MRS. ALVING. [Going towards him.] Are you back again
already? My dear, dear boy!
OSWALD. Yes. What can a fellow do out of
doors in this eternal rain? But I hear dinner
is ready. That’s capital!
REGINA. [With a parcel, from the dining-room.] A parcel
has come for you, Mrs. Alving. [Hands it to her.]
MRS. ALVING. [With a glance at MR. MANDERS.] No doubt
copies of the ode for to-morrow’s ceremony.
MANDERS. H’m—
REGINA. And dinner is ready.
MRS. ALVING. Very well. We will come directly.
I will just—[Begins to open the parcel.]
REGINA. [To OSWALD.] Would Mr. Alving like red or
white wine?
OSWALD. Both, if you please.
REGINA. Bien. Very well, sir. [She goes
into the dining-room.]
OSWALD. I may as well help to uncork it. [He
also goes into the dining room, the door of which
swings half open behind him.]
MRS. ALVING. [Who has opened the parcel.] Yes, I thought
so. Here is the Ceremonial Ode, Pastor Manders.
MANDERS. [With folded hands.] With what countenance
I am to deliver my discourse to-morrow—!
MRS. ALVING. Oh, you will get through it somehow.
MANDERS. [Softly, so as not to be heard in the dining-room.]
Yes; it would not do to provoke scandal.
MRS. ALVING. [Under her breath, but firmly.] No.
But then this long, hateful comedy will be ended.
From the day after to-morrow, I shall act in every
way as though he who is dead had never lived in this
house. There shall be no one here but my boy and
his mother.
[From the dining-room comes the noise of a chair overturned,
and at the same moment is heard:]
REGINA. [Sharply, but in a whisper.] Oswald! take
care! are you mad? Let me go!
MRS. ALVING. [Starts in terror.] Ah—!
[She stares wildly towards the half-open door.
OSWALD is heard laughing and humming. A bottle
is uncorked.]
MANDERS. [Agitated.] What can be the matter?
What is it, Mrs. Alving?
MRS. ALVING. [Hoarsely.] Ghosts! The couple from
the conservatory— risen again!
MANDERS. Is it possible! Regina—?
Is she—?
MRS. ALVING. Yes. Come. Not a word—!
[She seizes PASTOR MANDERS by the arm, and walks unsteadily
towards the dining-room.]
[The same room. The mist still lies heavy over
the landscape.]
[MANDERS and MRS. ALVING enter from the dining-room.]
MRS. ALVING. [Still in the doorway.] Velbekomme
[Note: A phrase equivalent to the German Prosit
die Mahlzeit—May good digestion wait
on appetite.], Mr. Manders. [Turns back towards the
dining-room.] Aren’t you coming too, Oswald?
OSWALD. [From within.] No, thank you. I think
I shall go out a little.
MRS. ALVING. Yes, do. The weather seems
a little brighter now. [She shuts the dining-room
door, goes to the hall door, and calls:] Regina!
