Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 8).djvu/116

 Billing.

Strike me dead if Dr. Stockmann isn't a Friend of the People, Aslaksen!

Aslaksen.

I have no doubt the House-owners' Association will soon adopt that expression.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Shaking their hands, deeply moved.] Thanks, thanks, my dear, faithful friends; it does me good to hear you. My respected brother called me something very different. Never mind! Trust me to pay him back with interest! But I must be off now to see a poor devil of a patient. I shall look in again, though. Be sure you look after the article, Mr. Aslaksen; and, whatever you do, don't leave out any of my notes of exclamation! Rather put in a few more! Well, good-bye for the present, good-bye, good-bye.

[Mutual salutations while they accompany him to the door. He goes out.

Hovstad.

He will be invaluable to us.

Aslaksen.

Yes, so long as he confines himself to this matter of the Baths. But if he goes further, it will scarcely be advisable to follow him.

Hovstad.

H'm—that entirely depends on

Billing.

You're always so confoundedly timid, Aslaksen.