Fear, you say. That sounds as though you deprecated it. But don't you hate laughter? HEFFTERDINGT. Most of us cannot laugh, madam. MAGDA. And to those who could, laughter is sin. You might laugh yourself. What have you to be solemn about? You need not look at the world with this funereal mien. Surely you have a little blond wife at home who knits industriously, and half a dozen curly heads around her, of course. It's always so in parsonages. HEFFTERDINGT. I have remained single, madam. MAGDA. Ah! [_Silence_.] Did I hurt you so much, then? HEFFTERDINGT. Let that be, shall we not? It is so long ago. MAGDA. [_Letting her mantle fall_.] And your work,--does not that bring happiness enough? HEFFTERDINGT. Thank God, it does. But if one takes it really in earnest, one cannot live only for one's self; at least, I cannot. One cannot exult in the fulness of one's personality, as you would call it. And then many hearts are opened to me-- One sees too many wounds there, that one cannot heal, to be quite happy. MAGDA. You're a remarkable man-- I don't know--if I could only get rid of the idea that you're insincere. HEFFTERDINGT. Will you let me ask you one question before you go? MAGDA. Well! HEFFTERDINGT. It is about an hour since you entered this house, your home--no, not so much. I could not have been waiting for you nearly as long as that. MAGDA. For me? You? Where? HEFFTERDINGT. In the corridor outside your room. MAGDA. What did you want there? HEFFTERDINGT. My errand was useless, for now you are here. MAGDA. Do you mean to say that you came for me--you to whom I-- If any one had an interest in keeping me away, it was you. HEFFTERDINGT. Are you accustomed to regard everything which those about you do as the result of selfish interest? MAGDA. Of course. It's so with me! [_Struck by a new thought_.] Or perhaps you-- No, I'm not justified in that assumption. [_Sharply_.] Ah, such nonsense! it is only fit for fairy tales. Well, Pastor, I'll own that I like you now better, much better than of old when you--what shall I say?--made an honorable proposal. HEFFTERDINGT. H'm! MAGDA. If you could only end it all with a laugh--this stony visage of yours is so unfriendly--one is quite _sconcertata_. What do you say? _Je ne trouve pas le mot_. HEFFTERDINGT.