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(A
short pause.)

Regina. Shall I tell Mrs. Alving you are here?

Manders. Thanks, there is no hurry, my dear child. Now tell me,
Regina my dear, how has your father been getting on here?

Regina. Thank you, Mr. Manders, he is getting on pretty well.

Manders. He came to see me the last time he was in town.

Regina. Did he? He is always so glad when he can have a chat with
you.

Manders. And I suppose you have seen him pretty regularly every
day?

Regina. I? Oh, yes, I do--whenever I have time, that is to say.

Manders. Your father has not a very strong character, Miss
Engstrand. He sadly needs a guiding hand.

Regina. Yes, I can quite believe that.

Manders. He needs someone with him that he can cling to, someone
whose judgment he can rely on. He acknowledged that freely
himself, the last time he came up to see me.

Regina. Yes, he has said something of the same sort to me. But I
don't know whether Mrs. Alving could do without me--most of all
just now, when we have the new Orphanage to see about. And I
should be dreadfully unwilling to leave Mrs. Alving, too; she has
always been so good to me.

Manders. But a daughter's duty, my good child--. Naturally we
should have to get your mistress' consent first.

Regina. Still I don't know whether it would be quite the thing,
at my age, to keep house for a single man.

Manders. What! My dear Miss Engstrand, it is your own father we
are speaking of!

Regina. Yes, I dare say, but still--. Now, if it were in a good
house and with a real gentleman--

Manders. But, my dear Regina!

Regina. --one whom I could feel an affection for, and really feel
in the position of a daughter to...

Manders. Come, come--my dear good child--

Regina. I should like very much to live in town. Out here it is
terribly lonely; and you know yourself, Mr. Manders, what it is
to be alone in the world. And, though I say it, I really am both
capable and willing. Don't you know any place that would be
suitable for me, Mr. Manders?

Manders. I? No, indeed I don't.

Regina. But, dear Mr. Manders--at any rate don't forget me, in
case--

Manders (getting up). No, I won't forget you, Miss Engstrand.

Regina. Because, if I--

Manders. Perhaps you will be so kind as to let Mrs, Alving know I
am here?

Regina. I will fetch her at once, Mr. Manders. (Goes out to the
left. MANDERS walks up and down the room once or twice, stands
for a moment at the farther end of the room with his hands behind
his back and looks out into the garden. Then he comes back to the
table, takes up a book and looks at the title page, gives a
start, and looks at some of the others.)

Manders. Hm!--Really!

(MRS. ALVING comes in by the door on the left. She is followed by
REGINA, who goes out again at once through the nearer door on the
right.)

Mrs. Alving (holding out her hand). I am very glad to see you,
Mr. Manders.

Manders. How do you do, Mrs. Alving. Here I am, as I promised.

Mrs. Alving. Always punctual!

Manders. Indeed, I was hard put to it to get away. What with

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