Upon my word, you are very enigmatical. Is there anything in the wind? Anything I am to be kept in the dark about? I should think, as Chairman of the Bath Committee—— DR. STOCKMANN. And I should think that I——Well, well, don’t let us get our backs up, Peter. BURGOMASTER. God forbid! I am not in the habit of “getting my back up,” as you express it. But I must absolutely insist that all arrangements shall be made and carried out in a businesslike manner, and through the properly constituted authorities. I cannot be a party to crooked or underhand courses. DR. STOCKMANN. Have _I_ ever been given to crooked or underhand courses? BURGOMASTER. At any rate you have an ingrained propensity to taking your own course. And that, in a well-ordered community, is almost as inadmissible. The individual must subordinate himself to society, or, more precisely, to the authorities whose business it is to watch over the welfare of society. DR. STOCKMANN. Maybe. But what the devil has that to do with me? BURGOMASTER. Why this is the very thing, my dear Thomas, that it seems you will never learn. But take care; you will have to pay for it—sooner or later. Now I have warned you. Good-bye. DR. STOCKMANN. Are you stark mad? You’re on a totally wrong track—— BURGOMASTER. I am not often on the wrong track. Moreover, I must protest against——[_Bowing towards dining-room._] Good-bye, sister-in-law; good-day to you, gentlemen. [_He goes._ MRS. STOCKMANN. [_Entering the sitting-room._] Has he gone? DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, and in a fine temper, too. MRS. STOCKMANN. Why, my dear Thomas, what have you been doing to him now? DR. STOCKMANN. Nothing at all. He can’t possibly expect me to account to him for everything—before the time comes. MRS. STOCKMANN. What have you to account to him for? DR. STOCKMANN. H'm;—never mind about that, Katrina.—It’s very odd the postman doesn’t come. [HOVSTAD, BILLING _and_ HORSTER _have risen from table and come forward into the sitting-room._ EILIF _and_ MORTEN _presently follow._ BILLING. [_Stretching himself._] Ah! Strike me dead if one doesn’t feel a new man after such a meal. HOVSTAD. The Burgomaster didn’t seem in the best of tempers this evening. DR. STOCKMANN. That’s his stomach. He has a very poor digestion. HOVSTAD. I fancy it’s the staff of the _Messenger_ he finds it hardest to stomach.