MRS. STOCKMANN. [_Holding back the DOCTOR._] Now, do restrain yourself, Thomas! DR. STOCKMANN. [_Throwing down the umbrella._] I'll be hanged if they haven’t got off after all. MRS. STOCKMANN. Why, what can they have wanted with you? DR. STOCKMANN. I'll tell you afterwards; I have other things to think of now. [_Goes to the table and writes on a visiting-card._] Look here, Katrina: what’s written here? MRS. STOCKMANN. Three big _Noes_; what does that mean? DR. STOCKMANN. That I'll tell you afterwards, too. [_Handing the card._] There, Petra; let smudgy-face run to the Badger’s with this as fast as she can. Be quick! [PETRA _goes out through the hall with the card._ DR. STOCKMANN. Well, if I haven’t had visits to-day from all the emissaries of the devil! But now I'll sharpen my pen against them till it becomes a goad; I'll dip it in gall and venom; I'll hurl my inkstand straight at their skulls. MRS. STOCKMANN. You forget we are going away, Thomas. PETRA _returns._ DR. STOCKMANN. Well? PETRA. She has gone. DR. STOCKMANN. Good. Going away, do you say? No, I'll be damned if we do; we stay where we are, Katrina! PETRA. Stay! MRS. STOCKMANN. Here in the town? DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, here; the field of battle is here; here the fight must be fought; here I will conquer! As soon as my trousers are mended, I shall go out into the town and look for a house; we must have a roof over our heads for the winter. HORSTER. That you can have in my house. DR. STOCKMANN. Can I? HORSTER. Yes, there’s no difficulty about that. I have room enough, and I'm hardly ever at home myself. MRS. STOCKMANN. Oh, how kind of you, Captain Horster. PETRA. Thank you! DR. STOCKMANN. [_Shaking his hand._] Thanks, thanks! So that is off my mind. And this very day I shall set to work in earnest. Oh, there’s no end of work to be done here, Katrina! It’s a good thing I shall have all my time at my disposal now; for you must know I've had notice from the Baths—— MRS. STOCKMANN. [_Sighing._] Oh yes, I was expecting that. DR. STOCKMANN.