Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 7).djvu/316

 Oswald.

When a son has nothing to thank his father for? has never known him? Do you really cling to that old superstition?—you who are so enlightened in other ways?

Mrs. Alving.

Can it be only a superstition?

Oswald.

Yes; surely you can see that, mother. It's one of those notions that are current in the world, and so

Mrs. Alving.

[Deeply moved.] Ghosts!

Oswald.

[Crossing the room.] Yes; you may call them ghosts.

Mrs. Alving.

[Wildly.] Oswald—then you don't love me, either!

Oswald.

You I know, at any rate

Mrs. Alving.

Yes, you know me; but is that all!

Oswald.

And, of course, I know how fond you are of me, and I can't but be grateful to you. And then you can be so useful to me, now that I am ill.

Mrs. Alving.

Yes, cannot I, Oswald? Oh, I could almost bless