And what is that?
The longing to see you great. To see you, with a wreath in your hand, high, high up upon a church-tower. [Calm again.] Come, out with your pencil now. You must have a pencil about you?
[Takes out his pocket-book.] I have one here.
[Lays the portfolio on the sofa-table.] Very well. Now let us two sit down here, Mr. Solness. [SOLNESS seats himself at the table. HILDA stands behind him, leaning over the back of the chair.] And now we well write on the drawings. We must write very, very nicely and cordially—for this horrid Ruar—or whatever his name is.
[Writes a few words, turns his head and looks at her.] Tell me one thing, Hilda.
Yes!
If you have been waiting for me all these ten years—
What then?
Why have you never written to me? Then I could have answered you.
[Hastily.] No, no, no! That was just what I did not want.