ASTA. But you are not fitted for living alone!
ALLMERS. Oh, yes. I was so in the old days, at any rate.
ASTA. In the old days, yes; for then you had me with you.
ALLMERS. [Trying to take her hand.] Yes. And it is to you, Asta, that I now want to come home again.
ASTA. [Eluding him.] To me! No, no, Alfred! That is quite impossible.
ALLMERS. [Looks sadly at her.] Then Borgheim stands in the way after all?
ASTA. [Earnestly.] No, no; he does not! That is quite a mistake!
ALLMERS. Good. Then I will come to you—my dear, dear sister. I must come to you again—home to you, to be purified and ennobled after my life with—
ASTA. [Shocked.] Alfred,—you are doing Rita a great wrong!
ALLMERS. I have done her a great wrong. But not in this. Oh, think of it, Asta—think of our life together, yours and mine. Was it not like one long holy-day from first to last?