HILDA _(with sparkling eyes_): It'll be splendid to see you up so high once more. MRS. SOLNESS: For heaven's sake, don't, Miss Wangel. My husband!--when he always gets so dizzy. HILDA: He--dizzy? I've seen him with my own eyes at the top of a high church tower. MRS. SOLNESS: Impossible! SOLNESS: True, all the same. MRS. SOLNESS: You, who can't even go out on the second-floor balcony? SOLNESS: You will see something different this evening. MRS. SOLNESS: You're ill, you're ill! I'll write at once to the doctor. Oh, God, Oh, God! [_She goes out._ HILDA: Don't tell me _my_ master builder daren't, _cannot_ climb as high as he builds. You promised me a kingdom, and then you went and--well! Don't tell me you can ever be dizzy! SOLNESS: This evening, then, we'll hang up the wreath, Princess Hilda. HILDA (_bitterly_): Over your new home--yes. SOLNESS: Over the new house, which will never be a _home_ for _me_. HILDA (_looks straight in front of her with a far-away expression, and whispers to herself. The only words audible are_): Frightfully thrilling---- ACT III SCENE.--_A large, broad verandah attached to_ SOLNESS'S _dwelling-house. A flight of steps leads down to the garden below. Far to the right, among the trees, is a glimpse of the new villa, with scaffolding round the tower. Evening sky, with sun-lit clouds._ MRS. SOLNESS: Have you been round the garden, Miss Wangel? HILDA: Yes, and I've found heaps of flowers. MRS. SOLNESS: Are there, really? You see, I seldom go there. I don't feel that it is _mine_ any longer. They've parcelled it out and built houses for strangers, who can look in upon me from their windows. HILDA: Mrs. Solness--may I stay here with you a little? MRS. SOLNESS: Yes, by all means, if you care to; but I thought you wanted to go in to my husband--to help him? HILDA: No, thanks. Besides, he's not in. He's with the men over there. He looked so fierce, I didn't dare to talk to him. MRS. SOLNESS: He's so kind and gentle in reality. HILDA: _He_------ MRS. SOLNESS: You don't really know him yet, Miss Wangel. HILDA: Are you pleased about the new house? MRS. SOLNESS: It's what Halvard wants. It's simply my duty to submit myself to _him_. HILDA: That must be difficult, indeed, when one has gone through so much as you have--the loss of your two little boys------ MRS. SOLNESS: One must bow to Providence and be thankful, too. [DR. HERDAL _enters and goes in again with_ MRS. SOLNESS. _She wishes to talk to him about her husband's mad scheme. As they go_ SOLNESS _enters_. SOLNESS: Poor Aline! I suppose she was talking about the two little boys? (HILDA _shudders_) Poor Aline, she will never get over it.