Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 11).djvu/405

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Thanks and praise be to you, I achieved my great task. I wanted to embody the pure woman as I saw her awakening on the Resurrection Day. Not marvelling at anything new and unknown and undivined; but filled with a sacred joy at finding herself unchanged—she, the woman of earth—in the higher, freer, happier region—after the long, dreamless sleep of death. [More softly.] Thus did I fashion her.—I fashioned her in your image, Irene.

Irene.

[''Laying her hands flat upon the table and leaning against the back of her chair''.] And then you were done with me

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[Reproachfully.] Irene!

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You had no longer any use for me

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How can you say that!

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—and began to look about you for other ideals

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I found none, none after you.

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And no other models, Arnold?