BILLING. Yes, strike me dead if he hasn’t! And part of it must certainly go to Stockmann’s family. He’s bound to provide for—for the children at any rate. HOVSTAD. [_Half turning._] Are you counting on _that_? BILLING. Counting? How should I be counting on it? HOVSTAD. Best not! And that secretaryship you shouldn’t count on either; for I can assure you you won’t get it. BILLING. Do you think I don’t know that? A refusal is the very thing I want. Such a rebuff fires the spirit of opposition in you, gives you a fresh supply of gall, as it were; and that’s just what you need in a god-forsaken hole like this, where anything really stimulating so seldom happens. HOVSTAD. [_Writing._] Yes, yes. BILLING. Well—they shall soon hear from me!—Now I'll go and write the appeal to the House-owners' Association. _Goes into the room on the right._ HOVSTAD. [_Sits at his desk, biting his penholder, and says slowly_:] H'm—so that’s the way of it.—[_A knock at the door._] Come in. PETRA _enters from the back, left._ HOVSTAD. [_Rising._] What! Is it you? Here? PETRA. Yes; please excuse me—— HOVSTAD. [_Offering her an arm-chair._] Won’t you sit down? PETRA. No, thanks; I must go again directly. HOVSTAD. Perhaps you bring a message from your father——? PETRA. No, I have come on my own account. [_Takes a book from the pocket of her cloak._] Here is that English story. HOVSTAD. Why have you brought it back? PETRA. Because I won’t translate it. HOVSTAD. But you promised—— PETRA. Yes; but then I hadn’t read it. I suppose you have not read it either? HOVSTAD. No; you know I can’t read English; but—— PETRA. Exactly; and that’s why I wanted to tell you that you must find something else. [_Putting the_ _book on the table._] This will never do for the _Messenger_. HOVSTAD. Why not? PETRA. Because it flies in the face of all your convictions. HOVSTAD. Well, for that matter—— PETRA. You don’t understand me. It makes out that a supernatural power looks after the so-called good people in this world, and turns everything to their advantage at last; while all the so-called bad people are punished. HOVSTAD.