GINA. [_Stops._] Well? HEDVIG. Oh, mother, I almost think he’s down at Relling’s—— GINA. There, you see! HEDVIG. ——because the porter’s wife says she could hear that Relling had two people with him when he came home last night. GINA. That’s just what I thought. HEDVIG. But it’s no use his being there, if he won’t come up to us. GINA. I'll go down and speak to him at all events. OLD EKDAL, _in dressing-gown and slippers, and with a lighted pipe, appears at the door of his room._ EKDAL. Hialmar—— Isn’t Hialmar at home? GINA. No, he’s gone out. EKDAL. So early? And in such a tearing snowstorm? Well well; just as he pleases; I can take my morning walk alone. [_He slides the garret door aside;_ HEDVIG _helps him; he goes in; she closes it after him._ HEDVIG. [_In an undertone._] Only think, mother, when poor grandfather hears that father is going to leave us. GINA. Oh, nonsense; grandfather mustn’t hear anything about it. It was a heaven’s mercy he wasn’t at home yesterday in all that hurly-burly. HEDVIG. Yes, but—— [GREGERS _comes in by the passage door._ GREGERS. Well, have you any news of him? GINA. They say he’s down at Relling’s. GREGERS. At Relling’s! Has he really been out with those creatures? GINA. Yes, like enough. GREGERS. When he ought to have been yearning for solitude, to collect and clear his thoughts—— GINA. Yes, you may well say so. RELLING _enters from the passage._ HEDVIG. [_Going to him._] Is father in your room? GINA. [_At the same time._] Is he there? RELLING. Yes, to be sure he is. HEDVIG. And you never let us know! RELLING. Yes; I'm a brute. But in the first place I had to look after the other brute; I mean our dæmonic friend, of course; and then I fell so dead asleep that—— GINA. What does Ekdal say to-day? RELLING. He says nothing whatever. HEDVIG. Doesn’t he speak? RELLING. Not a blessed word. GREGERS. No no; I can understand that very well.