Why the deuce couldn’t they be taken together another day! GINA. Don’t you know, I told them to come in the afternoon, when you are having your nap. HIALMAR. Oh, that’s capital. Very well, let us have lunch here then. GINA. All right; but there’s no hurry about laying the cloth; you can have the table for a good while yet. HIALMAR. Do you think I am not sticking at my work? I'm at it as hard as I can! GINA. Then you’ll be free later on, you know. [_Goes out into the kitchen again. Short pause._ EKDAL. [_In the garret doorway, behind the net._] Hialmar! HIALMAR. Well? EKDAL. Afraid we shall have to move the water-trough, after all. HIALMAR. What else have I been saying all along? EKDAL. H'm—h’m—h’m. [_Goes away from the door again._ [HIALMAR _goes on working a little; glances towards the garret and half rises._ HEDVIG _comes in from the kitchen._ HIALMAR. [_Sits down again hurriedly._] What do you want? HEDVIG. I only wanted to come in beside you, father. HIALMAR. [_After a pause._] What makes you go prying around like that? Perhaps you are told off to watch me? HEDVIG. No, no. HIALMAR. What is your mother doing out there? HEDVIG. Oh, mother’s in the middle of making the herring-salad. [_Goes to the table._] Isn’t there any little thing I could help you with, father? HIALMAR. Oh no. It is right that I should bear the whole burden—so long as my strength holds out. Set your mind at rest, Hedvig; if only your father keeps his health—— HEDVIG. Oh no, father! You mustn’t talk in that horrid way. [_She wanders about a little, stops by the doorway and looks into the garret._ HIALMAR. Tell me, what is he doing? HEDVIG. I think he’s making a new path to the water-trough. HIALMAR. He can never manage _that_ by himself! And here am I doomed to sit——! HEDVIG. [_Goes to him._] Let me take the brush, father; I _can_ do it, quite well. HIALMAR. Oh nonsense; you will only hurt your eyes. HEDVIG. Not a bit. Give me the brush. HIALMAR. [_Rising._] Well, it won’t take more than a minute or two. HEDVIG.