HILDA [Amused.]

  No, I think I shall let that alone!

  SOLNESS

  Indeed?

  HILDA

  For you must know I have run through all my money.

  SOLNESS [Laughs.]

  Neither trunk nor money, then!

  HILDA

  Neither one nor the other. But never mind—it doesn’t matter now.

  SOLNESS

  Come now, I like you for that.

  HILDA

  Only for that?

  SOLNESS

  For that among other things.

  [Sits in the arm-chair.]

  Is your father alive still?

  HILDA

  Yes, father’s alive.

  SOLNESS

  Perhaps you are thinking of studying here?

  HILDA

  No, that hadn’t occurred to me.

  SOLNESS

  But I suppose you will be staying for some time?

  HILDA

  That must depend upon circumstances.

  [She sits awhile rocking herself and looking at him, half seriously, half with

  a suppressed smile.Then she takes off her hat and puts it on the table in

  front of her.]

  Mr. Solness!

  SOLNESS

  Well?

  HILDA

  Have you a very bad memory?

  SOLNESS

  A bad memory? No, not that I am aware of.

  HILDA

  Then have you nothing to say to me about what happened up there?

  SOLNESS [In momentary surprise.]

  Up at Lysanger?

  [Indifferently.]

  Why, it was nothing much to talk about, it seems to me.

  HILDA [Looks reproachfully at him.]

  How can you sit there and say such things?

  SOLNESS

  Well, then, you talk to me about it.

  HILDA

  When the tower was finished, we had grand doings in the town.

  SOLNESS

  Yes, I shall not easily forget that day.

  HILDA [Smiles.]

  Will you not? That comes well from you.

  SOLNESS

  Comes well?

  HILDA

  There was music in the churchyard—and many, many hundreds of people. We school-girls were dressed in white; and we all carried flags.

  SOLNESS

  Ah, yes, those flags—I can tell you I remember them!

  HILDA

  Then you climbed right up the scaffolding, straight to the very top; and you had a great wreath with you; and you hung that wreath right away up on the weather-vane.

  SOLNESS [Curtly interrupting.]

  I always did that in those days. It is an old custom.

  HILDA

  It was so wonderfully thrilling to stand below and look up at you. Fancy, if he should fall over! He—the master builder himself!

  SOLNESS [As if to divert her from the subject.]

  Yes, yes, yes, that might very well have happened, too. For one of those white-frocked little devils,—she went on in such a way, and screamed up at me so——

  HILDA [Sparkling with pleasure.]

  “Hurra for Master Builder Solness!” Yes!

  SOLNESS

  —and waved and flourished with her flag, so that I—so that it almost made me giddy to look at it.

  HILDA [In a lower voice, seriously.]

  That little devil—that was I.

  SOLNESS [Fixes his eyes steadily upon her.]

  I am sure of that now. It must have been you.

  HILDA [Lively again.]

  Oh, it was so gloriously thrilling! I could not have believed there was a builder in the whole world that could build such a tremendously high tower. And then, that you yourself should stand at the very top of it, as large as life! And that you should not be the least bit dizzy! It was that above everything that made one—made one dizzy to think of.

  SOLNESS

  How could you be so certain that I was not——?

  HILDA [Scouting the idea.]

  No indeed! Oh no! I knew that instinctively. For if you had been, you could never have stood up there and sung.

  SOLNESS [Looks at her in astonishment.]

  Sung? Did I sing?

  HILDA

  Yes, I should think you did.

  SOLNESS [Shakes his head.]

  I have never sung a note in my life.

  HILDA

  Yes, indeed, you sang then. It sounded like harps in the air.

  SOLNESS [Thoughtfully.]

  This is very strange—all this.

  HILDA [Is silent awhile, looks at him and says in a low voice:]

  But then,—it was after that—that the real thing happened.

  SOLNESS

  The real thing?

  HILDA [Sparkling with vivacity.]

  Yes, I surely don’t need to remind you of that?

  SOLNESS

  Oh yes, do remind me a little of that, too.

  HILDA

  Don’t you remember that a great dinner was given in your honour at the Club?

  SOLNESS

  Yes, to be sure. It must have been the same afternoon, for I left the place next morning.

  HILDA

  And from the Club you were invited to come round to our house to supper.

  SOLNESS

  Quite right, Miss Wangel. It is wonderful how all these trifles have impressed themselves on your mind.

  HILDA

  Trifles! I like that! Perhaps it was a trifle, too, that I was alone in the room when you came in?

