[Slowly tears the paper across, lays both pieces on the table, and says:] Here is my answer.

Gregers.

Just what I expected.

Hialmar.

[Goes over to Gina, who stands by the stove, and says in a low voice:] Now please make a clean breast of it. If the connection between you and him was quite over when you—came to care for me, as you call it—why did he place us in a position to marry?

Gina.

I suppose he thought as he could come and go in our house.

Hialmar.

Only that? Was not he afraid of a possible contingency?

Gina.