[_Changing the subject._] Well well well; don’t let us talk of old times any longer. You are now over head and ears in Boards and Committees, and I am fighting my battle with ghosts, both within me and without. MANDERS. Those without I shall help you to lay. After all the terrible things I have heard from you today, I cannot in conscience permit an unprotected girl to remain in your house. MRS. ALVING. Don’t you think the best plan would be to get her provided for?—I mean, by a good marriage. MANDERS. No doubt. I think it would be desirable for her in every respect. Regina is now at the age when——Of course I don’t know much about these things, but—— MRS. ALVING. Regina matured very early. MANDERS. Yes, I thought so. I have an impression that she was remarkably well developed, physically, when I prepared her for confirmation. But in the meantime, she ought to be at home, under her father’s eye——Ah! but Engstrand is not——That he—that _he_—could so hide the truth from me! [_A knock at the door into the hall._ MRS. ALVING. Who can this be? Come in! ENGSTRAND. [_In his Sunday clothes, in the doorway._] I humbly beg your pardon, but—— MANDERS. Aha! H’m—— MRS. ALVING. Is that you, Engstrand? ENGSTRAND. ——there was none of the servants about, so I took the great liberty of just knocking. MRS. ALVING. Oh, very well. Come in. Do you want to speak to me? ENGSTRAND. [_Comes in._] No, I’m obliged to you, ma’am; it was with his Reverence I wanted to have a word or two. MANDERS. [_Walking up and down the room._] Ah—indeed! You want to speak to me, do you? ENGSTRAND. Yes, I’d like so terrible much to—— MANDERS. [_Stops in front of him._] Well; may I ask what you want? ENGSTRAND. Well, it was just this, your Reverence: we’ve been paid off down yonder—my grateful thanks to you, ma’am,—and now everything’s finished, I’ve been thinking it would be but right and proper if we, that have been working so honestly together all this time—well, I was thinking we ought to end up with a little prayer-meeting to-night. MANDERS. A prayer-meeting? Down at the Orphanage? ENGSTRAND. Oh, if your Reverence doesn’t think it proper—— MANDERS. Oh yes, I do; but—h’m— ENGSTRAND. I’ve been in the habit of offering up a little prayer in the evenings, myself—— MRS. ALVING. Have you?