RAGNAR.
Has he told you so?
HILDA.
No, but it is so. It must be so! [Wildly.] I will--I will have
it so!
RAGNAR.
And at the very moment when you came--he let her go.
HILDA.
It was you--you that he let go! What do you suppose he cares about
strange women like her?
RAGNAR.
[Reflects.] Is it possible that all this time he has been afraid of
me?
HILDA.
He afraid! I would not be so conceited if I were you.
RAGNAR.
Oh, he must have seen long ago that I had something in me, too.
Besides--cowardly--that is just what he is, you see.
HILDA.
He! Oh yes, I am likely to believe that!
RAGNAR.
In a certain sense he is cowardly--he, the great master builder. He
is not afraid of robbing others of their happiness--as he has done
both for my father and me. But when it comes to climbing up a paltry
bit of scaffolding--he will do anything rather than that.
HILDA.
Oh, you should just have seen him high, high up--at the dizzy height
where I once saw him.
RAGNAR.
Did you see that?
HILDA.
Yes, indeed I did. How free and great he looked as he stood and
fastened the wreath to the church vane!
RAGNAR.
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