MRS. STOCKMANN. It was _that_ you were working so hard at! DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, you may well say I've worked, Katrina. But here, you know, I hadn’t the necessary scientific appliances; so I sent samples both of our drinking-water and of our sea-water to the University, for exact analysis by a chemist. HOVSTAD. And you have received his report? DR. STOCKMANN. [_Showing letter._] Here it is! And it proves beyond dispute the presence of putrefying organic matter in the water—millions of infusoria. It’s absolutely pernicious to health, whether used internally or externally. MRS. STOCKMANN. What a blessing you found it out in time. DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, you may well say that. HOVSTAD. And what do you intend to do now, Doctor? DR. STOCKMANN. Why, to set things right, of course. HOVSTAD. You think it can be done, then? DR. STOCKMANN. It must be done. Else the whole Baths are useless, ruined. But there’s no fear. I am quite clear as to what is required. MRS. STOCKMANN. But, my dear Thomas, why should you have made such a secret of all this? DR. STOCKMANN. Would you have had me rush all over the town and chatter about it, before I was quite certain? No, thank you; I'm not so mad as that. PETRA. But to us at home—— DR. STOCKMANN. I couldn’t say a word to a living soul. But to-morrow you may look in at the Badger’s—— MRS. STOCKMANN. Oh, Thomas! DR. STOCKMANN. Well well, at your grandfather’s. The old fellow will be astonished! He thinks I'm not quite right in my head—yes, and plenty of others think the same, I've noticed. But now these good people shall see—yes, they shall see now! [_Walks up and down rubbing his hands._] What a stir there will be in the town, Katrina! Just think of it! All the water-pipes will have to be relaid. HOVSTAD. [_Rising._] All the water-pipes——? DR. STOCKMANN. Why, of course. The intake is too low down; it must be moved much higher up. PETRA. So you were right, after all. DR. STOCKMANN.