[_To GREGERS._] Come now, don’t you find it pleasant, for once in a way, to sit at a well-spread table in a happy family circle? HIALMAR. Ah yes, I really prize these social hours. GREGERS. For my part, I don’t thrive in marsh vapours. RELLING. Marsh vapours? HIALMAR. Oh, don’t begin with that stuff again! GINA. Goodness knows there’s no vapours in _this_ house, Mr. Werle; I give the place a good airing every blessed day. GREGERS. [_Leaves the table._] No airing _you_ can give will drive out the taint I mean. HIALMAR. Taint! GINA. Yes, what do you say to that, Ekdal! RELLING. Excuse me—may it not be you yourself that have brought the taint from those mines up there? GREGERS. It is like you to call what I bring into this house a taint. RELLING. [_Goes up to him._] Look here, Mr Werle, junior: I have a strong suspicion that you are still carrying about that “claim of the ideal” large as life, in your coat-tail pocket. GREGERS. I carry it in my breast. RELLING. Well, wherever you carry it, I advise you not to come dunning us with it here, so long as _I_ am on the premises. GREGERS. And if I do so none the less? RELLING. Then you’ll go head-foremost down the stairs; now I've warned you. HIALMAR. [_Rising._] Oh, but Relling——! GREGERS. Yes, you may turn me out—— GINA. [_Interposing between them._] We can’t have that, Relling. But I must say, Mr. Werle, it ill becomes you to talk about vapours and taints, after all the mess you made with your stove. [_A knock at the passage door._ HEDVIG. Mother, there’s somebody knocking. HIALMAR. There now, we’re going to have a whole lot of people! GINA. I'll go—— [_Goes over and opens the door, starts, and draws back._] Oh—oh dear! WERLE, _in a fur coat, advances one step into the room._ WERLE. Excuse me; but I think my son is staying here. GINA. [_With a gulp._] Yes. HIALMAR. [_Approaching him._] Won’t you do us the honour to——? WERLE. Thank you, I merely wish to speak to my son. GREGERS. What is it? Here I am. WERLE.