SOLNESS _(with a glance at_ KAIA):
Halvard!
World's Greatest Books - Volume 17 - Poetry and Drama
[BROVIK _reels_. RAGNAR _enters and takes his father
home. _ SOLNESS _detains_ KAIA.
SOLNESS: You want to marry Ragnar.
KAIA: I cared for him once--before I met you. I
can't be separated from you------
SOLNESS: Marry him as much as you please. Make
him stay here, and then I can keep _you_, too, my dear
Kaia.
KAIA _(sinks down before him_): Oh, how unspeakably
good you are to me!
SOLNESS: Get up! For goodness' sake get up! I
think I hear someone.
[MRS. SOLNESS _enters. She is wasted with grief, but has
once been beautiful_.
MRS.
SOLNESS _(with a glance at_ KAIA): Halvard!
I'm afraid I'm disturbing you.
SOLNESS: Not in the least. What is it, Aline?
MRS. SOLNESS: Merely that Dr. Herdal is in the drawing-room.
SOLNESS: I'll come later on, dear--later on.
[_Exit_ MRS. SOLNESS.
KAIA: Oh, dear! Oh, dear! I'm sure Mrs. Solness
thinks ill of me in some way!
SOLNESS: Oh, not in the least! You'd better go now,
all the same, Kaia.