Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/337

 *—a new life. See, Johan, I have stood in your place here, I, your old playfellow. The duties you forgot, or could not fulfil, I have fulfilled for you. I tell you this, that you may have the less to reproach yourself with. I have been a mother to that much-wronged child; I have brought her up as well as I could

Johan.

And thrown away your whole life in doing so!

Martha.

It has not been thrown away. But you have been long of coming, Johan.

Johan.

Martha—if I could say to youWell, at all events let me thank you for your faithful friendship.

Martha.

[Smiling sadly.] Ah! Well, now we have made a clean breast of things, Johan. Hush, here comes some one. Good-bye; I don't want them to

[She goes out through the second door on the left. Lona Hessel comes from the garden, followed by Mrs. Bernick.

Mrs. Bernick.

[Still in the garden.] Good heavens, Lona, what can you be thinking of?

Lona.

Let me alone, I tell you; I must and will talk to him.