Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 8).djvu/50

 Mrs. Stockmann.

What have you to account to him for?

Dr. Stockmann.

H'm;—never mind about that, Katrina.—It's very odd the postman doesn't come.

[Hovstad, Billing and Horster have risen from table and come forward into the sitting-room. Eilif and Morten presently follow.

Billing.

[Stretching himself.] Ah! Strike me dead if one doesn't feel a new man after such a meal.

Hovstad.

The Burgomaster didn't seem in the best of tempers this evening.

Dr. Stockmann.

That's his stomach. He has a very poor digestion.

Hovstad.

I fancy it's the staff of the Messenger he finds it hardest to stomach.

Mrs. Stockmann.

I thought you got on well enough with him.

Hovstad.

Oh, yes; but it's only a sort of armistice between us.

Billing.

That's it. That word sums up the situation.