Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 10).djvu/313

 Solness.

[Lowers his voice.] We have had children—Aline and I.

Hilda.

[Looks eagerly at him.] Have you?

Solness.

Two little boys. They were of 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 I can 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.