ELLA RENTHEIM.

And how do you think that is to be done?

MRS. BORKMAN.

It must be done as best it can; I don't know how. But I know that it must and shall be done. [Looks searchingly at her.] Come now, Ella; isn't that really what you have had in mind too, ever since he was a child?

ELLA RENTHEIM.

No, I can't exactly say that.

MRS. BORKMAN.

No? Then why did you take charge of him when the storm broke upon--upon this house?

ELLA RENTHEIM.

You could not look after him yourself at that time, Gunhild.

MRS. BORKMAN.

No, no, I could not. And his father--he had a valid enough excuse--while he was there--in safe keeping----

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[Indignant.] Oh, how can you say such things!--You!

MRS. BORKMAN.

[With a venomous expression.] And how could you make up your mind to take charge of the child of a--a John Gabriel! Just as if he had been your own? To take the child away from me--home with you--and keep him there year after year, until the boy was nearly grown up. [Looking suspiciously at her.] What was your real reason, Ella? Why did you keep him with you?

ELLA RENTHEIM.

I came to love him so dearly----

MRS. BORKMAN.

More than I--his mother?

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[Evasively.] I don't know about that. And then, you know, Erhart was rather delicate as a child----

MRS. BORKMAN.

Erhart--delicate!

ELLA RENTHEIM.

Yes, I thought so--at that time at any rate. And you know the air of the west coast is so much milder than here.

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Smiling bitterly.] H'm--is it indeed? [Breaking off.] Yes, it is true you have done a great deal for Erhart. [With a change of tone.] Well, of course, you could afford it. [Smiling.] You were so lucky, Ella; you managed to save all your money.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[Hurt.] I did not manage anything about it, I a.s.sure you. I had no idea--until long, long afterwards--that the securities belonging to me--that they had been left untouched.

MRS. BORKMAN.

Well, well; I don't understand anything about these things! I only say you were lucky. [Looking inquiringly at her.] But when you, of your own accord, undertook to educate Erhart for me--what was your motive in that?

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[Looking at her.] My motive?

MRS. BORKMAN.

Yes, some motive you must have had. What did you want to do with him? To make of him, I mean?

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[Slowly.] I wanted to smooth the way for Erhart to happiness in life.

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Contemptuously.] Pooh--people situated as we are have something else than happiness to think of.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

What, then?

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Looking steadily and earnestly at her.] Erhart has in the first place to make so brilliant a position for himself, that no trace shall be left of the shadow his father has cast upon my name--and my son's.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[Searchingly.] Tell me, Gunhild, is this what Erhart himself demands of his life?

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Slightly taken aback.] Yes, I should hope so!

ELLA RENTHEIM.

Is it not rather what you demand of him?

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Curtly.] Erhart and I always make the same demands upon ourselves.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[Sadly and slowly.] You are so very certain of your boy, then, Gunhild?

MRS. BORKMAN.

[With veiled triumph.] Yes, that I am--thank Heaven. You may be sure of that!

ELLA RENTHEIM.

Then I should think in reality you must be happy after all; in spite of all the rest.

MRS. BORKMAN.

So I am--so far as that goes. But then, every moment, all the rest comes rushing in upon me like a storm.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[With a change of tone.] Tell me--you may as well tell me at once--for that is really what I have come for----

MRS. BORKMAN.

What?

ELLA RENTHEIM.

Something I felt I must talk to you about.--Tell me--Erhart does not live out here with--with you others?

MRS. BORKMAN.