Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 7).djvu/219

 Mrs. Alving.

It's odd that you should just happen to mention the matter to-day

Manders. I have often thought of asking you about it

Mrs. Alving.

for we very nearly had a fire down there yesterday.

Manders. You don't say so!

Mrs. Alving.

Oh, it was a trifling matter. A heap of shavings had caught fire in the carpenter's workshop.

Manders. Where Engstrand works?

Mrs. Alving.

Yes. They say he's often very careless with matches.

Manders.

He has so much on his mind, that man—so many things to fight against. Thank God, he is now striving to lead a decent life, I hear.

Mrs. Alving. Indeed! Who says so?

Manders.

He himself assures me of it. And he is certainly a capital workman.

Mrs. Alving. Oh, yes; so long as he's sober