Behind you? No. What have you behind you? DR. STOCKMANN. The compact majority! MRS. STOCKMANN. Oh! Is that good for you, Thomas? DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, indeed; I should think it _was_ good. [_Rubbing his hands as he walks up and down._] Great God! what a delight it is to feel oneself in such brotherly unison with one’s fellow townsmen? PETRA. And to do so much that’s good and useful, father! DR. STOCKMANN. And all for one’s native town, too! MRS. STOCKMANN. There’s the bell. DR. STOCKMANN. That must be he. [_Knock at the door._] Come in! _Enter BURGOMASTER STOCKMANN from the hall._ BURGOMASTER. Good morning. DR. STOCKMANN. I'm glad to see you, Peter. MRS. STOCKMANN. Good morning, brother-in-law. How are you? BURGOMASTER. Oh, thanks, so-so. [_To the DOCTOR._] Yesterday evening, after office hours, I received from you a dissertation upon the state of the water at the Baths. DR. STOCKMANN. Yes. Have you read it? BURGOMASTER. I have. DR. STOCKMANN. And what do you think of the affair? BURGOMASTER. H'm— _With a sidelong glance._ MRS. STOCKMANN. Come, Petra. [_She and PETRA go into the room on the left._ BURGOMASTER. [_After a pause._] Was it necessary to make all these investigations behind my back? DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, till I was absolutely certain, I—— BURGOMASTER. And are you absolutely certain now? DR. STOCKMANN. My paper must surely have convinced you of that. BURGOMASTER. Is it your intention to submit this statement to the Board of Directors, as a sort of official document? DR. STOCKMANN. Of course. Something must be done in the matter, and that promptly. BURGOMASTER. As usual, you use very strong expressions in your statement. Amongst other things, you say that what we offer our visitors is a slow poison. DR. STOCKMANN. Why, Peter, what else can it be called? Only think—poisoned water both internally and externally! And that to poor invalids who come to us in all confidence, and pay us handsomely to cure them! BURGOMASTER. And then you announce as your conclusion that we must build a sewer to carry off the alleged impurities from the Mill Dale, and must re-lay all the water-pipes. DR. STOCKMANN.