What do you mean by that?

[Looks despondently at her.] Building homes for human beings—is not worth a rap, Hilda.

Do you say that now?

Yes, for now I see it. Men have no use for these homes of theirs—to be happy in. And I should not have had any use for such a home, if I had had one. [With a quiet, bitter laugh.] See, that is the upshot of the whole affair, however far back I look. Nothing really built; nor anything sacrificed for the chance of building. Nothing, nothing! the whole is nothing!

Then you will never build anything more?

[With animation.] On the contrary, I am just going to begin!

What, then? What will you build? Tell me at once!

I believe there is only one possible dwelling-place for human happiness—and that is what I am going to build now.

[Looks fixedly at him.] Mr. Solness—you mean our castles in the air.

The castles in the air—yes.