here—whether she could begin the very next morning, and so forth.
DR. HERDAL.
Don’t you think she did it in order to be with her sweetheart?
SOLNESS.
That was what occurred to me at first. But no, that was not it. She
seemed to drift quite away from _him_—when once she had come here to me.
DR. HERDAL.
She drifted over to you, then?
SOLNESS.
Yes, entirely. If I happen to look at her when her back is turned, I can
tell that she feels it. She quivers and trembles the moment I come near
her. What do you think of _that_?
DR. HERDAL.
H’m—that’s not very hard to explain.
SOLNESS.
Well, but what about the other thing? That she believed I had said to
her what I had only wished and willed—silently—inwardly—to myself? What
do you say to _that_? Can you explain that, Dr. Herdal?
DR. HERDAL.
No, I won’t undertake to do that.
SOLNESS.
I felt sure you would not; and so I have never cared to talk about it
till now.—But it’s a cursed nuisance to me in the long run, you
understand. Here have I got to go on day after day pretending——. And
it’s a shame to treat her so, too, poor girl. [_Vehemently._] But I
_cannot_ do anything else. For if _she_ runs away from me—then Ragnar
will be off too.
DR. HERDAL.
And you have not told your wife the rights of the story?
SOLNESS.
No.
DR. HERDAL.
Then why on earth don’t you?
SOLNESS.
[_Looks fixedly at him, and says in a low voice_:] Because I seem to
find a sort of—of salutary self-torture in allowing Aline to do me an
injustice.
DR. HERDAL.
[_Shakes his head._] I don’t in the least understand what you mean.
SOLNESS.
Well, you see—it is like paying off a little bit of a huge, immeasurable
debt——
DR. HERDAL.
To your wife?
SOLNESS.
Yes; and that always helps to relieve one’s mind a little. One can
breathe more freely for a while, you understand.
DR. HERDAL.
No, goodness knows, I don’t understand at all——
SOLNESS.
[_Breaking off, rises again._] Well, well, well—then we won’t talk any
more about it. [_He saunters across the room, returns, and stops beside
the table. Looks at the doctor with a sly smile._] I suppose you think
you have drawn me out nicely now, doctor?
DR. HERDAL.
[_With some irritation._] Drawn you out? Again I have not the faintest
notion what you mean, Mr. Solness.
SOLNESS.
Oh come, out with it; I have seen it quite clearly, you know.
DR. HERDAL.
_What_ have you seen?
SOLNESS.
[_In a low voice, slowly._] That you have been quietly keeping an eye
upon me.
DR. HERDAL.
That _I_ have! And why in all the world should I do _that_?
SOLNESS.
Because you think that I——[_Passionately._] Well, devil take it—you
think the same of me as Aline does.
DR. HERDAL.
And what does _she_ think about you?
SOLNESS.
[_Having recovered his self-control._] She has begun to think that I
am—that I am—ill.
DR. HERDAL.
Ill! _You_! She has never hinted such a thing to me. Why, what can she
think is the matter with you?
SOLNESS.
[_Leans over the back of the chair and whispers._] Aline has made up her
mind that I am mad. _That_ is what she thinks.
DR. HERDAL.
[_Rising._] Why, my dear good fellow——!
SOLNESS.
Yes, on my soul she does! I tell you it is so. And she has got you to
think the same! Oh, I can assure you, doctor, I see it in your face as
clearly as possible. You don’t take me in so easily, I can tell you.
DR. HERDAL.
[_Looks at him in amazement._] Never, Mr. Solness—never has such a
thought entered my mind.
SOLNESS.
[_With an incredulous smile._] Really? Has it not?
DR. HERDAL.
No, never! Nor your wife’s mind either, I am convinced. I could almost
swear to that.
SOLNESS.
Well, I wouldn’t advise you to. For, in a certain sense, you see,
perhaps—perhaps she is not so far wrong in thinking something of the
kind.
DR. HERDAL.
Come now, I really must say——
SOLNESS.
[_Interrupting, with a sweep of his hand._] Well, well, my dear
doctor—don’t let us discuss this any further. We had better agree to
differ. [_Changes to a tone of quiet amusement._] But look here now,
doctor—h’m——
DR. HERDAL.
Well?
SOLNESS.
Since you don’t believe that I am—ill—and crazy—and mad, and so forth——
DR. HERDAL.
What then?
SOLNESS.
Then I daresay you fancy that I am an extremely happy man.
DR. HERDAL.
