Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 7).djvu/210

 Mrs. Alving.

Certainly. [She sits by the table.

Manders.

Very well. Then let me show you[He goes to the chair where his travelling-bag lies, takes out a packet of papers, sits down on the opposite side of the table, and tries to find a clear space for the papers.] Now, to begin with, here is[Breaking off.] Tell me, Mrs. Alving, how do these books come to be here?

Mrs. Alving.

These books? They are books I am reading.

Manders.

Do you read this sort of literature?

Mrs. Alving.

Certainly I do.

Manders.

Do you feel better or happier for such reading?

Mrs. Alving.

I feel, so to speak, more secure.

Manders.

That is strange. How do you mean?

Mrs. Alving.

Well, I seem to find explanation and confirmation of all sorts of things I myself have been thinking. For that is the wonderful part of it, Pastor Manders—there is really nothing new in these books, nothing but what most people think