and ennobling, eh? and _ain't_ you both obliged to me?

_Gina_. No; it's my opinion you'd better have minded your own
business, [_Weeps._

_Gregers_ (_in great surprise_). Bless me! Pardon my Norwegian
_naivete_ but this ought really to be quite a new starting-point. Why,
I confidently expected to have found you both beaming!--Mrs. EKDAL,
being so illiterate, may take some little time to see it--but you,
HIALMAR, with your deep mind, surely _you_ feel a new consecration,
eh?

_Hialmar_ (_dubiously_). Oh--er--yes. I suppose so--in a sort of way.

[_HEDVIG runs in, overjoyed._

_Hedvig_. Father, only see what Mrs. SOeRBY has given, me for a
birthday present--a beautiful deed of gift! [_Shows it._

_Hialmar_ (_eluding her_). Ha! Mrs. SOeRBY, the family Housekeeper.
My father's sight failing! HEDVIG in goggles! What vistas of heredity
these astonishing coincidences open up! _I_ am not short-sighted, at
all events, and I see it all--all! _This_ is my answer. (_He takes
the deed, and tears it across._) Now I have nothing more to do in this
house. (_Puts on overcoat._) My home has fallen in ruins about me.
(_Bursts into tears._) My hat!

_Gregers_. Oh, but you _mustn't_ go. You must be all three together,
to attain the true frame of mind for self-sacrificing forgiveness, you
know!

_Hialmar_. Self-sacrificing forgiveness be blowed!

[_He tears himself away, and goes out._

_Hedvig_ (_with despairing eyes_). Oh, he said it might be blowed! Now
he'll _never_ come home any more!

_Gregers_. Shall I tell you how to regain your father's confidence,
and bring him home surely? Sacrifice the Wild Duck.

_Hedvig_. Do you think that will do any good?

_Gregers_. You just _try_ it! [_Curtain._

ACT IV.

_Same Scene. GREGERS enters, and finds GINA retouching
photographs_.

_Gregers_ (_pleasantly_). HIALMAR not come in yet, after last night, I
suppose?

_Gina_. Not he! He's been out on the loose all night with RELLING and
MOeLVIK. Now he's snoring on their sofa.

_Gregers_ (_disappointed._) Dear!--dear!--when he ought to be yearning
to wrestle in solitude and self-examination!

_Gina_ (_rudely_). Self-examine your grandmother!

[_She goes out; HEDVIG comes in._

_Gregers_ (_to Hedvig_). Ah, I see you haven't found courage to settle
the Wild Duck yet!

_Hedvig_. No--it seemed such a delightful idea at first. Now it
strikes me as a trifle--well, _Ibsenish_.

_Gregers_ (_reprovingly_). I _th