MRS. BORKMAN. [Smiling bitterly.] H'm—is it indeed? [Breaking off.] Yes, it is true you have done a great deal for Erhart. [With a change of tone.] Well, of course, you could afford it. [Smiling.] You were so lucky, Ella; you managed to save all your money.
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Hurt.] I did not manage anything about it, I assure you. I had no idea—until long, long afterwards—that the securities belonging to me—that they had been left untouched.
MRS. BORKMAN. Well, well; I don't understand anything about these things! I only say you were lucky. [Looking inquiringly at her.] But when you, of your own accord, undertook to educate Erhart for me—what was your motive in that?
ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Looking at her.] My motive?
MRS. BORKMAN. Yes, some motive you must have had. What did you want to do with him? To make of him, I mean?
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Slowly.] I wanted to smooth the way for Erhart to happiness in life.
MRS. BORKMAN. [Contemptuously.] Pooh—people situated as we are have something else than happiness to think of.
ELLA RENTHEIM.
What, then?
MRS. BORKMAN. [Looking steadily and earnestly at her.] Erhart has in the first place to make so brilliant a position for himself, that no trace shall be left of the shadow his father has cast upon my name—and my son's.
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Searchingly.] Tell me, Gunhild, is this what Erhart himself demands of his life?