Is _that_ mere fancy?
SOLNESS.
[_Laughs._] No, no—of course not! Heaven forbid! Only think—to be
Solness the master builder! Halvard Solness! What could be more
delightful?
DR. HERDAL.
Yes, I must say it seems to me you have had the luck on your side to an
astounding degree.
SOLNESS.
[_Suppresses a gloomy smile._] So I have. I can’t complain on _that_
score.
DR. HERDAL.
First of all that grim old robbers’ castle was burnt down for you. And
_that_ was certainly a great piece of luck.
SOLNESS.
[_Seriously._] It was the home of Aline’s family. Remember that.
DR. HERDAL.
Yes, it must have been a great grief to _her_.
SOLNESS.
She has not got over it to this day—not in all these twelve or thirteen
years.
DR. HERDAL.
Ah, but what followed must have been the worst blow for her.
SOLNESS.
The one thing with the other.
DR. HERDAL.
But you—yourself—_you_ rose upon the ruins. You began as a poor boy from
a country village—and now you are at the head of your profession. Ah,
yes, Mr. Solness, you have undoubtedly had the luck on your side.
SOLNESS.
[_Looking at him with embarrassment._] Yes, but that is just what makes
me so horribly afraid.
DR. HERDAL.
Afraid? Because you have the luck on your side!
SOLNESS.
It terrifies me—terrifies me every hour of the day. For sooner or later
the luck must turn, you see.
DR. HERDAL.
Oh nonsense! What should make the luck turn?
SOLNESS.
[_With firm assurance._] The younger generation.
DR. HERDAL.
Pooh! The younger generation! You are not laid on the shelf yet, I
should hope. Oh no—your position here is probably firmer now than it has
ever been.
SOLNESS.
The luck _will_ turn. I know it—I feel the day approaching. Some one or
other will take it into his head to say: Give _me_ a chance! And then
all the rest will come clamouring after him, and shake their fists at me
and shout: Make room—make room—make room! Yes, just you see,
doctor—presently the younger generation will come knocking at my door——
DR. HERDAL.
[_Laughing._] Well, and what if they do?
SOLNESS.
What if they do? Then there’s an end of Halvard Solness.
[_There is a knock at the door on the left._
SOLNESS.
[_Starts._] What’s that? Did you not hear something?
DR. HERDAL.
Some one is knocking at the door.
SOLNESS.
[_Loudly._] Come in.
HILDA WANGEL _enters by the hall door. She is of middle height, supple,
and delicately built. Somewhat sunburnt. Dressed in a tourist
costume, with skirt caught up for walking, a sailor’s collar open at
the throat, and a small sailor hat on her head. Knapsack on back,
plaid in strap, and alpenstock._
HILDA.
[_Goes straight up to SOLNESS, her eyes sparkling with happiness._] Good
evening!
SOLNESS.
[_Looks doubtfully at her._] Good evening——
HILDA.
[_Laughs._] I almost believe you don’t recognise me!
SOLNESS.
No—I must admit that—just for the moment——
DR. HERDAL.
[_Approaching._] But _I_ recognise you, my dear young lady——
HILDA.
[_Pleased._] Oh, is it you that——
DR. HERDAL.
Of course it is. [_To SOLNESS._] We met at one of the mountain stations
this summer. [_To HILDA._] What became of the other ladies?
HILDA.
Oh, _they_ went westward.
DR. HERDAL.
They didn’t much like all the fun we used to have in the evenings.
HILDA.
No, I believe they didn’t.
DR. HERDAL.
[_Holds up his finger at her._] And I am afraid it can’t be denied that
you flirted a little with us.
HILDA.
Well, that was better fun than to sit there knitting stockings with all
those old women.
DR. HERDAL.
[_Laughs._] There I entirely agree with you!
SOLNESS.
Have you come to town this evening?
HILDA.
Yes, I have just arrived.
DR. HERDAL.
Quite alone, Miss Wangel?
HILDA.
Oh yes!
SOLNESS.
Wangel? Is your name Wangel?
HILDA.
[_Looks in amused surprise at him._] Yes, of course it is.
SOLNESS.
Then you must be a daughter of the district doctor up at Lysanger?
HILDA.
[_As before._] Yes, who else’s daughter should I be?
SOLNESS.
Oh, then I suppose we met up there, that summer when I was building a
tower on the old church.
HILDA.
[_More seriously._] Yes, of course it was then we met.
SOLNESS.
