f the same age.

HILDA.

Twins, then.

SOLNESS.

Yes, twins. It's eleven or twelve years ago now.

HILDA.

[Cautiously.] And so both of them--? You have lost both the twins, then?

SOLNESS.

[With quiet emotion.] We kept them only about three weeks. Or scarcely
so much. [Bursts forth.] Oh, Hilda, I can't tell you what a good thing
it is for me that you have come! For now at last I have some one to talk
to!

HILDA.

Can you not talk to--her, too?

SOLNESS.

Not about this. Not as I want to talk and must talk. [Gloomily.] And not
about so many other things, either.

HILDA.

[In a subdued voice.] Was that all you meant when you said you need me?

SOLNESS.

That was mainly what I meant--at all events, yesterday. For to-day I am
not so sure--[Breaking off.] Come here and let us sit down, Hilda. Sit
there on the sofa--so that you can look into the garden. [HILDA seats
herself in the corner of the sofa. SOLNESS brings a chair closer.]
Should you like to hear about it?

HILDA.

Yes, I shall love to sit and listen to you.

SOLNESS.

[Sits down.] Then I will tell you all about it.

HILDA.

Now I can see both the garden and you, Mr. Solness. So now, tell away!
Begin!

SOLNESS.

[Points towards the bow-window.] Out there on the rising ground--where
you see the new house--

HILDA.

Yes?

SOLNESS.

Aline and I lived there in the first years of our married life. There
was an old house up there that had belonged to her mother; and we
inherited it, and the whole of the great garden with it.

HILDA.

Was there a tower on that house, too?

SOLNESS.

No, nothing of the kind. From the outside it looked like a great, dark,
ugly wooden box; but all the same, it was snug and comfortable enough
inside.

HILDA.

Then did you pull down the ramshackle old place?

SOLNESS.

No, it was burnt down.

HILDA.

The whole of it?

SOLNESS.

Yes.

HILDA.

Was that a great misfortune for you?

SOLNESS.

That depends on how you look at it. As a builder, the fire was the
making of me--

HILDA.

Well, but--

SOLNESS.

It was just after the birth of the two little boys--

HILDA.

The poor little twins, yes.

SOLNESS.

They came healthy and bonny into the world. And they were growing
too--you could see the difference day to day.

HILDA.

Little children do grow quickly at first.

SOLNESS.

It was the prettiest sight in