will do. We two shall be one. There
must no longer be any empty place left by the dead in this house.

Rebecca. I--in Beata's place--?

Rosmer. And then that chapter of my life will be closed--completely
closed, never to be reopened.

Rebecca (in a low, trembling voice). Do you think so, John?

Rosmer. It must be so! It must! I cannot--I will not--go through life
with a dead body on my back. Help me to throw it off, Rebecca; and then
let us stifle all memories in our sense of freedom, in joy, in passion.
You shall be to me the only wife I have ever had.

Rebecca (controlling herself). Never speak of this, again. I will never
be your wife.

Rosmer. What! Never? Do you think, then, that you could not learn to
love me? Is not our friendship already tinged with love?

Rebecca (stopping her ears, as if in fear). Don't speak like that,
John! Don't say such things!

Rosmer (catching her by the arm). It is true! There is a growing
possibility in the tie that is between us. I can see that you feel
that, as well as I--do you not, Rebecca?

Rebecca (controlling herself completely). Listen. Let me tell you
this--if you persist in this, I shall leave Rosmersholm.

Rosmer. Leave Rosmersholm! You! You cannot do that. It is impossible.

Rebecca. It is still more impossible for me to become your wife. Never,
as long as I live, can I be that.

Rosmer (looks at her in surprise). You say "can"--and you say it so
strangely. Why can you not?

Rebecca (taking both his hands in hers). Dear friend--for your own
sake, as well as for mine, do not ask me why. (Lets go of his hands.)
So, John. (Goes towards the door on the left.)

Rosmer. For the future the world will hold only one question for
me--why?

Rebecca (turns and looks at him). In that case everything is at an end.

Rosmer. Between you and me?

Rebecca. Yes.

Rosmer. Things can never be at an end between us two. You shall never
leave Rosmersholm.

Rebecca (with her hand on the door-handle). No, I dare say I shall not.
But, all the same, if you question me again, it will mean the end of
everything.

Rosmer. The end of everything, all the same? How--?

Rebecca. Because then I shall go the way Beata went. Now you know, John.

Rosmer. Rebecca--!

Rebecca (stops at the door and nods: slowly). Now you know. (Goes out.)

Rosmer (stares in bewilderment at the shut door, and says to himself):
What can it mean?

ACT III

(SCENE. The sitting-room at Rosmer