Werle. You have seen me through your mother’s eyes. (Slightly lowering his voice.) But you should bear in mind that her eyes were—dimmed at times.
Gregers (shuddering). I understand what you mean. But who was to blame for mother’s unhappy weakness? It was you and all these—— The last of them was that woman who was foisted upon Hjalmar Ekdal, when you no longer—oh!——
Werle (shrugging his shoulders). Word for word as if I heard your mother!
Gregers (without noticing him). And there he is now with his great, unsuspecting child-mind, in the midst of deception—lives under the same roof with such a woman, and does not know that what he calls home is built upon a lie. (He comes up closer.) When I look back upon all you have done, I seem to be looking over a battlefield, with ruined human lives everywhere.
Werle. I almost believe the gulf between us is too great——
Gregers (bowing with forced self-command). I have observed it, and so I’ll take my hat and go.
Werle. Go! Leave the house?
Gregers. Yes. For now at last I have found a mission to live for.
Werle. What mission may that be?
Gregers. You would only laugh if I told you.