MANDERS. Ah, that melancholy weakness! But, he is often driven to it
by his injured leg, he says. Last time he was in town I was really
touched by him. He came and thanked me so warmly for having got him work
here, so that he might be near Regina.
MRS. ALVING. He doesn't see much of her.
MANDERS. Oh, yes; he has a talk with her every day. He told me so
himself.
MRS. ALVING. Well, it may be so.
MANDERS. He feels so acutely that he needs some one to keep a firm hold
on him when temptation comes. That is what I cannot help liking about
Jacob Engstrand: he comes to you so helplessly, accusing himself and
confessing his own weakness. The last time he was talking to me--Believe
me, Mrs. Alving, supposing it were a real necessity for him to have
Regina home again--
MRS. ALVING. [Rising hastily.] Regina!
MANDERS.--you must not set yourself against it.
MRS. ALVING. Indeed I shall set myself against it. And besides--Regina
is to have a position in the Orphanage.