Hjalmar. No, but they said you’d passed through the room—and so I came after you.
Ekdal. H’m! Very good of you, Hjalmar. What sort of people were they?
Hjalmar. Oh, all sorts of people. There was Chamberlain Flor, and Chamberlain Balle, and Chamberlain Kasperson—and Chamberlain—so and so—I don’t know.
Ekdal (nodding). Listen to that, Gina. He’s been with nothing but Chamberlains.
Gina. Yes, they are awfully grand up at the house now.
Hedvig. Did the Chamberlains sing, father, or did they recite something?
Hjalmar. No, they only chatted. They wanted me to recite—but I wouldn’t.
Ekdal. You wouldn’t?
Gina. But surely you might have done that.
Hjalmar. No, one can’t provide entertainment for everybody. (Walking up and down.) At any rate, I can’t.