Gina. Well, well, that may be. And I’m not regaling about all that either; for you became such a model husband as soon as ever you’d a house and home of your own. And now we’ve made it all so comfortable and cosy here; and Hedvig and I were soon going to spend a little more both for food and clothes.
Hjalmar. In the swamp of deceit, yes.
Gina. Oh! that that abominable fellow should ever have set foot in this house!
Hjalmar. I too thought home good to be in. That was a delusion. Whence now shall I get the needful elasticity of mind to bring the invention into the world of realities. Perhaps it will die with me, and then it will be your past, Gina, that has slain it.
Gina (almost crying). No, you mustn’t say any such thing, Ekdal. I, who all my days have only tried to do the best for you!
Hjalmar. I ask—what becomes now of the bread-winner’s dream? When I lay in there on the sofa pondering over the invention, I already had the presentiment that it would devour my whole powers. I felt, too, that the day when I should hold the patent in my hands—that day would be my last. And so it was my dream that you should be left here the well-to-do widow of the departed inventor.
Gina (drying her tears). No, you must not speak like that, Ekdal. God forbid I should live to see the day when I was a widow!
Hjalmar. Ah! ’tis all one. Now all this is past anyhow. All!
Gregers Werle opens the entrance-door cautiously and looks in.
Gregers. May I come in?