The collected works of Henrik Ibsen, Vol. 07 (of 11)Ibsen, Henrik
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The collected works of Henrik Ibsen, Vol. 07 (of 11)
Ibsen, Henrik
Ibsen, Henrik, 1828-1906 -- Translations into English; Norwegian drama -- Translations into English
MANDERS.
With the greatest pleasure.
ENGSTRAND.
Well then, here’s the very chance. With the bit of money I’ve saved
here, I was thinking I might set up a Sailors’ Home down in the town.
MRS. ALVING.
_You?_
ENGSTRAND.
Yes; it might be a sort of Orphanage, too, in a manner of speaking.
There’s such a many temptations for seafaring folk ashore. But in this
Home of mine, a man might feel like as he was under a father’s eye, I
was thinking.
MANDERS.
What do you say to this, Mrs. Alving?
ENGSTRAND.
It isn’t much as I’ve got to start with, Lord help me! But if I could
only find a helping hand, why——
MANDERS.
Yes, yes; we will look into the matter more closely. I entirely approve
of your plan. But now, go before me and make everything ready, and get
the candles lighted, so as to give the place an air of festivity. And
then we will pass an edifying hour together, my good fellow; for now I
quite believe you are in the right frame of mind.
ENGSTRAND.
Yes, I trust I am. And so I’ll say good-bye, ma’am, and thank you
kindly; and take good care of Regina for me—[_Wipes a tear from his
eye_]—poor Johanna’s child. Well, it’s a queer thing, now; but it’s just
like as if she’d growd into the very apple of my eye. It is, indeed.
[_He bows and goes out through the hall._
MANDERS.
Well, what do you say of that man now, Mrs. Alving? _That_ was a very
different account of matters, was it not?
MRS. ALVING.
Yes, it certainly was.
MANDERS.
It only shows how excessively careful one ought to be in judging one’s
fellow creatures. But what a heartfelt joy it is to ascertain that one
has been mistaken! Don’t you think so?
MRS. ALVING.
I think you are, and will always be, a great baby, Manders.
MANDERS.
I?
MRS. ALVING.
[_Laying her two hands upon his shoulders._] And I say that I have half
a mind to put my arms round your neck, and kiss you.
MANDERS.
[_Stepping hastily back._] No, no! God bless me! What an idea!
MRS. ALVING.
[_With a smile._] Oh, you needn’t be afraid of me.
MANDERS.
[_By the table._] You have sometimes such an exaggerated way of
expressing yourself. Now, let me just collect all the documents, and put
them in my bag. [_He does so._] There, that’s all right. And now,
good-bye for the present. Keep your eyes open when Oswald comes back. I
shall look in again later.
[_He takes his hat and goes out through the hall door._
MRS. ALVING.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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