Well, that is a long time ago.
HILDA.
[_Looks hard at him._] It is exactly the ten years.
SOLNESS.
You must have been a mere child then, I should think.
HILDA.
[_Carelessly._] Well, I was twelve or thirteen.
DR. HERDAL.
Is this the first time you have ever been up to town, Miss Wangel?
HILDA.
Yes, it is indeed.
SOLNESS.
And don’t you know any one here?
HILDA.
Nobody but you. And of course, your wife.
SOLNESS.
So you know _her_, too?
HILDA.
Only a little. We spent a few days together at the sanatorium.
SOLNESS.
Ah, up there?
HILDA.
She said I might come and pay her a visit if ever I came up to town.
[_Smiles._] Not that that was necessary.
SOLNESS.
Odd that she should never have mentioned it.
[HILDA _puts her stick down by the stove, takes off the
knapsack and lays it and the plaid on the sofa._ DR. HERDAL
_offers to help her. SOLNESS stands and gazes at her._
HILDA.
[_Going towards him._] Well, now I must ask you to let me stay the night
here.
SOLNESS.
I am sure there will be no difficulty about that.
HILDA.
For I have no other clothes than those I stand in, except a change of
linen in my knapsack. And that has to go to the wash, for it’s very
dirty.
SOLNESS.
Oh yes, that can be managed. Now I’ll just let my wife know——
DR. HERDAL.
Meanwhile I will go and see my patient.
SOLNESS.
Yes, do; and come again later on.
DR. HERDAL.
[_Playfully, with a glance at HILDA._] Oh that I will, you may be very
certain! [_Laughs._] So your prediction has come true, Mr. Solness!
SOLNESS.
How so?
DR. HERDAL.
The younger generation _did_ come knocking at your door.
SOLNESS.
[_Cheerfully._] Yes, but in a very different way from what I meant.
DR. HERDAL.
Very different, yes. That’s undeniable.
[_He goes out by the hall-door._ SOLNESS _opens the door on
the right and speaks into the side room._
SOLNESS.
Aline! Will you come in here, please. Here is a friend of yours—Miss
Wangel.
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Appears in the doorway._] Who do you say it is? [_Sees HILDA._] Oh, is
it you, Miss Wangel? [_Goes up to her and offers her hand._] So you have
come to town after all.
SOLNESS.
Miss Wangel has this moment arrived; and she would like to stay the
night here.
MRS. SOLNESS.
Here with us? Oh yes, certainly.
SOLNESS.
Till she can get her things a little in order, you know.
MRS. SOLNESS.
I will do the best I can for you. It’s no more than my duty. I suppose
your trunk is coming on later?
HILDA.
I _have_ no trunk.
MRS. SOLNESS.
Well, it will be all right, I daresay. In the meantime, you must excuse
my leaving you here with my husband, until I can get a room made a
little comfortable for you.
SOLNESS.
Can we not give her one of the nurseries? _They_ are all ready as it is.
MRS. SOLNESS.
Oh yes. There we have room and to spare. [_To HILDA._] Sit down now, and
rest a little.
rj [_She goes out to the right._
[HILDA, _with her hands behind her back, strolls about the
room and looks at various objects._ SOLNESS _stands in
front, beside the table, also with his hands behind his
back, and follows her with his eyes._
HILDA.
[_Stops and looks at him._] Have you several nurseries?
SOLNESS.
There are three nurseries in the house.
HILDA.
That’s a lot. Then I suppose you have a great many children?
SOLNESS.
No. We have no child. But now _you_ can be the child here, for the time
being.
HILDA.
For to-night, yes. I shall not cry. I mean to sleep as sound as a stone.
SOLNESS.
Yes, you must be very tired, I should think.
HILDA.
Oh no! But all the same—— It’s so delicious to lie and dream.
SOLNESS.
Do you dream much of nights?
HILDA.
Oh yes! Almost always.
SOLNESS.
What do you dream about most?
HILDA.
I sha’n’t tell you to-night. Another time—perhaps.
[_She again strolls about the room, stops at the desk and
turns over the books and papers a little._
SOLNESS.
[_Approaching._] Are you searching for anything?
HILDA.
No, I am merely looking at all these things. [_Turns._] Perhaps I
mustn’t?
SOLNESS.
Oh, by all means.
HILDA.
Is it _you_ that write in this great ledger?
SOLNESS.
No, it’s my book-keeper.
HILDA.
Is it a woman?