  SOLNESS

  Were you alone?

  HILDA [Without answering him.]

  You didn’t call me a little devil then?

  SOLNESS

  No, I suppose I did not.

  HILDA

  You said I was lovely in my white dress, and that I looked like a little princess.

  SOLNESS

  I have no doubt you did, Miss Wangel.—And besides—I was feeling so buoyant and free that day——

  HILDA

  And then you said that when I grew up I should be your princess.

  SOLNESS [Laughing a little.]

  Dear, dear—did I say that too?

  HILDA

  Yes, you did. And when I asked how long I should have to wait, you said that you would come again in ten years—like a troll—and carry me off—to Spain or some such place. And you promised you would buy me a kingdom there.

  SOLNESS [As before.]

  Yes, after a good dinner one doesn’t haggle about the halfpence. But did I really say all that?

  HILDA [Laughs to herself.]

  Yes. And you told me, too, what the kingdom was to be called.

  SOLNESS

  Well, what was it?

  HILDA

  It was to be called the kingdom of Orangia,159 you said.

  SOLNESS

  Well, that was an appetising name.

  HILDA

  No, I didn’t like it a bit; for it seemed as though you wanted to make game of me.

  SOLNESS

  I am sure that cannot have been my intention.

  HILDA

  No, I should hope not—considering what you did next——

  SOLNESS

  What in the world did I do next?

  HILDA

  Well, that’s the finishing touch, if you have forgotten that too. I should have thought no one could help remembering such a thing as that.

  SOLNESS

  Yes, yes, just give me a hint, and then perhaps——Well?

  HILDA [Looks fixedly at him.]

  You came and kissed me, Mr. Solness.

  SOLNESS [Open-mouthed, rising from his chair.] I did!

  HILDA

  Yes, indeed you did. You took me in both your arms, and bent my head back, and kissed me—many times.

  SOLNESS

  Now really, my dear Miss Wangel——!

  HILDA [Rises.]

  You surely cannot mean to deny it?

  SOLNESS

  Yes, I do. I deny it altogether!

  HILDA [Looks scornfully at him.]

  Oh, indeed!

  [She turns and goes slowly close up to the stove, where she remains stand

  ing motionless, her face averted from him, her hands behind her back. Short

  pause.]

  SOLNESS [Goes cautiously up behind her.]

  Miss Wangel——!

  HILDA [Is silent and does not move.]

  SOLNESS

  Don’t stand there like a statue. You must have dreamt all this.

  [Lays his hand on her arm.]

  Now just listen——

  HILDA [Makes an impatient movement with her arm.]

  SOLNESS [As a thought flashes upon him.]

  Or——! Wait a moment! There is something under all this, you may depend!

  HILDA [Does not move.]

  SOLNESS [In a low voice, but with emphasis.]

  I must have thought all that. I must have wished it—have willed it—have longed to do it. And then——. May not that be the explanation?

  HILDA [Is still silent.]

  SOLNESS [Impatiently.]

  Oh very well, deuce take it all—then I did do it, I suppose.

  HILDA [Turns her head a little, but without looking at him.]

  Then you admit it now?

  SOLNESS

  Yes—whatever you like.

  HILDA

  You came and put your arms around me?

  SOLNESS

  Oh, yes!

  HILDA

  And bent my head back?

  SOLNESS

  Very far back.

  HILDA

  And kissed me?

  SOLNESS

  Yes, I did.

  HILDA

  Many times?

  SOLNESS

  As many as ever you like.

  HILDA [Turns quickly towards him and has once more the sparkling expression of gladness in her eyes.]

  Well, you see, I got it out of you at last!

  SOLNESS [With a slight smile.]

  Yes—just think of my forgetting such a thing as that.

  HILDA [Again a little sulky, retreats from him.]

  Oh, you have kissed so many people in your time, I suppose.

  SOLNESS

  No, you mustn’t think that of me.

  [HILDA seats herself in the arm-chair. SOLNESS stands and leans

  against the rocking-chair. Looks observantly at her.]

  Miss Wangel!

  HILDA

  Yes!

  SOLNESS

  How was it now? What came of all this—between us two?

  HILDA

  Why, nothing more came of it. You know that quite well. For then the other guests came in, and then—bah!

  SOLNESS

  Quite so! The others came in. To think of my forgetting that too!

  HILDA

  Oh, you haven’t really forgotten anything: you are only a little ashamed of it all. I am sure one doesn’t forget things of that kind.

