ALLMERS. Yes; all of a sudden, I found myself where I wanted to be—on the other side of the lake.
RITA. It must have been a night of terror for you, Alfred. But now that it is over, you will not admit it to yourself.
ALLMERS. That night sealed my resolution. And it was then that I turned about and came straight homewards. To Eyolf.
RITA. [Softly.] Too late.
ALLMERS. Yes. And then when—my fellow-traveller came and took him—then I felt the horror of it; of it all; of all that, in spite of everything, we dare not tear ourselves away from. So earthbound are we, both of us, Rita.
RITA. [With a gleam of joy.] Yes, you are, too, are you not! [Coming close to him.] Oh, let us live our life together as long as we can!
ALLMERS. [Shrugging his shoulders.] Live our life, yes! And have nothing to fill life with. An empty void on all sides—wherever I look.
RITA. [In fear.] Oh, sooner or later you will go away from me, Alfred! I feel it! I can see it in your face! You will go away from me.
ALLMERS. With my fellow-traveller, do you mean?
RITA. No, I mean worse than that. Of your own free will—you will leave me—for you think it's only here, with me, that you have nothing to live for. Is not that what is in your thoughts?