SOLNESS.
[_Smiles._] Yes.
HILDA.
One you employ here, in your office?
SOLNESS.
Yes.
HILDA.
Is she married?
SOLNESS.
No, she is single.
HILDA.
Oh, indeed!
SOLNESS.
But I believe she is soon going to be married.
HILDA.
That’s a good thing for _her_.
SOLNESS.
But not such a good thing for _me_. For then I shall have nobody to help
me.
HILDA.
Can’t you get hold of some one else who will do just as well?
SOLNESS.
Perhaps _you_ would stay here and—and write in the ledger?
HILDA.
[_Measures him with a glance._] Yes, I daresay! No, thank you—nothing of
that sort for me.
[_She again strolls across the room, and sits down in the
rocking-chair._ SOLNESS _too goes to the table._
HILDA.
[_Continuing._] For there must surely be plenty of other things to be
done here. [_Looks smilingly at him._] Don’t you think so, too?
SOLNESS.
Of course. First of all, I suppose, you want to make a round of the
shops, and get yourself up in the height of fashion.
HILDA.
[_Amused._] No, I think I shall let _that_ alone!
SOLNESS.
Indeed?
HILDA.
For you must know I have run through all my money.
SOLNESS.
[_Laughs._] Neither trunk nor money, then!
HILDA.
Neither one nor the other. But never mind—it doesn’t matter now.
SOLNESS.
Come now, I like you for _that_.
HILDA.
Only for _that_?
SOLNESS.
For that among other things. [_Sits in the armchair._] Is your father
alive still?
HILDA.
Yes, father’s alive.
SOLNESS.
Perhaps you are thinking of studying here?
HILDA.
No, that hadn’t occurred to me.
SOLNESS.
But I suppose you will be staying for some time?
HILDA.
That must depend upon circumstances.
[_She sits awhile rocking herself and looking at him, half
seriously, half with a suppressed smile. Then she takes off
her hat and puts it on the table in front of her._
HILDA.
Mr. Solness!
SOLNESS.
Well?
HILDA.
Have you a very bad memory?
SOLNESS.
A bad memory? No, not that I am aware of.
HILDA.
Then have you nothing to say to me about what happened up there?
SOLNESS.
[_In momentary surprise._] Up at Lysanger? [_Indifferently._] Why, it
was nothing much to talk about, it seems to me.
HILDA.
[_Looks reproachfully at him._] How can you sit there and say such
things?
SOLNESS.
Well, then, _you_ talk to me about it.
HILDA.
When the tower was finished, we had grand doings in the town.
SOLNESS.
Yes, I shall not easily forget that day.
HILDA.
[_Smiles._] Will you not? That comes well from _you_.
SOLNESS.
Comes well?
HILDA.
There was music in the churchyard—and many, many hundreds of people. We
school-girls were dressed in white; and we all carried flags.
SOLNESS.
All yes, those flags—I can tell you I remember _them_!
HILDA.
Then you climbed right up the scaffolding, straight to the very top; and
you had a great wreath with you; and you hung that wreath right away up
on the weather-vane.
SOLNESS.
[_Curtly interrupting._] I always did that in those days. It is an old
custom.
HILDA.
It was so wonderfully thrilling to stand below and look up at you.
Fancy, if he should fall over! He—the master builder himself!
SOLNESS.
[_As if to divert her from the subject._] Yes, yes, yes, that might very
well have happened, too. For one of those white-frocked little
devils,—she went on in such a way, and screamed up at me so——
HILDA.
[_Sparkling with pleasure._] “Hurra for Master Builder Solness!” Yes!
SOLNESS.
—and waved and flourished with her flag, so that I—so that it almost
made me giddy to look at it.
HILDA.
[_In a lower voice, seriously._] That little devil—that was _I_.
SOLNESS.
[_Fixes his eyes steadily upon her._] I am sure of that now. It _must_
have been you.
HILDA.
[_Lively again._] Oh, it was so gloriously thrilling! I could not have
believed there was a builder in the whole world that could build such a
tremendously high tower. And then, that you yourself should stand at the
very top of it, as large as life! And that you should not be the least
bit dizzy! It was _that_ above everything that made one—made one dizzy
to think of.
SOLNESS.
How could you be so certain that I was not——?
HILDA.
[_Scouting the idea._] No indeed! Oh no! I knew that instinctively. For
if you had been, you could never have stood up there and sung.
SOLNESS.
[_Looks at her in astonishment.]_] Sung? Did _I_ sing?
