Ragnar.
[Reflects.] Is it possible that all this time he has been afraid of me?
Hilda.
He afraid! I would not be so conceited if I were you.
Ragnar.
Oh, he must have seen long ago that I had something in me, too. Besides—cowardly—that is just what he is, you see.
Hilda.
He! Oh yes, I am likely to believe that!
Ragnar.
In a certain sense he is cowardly—he, the great master builder. He is not afraid of robbing others of their life’s happiness—as he has done both for my father and for me. But when it comes to climbing up a paltry bit of scaffolding—he will do anything rather than that.