Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 11).djvu/165

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and anguish. For now he is gone again—and has left no trace behind him.

Rita.

Only the crutch was saved.

Allmers.

[Angrily.] Be silent! Do not let me hear that word!

Rita.

[Plaintively.] Oh, I cannot bear the thought that he is gone from us.

Allmers.

[Coldly and bitterly.] You could very well do without him while he was with us. Half the day would often pass without your setting eyes on him.

Rita.

Yes, for I knew that I could see him whenever I wanted to.

Allmers.

Yes, that is how we have gone and squandered the short time we had with Little Eyolf.

Rita.

[Listening, in dread.] Do you hear, Alfred! Now it is ringing again!

Allmers.

[Looking over the fiord.] It is the steamer's bell that is ringing. She is just starting.