That is just the terrible part of it—I don’t know what to believe,—I never can know it. But can you really doubt that it must be as I say? Ho-ho, you have far too much faith in the claim of the ideal, my good Gregers! If those others came, with the glamour of wealth about them, and called to the child:—“Leave him: come to us: here life awaits you——!”
Gregers.
[Quickly.] Well, what then?
Hialmar.
If I then asked her: Hedvig, are you willing to renounce that life for me? [Laughs scornfully.] No thank you! You would soon hear what answer I should get.
[A pistol shot is heard from within the garret.
Gregers.
[Loudly and joyfully.] Hialmar!
Hialmar.
There now; he must needs go shooting too.