s of late
years.

HILDA.

Has she really?

SOLNESS.

But if only you could get to know her thoroughly--! Ah, she is so
good--so kind--so excellent a creature--

HILDA.

[Impatiently.] But if she is all that--what made her say that about her
duty?

SOLNESS.

Her duty?

HILDA.

She said that she would go out and buy something for me, because it was
her duty. Oh, I can't bear that ugly, horrid word!

SOLNESS.

Why not?

HILDA.

It sounds so could and sharp, and stinging. Duty--duty--duty. Don't you
think so, too? Doesn't it seem to sting you?

SOLNESS.

H'm--haven't thought much about it.

HILDA.

Yes, it does. And if she is so good--as you say she is--why should she
talk in that way?

SOLNESS.

But, good Lord, what would you have had her say, then?

HILDA.

She might have said she would do it because she had taken a tremendous
fancy to me. She might have said something like that--something really
warm and cordial, you understand.

SOLNESS.

[Looks at her.] Is that how you would like to have it?

HILDA.

Yes, precisely. [She wanders about the room, stops at the bookcase and
looks at the books.] What a lot of books you have.

SOLNESS.

Yes, I have got together a good many.

HILDA.

Do you read them all, too?

SOLNESS.

I used to try to. Do you read much?

HILDA.

No, never! I have given it up. For it all seems so irrelevant.

SOLNESS.

That is just my feeling.

[HILDA wanders about a little, stops at the small table, opens
the portfolio and turns over the contents.

HILDA.

Are all these your drawings yours?

SOLNESS.

No, they are drawn by a young man whom I employ to help me.

HILDA.

Some one you have taught?

SOLNESS.

Oh yes, no doubt he has learnt something from me, too.

HILDA.

[Sits down.] Then I suppose he is very clever. [Looks at a drawing.]
Isn't he?

SOLNESS.

Oh, he might be worse. For my purpose--

HILDA.

Oh yes--I'm sure he is frightfully clever.

SOLNESS.

Do you think you can see that in the drawings?

HILDA.

Pooh--these scrawlings! But if he has been learning from you--

SOLNESS.

Oh, so far as that goes--there are plenty of people here that have
learnt from me, and have come to little enough for all that.

HILDA.

[Looks at him and shakes her head.] No, I can't for the life of me
understand how you can be so stupid.

SOLNESS.

Stupid?