Ghosts

epub:type="z3998:persona">Manders I have chosen the designation “Captain” rather than “Chamberlain.” “Captain” looks less pretentious. Mrs. Alving Oh, yes; just as you think best. Manders And here you have the Bank Account of the capital lying at interest to cover the current expenses of the Orphanage. Mrs. Alving Thank you; but please keep it⁠—it will be more convenient. Manders With pleasure. I think we will leave the money in the Bank for the present. The interest is certainly not what we could wish⁠—four percent and six months’ notice of withdrawal. If a good mortgage could be found later on⁠—of course it must be a first mortgage and an unimpeachable security⁠—then we could consider the matter. Mrs. Alving Certainly, my dear Pastor Manders. You are the best judge in these things. Manders I will keep my eyes open at any rate.⁠—But now there is one thing more which I have several times been intending to ask you. Mrs. Alving And what is that? Manders Shall the Orphanage buildings be insured or not? Mrs. Alving Of course they must be insured. Manders Well, wait a moment, Mrs. Alving. Let us look into the matter a little more closely. Mrs. Alving I have everything insured; buildings and movables and stock and crops. Manders Of course you have⁠—on your own estate. And so have I⁠—of course. But here, you see, it is quite another matter. The Orphanage is to be consecrated, as it were, to a higher purpose. Mrs. Alving Yes, but that’s no reason⁠— Manders For my own part, I should certainly not see the smallest impropriety in guarding against all contingencies⁠— Mrs. Alving No, I should think not. Manders But what is the general feeling in the neighbourhood? You, of course, know better than I. Mrs. Alving Well⁠—the general feeling⁠— Manders Is there any considerable number of people⁠—really responsible people⁠—who might be scandalised? Mrs. Alving What do you mean by “really responsible people”? Manders Well, I mean people in such independent and influential positions that one cannot help attaching some weight to their opinions. Mrs. Alving There are several people of that sort here, who would very likely be shocked if⁠— Manders There, you see! In town we have many such people. Think of all my colleague’s adherents! People would be only too ready to interpret our action as a sign that neither you nor I had the right faith in a Higher Providence. Mrs. Alving But for your own part, my dear Pastor, you can at least tell yourself that⁠— Manders Yes, I know⁠—I know; my conscience would be quite easy, that is true enough. But nevertheless we should not escape grave misinterpretation; and that might very likely react unfavourably upon the Orphanage. Mrs. Alving Well, in that case⁠— Manders Nor can I entirely lose sight of the difficult⁠—I may even say painful⁠—position in which I might perhaps be placed. In the leading circles of the town, people take a lively interest in this Orphanage. It is, of course, founded partly for the benefit of the town, as well; and it is to be hoped it will, to a considerable extent, result in lightening our Poor Rates. Now, as I have been your adviser, and have had the business arrangements in my hands, I cannot but fear that I may have to bear the brunt of fanaticism⁠— Mrs. Alving Oh, you mustn’t run the risk of that. Manders To say nothing of the attacks that would assuredly be made upon me in certain papers and periodicals, which⁠— Mrs. Alving Enough, my dear Pastor Manders. That consideration is quite decisive. Manders Then you do not wish the Orphanage to be insured? Mrs. Alving No. We will let it alone. Manders Leaning back in his chair. But if, now, a disaster were to happen? One can never tell⁠—Should you be able to make good the damage? Mrs. Alving No; I tell you plainly I should do nothing of the kind. Manders Then I must tell you, Mrs. Alving⁠—we are taking no small responsibility upon ourselves. Mrs. Alving Do you think we can do otherwise? Manders No, that is just the point; we really cannot do otherwise. We ought not to expose ourselves to misinterpretation; and we have no right whatever to give offence to the weaker brethren. Mrs. Alving You, as a clergyman, certainly should not. Manders I really think, too, we may trust that such an institution has fortune on its side; in fact, that it stands under a special providence. Mrs. Alving Let us hope so, Pastor Manders. Manders Then we will let it take its chance? Mrs. Alving Yes, certainly. Manders Very well. So be it. Makes a note. Then⁠—no insurance. Mrs. Alving It’s odd that you should just happen to mention the matter today⁠— Manders I have often thought of asking you about it⁠— Mrs. Alving —for we very nearly had a fire down there yesterday. Manders You don’t say so! Mrs. Alving Oh, it was a trifling matter. A heap of shavings had caught fire in the carpenter’s workshop. Manders Where Engstrand works? Mrs. Alving Yes. They say he’s often very careless with matches. Manders He has so much on his mind, that man⁠—so many things to fight against. Thank God, he is now striving to lead a decent life, I hear. Mrs. Alving Indeed! Who says so? Manders He himself assures me of it. And he is certainly a capital workman. Mrs. Alving Oh, yes; so long as he’s sober⁠— Manders Ah, that melancholy weakness! But, he is often driven to it by his injured leg, he says. Last time he was in town I was really touched by him. He came and thanked me so warmly for having got him work here, so that he might be near Regina. Mrs. Alving He doesn’t see much of her. Manders Oh, yes; he has a talk with her every day. He told me so himself. Mrs. Alving Well, it may be so. Manders He feels so acutely that he needs someone to keep a firm hold on him when temptation comes. That is what I cannot help liking about Jacob Engstrand: he comes to you so helplessly, accusing himself and confessing his own weakness. The last time he was talking to me⁠—Believe me, Mrs. Alving, supposing it were a real necessity for him to have Regina home again⁠— Mrs. Alving Rising hastily. Regina! Manders —you must not set yourself against it. Mrs. Alving Indeed I shall set myself against it. And besides⁠—Regina is to have a position in the Orphanage. Manders But, after