(CAPTAIN HORSTER brings in MRS. STOCKMANN and PETRA through the door on the right. EJLIF and MORTEN follow them in.)
Horster. I thought you might all sit here; you can slip out easily from here, if things get too lively.
Mrs. Stockmann. Do you think there will be a disturbance?
Horster. One can never tell—with such a crowd. But sit down, and don’t be uneasy.
Mrs. Stockmann (sitting down). It was extremely kind of you to offer my husband the room.
Horster. Well, if nobody else would—
Petra (who has sat down beside her mother). And it was a plucky thing to do, Captain Horster.
Horster. Oh, it is not such a great matter as all that.
(HOVSTAD and ASLAKSEN make their way through the crowd.)
Aslaksen (going up to HORSTER). Has the Doctor not come yet?