Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 9).djvu/179

 Rebecca.

Yes; for it was a life-and-death struggle between Beata and me at that time.

Rosmer.

Assuredly you were the strongest at Rosmersholm. Stronger than Beata and I together.

Rebecca.

I judged you rightly in so far that I was sure I could never reach you until you were a free man, both in circumstances—and in spirit.

Rosmer.

But I don't understand you, Rebecca. You—yourself—your whole conduct is an insoluble riddle to me. I am free now—both in spirit and in circumstances. You have reached the very goal you aimed at from the first. And yet

Rebecca.

I have never stood farther from my goal than now.

Rosmer.

And yet I say—when I asked you yesterday—begged you to be my wife—you cried out, as if in fear, that it could never be.

Rebecca.

I cried out in despair, Rosmer.

Rosmer. Why?

Rebecca. Because Rosmersholm has sapped my strength.