Mrs. Rosmer. And my husband is not at home.
Madam Helset. The tea is ready as soon as you want it.
Mrs. Rosmer. But wait; we can’t tell whether he’ll stay.
Madam Helset. Yes, yes. (Goes out to the right.)
Mrs. Rosmer. (Goes over and opens the door to the hall.) Good afternoon; how glad I am to see you, my dear Rector![18]
In this version the “white horses” appear, definitely explained, after some sixteen pages:
Rosmer. ... My former self is dead. I look upon it as one looks upon a corpse.
Mrs. Rosmer. Yes, but that is just when these white horses appear.
Rosmer. White horses? What white horses?
(Madam Helset brings in the tea-urn and puts it on the table.)