Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 11).djvu/393

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[Trying to take a lighter tone.] Yes, Irene. —I can assure you "our child" has become famous all the wide world over. I suppose you have read about it.

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[Nods.] And has made its father famous too. —That was your dream.

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[More softly, with emotion.] It is to you I owe everything, everything, Irene—and I thank you.

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[Lost in thought for a moment.] If I had then done what I had a right to do, Arnold

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Well? What then?

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I should have killed that child.

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Killed it, you say?

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[Whispering.] Killed it—before I went away from you. Crushed it—crushed it to dust.

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[Shakes his head reproachfully.] You would never have been able to, Irene. You had not the heart to do it.