But you have been—— [To RAGNAR.] Well, leave them here, then.

Very well.

And go home at once to your father.

Yes, I suppose I must.

[As if in desperation.] Ragnar—you must not ask me to do what is beyond my power! Do you hear, Ragnar? You must not!

No, no. I beg you pardon—

[He bows, and goes out by the corner door. HILDA goes over and
sits down on a chair near the mirror.

[Looks angrily at SOLNESS.] That was a very ugly thing to do.

Do you think so, too?

Yes, it was horribly ugly—and hard and bad and cruel as well.