Oh no--I understand the whole thing now. After this, she would merely be--in the way.

HILDA.

You understand nothing--since you can talk like that! No, _I_ will tell you why he kept hold of her.

RAGNAR.

Well then, why?

HILDA.

In order to keep hold of you.

RAGNAR.

Has he told you so?

HILDA.

No, but it is so. It must be so! [Wildly.] I will--I will have it so!

RAGNAR.

And at the very moment when you came--he let her go.

HILDA.

It was you--you that he let go! What do you suppose he cares about strange women like her?

RAGNAR.

[Reflects.] Is it possible that all this time he has been afraid of me?

HILDA.

He afraid! I would not be so conceited if I were you.

RAGNAR.

Oh, he must have seen long ago that I had something in me, too.

Besides--cowardly--that is just what he is, you see.

HILDA.

He! Oh yes, I am likely to believe that!

RAGNAR.

In a certain sense he is cowardly--he, the great master builder. He is not afraid of robbing others of their happiness--as he has done both for my father and me. But when it comes to climbing up a paltry bit of scaffolding--he will do anything rather than that.

HILDA.

Oh, you should just have seen him high, high up--at the dizzy height where I once saw him.

RAGNAR.

Did you see that?

HILDA.

Yes, indeed I did. How free and great he looked as he stood and fastened the wreath to the church vane!

RAGNAR.

I know that he ventured that, once in his life--one solitary time. It is a legend among us younger men. But no power on earth would induce him to do it again.

HILDA.

To-day he will do it again!

RAGNAR.

[Scornfully.] Yes, I daresay!

HILDA.

We shall see it!

RAGNAR.