Relling. No, worse luck, he’s not more mad than most people. But he’s diseased all the same.
Gina. What is it that’s the matter with him then?
Relling. Well, I’ll tell you Mrs. Ekdal. He’s suffering from an acute attack of virtue-fever——
Gina. Virtue-fever?
Hedvig. Is that a disease then?
Relling. Certainly; it’s a national disease; but it only appears sporadically. (Nodding to Gina.) Thanks for your hospitality. (He goes out at the entrance-door.)
Gina (walking up and down uneasily). Uf, that Gregers Werle—he always was a horrid beast.
Hedvig (standing by the table and looking at her searchingly). It all seems very strange to me.
ACT IV.
[Hjalmar Ekdal’s studio. A photograph has just been taken; a camera, with a cloth over it, a pedestal, a few chairs, a console, and so forth are placed down the stage. It is afternoon; the sun is setting; a little later it begins to grow dark. Gina is standing in the open entrance-door with a small box and wet plate in her hands, and speaks to some one outside.]