Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/261

 Mrs. Rummel.

We have only to look at the crew of the American ship that's lying here.

Rörlund.

Oh, I won't speak of such scum of humanity. But even in the higher classes—how do matters stand? Doubt and fermenting unrest on every side; the soul at war with itself; insecurity in every relation of life. See how the family is undermined!—how a brazen spirit of subversion is assailing the most vital truths!

Dina.

[Without looking up.] But many great things are done there too, are they not?

Rörlund.

Great things? I don't understand

Mrs. Holt. [Astonished.] Good heavens, Dina!

Mrs. Rummel. [At the same time.] Oh, Dina, how can you?

Rörlund.

It would scarcely be for our good if such "great things" came into fashion among us. No; we ought to thank God that our lot is ordered as it is. A tare, alas! will now and then spring up among the wheat; but we honestly do our best to weed it out. The great point, ladies, is to keep society pure—to exclude from it all the questionable elements which an impatient age would force upon us.