Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 8).djvu/53

 Horster.

Even those who don't understand anything about it?

Billing.

Understand? Why, what do you mean by that? Society is like a ship: every man must put his hand to the helm.

Horster.

That may be all right on shore; but at sea it wouldn't do at all.

Hovstad.

It's remarkable how little sailors care about public affairs as a rule.

Billing.

Most extraordinary.

Dr. Stockmann.

Sailors are like birds of passage; they are at home both in the south and in the north. So it behoves the rest of us to be all the more energetic, Mr. Hovstad. Will there be anything of public interest in the People's Messenger to-morrow?

Hovstad.

Nothing of local interest. But the day after to-morrow I think of printing your article

Dr. Stockmann.

Oh confound it, that article! No, you'll have to hold it over.

Hovstad.

Really? We happen to have plenty of space, and I should say this was the very time for it