she had given me. I fastened it in my hair,--and immediately I
felt better. That was why I wore them the nest day too.

INGOLF. And now they lie at the bottom of the gorge!

HADDA PADDA. Yes.

INGOLF. What are you going to tell your mother?

HADDA PADDA. I won't tell her anything before I know whether they
will be found.

INGOLF. Have you asked any one to search for them?

HADDA PADDA. I just thought of asking Steindor, but I can hardly
bring myself to tell him,--if afterwards they should not be found.

INGOLF [A vague disquietude takes possession of him. He is silent
for an instant, then stares at Hadda, trying to read the influence
of his words upon her]. Well, you are going to-morrow, and the
very next day I will go down into the gorge and look for them.

HADDA PADDA. Will you really, Ingolf? And not tell Runa that I
lost them? Mother must not know that I have treated the pearls so
carelessly.

INGOLF. I won't tell any one.

HADDA PADDA [looking at him with wide-opened eyes]. I'd like it
even more if you would do it before I left. If you looked for them