Eyolf.

[Involuntarily, a little timidly.] Why did they have to——?

The Rat-Wife.

What?

Eyolf.

To bite it?

The Rat-Wife.

Why, because they couldn’t keep body and soul together on account of the rats and all the little rat-children, you see, young master.

Rita.

Ugh! Poor people! Have they so many of them?