Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 7).djvu/242

 must be poisoned by merely breathing the air of this polluted home. That was why I sent him away. And now you can see, too, why he was never allowed to set foot inside his home so long as his father lived. No one knows what that cost me.

Manders.

You have indeed had a life of trial.

Mrs. Alving.

I could never have borne it if I had not had my work. For I may truly say that I have worked! All the additions to the estate—all the improvements—all the labour-saving appliances, that Alving was so much praised for having introduced—do you suppose he had energy for anything of the sort?—he, who lay all day on the sofa, reading an old Court Guide! No; but I may tell you this too: when he had his better intervals, it was I who urged him on; it was I who had to drag the whole load when he relapsed into his evil ways, or sank into querulous wretchedness.

Manders.

And it is to this man that you raise a memorial?

Mrs. Alving.

There you see the power of an evil conscience.

Manders.

Evil? What do you mean?

Mrs. Alving.

It always seemed to me impossible but that the truth must come out and be believed. So the