HILDA.
[Impatiently.] Why don"t you do it, then?
SOLNESS.
[Shakes his head.] No, the people will not have it.
HILDA.
Fancy their not wanting it!
SOLNESS.
[More lightly.] But now I am building a new home for myself--just opposite here.
HILDA.
For yourself?
SOLNESS.
Yes. It is almost finished. And on that there is a tower.
HILDA.
A high tower?
SOLNESS.
Yes.
HILDA.
Very high?
SOLNESS.
No doubt people will say it is too high--too high for a dwelling-house.
HILDA.
I"ll go out to look at that tower first thing to-morrow morning.
SOLNESS.
[Sits resting his cheek on his hand, and gazes at her.] Tell me, Miss w.a.n.gel--what is your name? Your Christian name, I mean.
HILDA.
Why, Hilda, of course.
SOLNESS.
[As before.] Hilda? Indeed?
HILDA.
Don"t you remember that? You called me Hilda yourself--that day when you misbehaved.
SOLNESS.
Did I really.
HILDA.
But then you said "little Hilda"; and I didn"t like that.
SOLNESS.
Oh, you didn"t like that, Miss Hilda?
HILDA.
No, not at such a time as that. But--"Princess Hilda"--that will sound very well, I think.
SOLNESS.
Very well indeed. Princess Hilda of--of--what was to be the name of the kingdom?