Well, that was how I raised her up and made an honest woman of her, so as folks shouldn’t get to know how as she’d gone astray with foreigners. MANDERS. In all that you acted very well. Only I cannot approve of your stooping to take money—— ENGSTRAND. Money? I? Not a farthing! MANDERS. [_Inquiringly to MRS. ALVING._] But—— ENGSTRAND. Oh, wait a minute!—now I recollect. Johanna _did_ have a trifle of money. But I would have nothing to do with _that_. “No,” says I, “that’s mammon; that’s the wages of sin. This dirty gold—or notes, or whatever it was—we’ll just fling that back in the American’s face,” says I. But he was off and away, over the stormy sea, your Reverence. MANDERS. Was he really, my good fellow? ENGSTRAND. He was indeed, sir. So Johanna and I, we agreed that the money should go to the child’s education; and so it did, and I can account for every blessed farthing of it. MANDERS. Why, this alters the case considerably. ENGSTRAND. That’s just how it stands, your Reverence. And I make so bold as to say as I’ve been an honest father to Regina, so far as my poor strength went; for I’m but a weak vessel, worse luck! MANDERS. Well, well, my good fellow—— ENGSTRAND. All the same, I bear myself witness as I’ve brought up the child, and lived kindly with poor Johanna, and ruled over my own house, as the Scripture has it. But it couldn’t never enter my head to go to your Reverence and puff myself up and boast because even the likes of me had done some good in the world. No, sir; when anything of that sort happens to Jacob Engstrand, he holds his tongue about it. It don’t happen so terrible often, I daresay. And when I do come to see your Reverence, I find a mortal deal that’s wicked and weak to talk about. For I said it before, and I says it again—a man’s conscience isn’t always as clean as it might be. MANDERS. Give me your hand, Jacob Engstrand. ENGSTRAND. Oh, Lord! your Reverence——? MANDERS. Come, no nonsense [wrings his hand]. There we are! ENGSTRAND. And if I might humbly beg your Reverence’s pardon—— MANDERS. You? On the contrary, it is I who ought to beg your pardon—— ENGSTRAND. Lord, no, sir! MANDERS. Yes, assuredly. And I do it with all my heart. Forgive me for misunderstanding you. I only wish I could give you some proof of my hearty regret, and of my good-will towards you—— ENGSTRAND. Would your Reverence do it?