That was mainly what I meant—at all events, yesterday. For to-day I am not so sure—[Breaking off.] Come here and let us sit down, Hilda. Sit there on the sofa—so that you can look into the garden. [HILDA seats herself in the corner of the sofa. SOLNESS brings a chair closer.] Should you like to hear about it?

Yes, I shall love to sit and listen to you.

[Sits down.] Then I will tell you all about it.

Now I can see both the garden and you, Mr. Solness. So now, tell away! Begin!

[Points towards the bow-window.] Out there on the rising ground—where you see the new house—

Yes?

Aline and I lived there in the first years of our married life. There was an old house up there that had belonged to her mother; and we inherited it, and the whole of the great garden with it.

Was there a tower on that house, too?

No, nothing of the kind. From the outside it looked like a great, dark, ugly wooden box; but all the same, it was snug and comfortable enough inside.

Then did you pull down the ramshackle old place?