Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 9).djvu/120

 of your own actions.—But what do you say to all this, Rebecca? Oh, I seem never to have needed you so much before!

Rebecca. Both you and I have been prepared for what must happen some time.

Rosmer. No, no—not for this.

Rebecca. Not for this?

Rosmer. I knew well enough that sooner or later our beautiful, pure friendship might be misinterpreted and soiled. Not by Kroll—I could never have believed such a thing of him—but by all those other people with the coarse souls and the ignoble eyes. Oh yes—I had reason enough for keeping our alliance so jealously concealed. It was a dangerous secret.

Rebecca. Oh, why should we care what all those people think! We know in our own hearts that we are blameless.

Rosmer. Blameless? I? Yes, I thought so—till to-day. But now—now, Rebecca?

Rebecca. Well, what now?

Rosmer. How am I to explain Beata's terrible accusation?