uires a certain number of smaller victims to
prey upon every year, if he is to live. Just look at Hovstad and
Aslaksen! How many smaller victims have they not put an end to--or at
any rate maimed and mangled until they are fit for nothing except to be
householders or subscribers to the "People's Messenger"! (Sits down on
the edge of the table.) Come here, Katherine--look how beautifully the
sun shines to-day! And this lovely spring air I am drinking in!

Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, if only we could live on sunshine and spring air,
Thomas.

Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you will have to pinch and save a bit--then we shall
get along. That gives me very little concern. What is much worse is,
that I know of no one who is liberal-minded and high-minded enough to
venture to take up my work after me.

Petra. Don't think about that, father; you have plenty of time before
you.--Hello, here are the boys already!

(EJLIF and MORTEN come in from the sitting-room.)

Mrs. Stockmann. Have you got a holiday?

Morten. No; but we were fighting with the other boys between lessons--

Ejlif. That isn't true; it was the other boys were fighting with us.

Morten. Well, and then Mr. Rorlund said we had better stay at home for
a day or two.

Dr. Stockmann (snapping his fingers and getting up from the table). I
have it! I have it, by Jove! You shall never set foot in the school
again!

The Boys. No more school!

Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas--

Dr. Stockmann. Never, I say. I will educate you myself; that is to say,
you shan't learn a blessed thing--

Morten. Hooray!

Dr. Stockmann. --but I will make liberal-minded and high-minded men of
you. You must help me with that, Petra.

Petra, Yes, father, you may be sure I will.

Dr. Stockmann. And my school shall be in the room where they insulted
me and called me an enemy of the people. But we are too few as we are;
I must have at least twelve boys to begin with.

Mrs. Stockmann. You will certainly never get them in this town.

Dr. Stockmann. We shall. (To the boys.) Don't you know any street
urchins--regular ragamuffins--?

Morten. Yes, father, I know lots!

Dr. Stockmann. That's capital! Bring me some specimens of them. I am
going to experiment with curs, just for once; there may be some
exceptional heads among them.

Morten. And what are we going to do, when you have made liberal-minded
and high-minded men of us?

Dr. Stockmann. Then you shall drive all the wolves out of the country,
my bo