[_Still melancholy._] Have some bread and butter. You won't?--then I _will_. I want it, after your father's lavish hospitality. [HEDVIG _goes to fetch bread and butter_.] My daughter--a poor short-sighted little thing--but mine own. GREGERS. My father has had to take to strong glasses, too--he can hardly see after dinner. [_To_ OLD EKDAL, _who stumbles in very drunk_.] How can you, Lieutenant Ekdal, who were such a keen sportsman once, live in this poky little hole? OLD EKDAL. I am a sportsman still. The only difference is that once I shot bears in a forest, and now I pot tame rabbits in a garret. Quite as amusing--and safer. [_He goes to sleep on a sofa._ HIALMAR. [_With pride._] It is quite true. You shall see. [_He pushes back sliding doors, and reveals a garret full of rabbits and poultry--moonlight effect._ HEDVIG _returns with bread and butter_. HEDVIG. [_To_ GREGERS.] If you stand just there, you get the best view of our Wild Duck. We are very proud of her, because she gives the play its title, you know, and has to be brought into the dialogue a good deal. Your father peppered her out shooting, and we saved her life. HIALMAR. Yes, Gregers, our estate is not large--but still we preserve, you see. And my poor old father and I sometimes get a day's gunning in the garret. He shoots with a pistol, which my illiterate wife here _will_ call a "pigstol." He once, when he got into trouble, pointed it at himself. But the descendant of two lieutenant-colonels who had never quailed before living rabbit yet, faltered then. He _didn't_ shoot. Then I put it to my own head. But at the decisive moment, I won the victory over myself. I remained in life. Now we only shoot rabbits and fowls with it. After all I am very happy and contented as I am. [_He eats some bread and butter._ GREGERS. But you ought _not_ to be. You have a good deal of the Wild Duck about you. So have your wife and daughter. You are living in marsh vapours. Tomorrow I will take you out for a walk and explain what I mean. It is my mission in life. Good night! [_He goes out._ GINA AND HEDVIG. What _was_ the gentleman talking about, father? HIALMAR. [_Eating bread and butter._] He has been dining, you know. No matter--what _we_ have to do now, is to put my disreputable old whitehaired pariah of a parent to bed. [_He and_ GINA _lift_ OLD ECCLES--_we mean_ OLD EKDAL--_up by the legs and arms, and take him off to bed as the Curtain falls_. * * * * * ACT THREE HIALMAR'S _Studio. A photograph has just been taken._ GINA _and_ HEDVIG _are tidying up._ GINA.