t the loveliest thing
in the world--

HILDA.

[Carried away.] Yes--yes--yes!

SOLNESS. --build it together with a princess, whom I love--

HILDA.

Yes, tell him that! Tell him that!

SOLNESS.

Yes. And then I will say to him: Now I shall go down and throw my arms
round her and kiss her--

HILDA. --many times! Say that!

SOLNESS. --many, many times, I will say it!

HILDA.

And then--?

SOLNESS.

Then I will wave my hat--and come down to the earth--and do as I said to
him.

HILDA.

[With outstretched arms.] Now I see you again as I did when there was
song in the air!

SOLNESS.

[Looks at here with his head bowed.] How have you become what you are,
Hilda?

HILDA.

How have you made me what I am?

SOLNESS.

[Shortly and firmly.] The princess shall have her castle.

HILDA.

[Jubilant, clapping her hands.] Oh, Mr. Solness--! My lovely, lovely
castle. Our castle in the air!

SOLNESS.

On a firm foundation.

[In the street a crowd of people has assembled, vaguely seen
through the trees. Music of wind-instruments is heard far
away behind the new house.

MRS. SOLNESS, with a fur collar round her neck, DOCTOR HERDAL
with her white shawl on his arm, and some ladies, come out
on the verandah. RAGNAR BROVIK comes at the same time up
from the garden.

MRS. SOLNESS.

[To RAGNAR.] Are we to have music, too?

RAGNAR.

Yes. It's the band of the Mason's Union. [To SOLNESS.] The foreman asked
me to tell you that he is ready now to go up with the wreath.

SOLNESS.

[Takes his hat.] Good. I will go down to him myself.

MRS. SOLNESS.

[Anxiously.] What have you to do down there, Halvard?

SOLNESS.

[Curtly.] I must be down below with the men.

MRS. SOLNESS.

Yes, down below--only down below.

SOLNESS.

That is where I always stand--on everyday occasions.

[He goes down the flight of steps and away through the garden.

MRS. SOLNESS.

[Calls after him over the railing.] But do beg the man to be careful
when he goes up! Promise me that, Halvard!

DR. HERDAL.

[To MRS. SOLNESS.] Don't you see that I was right? He has given up all
thought of that folly.

MRS. SOLNESS.

Oh, what a relief! Twice workmen have fallen, and each time they were
killed on the spot. [Turns to HILDA.] Thank you, Miss Wangel, for having
kept such a firm hold upon him. I should never have been able to manage
him.

D