Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 8).djvu/374

 Mrs. Sörby.

You can stay so far as that's concerned. I shan't say a word more. But I wanted you to know that I had done nothing secretly or in an underhand way. I may seem to have come in for a great piece of luck; and so I have, in a sense. But after all, I don't think I am getting any more than I am giving. I shall stand by him always, and I can tend and care for him as no one else can, now that he is getting helpless.

Hialmar.

Getting helpless?

Gregers.

[To Mrs. Sörby.] Hush, don't speak of that here.

Mrs. Sörby.

There is no disguising it any longer, however much he would like to. He is going blind.

Hialmar.

[Starts.] Going blind? That's strange. He too going blind!

Gina.

Lots of people do.

Mrs. Sörby.

And you can imagine what that means to a business man. Well, I shall try as well as I can to make my eyes take the place of his. But I musn't stay any longer; I have such heaps of things to do.—Oh, by-the-bye, Ekdal, I was to tell you that if there is anything Werle can do for you, you must just apply to Gråberg.