ENGSTRAND. I've been in the habit of offering up a little prayer in the
evenings, myself--
MRS. ALVING. Have you?
ENGSTRAND. Yes, every now and then just a little edification, in a
manner of speaking. But I'm a poor, common man, and have little enough
gift, God help me!--and so I thought, as the Reverend Mr. Manders
happened to be here, I'd--
MANDERS. Well, you see, Engstrand, I have a question to put to you
first. Are you in the right frame of mind for such a meeting! Do you
feel your conscience clear and at ease?
ENGSTRAND. Oh, God help us, your Reverence! we'd better not talk about
conscience.
MANDERS. Yes, that is just what we must talk about. What have you to
answer?
ENGSTRAND. Why--a man's conscience--it can be bad enough now and then.
MANDERS. Ah, you admit that. Then perhaps you will make a clean breast
of it, and tell me--the real truth about Regina?
MRS. ALVING. [Quickly.] Mr. Manders!