HIALMAR. Compunction——? GREGERS. Yes, yes—whatever you like to call it. Oh, I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear this of father.—So you are a married man, Hialmar! That is further than I shall ever get. Well, I hope you are happy in your married life? HIALMAR. Yes, thoroughly happy. She is as good and capable a wife as any man could wish for. And she is by no means without culture. GREGERS. [_Rather surprised._] No, of course not. HIALMAR. You see, life is itself an education. Her daily intercourse with me—— And then we know one or two rather remarkable men, who come a good deal about us. I assure you, you would hardly know Gina again. GREGERS. Gina? HIALMAR. Yes; had you forgotten that her name was Gina? GREGERS. Whose name? I haven’t the slightest idea—— HIALMAR. Don’t you remember that she used to be in service here? GREGERS. [_Looks at him._] Is it Gina Hansen——? HIALMAR. Yes, of course it is Gina Hansen. GREGERS. ——who kept house for us during the last year of my mother’s illness? HIALMAR. Yes, exactly. But, my dear friend, I'm quite sure your father told you that I was married. GREGERS. [_Who has risen._] Oh yes, he mentioned it; but not that—— [_Walking about the room._] Stay—perhaps he did—now that I think of it. My father always writes such short letters. [_Half seats himself on the arm of the chair._] Now, tell me, Hialmar—this is interesting—how did you come to know Gina—your wife? HIALMAR. The simplest thing in the world. You know Gina did not stay here long; everything was so much upset at that time, owing to your mother’s illness and so forth, that Gina was not equal to it all; so she gave notice and left. That was the year before your mother died—or it may have been the same year. GREGERS. It was the same year. I was up at the works then. But afterwards——? HIALMAR. Well, Gina lived at home with her mother, Madam Hansen, an excellent hard-working woman, who kept a little eating-house. She had a room to let too; a very nice comfortable room. GREGERS. And I suppose you were lucky enough to secure it? HIALMAR. Yes; in fact, it was your father that recommended it to me. So it was there, you see, that I really came to know Gina. GREGERS. And then you got engaged? HIALMAR.