_Ruebub_ (_vehemently_). Listen! Is that your last word? _Is_ my aged mother to pass out of this world without ever knowing whether I am competent to construct an effective pill or not? _Dr. Herd._ (_as if in desperation_). You had better try it upon your mother--it will enable her to form an opinion. Only mind--I will not be responsible for the result. _Ruebub._ I understand. Exactly as you tried _your_ pill, all those years ago, upon Dr. RYVAL. [_He bows, and goes out._ _Dr. Herd._ (_uneasily_). He said that so strangely, SENNA. But tell me now--when are you going to marry him? _Senna_ (_starts--half glancing up at him_). I--I don't know. This year--next-year--now--_never_! I cannot marry him ... I cannot--I _cannot_--it is so utterly impossible to leave you! _Dr. Herd._ Yes, I can understand _that_. But, my poor SENNA, hadn't you better take a little walk? _Senna_ (_clasps her hands gratefully_). How sweet and thoughtful you are to me! I _will_ take a walk. _Dr. Herd._ (_with a suppressed smile_). Do! And--h'm!--you needn't trouble to come back. I have advertised for a male book-keeper--they are less emotional. Good-night, my little SENNA! _Senna_ (_softly, and quiveringly_). Good-night, Dr. HERDAL! [_Staggers out of the hall-door, blowing kisses._ _Mrs. Herdal_ (_enters through the window, plaintively_). Quite an acquisition for you, HAUSTUS, this Miss BLAKDRAF! _Dr. Herd._ She's--h'm!--extremely civil and obliging. But I am parting with her, ALINE--mainly on _your_ account. _Mrs. Herd._ (_evades him_). Was it on my account, indeed, HAUSTUS? You have parted with so many young persons on my account--so you tell me! _Dr. Herd._ (_depressed_). Oh, but this is hopeless! When I have tried so hard to bring a ray of sunlight into your desolate life! I must give RUeBUB KALOMEL notice too--his pill is really too preposterous! _Mrs. Herd._ (_feels gropingly for a chair, and sits down on the floor_). Him, _too_! Ah, HAUSTUS, you will never make my home a real home for me. My poor first husband, HALVARD SOLNESS, tried--and _he_ couldn't! When one has had such misfortunes as I have--all the family portraits burnt, and the silk dresses, too, and a pair of twins, and nine lovely dolls. [_Chokes with tears._ _Dr. Herd._ (_as if to lead her away from the subject_). Yes, yes, yes, that must have been a heavy blow for you, my poor ALINE. I can understand that your spirits can never be really high again. And then for poor Master Builder SOLNESS to be so taken up with that Miss WANGEL as he was--that, too, was so wretched for you. To see him topple off the tower, as he did that day ten years ago---- _Mrs. Herd._ Yes, that too, HAUSTUS. But I did not mind it so much--it all seemed so perfectly natural in both of them.