most sensible person in this house. Use any influence you
may have over your husband, and make him see what this will entail for
his family as well as--

Dr. Stockmann. My family is my own concern and nobody else's!

Peter Stockmann. --for his own family, as I was saying, as well as for
the town he lives in.

Dr. Stockmann. It is I who have the real good of the town at heart! I
want to lay bare the defects that sooner or later must come to the
light of day. I will show whether I love my native town.

Peter Stockmann. You, who in your blind obstinacy want to cut off the
most important source of the town's welfare?

Dr. Stockmann. The source is poisoned, man! Are you mad? We are making
our living by retailing filth and corruption! The whole of our
flourishing municipal life derives its sustenance from a lie!

Peter Stockmann. All imagination--or something even worse. The man who
can throw out such offensive insinuations about his native town must be
an enemy to our community.

Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). Do you dare to--!

Mrs. Stockmann (throwing herself between them). Thomas!

Petra (catching her father by the arm). Don't lose your temper, father!

Peter Stockmann. I will not expose myself to violence. Now you have had
a warning; so reflect on what you owe to yourself and your family.
Goodbye. (Goes out.)

Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Am I to put up with such treatment
as this? In my own house, Katherine! What do you think of that!

Mrs. Stockmann. Indeed it is both shameful and absurd, Thomas--

Petra. If only I could give uncle a piece of my mind--

Dr. Stockmann. It is my own fault. I ought to have flown out at him
long ago!--shown my teeth!--bitten! To hear him call me an enemy to our
community! Me! I shall not take that lying down, upon my soul!

Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, your brother has power on his side.

Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but I have right on mine, I tell you.

Mrs. Stockmann. Oh yes, right--right. What is the use of having right
on your side if you have not got might?

Petra. Oh, mother!--how can you say such a thing!

Dr. Stockmann. Do you imagine that in a free country it is no use
having right on your side? You are absurd, Katherine. Besides, haven't
I got the liberal-minded, independent press to lead the way, and the
compact majority behind me? That is might enough, I should think!

Mrs. Stockmann. But, good heavens, Thomas, you don't mean to?

Dr. Stockmann.