FAIRY. Then it was not to do Pehr a kindness that you sent him out
in the world, but to harm the old man!
ELF. Even we immortals can make mistakes. Let, us make amends for
our fault.
FAIRY. If it is not too late?
ELF. How so?
FAIRY. Pehr is a misanthrope and cannot become reconciled to life.
ELF. Lisa will rectify all that, and then the old man will have
atoned for his sin. One must patch where one has torn.
FAIRY. I have already made my preparations.
ELF. Here?
FAIRY. Here in this sanctuary whose floor we may not tread.
ELF. And why not? True, it is holy ground, and we were not allowed
to become participants in the Great Redemption because--well,
because something which we mustn't know about came between. But
that does not prevent the humans from believing some good of us;
and in that they do right, for the matter has its sides. Meantime,
I shall not absent myself--even if I may not be near to witness
that this reconciliation comes out all right. Even we lost souls
can rejoice in the happiness of others. Farewell, but not for long.
FAIRY. Farewell. [Elf and Fairy vanish.]
[Enter Lisa.]
LISA. Here in this peaceful church the good fairy promised me that
I should meet him--How shall I behold him now? Has he learned aught
of life, or is he still the same selfish, pleasure-loving youth who
pursues only fickle fortune? If he had had the courage to do a bad
act in a good cause, then he would at least have shown that he
could make a sacrifice for something besides himself; for the most
that we can give to a cause is our precious regard for ourselves.
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