MRS. ALVING: Oh, very well. Come in. Do you want to speak to me?

ENGSTRAND: [Comes in.] No, I'm obliged to you, ma'am; it was with his Reverence I wanted to have a word or two.

MANDERS: [Walking up and down the room.] Ah--indeed! You want to speak to me, do you?

ENGSTRAND: Yes, I'd like so terrible much to--

MANDERS: [Stops in front of him.] Well; may I ask what you want?

ENGSTRAND: Well, it was just this, your Reverence: we've been paid off down yonder--my grateful thanks to you, ma'am,--and now everything's finished, I've been thinking it would be but right and proper if we, that have been working so honestly together all this time--well, I was thinking we ought to end up with a little prayer-meeting to-night.

MANDERS: A prayer-meeting? Down at the Orphanage?

ENGSTRAND: Oh, if your Reverence doesn't think it proper--

MANDERS: Oh yes, I do; but--h'm--

ENGSTRAND: I've been in the habit of offering up a little prayer in the evenings, myself--

MRS. ALVING: Have you?

ENGSTRAND: Yes, every now and then just a little edification, in a manner of speaking. But I'm a poor, common man, and have little enough gift, God help me!--and so I thought, as the Reverend Mr. Manders happened to be here, I'd--

MANDERS: Well, you see, Engstrand, I have a question to put to you first. Are you in the right frame of mind for such a meeting! Do you feel your conscience clear and at ease?

ENGSTRAND: Oh, God help us, your Reverence! we'd better not talk about conscience.

MANDERS: Yes, that is just what we must talk about. What have you to answer?

ENGSTRAND: Why--a man's conscience--it can be bad enough now and then.

MANDERS: Ah, you admit that. Then perhaps you will make a clean breast of it, and tell me--the real truth about Regina?

MRS. ALVING: [Quickly.] Mr. Manders!

 Prev. P 34/81 next