DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Mrs. Alving (a widow).
Oswald Alving (her son, an artist).
Manders (the Pastor of the parish).
Engstrand (a carpenter).
Regina Engstrand (his daughter, in Mrs Alving's service).
(The action takes place at Mrs Alving's house on one of the largerfjords of Western Norway.)
(SCENE.—A large room looking upon a garden door in the left-hand wall,and two in the right. In the middle of the room, a round table withchairs set about it, and books, magazines and newspapers upon it. Inthe foreground on the left, a window, by which is a small sofa with awork-table in front of it. At the back the room opens into aconservatory rather smaller than the room. From the right-hand side ofthis, a door leads to the garden. Through the large panes of glass thatform the outer wall of the conservatory, a gloomy fjord landscape canbe discerned, half-obscured by steady rain.
ENGSTRAND is standing close to the garden door. His left leg isslightly deformed, and he wears a boot with a clump of wood under thesole. REGINA, with an empty garden-syringe in her hand, is trying toprevent his coming in.)
Regina (below her breath). What is it you want? Stay where you are. Therain is dripping off you.
Engstrand. God's good rain, my girl.
Regina. The Devil's own rain, that's what it is!
Engstrand. Lord, how you talk, Regina. (Takes a few limping stepsforward.) What I wanted to tell you was this—
Regina. Don't clump about like that, stupid! The young master is lyingasleep upstairs.
Engstrand. Asleep still? In the middle of the day?
Regina. Well, it's no business of yours.
Engstrand. I was out on a spree last night—
Regina. I don't doubt it.
Engstrand. Yes, we are poor weak mortals, my girl—
Regina. We are indeed.
Engstrand. —and the temptations of the world are manifold, youknow—but, for all that, here I was at my work at half-past five thismorning.
Regina. Yes, yes, but make yourself scarce now. I am not going to standhere as if I had a rendezvous with you.
Engstrand. As if you had a what?
Regina. I am not going to have anyone find you here; so now you know,and you can go.
Engstrand (coming a few steps nearer). Not a bit of it! Not before wehave had a little chat. This afternoon I shall have finished my jobdown at the school house, and I shall be off home to town by tonight'sboat.
Regina (mutters). Pleasant journey to you!
Engstrand. Thanks, my girl. Tomorrow is the opening of the Orphanage,and I expect there will be a fine kick-up here