Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 11).djvu/224

 little impatient; his face has assumed a nervous and colder expression.

[ brings the lighted lamp into the garden-room, goes out again and closes the door behind her.

[With forced politeness.] Well, Mrs. Wilton, if you will give us the pleasure of your company this evening, won't you

Many thanks, my dear lady, but I really can't. We have another invitation. We're going down to the Hinkels'.

[Looking at her.] We? Whom do you mean by we?

[Laughing.] Oh, I ought really to have said I. But I was commissioned by the ladies of the house to bring Mr. Borkman with me—if I happened to see him.

And you did happen to see him, it appears.

Yes, fortunately. He was good enough to look in at my house—to call for Frida.