The Doctor. How could he know--? (Putting on his glasses.) Oh, from my assistant--that is quite another thing. Of course he wants my help or my advice. Well, he shan't have it! I have run about quite enough to-day. Tell the messenger that I haven't time! I have my Duties as a Citizen to attend to! (Calls after her.) And my Manhood's Rights too! (Opens the envelope.) No, I won't read it; if I do, the matter will worry me all the evening. I know what I am. (Puts the note in his pocket.) I mean to enjoy this evening! (Suddenly.) I wonder how our friend the Editor is enjoying this evening! Was he at the meeting, I wonder? A remarkable personality--but malignity itself! Lion-hearted, though! He would fight till the last drop of his blood! But what is it, really, that he is fighting for? That question has always interested me, for I can't make it out. (To INGEBORG, who has comeback.) Well? Ingeborg. The messenger has gone.--Yes, sir, I told him everything you told me to. The Doctor. Of course. You would! Why the deuce does any one pay any attention to what I say! (The bell rings.) Here they are at last! Now we shall have a delightful evening! (EVJE and MRS. EVJE come in.) I am first, you see! Evje and Mrs. Evje. Were you at the meeting, too? The Doctor. Where else should I be? Evje. Did you see me? Mrs. Evje. There were so many people there, dear. Evje. But I was standing on a seat. Mrs. Evje. Yes, he was standing on a seat! The Doctor. There were plenty of people doing that. Evje. I wanted to be seen!--There _have_ been goings on here to-day, my friend! Mrs. Evje. You will never guess what has happened! The Doctor. Anyway I can see that something has happened. Evje and Mrs. Evje. Oh--! The Doctor. What is it, then? Evje. Those articles will be in to-morrow's paper. The Doctor. In the paper?--Yes, I didn't find him. Evje. But I found him! The Doctor (impatiently). Well? Evje. I will tell you all about it another time. But I have read them-- Mrs. Evje. And he has told me all about them! The Doctor. Are they very bad? Evje. Oh--oh! Mrs. Evje. Oh--oh--oh! The Doctor (with a look of pleased curiosity.) As bad as all that? Evje and Mrs. Evje. Oh--oh--oh--oh! The Doctor. And _that_ was why you went to the meeting! Evje. Of course--tit for tat! It was my wife's idea. Mrs. Evje. It was the obvious thing to do, dear. Evje. Our whole family at the meeting!--So that all the town should know that it was nothing but the meanest political persecution because I had joined my son-in-law's party. Mrs. Evje. We are party people now, you know! Evje. Do you know, there is something exciting about being mixed up with such things--something invigorating, something-- The Doctor (stepping back). Are _you_ bitten with it, too? Evje. Yes, if I can't be left in peace, I shall become a party man. The Doctor (enthusiastically). Did you see Gertrud? Evje and Mrs. Evje (with emotion). Our Gertrud! Yes, indeed we did!