[_They go back to their work_. HALVARD SOLNESS, _mature, healthy, vigorous, comes in_. SOLNESS: Are they gone? KAIA: No. _[She takes the shade off her eyes_. SOLNESS _(approaching her and whispering_): Kaia! Why do you always take off that shade when I come? KAIA: I look so ugly with it on. SOLNESS _(stroking her hair_): Poor, poor little Kaia------ KAIA: Hush------ [BROVIK _comes into the front room_. BROVIK: May I have a few words with you? SOLNESS: Certainly. [BROVIK _sends_ KAIA _out_. BROVIK: It will soon be all over with me. (SOLNESS _places him in an armchair_.) Thanks. Well, you see, it's about Ragnar. That weighs most upon me. What's to become of him? SOLNESS: Your son will stay with me as long as ever he likes. BROVIK: But he wants to have a chance. He must do something on his own account. SOLNESS: Well, but he has learnt nothing, except, of course, to draw. BROVIK: You had learnt little enough when you were with me, and yet you cut me out. Now, how can you have the heart to let me go to my grave without having seen what Ragnar is fit for? And I'm anxious to see him and Kaia married--before I go. SOLNESS: I can't drag commissions down from the moon for him. BROVIK: He can have the building of that villa at Lövstrand, if you would only approve of his plans, and retire------ SOLNESS _(angrily):_ Retire? I? BROVIK: From the agreement, that is. SOLNESS: So that's it, is it? Halvard Solness to make room for younger men! Never in the world! BROVIK _(rising painfully_): Then I'm to die without any certainty, any gleam of happiness or trust in Ragnar? SOLNESS: You must pass out of life as best you can. [BROVIK _reels_. RAGNAR _enters and takes his father home._ SOLNESS _detains_ KAIA. SOLNESS: You want to marry Ragnar. KAIA: I cared for him once--before I met you. I can't be separated from you------ SOLNESS: Marry him as much as you please. Make him stay here, and then I can keep _you_, too, my dear Kaia. KAIA _(sinks down before him_): Oh, how unspeakably good you are to me! SOLNESS: Get up! For goodness' sake get up! I think I hear someone. [MRS. SOLNESS _enters. She is wasted with grief, but has once been beautiful_. MRS. SOLNESS _(with a glance at_ KAIA): Halvard! I'm afraid I'm disturbing you. SOLNESS: Not in the least. What is it, Aline? MRS. SOLNESS: Merely that Dr. Herdal is in the drawing-room. SOLNESS: I'll come later on, dear--later on. [_Exit_ MRS. SOLNESS. KAIA: Oh, dear! Oh, dear! I'm sure Mrs. Solness thinks ill of me in some way!