e many, many families besides ours that
that blow fell upon.

MRS. BORKMAN.
Oh yes; but those others don't trouble me very much. For in
their case it was only a matter of a little money--or some papers.
But for us----! For me! And then for Erhart! My little boy--as
he then was! [In rising excitement.] The shame that fell upon
us two innocent ones! The dishonour! The hateful, terrible
dishonour! And then the utter ruin too!

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Cautiously.] Tell me, Gunhild, how does he bear it?

MRS. BORKMAN.
Erhart, do you mean?

ELLA RENTHEIM.
No--he himself. How does he bear it?

MRS. BORKMAN.
[Scornfully.] Do you think I ever ask about that?

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Ask? Surely you do not require to ask----

MRS. BORKMAN.
[Looks at her in surprise.] You don't suppose I ever have
anything to do with him? That I ever meet him? That I see
anything of him?

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Not even that!

MRS. BORKMAN.
[As before.] The man was in gaol, in gaol for five years!
[Covers her face with her hands.] Oh, the crushing shame of it!
[With increased vehemence.] And then to think of all that the
name of John Gabriel Borkman used to mean! No, no, no--I can
never see him again! Never!

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Looks at her for a while.] You have a hard heart, Gunhild.

MRS. BORKMAN.
Towards him, yes.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
After all, he is your husband.

MRS. BORKMAN.
Did he not say in court that it was I who began his ruin? That
I spent money so recklessly?

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Tentatively.] But is there not some truth in that?

MRS. BORKMAN.
Why, it was he himself that made me do it! He insisted on our
living in such an absurdly lavish style----

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Yes, I know. But that is just where you should have restrained
him; and apparently you didn't.

MRS. BORKMAN.
How was I to know that it was not his own money he gave me to
squander? And that he himself used to squander, too--ten times
more than I did!

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Quietly.] Well, I daresay his position forced him to do that--
to some extent at any rate.

MRS. BORKMAN.
[Scornfully.] Yes, it was always the same story--we were to
"cut a figure." And he did "cut a figure" to some purpose! He
used to drive about with a four-in-hand as if he were a king.
And he had people bowing and scraping to him just as to a king.
[With a laugh.] And they always called him by his Christian
names--all the country o