[With a grave smile.] Well, you see, Mr. Arnholm——. Do you remember what we were speaking of yesterday? When you have once for all become a land-animal—you can never find the way back again—out to the sea. Nor to the sea-life either.
Ballested.
Why, that’s just the case of my mermaid!
Ellida.
Very like it, yes.
Ballested.
Only with this difference, that the mermaid—she dies of it. Human beings, on the contrary—they can acclam—accli—matise themselves. Yes, I assure you, Mrs. Wangel, they can ac-cli-matise themselves.
Ellida.
Yes, in freedom they can, Mr. Ballested.
Wangel.