I wonder whether there will be any use for such homes in the coming time.

Poor Mr. Solness! And you have gone all these ten years—and staked your whole life—on that alone.

Yes, you may well say so, Hilda.

[With an outburst.] Oh, it all seems to me so foolish—so foolish!

All what?

Not to be able to grasp at your own happiness—at your own life! Merely because some one you know happens to stand in the way!

One whom you have no right to set aside.

I wonder whether one really has not the right! And yet, and yet——. Oh! if one could only sleep the whole thing away!

[She lays her arms flat down on the table, rests the left side of her head on her hands, and shuts her eyes.

[Turns the arm-chair and sits down at the table.] Had you a cosy, happy home—up there with your father, Hilda?

[Without stirring, answers as if half asleep.] I had only a cage.

And you are determined not to go back to it?

[As before.] The wild bird never wants to go into the cage.

Rather range through the free air——

[Still as before.] The bird of prey loves to range——

[Lets his eyes rest on her.] If only one had the viking-spirit in life——

[In her usual voice; opens her eyes but does not move.] And the other thing? Say what that was!

A robust conscience.

[Hilda sits erect on the bench, with animation. Her eyes have once more the sparkling expression of gladness.

[Nods to him.] I know what you are going to build next!

Then you know more than I do, Hilda.

Yes, builders are such stupid people.

What is it to be then?

[Nods again.] The castle.

What castle?

My castle, of course.

Do you want a castle now?

Don’t you owe me a kingdom, I should like to know?

You say I do.

Well—you admit you owe me this kingdom. And you can’t have a kingdom without a royal castle, I should think!

[More and more animated.] Yes, they usually go together.

Good! Then build it for me! This moment!

[Laughing.] Must you have that on the instant, too?

Yes, to be sure! For the ten years are up now, and I am not going to wait any longer. So—out with the castle, Mr. Solness!

It’s no light matter to owe you anything, Hilda.

You should have thought of that before. It is too late now. So—[tapping the table]—the castle on the table! It is my castle! I will have it at once!

[More seriously, leans over towards her, with his arms on the table.] What sort of castle have you imagined, Hilda?

[Her expression becomes more and more veiled. She seems gazing inwards at herself.

[Slowly.] My castle shall stand on a height—on a very great height—with a clear outlook on all sides, so that I can see far—far around.

And no doubt it is to have a high tower!

A tremendously high tower. And at the very top of the tower there shall be a balcony. And I will stand out upon it——

[Involuntarily clutches at his forehead.] How can you like to stand at such a dizzy height——?

Yes, I will! Right up there will I stand and look down on the other people—on those that are building churches, and homes for mother and father and the troop of children. And you may come up and look on at it, too.

[In a low tone.] Is the builder to be allowed to come up beside the princess?

If the builder will.

[More softly.] Then I think the builder will come.

[Nods.] The builder—he will come.

But he will never be able to build any more. Poor builder!

[Animated.] Oh yes, he will! We two will set to work together. And then we will build the loveliest—the very loveliest—thing in all the world.

[Intently.] Hilda—tell me what that is!

[Looks smilingly at him, shakes her head a little, pouts, and speaks as if to a child.] Builders—they are such very—very stupid people.

Yes, no doubt they are stupid. But now tell me what it is—the loveliest thing in the world—that we two are to build together?

[Is silent a little while, then says with an indefinable expression in her eyes.] Castles in the air.

Castles in the air?

[Nods.] Castles in the air, yes! Do you know what sort of thing a castle in the air is?

It is the loveliest thing in the world, you say.

[Rises with vehemence, and makes a gesture of repulsion with her hand.] Yes, to be sure it is! Castles in the air—they are so easy to take refuge in. And so easy to build, too—[looks scornfully at him]—especially for the builders who have a—a dizzy conscience.

[Rises.] After this day we two will build together, Hilda.

[With a half-dubious smile.] A real castle in the air?

Yes. One with a firm foundation under it.

Ragnar Brovik comes out from the house. He is carrying a large, green wreath with flowers and silk ribbons.

[With an outburst of pleasure.] The wreath! Oh, that will be glorious!

[In surprise.] Have you brought the wreath Ragnar?

I promisedI promised the foreman I would.

[Relieved.] Ah, then I suppose your father is better?

No.

Was he not cheered by what I wrote?

It came too late.

Too late!

When she came with it he was unconscious. He had had a stroke.

Why, then, you must go home to him! You must attend to your father!

He does not need me any more.

But surely you ought to be with him.

She is sitting by his bed.

[Rather uncertainly.] Kaia?

[Looking darkly at him.] Yes—Kaia.

Go home, Ragnar—both to him and to her. Give me the wreath.

[Suppresses a mocking smile.] You don’t mean that you yourself——?

