[Goes to the table.] Thanks.
HILDA.
[Puts her hand on the portfolio.] No, no; leave them here.
SOLNESS.
Why?
HILDA.
Because I want to look at them, too.
SOLNESS.
But you have been---- [To RAGNAR.] Well, leave them here, then.
RAGNAR.
Very well.
SOLNESS.
And go home at once to your father.
RAGNAR.
Yes, I suppose I must.
SOLNESS.
[As if in desperation.] Ragnar--you must not ask me to do what is beyond my power! Do you hear, Ragnar? You must not!
RAGNAR.
No, no. I beg you pardon--
[He bows, and goes out by the corner door. HILDA goes over and sits down on a chair near the mirror.
HILDA.
[Looks angrily at SOLNESS.] That was a very ugly thing to do.
SOLNESS.
Do you think so, too?
HILDA.
Yes, it was horribly ugly--and hard and bad and cruel as well.
SOLNESS.
Oh, you don"t understand my position.
HILDA.
No matter--. I say you ought not to be like that.
SOLNESS.
You said yourself, only just now, that no one but _I_ ought to be allowed to build.
HILDA.
_I_ may say such things--but you must not.
SOLNESS.
I most of all, surely, who have paid so dear for my position.
HILDA.
Oh yes--with what you call domestic comfort--and that sort of thing.
SOLNESS.
And with my peace of soul into the bargain.