I want a few words with you, in your room. GREGERS. In my room? Very well—— _About to go._ GINA. No, no, your room’s not in a fit state—— WERLE. Well then, out in the passage here; I want to have a few words with you alone. HIALMAR. You can have them here, sir. Come into the parlour, Relling. [HIALMAR _and_ RELLING _go off to the right._ GINA _takes_ HEDVIG _with her into the kitchen._ GREGERS. [_After a short pause._] Well, now we are alone. WERLE. From something you let fall last evening, and from your coming to lodge with the Ekdals, I can’t help inferring that you intend to make yourself unpleasant to me, in one way or another. GREGERS. I intend to open Hialmar Ekdal’s eyes. He shall see his position as it really is—that is all. WERLE. Is _that_ the mission in life you spoke of yesterday? GREGERS. Yes. You have left me no other. WERLE. Is it I, then, that have crippled your mind, Gregers? GREGERS. You have crippled my whole life. I am not thinking of all that about mother—— But it’s thanks to you that I am continually haunted and harassed by a guilty conscience. WERLE. Indeed! It is your conscience that troubles you, is it? GREGERS. I ought to have taken a stand against you when the trap was set for Lieutenant Ekdal. I ought to have cautioned him; for I had a misgiving as to what was in the wind. WERLE. Yes, that was the time to have spoken. GREGERS. I did not dare to, I was so cowed and spiritless. I was mortally afraid of you—not only then, but long afterwards. WERLE. You have got over that fear now, it appears. GREGERS. Yes, fortunately. The wrong done to old Ekdal, both by me and by—others, can never be undone; but Hialmar I can rescue from all the falsehood and deception that are bringing him to ruin. WERLE. Do you think _that_ will be doing him a kindness? GREGERS. I have not the least doubt of it. WERLE. You think our worthy photographer is the sort of man to appreciate such friendly offices? GREGERS. Yes, I do. WERLE. H'm—we shall see. GREGERS. Besides, if I am to go on living, I must try to find some cure for my sick conscience. WERLE.