e.

BORKMAN.
[Looking keenly at her.] Wasted!

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Yes, I say wasted--for both of us.

BORKMAN.
[In a cold business tone.] I cannot regard my life as wasted
yet.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
And what about mine?

BORKMAN.
There you have yourself to blame, Ella.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[With a start.] And you can say that?

BORKMAN.
You could quite well have been happy without me.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Do you believe that?

BORKMAN.
If you had made up your mind to.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Bitterly.] Oh, yes, I know well enough there was some one else
ready to marry me.

BORKMAN.
But you rejected him.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Yes, I did.

BORKMAN.
Time after time you rejected him. Year after year----

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Scornfully.] Year after year I rejected happiness, I suppose
you think?

BORKMAN.
You might perfectly well have been happy with him. And then I
should have been saved.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
You?

BORKMAN.
Yes, you would have saved me, Ella.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
How do you mean?

BORKMAN.
He thought I was at the bottom of your obstinacy--of your
perpetual refusals. And then he took his revenge. It was so easy
for him; he had all my frank, confiding letters in his keeping. He
made his own use of them; and then it was all over with me--for
the time, that is to say. So you see it is all your doing, Ella!

ELLA RENTHEIM.
Oh indeed, Borkman. If we look into the matter, it appears that
it is I who owe you reparation.

BORKMAN.
It depends how you look at it. I know quite well all that you
have done for us. You bought in this house, and the whole
property, at the auction. You placed the house entirely at my
disposal--and your sister too. You took charge of Erhart, and
cared for him in every way----

ELLA RENTHEIM.
As long as I was allowed to----

BORKMAN.
By your sister, you mean. I have never mixed myself up in these
domestic affairs. As I was saying, I know all the sacrifices you
have made for me and for your sister. But you were in a position
to do so, Ella; and you must not forget that it was I who placed
you in that position.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Indignantly.] There you make a great mistake, Borkman! It was
the love of my inmost heart for Erhart--and for you too--that made
me do it!

BORKMAN.
[Interrupting.] My dear Ella, do not let us get upon questions
of sentiment and that sort of thing. I mean, of course, that if
you acted ge