  SOLNESS

  No, one would suppose not.

  HILDA [Lively again, looks at him.]

  Perhaps you have even forgotten what day it was?

  SOLNESS

  What day——?

  HILDA

  Yes, on what day did you hang the wreath on the tower? Well? Tell me at once!

  SOLNESS

  H’m—I confess I have forgotten the particular day. I only know it was ten years ago. Some time in the autumn.

  HILDA [Nods her head slowly several times.]

  It was ten years ago—on the 19th of September.

  SOLNESS

  Yes, it must have been about that time. Fancy your remembering

  that too!

  [Stops.]

  But wait a moment——! Yes—it’s the 19th of September to

  day.

  HILDA

  Yes, it is; and the ten years are gone. And you didn’t come—as you had promised me.

  SOLNESS

  Promised you? Threatened, I suppose you mean?

  HILDA

  I don’t think there was any sort of threat in that.

  SOLNESS

  Well then, a little bit of fun.

  HILDA

  Was that all you wanted? To make fun of me?

  SOLNESS

  Well, or to have a little joke with you. Upon my soul, I don’t recollect. But it must have been something of that kind; for you were a mere child then.

  HILDA

  Oh, perhaps I wasn’t quite such a child either. Not such a mere chit as you imagine.

  SOLNESS [Looks searchingly at her.]

  Did you really and seriously expect me to come again?

  HILDA [Conceals a half-teasing smile.]

  Yes, indeed! I did expect that of you.

  SOLNESS

  That I should come back to your home, and take you away with me?

  HILDA

  Just like a troll—yes.

  SOLNESS

  And make a princess of you?

  HILDA

  That’s what you promised.

  SOLNESS

  And give you a kingdom as well?

  HILDA [Looks up at the ceiling.]

  Why not? Of course it need not have been an actual, every-day sort of a kingdom.

  SOLNESS

  But something else just as good?

  HILDA

  Yes, at least as good.

  [Looks at him a moment.]

  I thought, if you could build the highest church-towers in the

  world, you could surely manage to raise a kingdom of one sort

  or another as well.

  SOLNESS [Shakes his head.]

  I can’t quite make you out, Miss Wangel.

  HILDA

  Can you not? To me it seems all so simple.

  SOLNESS

  No, I can’t make up my mind whether you mean all you say, or are simply having a joke with me.

  HILDA [Smiles.]

  Making fun of you, perhaps? I, too?

  SOLNESS

  Yes, exactly. Making fun—of both of us.

  [Looks at her.]

  Is it long since you found out that I was married?

  HILDA

  I have known it all along. Why do you ask me that?

  SOLNESS [Lightly.]

  Oh, well, it just occurred to me.

  [Looks earnestly at her, and says in a low voice.]

  What have you come for?

  HILDA

  I want my kingdom. The time is up.

  SOLNESS [Laughs involuntarily.]

  What a girl you are!

  HILDA [Gaily.]

  Out with my kingdom, Mr. Solness!

  [Raps with her fingers.]

  The kingdom on the table!

  SOLNESS [Pushing the rocking-chair nearer and sitting down.]

  Now, seriously speaking—what have you come for? What do you really want to do here?

  HILDA

  Oh, first of all, I want to go round and look at all the things that you have built.

  SOLNESS

  That will give you plenty of exercise.

  HILDA

  Yes, I know you have built a tremendous lot.

  SOLNESS

  I have indeed—especially of late years.

  HILDA

  Many church-towers among the rest? Immensely high ones?

  SOLNESS

  No. I build no more church-towers now. Nor churches either.

  HILDA

  What do you build then?

  SOLNESS

  Homes for human beings.

  HILDA [Reflectively.]

  Couldn’t you build a little—a little bit of a church-tower over these homes as well?

  SOLNESS [Starting.]

  What do you mean by that?

  HILDA

  I mean—something that points—points up into the free air. With the vane at a dizzy height.

  SOLNESS [Pondering a little.]

  Strange that you should say that—for that is just what I am most anxious to do.

  HILDA [Impatiently.]

  Why don’t you do it, then?

  SOLNESS [Shakes his head.]

  No, the people will not have it.

  HILDA

  Fancy their not wanting it!

  SOLNESS [More lightly.]

  But now I am building a new home for myself—just opposite here.

  HILDA

  For yourself?

  SOLNESS

  Yes. It is almost finished. And on that there is a tower.

  HILDA

  A high tower?

  SOLNESS

  Yes.

  HILDA

  Very high?