(_Mrs. Hammelev and Kirsten. They are drinking coffee at the centre table, which is covered with a small tablecloth_.)
KIRSTEN
Yes, Lavst’s promised. The carriage will be there, I’m sure. It’s all been arranged.
MRS. HAMMELEV
Thank you very much, Kirsten. And remember now, it is the 8.20 train.
KIRSTEN
Oh, yes, yes--
MRS. HAMMELEV (_eagerly_)
And the carriage should be at the station in plenty of time. I should say eight o’clock at the latest. So it must leave here at seven.
KIRSTEN
Oh, it don’t take no more than a half hour to get there.
MRS. HAMMELEV
I am always so afraid that something may happen. And if we should come late! You must remember, Kirsten, that he is quite helpless. And in a railroad station, especially, in the midst of people who think only of themselves.
KIRSTEN
Yes--I wonder sometimes how he can travel like that, all alone, without gettin’ into trouble, the poor boy! How helpless a man is without a pair of eyes to see with!
MRS. HAMMELEV
Everything is in God’s power, Kirsten. And then you must know that by this time he has become accustomed to helping himself. It is now seven years since the misfortune came upon him.
KIRSTEN
Heavens! Is it really? Yes, time flies--indeed it does! I remember very well the time when you and Mr. Hammelev took him to the doctor, and you was told that poor Anton was goin’ to lose his eyesight. Both me and Furst felt awful sorry over it.
MRS. HAMMELEV (_painfully touched_)
Yes, Kirsten, but--
KIRSTEN (_without interruption_)
It was an awful and terrible thing to think of! Such a nice-lookin’ boy as he was! He had that curly hair of his that suited him so fine--and them beautiful eyes of his--oh, what beautiful eyes he had, anyhow! Poor Anton! Yes, we used to always call him “poor little Anton”, ’cause he wasn’t very strong. But he was a pretty big lad at that time. Wasn’t he just goin’ to graduate? Let’s see--he graduated from high school when--
MRS. HAMMELEV
Twice--two years in succession he failed, and he used to be the first one in his class, and then--(_Pauses_.) But, God be praised, he has amounted to something in spite of all. He has turned out to be a very clever boy--although he took up a different profession than we had wanted him to.
KIRSTEN
Yes, both Mr. Hammelev and you wanted him to study to be a minister, didn’t you? And what’s a musician! And _you_ was a minister’s daughter!
MRS. HAMMELEV
Musician! But, Kirsten, my son is not an ordinary musician. He is an artist--yes--you know what that means, don’t you, Kirsten? He plays in big halls where people gather just to hear music. Have I never read to you what has been said of him in the newspapers?
KIRSTEN
Yes, thanks, and I must say it was a real pleasure and comfort for me to hear, ’specially when it’s a person you have no right to expect too much from; that Fate has struck like him and who must bend to the will of our Lord, as long as it’s got to be. But it’s awful sad to think that His choice should fall on poor Anton. I always thought, when I saw him, that he was made to live in sunshine and light all the time. And to think that he should have to wander in darkness!--as it is written in the Bible.
MRS. HAMMELEV (_half to herself_)
Yes, Kirsten, there was a time when I thought as you do. Many a night I have lain awake, struggling with God for my child. I wouldn’t let him go until He blessed me. And when I saw that Anton’s sight, with every day that passed, grew dimmer and dimmer, there was a moment when I turned against Him, and in my foolishness wanted Him to account for His acts. At times I almost thought it would be best if He would take the child back to Him.
KIRSTEN (_with sincerity_)
Perhaps it would have been best.
MRS. HAMMELEV
No, Kirsten, it wouldn’t. And I shall never forgive myself that I once in a dark moment let Anton understand that I did think so. Now it has dawned upon me that God nevertheless has heard my prayers. He has given my son new light; but He has lighted it in the depth of his soul. _There_ grow flowers and sparkle springs as pure as neither you nor I have imagination to dream of, Kirsten. (_Noise outside of voices of children, mingled with the clatter of their wooden shoes._) I suppose school is over.
KIRSTEN (_rising from her chair_)
Good heavens! Is it that late? Oh, I got to be goin’!
MRS. HAMMELEV
Oh, no. Stay a while, Kirsten. Mr. Hammelev will be in soon. We’ll have another cup of coffee.