Let him fancy so, then! Mr. Werle has done a great deal for me; far be it from me to deny it. But that doesn’t make me everlastingly dependent upon him. GINA. But, my dear Ekdal, maybe grandfather’ll suffer for it. He may loose the little bit of work he gets from Gråberg. HIALMAR. I could almost say: so much the better! Is it not humiliating for a man like me to see his grey-haired father treated as a pariah? But now I believe the fulness of time is at hand. [_Takes a fresh piece of bread and butter._] As sure as I have a mission in life, I mean to fulfil it now! HEDVIG. Oh yes, father, do! GINA. Hush! Don’t wake him! HIALMAR. [_More softly._] I will fulfil it, I say. The day shall come when——And that is why I say it’s a good thing we have let the room; for that makes me more independent. The man who has a mission in life must be independent. [_By the, arm-chair, with emotion._] Poor old white-haired father! Rely on your Hialmar. He has broad shoulders—strong shoulders, at any rate. You shall yet wake up some fine day and——[_To GINA._] Do you not believe it? GINA. [_Rising._] Yes, of course I do; but in the meantime suppose we see about getting him to bed. HIALMAR. Yes, come. [_They take hold of the old man carefully._ ----- Footnote 15: The “sunshine” of Court favour. ACT THIRD. HIALMAR EKDAL’S _studio. It is morning: the daylight shines through the large window in the slanting roof; the curtain is drawn back._ HIALMAR _is sitting at the table, busy retouching a photograph; several others lie before him. Presently_ GINA, _wearing her hat and cloak, enters by the passage door; she has a covered basket on her arm._ HIALMAR. Back already, Gina? GINA. Oh yes, one can’t let the grass grow under one’s feet. [_Sets her basket on a chair, and takes off her things._ HIALMAR. Did you look in at Gregers' room? GINA. Yes, that I did. It’s a rare sight, I can tell you; he’s made a pretty mess to start off with. HIALMAR. How so? GINA. He was determined to do everything for himself, he said; so he sets to work to light the stove, and what must he do but screw down the damper till the whole room is full of smoke. Ugh! There was a smell fit to—— HIALMAR. Well, really! GINA. But that’s not the worst of it; for then he thinks he’ll put out the fire, and goes and empties his water-jug into the stove, and so makes the whole floor one filthy puddle.