Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 11).djvu/410

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When did you begin to seek for me, Irene?

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[With a touch of jesting bitterness.] From the time when I realised that I had given away to you something rather indispensable, Arnold. Something one ought never to part with.

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[Bowing his head.] Yes, that is bitterly true. You gave me three or four years of your youth.

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More, more than that I gave you—spendthrift as I then was.

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Yes, you were prodigal, Irene. You gave me all your naked loveliness

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—to gaze upon

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—and to glorify

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Yes, for your own glorification.—And the child's.

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And yours too, Irene.