Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 10).djvu/236

 Solness.

I! Retire in favour of your son!

Brovik. Retire from the agreement, they meant.

Solness.

Oh, it comes to the same thing. [Laughs angrily.] So that is it, is it? Halvard Solness is to see about retiring now! To make room for younger men! For the very youngest, perhaps! He must make room! Room! Room!

Brovik.

Why, good heavens! there is surely room for more than one single man

Solness.

Oh, there's not so very much room to spare either. But, be that as it may—I will never retire! I will never give way to anybody! Never of my own free will. Never in this world will I do that!

Brovik.

[Rises with difficulty.] Then I am to pass out of life without any certainty? Without a gleam of happiness? Without any faith or trust in Ragnar? Without having seen a single piece of work of his doing? Is that to be the way of it?

Solness.

[Turns half aside, and mutters.] H'm—don't ask more just now.