RITA. Yes, would you not have it so, Alfred?
ALLMERS. If she can and will.
RITA. You used to call her your little Eyolf. [Seizes her hand.]
Henceforth you shall be our Eyolf, Asta! Eyolf, as you were before.
ALLMERS. [With concealed emotion.] Remain--and share our life with us,
Asta. With Rita. With me. With me--your brother!
ASTA. [With decision, snatches her hand away.] No. I cannot. [Turning.]
Mr. Borgheim--what time does the steamer start?
BORGHEIM. Now--at once.
ASTA. Then I must go on board. Will you go with me?
BORGHEIM. [With a suppressed outburst of joy.] Will I? Yes, yes!
ASTA. Then come!
RITA. [Slowly.] Ah! That is how it is. Well, then, you cannot stay with
us.
ASTA. [Throwing her arms round her neck.] Thanks for everything, Rita!
(Goes up to ALLMERS and grasps his hand.) Alfred-good-bye! A thousand
times, good-bye!
ALLMERS. [Softly and eagerly.] What is this, Asta? It seems as though you
were taking flight.
ASTA. [In subdued anguish.] Yes, Alfred--I am taking flight.
ALLMERS. Flight--from me!
ASTA. [Whispering.] From you--and from myself.
ALLMERS. [Shrinking back.] Ah--!
[ASTA rushes down the steps at the back. BORGHEIM waves his hat and
follows her. RITA leans against the entrance to the summer-house.
ALLMERS goes, in strong inward emotion, up to the railing, and stands
there gazing downwards. A pause.]
ALLMERS. [Turns, and says with hard-won composure.] There comes the
steamer. Look, Rita.
RITA. I dare not look at it.
ALLMERS. You dare not?
RITA. No. For it has a red eye--and a green one, too. Great, glowing
eyes.
ALLMERS. Oh, those are only the lights, you know.
RITA. Henceforth they are eyes--for me. They stare and stare out of the
darkness--and into the darkness.
ALLMERS. Now she is putting in to shore.
RITA. Where are they mooring her this evening, then?