Bernick: The welfare of your native place is also at stake. If
things come out which cast reflections on my earlier conduct,
then all my opponents will fall upon me with united vigour. A
youthful folly is never allowed to be forgotten in our community.
They would go through the whole of my previous life, bring up a
thousand little incidents in it, interpret and explain
them in the light of what has been revealed; they would crush me
under the weight of rumours and slanders. I should be obliged to
abandon the railway scheme; and, if I take my hand off that, it
will come to nothing, and I shall be ruined and my life as a
citizen will be over.

Lona: Johan, after what we have just heard, you must go away from
here and hold your tongue.

Bernick: Yes, yes, Johan--you must!

Johan: Yes, I will go away, and I will hold my tongue; but I
shall come back, and then I shall speak.

Bernick: Stay over there, Johan; hold your tongue, and I am
willing to share with you--

Johan: Keep your money, but give me back my name and reputation.

Bernick: And sacrifice my own!

Johan: You and your community must get out of that the best way
you can. I must and shall win Dina for my wife. And therefore, I