Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 6).djvu/77

 Fieldbo.

And are things going tolerably at home? Your wife?

Aslaksen.

In bed, as usual; coughing and wasting away.

Fieldbo.

And your second child?

Aslaksen.

Oh, he's a cripple for the rest of his days; you know that. That's our luck, you see; what the devil's the use of talking about it?

Fieldbo.

Let me look at you, Aslaksen!

Aslaksen.

Well; what do you want to see?

Fieldbo.

You've been drinking to-day.

Aslaksen.

Yes, and yesterday too.

Fieldbo.

Well, yesterday there was some excuse for it; but to-day

Aslaksen.

What about your friends in there, then? Aren't they drinking too?

Fieldbo.

Yes, my dear Aslaksen; that's a fair retort; but circumstances differ so in this world.