It was that blackguard Relling that urged me to it. GREGERS. Relling? HIALMAR. Yes, it was he that first made me realise my aptitude for making some notable discovery in photography. GREGERS. Aha—it was Relling! HIALMAR. Oh! I have been so truly happy over it! Not so much for the sake of the invention itself, as because Hedvig believed in it—believed in it with a child’s whole eagerness of faith.—At least, I have been fool enough to go and imagine that she believed in it. GREGERS. Can you really think that Hedvig has been false towards you? HIALMAR. I can think anything now. It is Hedvig that stands in my way. She will blot out the sunlight from my whole life. GREGERS. Hedvig! Is it Hedvig you are talking of? How should _she_ blot out your sunlight? HIALMAR. [_Without answering._] How unutterably I have loved that child! How unutterably happy I have felt every time I came home to my humble room, and she flew to meet me, with her sweet little blinking eyes. Oh, confiding fool that I have been! I loved her unutterably;—and I yielded myself up to the dream, the delusion, that she loved me unutterably in return. GREGERS. Do you call that a delusion? HIALMAR. How should I know? I can get nothing out of Gina; and besides, she is totally blind to the ideal side of these complications. But to you I feel impelled to open my mind, Gregers. I cannot shake off this frightful doubt—perhaps Hedvig has never really and honestly loved me. GREGERS. What would you say if she were to give you a proof of her love? [_Listens._] What’s that? I thought I heard the wild duck——? HIALMAR. It’s the wild duck quacking. Father’s in the garret. GREGERS. Is he? [_His face lights up with joy._] I say you may yet have proof that your poor misunderstood Hedvig loves you! HIALMAR. Oh, what proof can she give me? I dare not believe in any assurances from that quarter. GREGERS. Hedvig does not know what deceit means. HIALMAR. Oh Gregers, that is just what I cannot be sure of. Who knows what Gina and that Mrs. Sörby may many a time have sat here whispering and tattling about? And Hedvig usually has her ears open, I can tell you. Perhaps the deed of gift was not such a surprise to her, after all. In fact, I'm not sure but that I noticed something of the sort. GREGERS. What spirit is this that has taken possession of you? HIALMAR.