HILDA.
Yes, I should think you did.
SOLNESS.
[_Shakes his head._] I have never sung a note in my life.
HILDA.
Yes indeed, you sang then. It sounded like harps in the air.
SOLNESS.
[_Thoughtfully._] This is very strange—all this.
HILDA.
[_Is silent awhile, looks at him and says in a low voice_:] But then,—it
was after that—that the _real_ thing happened.
SOLNESS.
The real thing?
HILDA.
[_Sparkling with vivacity._] Yes, I surely don’t need to remind you of
_that_?
SOLNESS.
Oh yes, do remind me a little of _that_, too.
HILDA.
Don’t you remember that a great dinner was given in your honour at the
Club?
SOLNESS.
Yes, to be sure. It must have been the same afternoon, for I left the
place next morning.
HILDA.
And from the Club you were invited to come round to our house to supper.
SOLNESS.
Quite right, Miss Wangel. It is wonderful how all these trifles have
impressed themselves on your mind.
HILDA.
Trifles! I like that! Perhaps it was a trifle, too, that I was _alone_
in the room when you came in?
SOLNESS.
_Were_ you alone?
HILDA.
[_Without answering him._] You didn’t call me a little devil _then_?
SOLNESS.
No, I suppose I did not.
HILDA.
You said I was lovely in my white dress, and that I looked like a little
princess.
SOLNESS.
I have no doubt you did, Miss Wangel.—And besides—I was feeling so
buoyant and free that day——
HILDA.
And then you said that when I grew up I should be _your_ princess.
SOLNESS.
[_Laughing a little._] Dear, dear—did I say _that_ too?
HILDA.
Yes, you did. And when I asked how long I should have to wait, you said
that you would come again in ten years—like a troll—and carry me off—to
Spain or some such place. And you promised you would buy me a kingdom
there.
SOLNESS.
[_As before._] Yes, after a good dinner one doesn’t haggle about the
halfpence. But did I really _say_ all that?
HILDA.
[_Laughs to herself._] Yes. And you told me, too, what the kingdom was
to be called.
SOLNESS.
Well, what was it?
HILDA.
It was to be called the kingdom of Orangia,[26] you said.
SOLNESS.
Well, that was an appetising name.
HILDA.
No, I didn’t like it a bit; for it seemed as though you wanted to make
game of me.
SOLNESS.
I am sure _that_ cannot have been my intention.
HILDA.
No, I should hope not—considering what you did next——
SOLNESS.
What in the world did I do next?
HILDA.
Well, that’s the finishing touch, if you have forgotten _that_ too. I
should have thought no one could help remembering such a thing as that.
SOLNESS.
Yes, yes, just give me a hint, and then perhaps——Well?
HILDA.
[_Looks fixedly at him._] You came and kissed me, Mr. SOLNESS.
SOLNESS.
[_Open-mouthed, rising from his chair._] _I_ did!
HILDA.
Yes, indeed you did. You took me in both your arms, and bent my head
back, and kissed me—many times.
SOLNESS.
Now really, my dear Miss Wangel——!
HILDA.
[_Rises._] You surely cannot mean to deny it?
SOLNESS.
Yes, I do. I deny it altogether!
HILDA.
[_Looks scornfully at him._] Oh, indeed!
[_She turns and goes slowly close up to the stove, where she
remains standing motionless, her face averted from him, her
hands behind her back. Short pause._
SOLNESS.
[_Goes cautiously up behind her._] Miss Wangel——!
HILDA.
[_Is silent and does not move._]
SOLNESS.
Don’t stand there like a statue. You must have dreamt all this. [_Lays
his hand on her arm._] Now just listen——
HILDA.
[_Makes an impatient movement with her arm._]
SOLNESS.
[_As a thought flashes upon him._] Or——! Wait a moment! There is
something under all this, you may depend!
HILDA.
[_Does not move._]
SOLNESS.
[_In a low voice, but with emphasis._] I must have _thought_ all that. I
must have _wished_ it—have _willed_ it—have _longed_ to do it. And
then——. May not that be the explanation?
HILDA.
[_Is still silent._]
SOLNESS.
[_Impatiently._] Oh very well, deuce take it all—then I _did_ do it, I
suppose.
HILDA.
[_Turns her head a little, but without looking at him._] Then you admit
it now?
SOLNESS.
Yes—whatever you like.
HILDA.
You came and put your arms round me?
SOLNESS.
