Hialmar (dubiously).  Oh—­er—­yes.  I suppose so—­in a sort of way.

    [HEDVIG runs in, overjoyed.

Hedvig.  Father, only see what Mrs. SOeRBY has given, me for a birthday present—­a beautiful deed of gift! [Shows it.

Hialmar (eluding her).  Ha!  Mrs. SOeRBY, the family Housekeeper.  My father’s sight failing!  HEDVIG in goggles!  What vistas of heredity these astonishing coincidences open up! I am not short-sighted, at all events, and I see it all—­all! This is my answer. (He takes the deed, and tears it across.) Now I have nothing more to do in this house. (Puts on overcoat.) My home has fallen in ruins about me. (Bursts into tears.) My hat!

Gregers.  Oh, but you mustn’t go.  You must be all three together, to attain the true frame of mind for self-sacrificing forgiveness, you know!

Hialmar.  Self-sacrificing forgiveness be blowed!

    [He tears himself away, and goes out.

Hedvig (with despairing eyes).  Oh, he said it might be blowed!  Now he’ll never come home any more!

Gregers.  Shall I tell you how to regain your father’s confidence, and bring him home surely?  Sacrifice the Wild Duck.

Hedvig.  Do you think that will do any good?

Gregers.  You just try it! [Curtain.

ACT IV.

    Same Scene.  GREGERS enters, and finds GINA retouching
    photographs.

Gregers (pleasantly).  HIALMAR not come in yet, after last night, I suppose?

Gina.  Not he!  He’s been out on the loose all night with RELLING and MOeLVIK.  Now he’s snoring on their sofa.

Gregers (disappointed.) Dear!—­dear!—­when he ought to be yearning to wrestle in solitude and self-examination!

Gina (rudely).  Self-examine your grandmother!

    [She goes out; HEDVIG comes in.

Gregers (to Hedvig).  Ah, I see you haven’t found courage to settle the Wild Duck yet!

Hedvig.  No—­it seemed such a delightful idea at first.  Now it strikes me as a trifle—­well, Ibsenish.

Gregers (reprovingly).  I thought you hadn’t grown up quite unharmed in this house!  But if you really had the true, joyous spirit of self-sacrifice, you’d have a shot at that Wild Duck, if you died for it!

Hedvig (slowly).  I see; you mean that my constitution’s changing, and I ought to behave as such?

Gregers.  Exactly, I’m what Americans would term a “crank”—­but I believe in you, HEDVIG.

    [HEDVIG takes down the pistol from the mantelpiece, and goes
    into the garret with flashing eyes; GINA comes in.

Hialmar (looking in at door with hesitation; he is unwashed and dishevelled).  Has anybody happened to see my hat?