HILDA.
No, I certainly have not. [Reflects and laughs a little.] And yet--perhaps in one single thing.
SOLNESS.
Ah, do you hear that, Aline?
MRS. SOLNESS.
What is that one single thing, Miss w.a.n.gel?
HILDA.
No, I won"t say.
SOLNESS.
Oh yes, do!
HILDA.
No thank you--I am not so mad as that.
MRS. SOLNESS.
When you and Miss w.a.n.gel are alone, I daresay she will tell you, Halvard.
SOLNESS.
Ah--you think she will?
MRS. SOLNESS.
Oh yes, certainly. For you have known her so well in the past. Ever since she was a child--you tell me.
[She goes out by the door on the left.
HILDA.
[After a little while.] Does your wife dislike me very much?
SOLNESS.
Did you think you noticed anything of the kind?
HILDA.
Did you notice it yourself?
SOLNESS.
[Evasively.] Aline has become exceedingly shy with strangers of late years.
HILDA.
Has she really?
SOLNESS.
But if only you could get to know her thoroughly--! Ah, she is so good--so kind--so excellent a creature--
HILDA.
[Impatiently.] But if she is all that--what made her say that about her duty?
SOLNESS.
Her duty?
HILDA.
She said that she would go out and buy something for me, because it was her duty. Oh, I can"t bear that ugly, horrid word!
SOLNESS.
Why not?
HILDA.