Hilda. Are you quite quite sure that, when you went indoors with dear Mrs. Solness that afternoon, and left me alone with my Master Builder, you did not foresee—perhaps wish—intend, even a little, that——H'm?
Dr. Herd. That you would talk the poor man into clambering up that tower? You want to drag Me into that business now!
Hilda (teasingly). Yes, I certainly think that then you went on exactly like a troll.
Dr. Herd. (with uncontrollable emotion). Hilda, there is not a corner of me safe from you! Yes, I see now that must have been the way of it. Then I was a troll in that, too! But isn't it terrible the price I have had to pay for it? To have a wife who——. No, I shall never roll a pill again—never, never!
Hilda (lays her head on the stove, and answers as if half asleep). No more pills? Poor Doctor Herdal!
Dr. Herd. (bitterly). No—nothing but cosy commonplace grey powders for a whole troop of children.
Hilda (lively again). Not grey powders! (Quite seriously.) I will tell you what you shall make next. Beautiful rainbow-coloured powders that will give one a real grip on the world. Powders to make everyone free and buoyant, and ready to grasp at one's own happiness, to dare what one would. I will have you make them. I will—I will!
Dr. Herd. H'm! I am not quite sure that I clearly understand. And then the ingredients—?
Hilda. What stupid people all of you pill-doctors are, to be sure! Why, they will be poisons, of course!