d voice:] Who is
that knocking?
[No answer, another knock.

BORKMAN.
[Without moving.] Who is it? Come in!

[ELLA RENTHEIM, with a lighted candle in her hand, appears in
the doorway. She wears her black dress, as before, with
her cloak thrown loosely round her shoulders.

BORKMAN.
[Staring at her.] Who are you? What do you want with me?

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Closes the door and advances.] It is I, Borkman.

[She puts down the candle on the piano and remains standing
beside it.

BORKMAN.
[Stands as though thunderstruck, stares fixedly at her, and says
in a half-whisper.] Is it--is it Ella? Is it Ella Rentheim?

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Yes, it's "your" Ella, as you used to call me in the old days;
many, many years ago.

BORKMAN.
[As before.] Yes, it is you Ella, I can see you now.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Can you recognise me?

BORKMAN.
Yes, now I begin to----

ELLA RENTHEIM.
The years have told on me, and brought winter with them, Borkman.
Do you not think so?

BORKMAN.
[In a forced voice.] You are a good deal changed--just at first
glance.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
There are no dark curls on my neck now--the curls you once loved
to twist round your fingers.

BORKMAN.
[Quickly.] True! I can see now, Ella, you have done your hair
differently.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[With a sad smile.] Precisely; it is the way I do my hair that
makes the difference.

BORKMAN.
[Changing the subject.] I had no idea that you were in this
part of the world.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
I have only just arrived.

BORKMAN.
Why have you come all this way now, in winter?

ELLA RENTHEIM.
That you shall hear.

BORKMAN.
Is it me you have come to see?

ELLA RENTHEIM.
You among others. But if I am to tell you my errand, I must
begin far back.

BORKMAN.
You look tired.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Yes, I am tired.

BORKMAN.
Won't you sit down? There on the sofa.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Yes, thank you; I need rest.

[She crosses to the right and seats herself in the furthest
forward corner of the sofa. BORKMAN stands beside the
table with his hands behind his back looking at her. A
short silence.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
It seems an endless time since we two met, Borkman, face to face.

BORKMAN.
[Gloomily.] It is a long, long time. And terrible things have
passed since then.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
A whole lifetime has passed--a wasted lifetim