Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 10).djvu/319

 Hilda.

Yes, I should say you must be. If you could only cease thinking about the two little children

Solness.

[Slowly.] The two little children—they are not so easy to forget, Hilda.

Hilda.

[Somewhat uncertainly.] Do you still feel their loss so much—after all these years?

Solness.

[Looks fixedly at her, without replying.] A happy man you said

Hilda.

Well, now, are you not happy—in other respects?

Solness.

[Continues to look at her.] When I told you all this about the fire—h'm

Hilda.

Well?

Solness.

Was there not one special thought that you—that you seized upon?

Hilda.

[Reflects in vain.] No. What thought should that be?

SOLNESS.

[With subdued emphasis.] It was simply and solely by that fire that I was enabled to build homes for