He turns.] There she
is! A moment ago she was down here.
LISA. So it seems, but do not always believe your eyes.
PEHR. A strange world, this! But let me see if it is the same girl?
[Stares at her.] Yes, it is she. [Starts to run toward her, then
catches sight of ring.] What! my ring? You robbed me while I lay
senseless! Oh, do not believe your eyes, you said. No! for now I
have my first lesson--I wanted to embrace an angel, and I find a
thief.
LISA. Do not always believe your eyes, Pehr; investigate before you
judge.
PEHR. You are right. I shall do so. Girl, who are you? What is your
name?
LISA. Lisa is my name, but who I am you must not know until the
time is fulfilled. I came here and found you senseless--on the ice
I found your ring, the powers of which I did not know.
PEHR. You have saved me from certain death in the snow. Forgive me!
Lisa, you shall go with me on my journey, and you shall see a jolly
life.
LISA. You are traveling, you say--What is the object of your
journey?
PEHR. I seek--like all the rest--happiness.
LISA. You seek happiness! That is a fleeting thing.
PEHR. Ah, say not so! I can have all that I wish for. Have we not
been given the most delightful summer in the middle of winter? See
how gloriously the sun shines up in the pines! You must know that
all this is new to me. Oh, look! [Picks up a few spruce-cones.]
What are these?
LISA. The fruit of the trees.
PEHR. Then it is good to eat.
LISA. No; but children play with it.
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