

HADDA PADDA.  Yes, it is possible, to be sure.  Hundreds of women might have lost their pearls down there, without your having found them.

STEINDOR.  No, I think you are the only one...

HADDA PADDA [turns quickly toward Ingolf].  What do you think mother will say when she hears that I have lost the heirloom?—­ [Resolutely.] Men never can find anything, men do not understand how to search. [Tears the rope from Steindor.] I had better go down myself.