ing that! [Goes to the door, but turns.] What is her name?

SOLNESS.

Her name is Miss Fosli.

HILDA.

Pooh, that sounds so cold! Her Christian name, I mean?

SOLNESS.

Kaia--I believe.

HILDA.

[Opens the door and calls out.] Kaia, come in here! Make haste! Mr.
Solness wants to speak to you.

KAIA FOSLI appears at the door.

KAIA.

[Looking at him in alarm.] Here I am--?

HILDA.

[Handing her the portfolio.] See her, Kaia! You can take this home; Mr.
Solness was written on them now.

KAIA.

Oh, at last!

SOLNESS.

Give them to the old man as soon as you can.

KAIA.

I will go straight home with them.

SOLNESS.

Yes, do. Now Ragnar will have a chance of building for himself.

KAIA.

Oh, may he come and thank you for all--?

SOLNESS.

[Harshly.] I won't have any thanks! Tell him that from me.

KAIA.

Yes, I will--

SOLNESS.

And tell him at the same time that henceforward I do not require his
services--nor yours either.

KAIA.

[Softly and quiveringly.] Not mine either?

SOLNESS.

You will have other things to think of now, and to attend to; and that
is a very good thing for you. Well, go home with the drawings now, Miss
Fosli. At once! Do you hear?

KAIA.

[As before.] Yes, Mr. Solness. [She goes out.

MRS. SOLNESS.

Heavens! what deceitful eyes she has.

SOLNESS.

She? That poor little creature?

MRS. SOLNESS.

Oh--I can see what I can see, Halvard.----Are you really dismissing
them?

SOLNESS.

Yes.

MRS. SOLNESS.

Her as well?

SOLNESS.

Was not that what you wished?

MRS. SOLNESS.

But how can you get on without her--? Oh well, no doubt you have some
one else in reserve, Halvard.

HILDA.

[Playfully.] Well, _I_ for one am not the person to stand at a desk.

SOLNESS.

Never mind, never mind--it will be all right, Aline. Now all you have to
do is think about moving into our new home--as quickly as you can. This
evening we will hang up the wreath--[Turns to HILDA.] What do you say to
that, Miss Hilda?

HILDA.

[Looks at him with sparkling eyes.] It will be splendid to see you so
high up once more.

SOLNESS.

Me!

MRS. SOLNESS.

For Heaven's sake, Miss Wangel, don't imagine such a thing! My
husband!--when he always gets so dizzy!

HILDA.

He get dizzy! No, I know quite well he does not!

MRS. SOLNESS.

Oh yes, indeed he does.

HILDA.

But I have see