Ghosts

threw you downstairs. You have told me of the affair already. Your infirmity is an honour to you. Engstrand I’m not puffed up about it, your Reverence. But what I wanted to say was, that when she came and confessed all to me, with weeping and gnashing of teeth, I can tell your Reverence I was sore at heart to hear it. Manders Were you indeed, Engstrand? Well, go on. Engstrand So I says to her, “The American, he’s sailing about on the boundless sea. And as for you, Johanna,” says I, “you’ve committed a grievous sin, and you’re a fallen creature. But Jacob Engstrand,” says I, “he’s got two good legs to stand upon, he has⁠—” You see, your Reverence, I was speaking figurative-like. Manders I understand quite well. Go on. Engstrand Well, that was how I raised her up and made an honest woman of her, so as folks shouldn’t get to know how as she’d gone astray with foreigners. Manders In all that you acted very well. Only I cannot approve of your stooping to take money⁠— Engstrand Money? I? Not a farthing! Manders Inquiringly to Mrs. Alving. But⁠— Engstrand Oh, wait a minute!⁠—now I recollect. Johanna did have a trifle of money. But I would have nothing to do with that. “No,” says I, “that’s mammon; that’s the wages of sin. This dirty gold⁠—or notes, or whatever it was⁠—we’ll just flint, that back in the American’s face,” says I. But he was off and away, over the stormy sea, your Reverence. Manders Was he really, my good fellow? Engstrand He was indeed, sir. So Johanna and I, we agreed that the money should go to the child’s education; and so it did, and I can account for every blessed farthing of it. Manders Why, this alters the case considerably. Engstrand That’s just how it stands, your Reverence. And I make so bold as to say as I’ve been an honest father to Regina, so far as my poor strength went; for I’m but a weak vessel, worse luck! Manders Well, well, my good fellow⁠— Engstrand All the same, I bear myself witness as I’ve brought up the child, and lived kindly with poor Johanna, and ruled over my own house, as the Scripture has it. But it couldn’t never enter my head to go to your Reverence and puff myself up and boast because even the likes of me had done some good in the world. No, sir; when anything of that sort happens to Jacob Engstrand, he holds his tongue about it. It don’t happen so terrible often, I daresay. And when I do come to see your Reverence, I find a mortal deal that’s wicked and weak to talk about. For I said it before, and I says it again⁠—a man’s conscience isn’t always as clean as it might be. Manders Give me your hand, Jacob Engstrand. Engstrand Oh, Lord! your Reverence⁠— Manders Come, no nonsense. Wrings his hand. There we are! Engstrand And if I might humbly beg your Reverence’s pardon⁠— Manders You? On the contrary, it is I who ought to beg your pardon⁠— Engstrand Lord, no, Sir! Manders Yes, assuredly. And I do it with all my heart. Forgive me for misunderstanding you. I only wish I could give you some proof of my hearty regret, and of my goodwill towards you⁠— Engstrand Would your Reverence do it? Manders With the greatest pleasure. Engstrand Well then, here’s the very chance. With the bit of money I’ve saved here, I was thinking I might set up a Sailors’ Home down in the town. Mrs. Alving You? Engstrand Yes; it might be a sort of Orphanage, too, in a manner of speaking. There’s such a many temptations for seafaring folk ashore. But in this Home of mine, a man might feel like as he was under a father’s eye, I was thinking. Manders What do you say to this, Mrs. Alving? Engstrand It isn’t much as I’ve got to start with, Lord help me! But if I could only find a helping hand, why⁠— Manders Yes, yes; we will look into the matter more closely. I entirely approve of your plan. But now, go before me and make everything ready, and get the candles lighted, so as to give the place an air of festivity. And then we will pass an edifying hour together, my good fellow; for now I quite believe you are in the right frame of mind. Engstrand Yes, I trust I am. And so I’ll say goodbye, ma’am, and thank you kindly; and take good care of Regina for me⁠—Wipes a tear from his eye⁠—poor Johanna’s child. Well, it’s a queer thing, now; but it’s just like as if she’d growd into the very apple of my eye. It is, indeed. He bows and goes out through the hall. Manders Well, what do you say of that man now, Mrs. Alving? That was a very different account of matters, was it not? Mrs. Alving Yes, it certainly was. Manders It only shows how excessively careful one ought to be in judging one’s fellow creatures. But what a heartfelt joy it is to ascertain that one has been mistaken! Don’t you think so? Mrs. Alving I think you are, and will always be, a great baby, Manders. Manders I? Mrs. Alving Laying her two hands upon his shoulders. And I say that I have half a mind to put my arms round your neck, and kiss you. Manders Stepping hastily back. No, no! God bless me! What an idea! Mrs. Alving With a smile. Oh, you needn’t be afraid of me. Manders By the table. You have sometimes such an exaggerated way of expressing yourself. Now, let me just collect all the documents, and put them in my bag. He does so. There, that’s all right. And now, goodbye for the present. Keep your eyes open when Oswald comes back. I shall look in again later. He takes his hat and goes out through the hall door. Mrs. Alving Sighs, looks for a moment out of the window, sets the room in order a little, and is about to go into the dining room, but stops at the