ASTA. [Eagerly.] But--?
ALLMERS. On father's.
ASTA. [Half rising from the bench.] On--father's! [Sitting down again.]
What do you mean by that, Alfred?
ALLMERS. Father was never really kind to you.
ASTA. [Vehemently.] Oh, don't say that!
ALLMERS. Yes, it is true. He did not love you--not as he ought to have.
ASTA. [Evasively.] No, perhaps not as he loved you. That was only
natural.
ALLMERS. [Continuing.] And he was often hard to your mother, too--at
least in the last years.
ASTA. [Softly.] Mother was so much, much younger than he--remember that.
ALLMERS. Do you think they were not quite suited to each other?
ASTA. Perhaps not.
ALLMERS. Yes, but still--. Father, who in other ways was so gentle and
warm-hearted--so kindly towards everyone--
ASTA. [Quietly.] Mother, too, was not always as she ought to have been.
ALLMERS. Your mother was not!
ASTA. Perhaps not always.
ALLMERS. Towards father, do you mean?
ASTA. Yes.
ALLMERS. I never noticed that.
ASTA. [Struggling with her tears, rises.] Oh, my dear Alfred--let them
rest--those who are gone. [She goes towards the right.]
ALLMERS. [Rising.] Yes, let them rest. [Wringing his hands.] But those
who are gone--it is they that won't let us rest, Asta. Neither day nor
night.
ASTA. [Looks warmly at him.] Time will make it all seem easier, Alfred.
ALLMERS. [Looking helplessly at her.] Yes, don't you think it will?--But
how I am to get over these terrible first days [Hoarsely.]--that is what
I cannot imagine.
ASTA. [Imploringly, laying her hands on his shoulders.] Go up to Rita.
Oh, please do--
ALLMERS. [Vehemently, withdrawing from her.] No, no, no--don't talk to
me of that! I cannot, I tell you. [More calmly.] Let me remain here,
with you.
ASTA. Well, I will not leave you.
ALLMERS. [Seizing her hand and holding it fast.] Thank you for that!
[Looks out for a time over the fiord.] Where is my little Eyolf now?
[Smiling sadly to her.] Can you tell me that my big, wise Eyolf?
[Shaking his head.] No one in all the world can tell me that. I know
only this one terrible thing--that he is gone from me.
ASTA. [Looking up to the left, and withdrawing her hand.] Here they are
coming.
[MRS. ALLMERS and Engineer BORGHEIM come down by the wood-path, she
leading the way. She wears a dark dress and a black veil over her head.
He has an umbrella under his arm.]
ALLMERS. [Going to meet her.] How is it with you, Rita?
RITA. [Passing him.] Oh, don't ask.
ALLMERS. Why do you come here?
RITA. Only to look for you. What are you doing?
ALLMERS. Nothing. Asta came down to me.
RITA. Yes, but before Asta came? You have been away from me all the
morning.
ALLMERS. I have been sitting here looking out over the water.
RITA. Ugh,--how can you?
ALLMERS. [Impatiently.] I like best to be alone now.
RITA. [Moving restlessly about.] And then to sit still! To stay in one
place!
ALLMERS. I have nothing in the world to move for.
RITA. I cannot bear to be anywhere long. Least of all here--with the
fiord at my very feet.