Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 11).djvu/281



I knew his consuming passion for you. I knew that on no other condition would he

And so you struck the bargain.

[Vehemently.] Yes, I did, Ella! For the love of power is uncontrollable in me, you see! So I struck the bargain; I had to. And he helped me half-way up towards the beckoning heights that I was bent on reaching. And I mounted and mounted; year by year I mounted

And I was as though wiped out of your life.

And after all he hurled me into the abyss again. On account of you, Ella.

[After a short thoughtful silence.] Borkman, does it not seem to you as if there had been a sort of curse on our whole relation?

[Looking at her.] A curse?

Yes. Don't you think so?