Now run away, boys; I'm sure you have lessons to prepare for to-morrow. EILIF. You might let me stay just a little longer—— MRS. STOCKMANN. No, you must go too. Be off, both of you. [_The boys say good-night and go into the room on the left._ HOVSTAD. Do you really think it can hurt the boys to hear these things? MRS. STOCKMANN. Well, I don’t know; I don’t like it. PETRA. Really, mother, I think you are quite wrong there. MRS. STOCKMANN. Perhaps. But I don’t like it—not here, at home. PETRA. There’s no end of hypocrisy both at home and at school. At home you must hold your tongue, and at school you have to stand up and tell lies to the children. HORSTER. Have you to tell lies? PETRA. Yes; do you think we don’t have to tell them many and many a thing we don’t believe ourselves? BILLING. Ah, that’s too true. PETRA. If only I could afford it, I should start a school myself, and things should be very different there. BILLING. Oh, afford it——! HORSTER. If you really think of doing that, Miss Stockmann, I shall be delighted to let you have a room at my place. You know my father’s old house is nearly empty; there’s a great big dining-room on the ground floor—— PETRA. [_Laughing._] Oh, thank you very much—but I'm afraid it won’t come to anything. HOVSTAD. No, I fancy Miss Petra is more likely to go over to journalism. By the way, have you had time to look into the English novel you promised to translate for us? PETRA. Not yet. But you shall have it in good time. DR. STOCKMANN _enters from his room, with the letter open in his hand._ DR. STOCKMANN. [_Flourishing the letter._] Here’s news, I can tell you, that will waken up the town! BILLING. News? MRS. STOCKMANN. What news? DR. STOCKMANN. A great discovery, Katrina! HOVSTAD. Indeed? MRS. STOCKMANN. Made by you? DR. STOCKMANN. Precisely—by me! [_Walks up and down._] Now let them go on accusing me of fads and crack-brained notions. But they won’t dare to! Ha-ha! I tell you they won’t dare! PETRA. Do tell us what it is, father. DR. STOCKMANN.