He goes in again; he leaves the door open.
Hjalmar (goes on for a while in silence; then he puts down the brush and goes to the door). Are you busy, father?
Ekdal (mutters from within). If you’re busy, I’m busy too. H’m!
Hjalmar. All right.
He returns to his work again.
Ekdal (after a little while, coming to the door again). H’m! You see, Hjalmar, I’m not so very busy after all.
Hjalmar. I thought you were sitting there writing.
Ekdal. Deuce take it. Can’t Graberg wait a day or two? It’s not a matter of life and death, I should say.
Hjalmar. No, and you’re not a slave either.
Ekdal. And then what has to be done in there?