I will take it down to them myself. [Takes the wreath from him.] And now you go home; we don’t require you to-day.

I know you do not require me any more; but to-day I shall remain.

Well, remain then, since you are bent upon it.

[At the railing.] Mr. Solness, I will stand here and look on at you.

At me!

It will be fearfully thrilling.

[In a low tone.] We will talk about that presently, Hilda.

[He goes down the flight of steps with the wreath, and away through the garden.

[Looks after him, then turns to Ragnar.] I think you might at least have thanked him.

Thanked him? Ought I to have thanked him?

Yes, of course you ought!

I think it is rather you I ought to thank.

How can you say such a thing?

[Without answering her.] But I advise you to take care, Miss Wangel! For you don’t know him rightly yet.

[Ardently.] Oh, no one knows him as I do!

[Laughs in exasperation.] Thank him, when he has held me down year after year! When he made father disbelieve in me—made me disbelieve in myself! And all merely that he might——!

[As if divining something.] That he might——? Tell me at once!

That he might keep her with him.

[With a start towards him.] The girl at the desk.

Yes.

[Threateningly, clenching her hands.] That is not true! You are telling falsehoods about him!

I would not believe it either until to-day—when she said so herself.

[As if beside herself.] What did she say? I will know! At once! at once!

She said that he had taken possession of her mind—her whole mind—centred all her thoughts upon himself alone. She says that she can never leave him—that she will remain here, where he is——

[With flashing eyes.] She will not be allowed to!

[As if feeling his way.] Who will not allow her?

[Rapidly.] He will not either!

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

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

Well then, why?

In order to keep hold of you.

Has he told you so?

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

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

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

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

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

Oh, he must have seen long ago that I had something in me, too. Besides—cowardly—that is just what he is, you see.

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

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

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

Did you see that?

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

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.

To-day he will do it again!

[Scornfully.] Yes, I daresay!

We shall see it!

That neither you nor I will see.

[With uncontrollable vehemence.] I will see it! I will and I must see it!

But he will not do it. He simply dare not do it. For you see he cannot get over this infirmity—master builder though he be.

[Looks around.] Is he not here? Where has he gone to?

Mr. Solness is down with the men.

He took the wreath with him.

[Terrified.] Took the wreath with him! Oh God! oh God! Brovik—you must go down to him! Get him to come back here!

Shall I say you want to speak to him, Mrs. Solness?

Oh yes, do!—No, no—don’t say that I want anything! You can say that somebody is here, and that he must come at once.

Good. I will do so, Mrs. Solness.

[He goes down the flight of steps and away through the garden.

Oh, Miss Wangel, you can’t think how anxious I feel about him.

Is there anything in this to be so terribly frightened about?

Oh yes; surely you can understand. Just think, if he were really to do it! If he should take it into his head to climb up the scaffolding!

[Eagerly.] Do you think he will?

Oh, one can never tell what he might take into his head. I am afraid there is nothing he mightn’t think of doing.

Aha! Perhaps you too think that he is—well——?

Oh, I don’t know what to think about him now. The doctor has been telling me all sorts of things; and putting it all together with several things I have heard him say——

Is he not coming soon?

Yes, I think so. I have sent for him at any rate.

[Advancing.] I am afraid you will have to go in, my dear lady——

Oh no! Oh no! I shall stay out here and wait for Halvard.

But some ladies have just come to call on you——

Good heavens, that too! And just at this moment!

They say they positively must see the ceremony.

Well, well, I suppose I must go to them after all. It is my duty.

Can’t you ask the ladies to go away?

No, that would never do. Now that they are here, it is my duty to see them. But do you stay out here in the meantime—and receive him when he comes.

And try to occupy his attention as long as possible——

Yes, do, dear Miss Wangel. Keep as firm hold of him as ever you can.

Would it not be best for you to do that?

Yes; God knows that is my duty. But when one has duties in so many directions——

[Looks towards the garden.] There he is coming.

And I have to go in!

[To Hilda.] Don’t say anything about my being here.

Oh no! I daresay I shall find something else to talk to Mr. Solness about.

And be sure you keep firm hold of him. I believe you can do it best.

[Mrs. Solness and Dr. Herdal go into the house. Hilda remains standing on the verandah. Solness comes from the garden, up the flight of steps.

Somebody wants me, I hear.

Yes; it is I, Mr. Solness.

Oh, is it you, Hilda? I was afraid it might be Aline or the Doctor.

You are very easily frightened, it seems!

Do you think so?

Yes; people say that you are afraid to climb about—on the scaffoldings, you know.

Well, that is quite a special thing.

Then it is true that you are afraid to do it?

Yes, I am.

Afraid of falling down and killing yourself?

No, not of that.

Of what, then?

I am afraid of retribution, Hilda.