MRS. ALVING. [_Looks steadily at him._] Do you think _that_ is what would happen? OSWALD. I know it. You may live the same life here as there, and yet it won’t be the same life. MRS. ALVING. [_Who has been listening eagerly, rises, her eyes big with thought, and says:_] Now I see the sequence of things. OSWALD. What is it you see? MRS. ALVING. I see it now for the first time. And now I can speak. OSWALD. [_Rising._] Mother, I don’t understand you. REGINA. [_Who has also risen._] Perhaps I ought to go? MRS. ALVING. No. Stay here. Now I can speak. Now, my boy, you shall know the whole truth. And then you can choose. Oswald! Regina! OSWALD. Hush! The Pastor—— MANDERS. [_Enters by the hall door._] There! We have had a most edifying time down there. OSWALD. So have we. MANDERS. We must stand by Engstrand and his Sailors’ Home. Regina must go to him and help him—— REGINA. No thank you, sir. MANDERS. [_Noticing her for the first time._] What——? You here? And with a glass in your hand! REGINA. [_Hastily putting the glass down._] _Pardon!_ OSWALD. Regina is going with _me_, Mr. Manders. MANDERS. Going! With you! OSWALD. Yes; as my wife—if she wishes it. MANDERS. But, merciful God——! REGINA. I can’t help it, sir. OSWALD. Or she’ll stay here, if I stay. REGINA. [_Involuntarily._] Here! MANDERS. I am thunderstruck at your conduct, Mrs. Alving. MRS. ALVING. They will do neither one thing nor the other; for now I can speak out plainly. MANDERS. You surely will not do that! No, no, no! MRS. ALVING. Yes, I can speak and I will. And no ideals shall suffer after all. OSWALD. Mother—what is it you are hiding from me? REGINA. [_Listening._] Oh, ma’am, listen! Don’t you hear shouts outside. [_She goes into the conservatory and looks out._ OSWALD. [_At the window on the left._] What’s going on? Where does that light come from? REGINA. [_Cries out._] The Orphanage is on fire! MRS. ALVING.