-in
Ibsenite dramas, all the interesting things somehow _do_ happen before
the play begins--

_Rosmer_. But, REBECCA, I _know_ all this. KROLL--(_looks hard at
her_). Perhaps I had better go?

_Reb._ No--I will be short--this was it. I wanted to take my share
in the life of the New Era, and march onward with ROSMER. There
was one dismal, insurmountable barrier--(_to ROSMER, who nods
gravely_)--BEATA! I understood where your deliverance lay--and I
acted. _I_ drove BEATA into the mill-race ... There!

_Rosmer_ (_after a short silence_). H'm! Well, KROLL--(_takes up his
hat_)--if you're thinking of walking home, I'll go too. I'm going to
be orthodox once more--after _this_!

_Kroll_ (_severely and impressively, to_ REB.). A nice sort of young
woman _you_ are! [_Both go out hastily, without looking at REB._

_Reb._ (_speaks to herself, under her breath_). Now I _have_ done it.
I wonder _why_. (_Pulls bell-rope._) Madam HELSETH, I have just had a
glimpse of two rushing White Horses. Bring down my hair-trunk.

[_Enter Madam H., with large hair-trunk, as Curtain falls._

ACT IV.

_Late evening. REBECCA WEST stands by a lighted lamp, with a
shade over it, packing sandwiches, &c., in a reticule, with a
faint smile. The antimacassar is on the sofa. Enter ROSMER._

_Rosmer_ (_seeing the sandwiches, &c._). Sandwiches? Then you _are_
going I Why, on earth,--I _can't_ understand!

_Reb._ Dear, you never _can_. Rosmershoelm is too much for me. But how
did you get on with KROLL?

_Rosmer_. We have made it up. He has convinced me that the work of
ennobling men was several sizes too large for me--so I am going to let
it alone--

_Reb._ (_with her faint smile_). There I almost think, dear, that you
are wise.

_Rosmer_ (_as if annoyed_). What, so _you_ don't believe in me either,
REBECCA--you never _did! [Sits listlessly on chair._

_Reb._ Not much, dear, when you are left to yourself--but I've another
confession to make.

_Rosmer_. What, _another_? I really can't stand any more confessions
just now!

_Reb._ (_sitting close to him_). It is only a little one. I bullied
BEATA into the mill-race--because of a wild uncontrollable-- (_ROSMER
moves uneasily._) Sit still, dear--uncontrollable fancy--for _you_!

_Rosmer_ (_goes and sits on sofa_). Oh, my goodness, REBECCA--you
_mustn't_, you know!

[_He jumps up and down as if embarrassed._

_Reb._ Don't be alarmed, dear, it is all over now. After livi