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MRS. BORKMAN.
Yes, you must dress yourself properly, and then you must run and fetch my son.
THE MAID.
[Looking at her in astonishment.] You want me to fetch Mr.
Erhart?
MRS. BORKMAN.
Yes; tell him he must come home to me at once; I want to speak to him.
THE MAID.
[Grumbling.] Then I'd better go to the bailiff's and call up the coachman.
MRS. BORKMAN.
Why?
THE MAID.
To get him to harness the sledge. The snow's dreadful to-night.
MRS. BORKMAN.
Oh, that doesn't matter; only make haste and go. It's just round the corner.
THE MAID.
Why, ma'am you can't call that just round the corner!
MRS. BORKMAN.
Of course it is. Don't you know Mr. Hinkel's villa?
THE MAID.
[With malice.] Oh, indeed! It's there Mr. Erhart is this evening?
MRS. BORKMAN.
[Taken aback.] Why, where else should he be?
THE MAID.
[With a slight smile.] Well, I only thought he might be where he usually is.
MRS. BORKMAN.
Where do you mean?
THE MAID.
At Mrs. Wilton's, as they call her.
MRS. BORKMAN.
Mrs. Wilton's? My son isn't so often there.
THE MAID.
[Half muttering.] I've heard say as he's there every day of his life.
MRS. BORKMAN.
That's all nonsense, Malena. Go straight to Mr. Hinkel's and try to to get hold of him.
THE MAID.
[With a toss of her head.] Oh, very well; I'm going.
[She is on the point of going out by the hall, but just at that moment the hall door is opened, and ELLA RENTHEIM and BORKMAN appear on the threshold.
MRS. BORKMAN.
[Staggers a step backwards.] What does this mean?
THE MAID.
[Terrified, instinctively folding her hands.] Lord save us!
MRS. BORKMAN.
[Whispers to THE MAID.] Tell him he must come this instant.
THE MAID.
[Softly.] Yes, ma'am.
[ELLA RENTHEIM and, after her, BORKMAN enter the room. THE MAID sidles behind them to the door, goes out, and closes it after her.
MRS. BORKMAN.
[Having recovered her self-control, turns to ELLA.] What does he want down here in my room?
ELLA RENTHEIM.
He wants to come to an understanding with you, Gunhild.
MRS. BORKMAN.
He has never tried that before.
ELLA RENTHEIM.
He is going to, this evening.
MRS. BORKMAN.
The last time we stood face to face--it was in the Court, when I was summoned to give an account----
BORKMAN.
[Approaching.] And this evening it is _I_ who will give an account of myself.
MRS. BORKMAN.
[Looking at him.] You?
BORKMAN.
Not of what I have done amiss. All the world knows that.
MRS. BORKMAN.
[With a bitter sigh.] Yes, that is true; all the world knows that.
BORKMAN.
But it does not know why I did it; why I had to do it. People do not understand that I had to, because I was myself--because I was John Gabriel Borkman--myself, and not another. And that is what I will try to explain to you.
