Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/111

 Stensgård.

Well then, if you think he has no chance

Lundestad.

H'm! You are a man of rare gifts, Mr. Stensgård. Providence has dealt lavishly with you. But it has made one little oversight: it ought to have given you one thing more.

Stensgård.

And what may that be?

Lundestad.

Tell me—why do you never think of yourself? Why have you no ambition?

Stensgård.

Ambition? I?

Lundestad.

Why do you waste all your strength on other people? In one word—why not go into Parliament yourself?

Stensgård.

I? You are not serious?

Lundestad.

Why not? You have qualified, I hear. And if you don't seize this opportunity, then some one else will come in; and when once he is firm in the saddle, it may not be so easy to unseat him.

Stensgård.

Great heavens, Mr. Lundestad! do you really mean what you say?