Ekdal. Yes, of course, if you shoot properly. Well, now I must go in and get myself up. H’m—you understand—h’m. (He goes into his room.)
Hedvig waits for a moment, glances at the door of the sitting-room; goes back to the book-case, stands on tip-toe, takes down the double-barreled pistol from the shelf and looks at it. Gina with broom and duster comes in from the sitting-room. Hedvig hurriedly and unnoticed puts away the pistol.
Gina. Don’t stand there rummaging among your father’s things, Hedvig.
Hedvig (going away from the book-case). I was only tidying it up.
Gina. You’d better go into the kitchen and see if the coffee’s keeping hot; I’ll take the breakfast tray with me when I go down to him.
Hedvig goes out; Gina begins sweeping and dusting the studio. After a while the entrance-door is open hesitatingly, and Hjalmar Ekdal looks in. He has on his overcoat, but no hat, he is unwashed, and his hair is tumbled and disheveled; his eyes are dull and lusterless.
Gina (stands still with the broom in her hand and looks at him). Ah! Ekdal, so you’ve come after all?
Hjalmar (comes in and answers in a hollow voice). I have come—only to depart at once.
Gina. Yes, yes, so I suppose. But, good Lord! what a sight you do look!
Hjalmar. A sight?