_Manders._ But how is it possible that a--a young man or young woman with any decent principles can endure to live in that way?--in the eyes of all the world! _Oswald._ What are they to do? A poor young artist--a poor girl. It costs a lot of money to get married. What are they to do? _Manders._ What are they to do? Let me tell you, Mr. Alving, what they ought to do. They ought to exercise self-restraint from the first; that's what they ought to do. _Oswald._ Such talk as that won't go far with warm-blooded young people, over head and ears in love. _Mrs. Alving._ No, it wouldn't go far. _Manders._ How can the authorities tolerate such things? Allow it to go on in the light of day? (_To Mrs. Alving._) Had I not cause to be deeply concerned about your son? In circles where open immorality prevails, and has even a sort of prestige----! _Oswald._ Let me tell you, sir, that I have been a constant Sunday-guest in one or two such irregular homes---- _Manders._ On Sunday of all days! _Oswald._ Isn't that the day to enjoy one's self? Well, never have I heard an offensive word, and still less have I ever witnessed anything that could be called immoral. No; do you know when and where I have found immorality in artistic circles? _Manders._ No! Thank heaven, I don't! _Oswald._ Well, then, allow me to inform you. I have met with it when one or other of our pattern husbands and fathers has come to Paris to have a look around on his own account, and has done the artists the honor of visiting their humble haunts. _They_ knew what was what. These gentlemen could tell us all about places and things we had never dreamt of. _Manders._ What? Do you mean to say that respectable men from home here would----? _Oswald._ Have you never heard these respectable men, when they got home again, talking about the way in which immorality was running rampant abroad? _Manders_. Yes, of course. _Mrs. Alving._ I have, too. _Oswald._ Well, you may take their word for it. They know what they are talking about! Oh! that that great, free, glorious life out there should be defiled in such a way! _Pastor Manders_ is outraged, and when _Oswald_ leaves, he delivers himself of a tirade against _Mrs. Alving_ for her "irresponsible proclivities to shirk her duty." _Manders._ It is only the spirit of rebellion that craves for happiness in this life. What right have we human beings to happiness? No, we have to do our duty! And your duty was to hold firmly to the man you had once chosen and to whom you were bound by a holy tie.... It was your duty to bear with humility the cross which a Higher Power had, for your own good, laid upon you. But instead of that you rebelliously cast away the cross.... I was but a poor instrument in a Higher Hand. And what a blessing has it not been to you all the days of your life, that I got you to resume the yoke of duty and obedience!