HILDA.
Are all these your drawings yours?
SOLNESS.
No, they are drawn by a young man whom I employ to help me.
HILDA.
Some one you have taught?
SOLNESS.
Oh yes, no doubt he has learnt something from me, too.
HILDA.
[Sits down.] Then I suppose he is very clever. [Looks at a
drawing.] Isn't he?
SOLNESS.
Oh, he might be worse. For my purpose---
HILDA.
Oh yes--I'm sure he is frightfully clever.
SOLNESS.
Do you think you can see that in the drawings?
HILDA.
Pooh--these scrawlings! But if he has been learning from you---
SOLNESS.
Oh, so far as that goes---there are plenty of people here that have
learnt from me, and have come to little enough for all that.
HILDA.
[Looks at him and shakes her head.] No, I can't for the life of me
understand how you can be so stupid.
SOLNESS.
Stupid? Do you think I am so very stupid?
HILDA.
Yes, I do indeed. If you are content to go about here teaching all
these people---
SOLNESS.
[With a slight start.] Well, and why not?
HILDA.
[Rises, half serious, half laughing.] No indeed, Mr. Solness! What
can be the good of that? No one but you should be allowed to build.
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