Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/278

 Mrs. Holt.

Yes, every one knows it.

Mrs. Rummel.

And then she packed up her traps and went off to America.

Mrs. Lynge.

She must have had designs upon him herself.

Mrs. Rummel.

Yes, that was just it. She imagined he was going to propose to her as soon as he came home from Paris.

Mrs. Holt.

Just fancy her dreaming of such a thing! Bernick—a polished young man-of-the-world—a perfect gentleman—the darling of all the ladies

Mrs. Rummel.

and so high-principled, too, Mrs. Holt—so moral.

Mrs. Lynge.

Then what has become of this Miss Hessel in America?

Mrs. Rummel.

Well—over that, as Rummel once expressed it, there rests a veil which should scarcely be lifted.

Mrs. Lynge.

What does that mean?

Mrs. Rummel.

Of course the family hears nothing from her now; but every one in town knows that she has sung for money in taverns over there