Poor Mr. Solness! And you have gone all these ten years—and staked your whole life—on that alone.
Yes, you may well say so, Hilda.
[With an outburst.] Oh, it all seems to me so foolish—so foolish!
All what?
Not to be able to grasp at your own happiness—at your own life! Merely because some one you know happens to stand in the way!
One whom you have no right to set aside.
I wonder whether one really has not the right! And yet, and yet—. Oh! if one could only sleep the whole thing away!
[She lays her arms flat don on the table, rests the left side of
her head on her hands, and shuts her eyes.
[Turns the arm-chair and sits down at the table.] Had you a cosy, happy home—up there with your father, Hilda?
[Without stirring, answers as if half asleep.] I had only a cage.