The girl left our service at once, and got a good sum of money to hold her tongue for the time. The rest she managed for herself when she got to town. She renewed her old acquaintance with Engstrand, no doubt let him see that she had money in her purse, and told him some tale about a foreigner who put in here with a yacht that summer. So she and Engstrand got married in hot haste. Why, you married them yourself. MANDERS. But then how to account for——? I recollect distinctly Engstrand coming to give notice of the marriage. He was quite overwhelmed with contrition, and bitterly reproached himself for the misbehaviour he and his sweetheart had been guilty of. MRS. ALVING. Yes; of course he had to take the blame upon himself. MANDERS. But such a piece of duplicity on his part! And towards me too! I never could have believed it of Jacob Engstrand. I shall not fail to take him seriously to task; he may be sure of that.—And then the immorality of such a connection! For money——! How much did the girl receive? MRS. ALVING. Three hundred dollars. MANDERS. Just think of it—for a miserable three hundred dollars, to go and marry a fallen woman! MRS. ALVING. Then what have you to say of me? I went and married a fallen man. MANDERS. Why—good heavens!—what are you talking about! A fallen man! MRS. ALVING. Do you think Alving was any purer when I went with him to the altar than Johanna was when Engstrand married her? MANDERS. Well, but there is a world of difference between the two cases—— MRS. ALVING. Not so much difference after all—except in the price:—a miserable three hundred dollars and a whole fortune. MANDERS. How can you compare such absolutely dissimilar cases? You had taken counsel with your own heart and with your natural advisers. MRS. ALVING. [_Without looking at him._] I thought you understood where what you call my heart had strayed to at the time. MANDERS. [_Distantly._] Had I understood anything of the kind, I should not have been a daily guest in your husband’s house. MRS. ALVING. At any rate, the fact remains that with myself I took no counsel whatever. MANDERS. Well then, with your nearest relatives—as your duty bade you—with your mother and your two aunts. MRS. ALVING. Yes, that is true. Those three cast up the account for me. Oh, it’s marvellous how clearly they made out that it would be downright madness to refuse such an offer. If mother could only see me now, and know what all that grandeur has come to!