Ingolf.  How silently happiness steals upon us.  We sat alone in the room, far from the din of the dance.  Then it came.  I heard its tread in the quiver of your breath. ...  Then I felt it in my hand.

Hadda Padda.  And yet you sat there immovable, and made the very seconds fight for my life.  When I held your hand, I was afraid lest a single finger tremble—­till you closed your hand around my wrist, and drew me to you. [She leans toward him.]

Ingolf.  Do you know what attracted me most to you?

Hadda Padda.  You don’t know yourself.

Ingolf.  Why not ...?

Hadda Padda.  Because you love me.

Ingolf.  But I think I know now.

Hadda Padda.  Well, what is it?

Ingolf.  The thing that kept us apart so long.

Hadda Padda.  And that is? ...

Ingolf.  Your reticence.  That awaiting attitude you just called pride.  I have known other women.  They came to me without first listening to my heart ... but you did not.

Hadda Padda.  I looked into your eyes.  I saw the flame in them increase, the longer they gazed at me.

Ingolf.  The human heart is like the mountains:  they give no echo if we get too near.

Hadda Padda [lets herself slide down at Ingolf’s knees, so that he sits bending over her].  Let me look at you for a long time.—­How long your eyelashes are!  Each time you blink, it is as though invisible petals were sprinkled upon me.

Ingolf [closing her hands in his].  Now you have no hands. ...  Shall I give them to you again? [Lets go, but looks at her one hand lying in his.] Your nails have a tinge like that of ice in sunshine.

Hadda Padda [withdraws her hand, laughing, and gets up].  I am just thinking ...

Ingolf.  What are you thinking?

Hadda Padda [walks a few steps and stops behind him].  I was lying down outside in the garden to-day.  I could not keep awake.  I dreamed I stood outside the Cathedral.  It was dark inside, but all along the church floor, on either side, was a straight row of unlit candles.  I remember all the white soft wicks, peeping half out, waiting for light.  Then a sudden gust of wind swept through the whole church, and as it grazed the wicks, all the candles were lighted.

Ingolf [keeps silent].

Hadda Padda.  What do you think the dream means?  I think it means happiness.

Ingolf.  You must not deprive your dream of its beauty by interpreting it.

Hadda Padda.  Happiness comes to us like a beautiful dream that we don’t dare to interpret.

Ingolf.  You have promised to trust me as much as you love me.

Hadda Padda.  I see the future mirrored in those days we lived together.