Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 11).djvu/39

 I have never cared to talk about it—and you so seldom came out to see me, too

Asta.

Yes, I daresay that wasn't very nice of me—but

RITA.

Well, well, well, of course you had your school to attend to in town. [Smiling.] And then our road-maker friend—of course he was away too.

Asta.

Oh, don't talk like that, Rita.

RITA.

Very well, then; we will leave the road-maker out of the question.—You can't think how I have been longing for Alfred! How empty the place seemed! How desolate! Ugh, it felt as if there had been a funeral in the house!

Asta.

Why, dear me, only six or seven weeks

RITA.

Yes; but you must remember that Alfred has never been away from me before—never so much as twenty-four hours. Not once in all these ten years.

Asta.

No; but that is just why I really think it was high time he should have a little outing