How should _I_ know? A creature like _me_—— HIALMAR. [_Quietly turning away from her._] Then I have nothing more to do in this house. GREGERS. Take care, Hialmar! Think what you are doing! HIALMAR. [_Puts on his overcoat._] In this case, there is nothing for a man like me to think twice about. GREGERS. Yes indeed, there are endless things to be considered. You three must be together if you are to attain the true frame of mind for self-sacrifice and forgiveness. HIALMAR. I don’t want to attain it. Never, never! My hat! [_Takes his hat._] My home has fallen in ruins about me. [_Bursts into tears._] Gregers, I have no child! HEDVIG. [_Who has opened the kitchen door._] What is that you’re saying? [_Coming to him._] Father, father! GINA. There, you see! HIALMAR. Don’t come near me, Hedvig! Keep far away. I cannot bear to see you. Oh! those eyes——! Good-bye. _Makes for the door._ HEDVIG. [_Clinging close to him and screaming loudly._] No! no! Don’t leave me! GINA. [_Cries out._] Look at the child, Ekdal! Look at the child! HIALMAR. I will not! I cannot! I must get out—away from all this! [_He tears himself away from_ HEDVIG, _and goes out by the passage door._ HEDVIG. [_With despairing eyes._] He is going away from us, mother! He is going away from us! He will never come back again! GINA. Don’t cry, Hedvig. Father’s sure to come back again. HEDVIG. [_Throws herself sobbing on the sofa._] No, no, he’ll never come home to us any more. GREGERS. Do you believe I meant all for the best, Mrs. Ekdal? GINA. Yes, I daresay you did; but God forgive you, all the same. HEDVIG. [_Lying on the sofa._] Oh, this will kill me! What have I done to him? Mother, you must fetch him home again! GINA. Yes yes yes; only be quiet, and I'll go out and look for him. [_Puts on her outdoor things._] Perhaps he’s gone in to Relling’s. But you mustn’t lie there and cry. Promise me! HEDVIG. [_Weeping convulsively._] Yes, I'll stop, I'll stop; if only father comes back! GREGERS. [_To GINA, who is going._] After all, had you not better leave him to fight out his bitter fight to the end? GINA. Oh, he can do that afterwards. First of all, we must get the child quieted. [_Goes out by the passage door._