_Rosmer_. Yes, Miss WEST and I have worked our way forward in faithful comradeship. _Kroll_ (_shakes his head at him slowly_). So I perceive. Miss WEST is naturally inclined to be forward. But, I say, _really_ you know-- However, I came to tell you that poor BEATA was not so mad as she looked, though flowers _did_ bewilder her so. (_Taking off his gloves meaningly._) She jumped into the mill-race because she had an idea that you ought to marry Miss WEST! _Rosmer_ (_jumps half up from his chair_). I? Marry--Miss WEST! my good gracious, KROLL! I don't _understand_, it is _most_ incomprehensible. (_Looks fixedly before him_.) How _can_ people-- (_looks at him for a moment, then rises._) Will you get out? (_Still quiet and self-restrained._) But first tell me why you never mentioned this before? _Kroll_. Why? Because I thought you were both orthodox, which made all the difference. Now I know that you side with LAURITS and HILDA, and mean to make the democracy into noblemen, and accordingly I intend to make it hot for you in my paper. _Good_ morning! [_He slams the door with spite as_ REBECCA _enters from bed-room._ _Rosmer_ (_as if surprised_). You--in my bedroom! You have been listening, dear? But you _are_ so emancipated. Ah, well! so our pure and beautiful friendship has been misinterpreted, bespattered! Just because you wear a morning wrapper, and have lived here alone for a year, people with coarse souls and ignoble eyes make unpleasant remarks! But what really _did_ drive BEATA mad? _Why_ did she jump into the mill-race? I'm sure we did everything we could to spare her! I made it the business of my life to keep her in ignorance of all our interests--_didn't_ I, now? _Reb._ You did--but why brood over it? What _does_ it matter? Get on with your great, beautiful task, dear, (_approaching him cautiously from behind_), winning over minds and wills, and creating noblemen, you know--_joyful_ noblemen! _Rosmer_ (_walking about, restlessly, as if in thought_). Yes, I know. I have never laughed in the whole course of my life--we ROSMERS don't--and so I felt that spreading gladness and light, and making the democracy joyful, was properly my mission. But _now_--I feel too upset to go on, REBECCA, unless-- (_Shakes his head heavily._) Yes, an idea has just occurred to me--(_looks at her, and then runs his hands through his hair_)--oh, my goodness, no--I _can't_. [_He leans his elbows on table._ _Reb._ Be a free man to the full, ROSMER--tell me your idea. _Rosmer_ (_gloomily_). I don't know what you'll say to it. It's this. Our platonic comradeship was all very well while I was peaceful and happy. Now that I'm bothered and badgered, I feel--_why_, I can't exactly explain, but I _do_ feel that I must oppose a new and living reality to the gnawing memories of the past. I should, perhaps, explain that this is equivalent to an Ibsenian proposal.