HIALMAR. How annoying! GINA. I've got the porter’s wife to clear up after him, pig that he is! But the room won’t be fit to live in till the afternoon. HIALMAR. What’s he doing with himself in the meantime? GINA. He said he was going out for a little while. HIALMAR. I looked in upon him too, for a moment—after you had gone. GINA. So I heard. You’ve asked him to lunch. HIALMAR. Just to a little bit of early lunch, you know. It’s his first day—we can hardly do less. You’ve got something in the house, I suppose? GINA. I shall have to find something or other. HIALMAR. And don’t cut it too fine, for I fancy Relling and Molvik are coming up too. I just happened to meet Relling on the stairs, you see; so I had to—— GINA. Oh, are we to have those two as well? HIALMAR. Good Lord—a couple more or less can’t make any difference. OLD EKDAL. [_Opens his door and looks in._] I say, Hialmar——[_Sees GINA._] Oh! GINA. Do you want anything, grandfather? EKDAL. Oh no, it doesn’t matter. H'm! [_Retires again._ GINA. [_Takes up the basket._] Be sure you see that he doesn’t go out. HIALMAR. All right, all right. And, Gina, a little herring-salad wouldn’t be a bad idea; Relling and Molvik were out on the loose again last night. GINA. If only they don’t come before I'm ready for them—— HIALMAR. No, of course they won’t; take your own time. GINA. Very well; and meanwhile you can be working a bit. HIALMAR. Well, I am working! I am working as hard as I can! GINA. Then you’ll have that job off your hands, you see. [_She goes out to the kitchen with her basket._ [HIALMAR _sits for a time pencilling away at the photograph, in an indolent and listless manner._ EKDAL. [_Peeps in, looks round the studio, and says softly_:] Are you busy? HIALMAR. Yes I'm toiling at these wretched pictures—— EKDAL. Well well, never mind,—since you’re so busy——h’m! [_He goes out again; the door stands open._ HIALMAR.