Oh yes!
HILDA.
And bent my head back?
SOLNESS.
Very far back.
HILDA.
And kissed me?
SOLNESS.
Yes, I did
HILDA.
Many times?
SOLNESS.
As many as ever you like.
HILDA.
[_Turns quickly towards him and has once more the sparkling expression
of gladness in her eyes._] Well, you see, I got it out of you at last!
SOLNESS.
[_With a slight smile._] Yes—just think of my forgetting such a thing as
that.
HILDA.
[_Again a little sulky, retreats from him._] Oh, you have kissed so many
people in your time, I suppose.
SOLNESS.
No, you mustn’t think _that_ of me. [_HILDA seats herself in the
arm-chair. SOLNESS stands and leans against the rocking-chair. Looks
observantly at her._] Miss Wangel!
HILDA.
Yes!
SOLNESS.
How _was_ it now? What came of all this—between us two?
HILDA.
Why, nothing more came of it. You know that quite well. For then the
other guests came in, and then—bah!
SOLNESS.
Quite so! The others came in. To think of my forgetting _that_ too!
HILDA.
Oh, you haven’t really forgotten anything: you are only a little ashamed
of it all. I am sure one doesn’t forget things of that kind.
SOLNESS.
No, one would suppose not.
HILDA.
[_Lively again, looks at him._] Perhaps you have even forgotten what day
it was?
SOLNESS.
What day——?
HILDA.
Yes, on what day did you hang the wreath on the tower? Well? Tell me at
once!
SOLNESS.
H’m—I confess I have forgotten the particular day. I only know it was
ten years ago. Some time in the autumn.
HILDA.
[_Nods her head slowly several times._] It was ten years ago—on the 19th
of September.
SOLNESS.
Yes, it must have been about that time. Fancy your remembering that too!
[_Stops._] But wait a moment——! Yes—it’s the 19th of September to-day.
HILDA.
Yes, it is; and the ten years are gone. And you didn’t come—as you had
promised me.
SOLNESS.
Promised you? Threatened, I suppose you mean?
HILDA.
I don’t think there was any sort of threat in _that_.
SOLNESS.
Well then, a little bit of fun.
HILDA.
Was _that_ all you wanted? To make fun of me?
SOLNESS.
Well, or to have a little joke with you! Upon my soul, I don’t
recollect. But it must have been something of that kind; for you were a
mere child then.
HILDA.
Oh, perhaps I wasn’t quite such a child either. Not such a mere chit as
you imagine.
SOLNESS.
[_Looks searchingly at her._] Did you really and seriously expect me to
come again?
HILDA.
[_Conceals a half-teasing smile._] Yes, indeed! I did expect _that_ of
you.
SOLNESS.
That I should come back to your home, and take you away with me?
HILDA.
Just like a troll—yes.
SOLNESS.
And make a princess of you?
HILDA.
That’s what you promised.
SOLNESS.
And give you a kingdom as well?
HILDA.
[_Looks up at the ceiling._] Why not? Of course it need not have been an
actual, every-day sort of a kingdom.
SOLNESS.
But something else just as good?
HILDA.
Yes, at least as good. [_Looks at him a moment._] I thought, if you
could build the highest church-towers in the world, you could surely
manage to raise a kingdom of one sort or another as well.
SOLNESS.
[_Shakes his head._] I can’t quite make you out, Miss Wangel.
HILDA.
Can you not? To me it seems all so simple.
SOLNESS.
No, I can’t make up my mind whether you mean all you say, or are simply
having a joke with me.
HILDA.
[_Smiles._] Making fun of you, perhaps? I, too?
SOLNESS.
Yes, exactly. Making fun—of both of us. [_Looks at her._] Is it long
since you found out that I was married?
HILDA.
I have known it all along. Why do you ask me _that_?
SOLNESS.
[_Lightly._] Oh, well, it just occurred to me. [_Looks earnestly at her,
and says in a low voice._] What have you come for?
HILDA.
I want my kingdom. The time is up.
SOLNESS.
[_Laughs involuntarily._] What a girl you are!
HILDA.
[_Gaily._] Out with my kingdom, Mr. Solness! [_Raps with her fingers._]
The kingdom on the table!
SOLNESS.
[_Pushing the rocking-chair nearer and sitting down._] Now, seriously
speaking—what have you come for? What do you really want to do here?
HILDA.
Oh, first of all, I want to go round and look at all the things that you
have built.
SOLNESS.