Ghosts | Page 4

afternoon I shall have finished my job down
at the school house, and I shall be off home to town by tonight's boat.
Regina (mutters). Pleasant journey to you!
Engstrand. Thanks, my girl. Tomorrow is the opening of the Orphanage,
and I expect there will be a fine kick-up here and plenty of good strong
drink, don't you know. And no one shall say of Jacob Engstrand that be
can't hold off when temptation comes in his way.
Regina. Oho!
Engstrand. Yes, because there will be a lot of fine folk here tomorrow.
Parson Manders is expected from town, too.
Regina: What's more, he's coming today.
Engstrand. There you are! And I'm going to be precious careful he
doesn't have anything to say against me, do you see?
Regina. Oh, that's your game, is it?

Engstrand. What do you mean?
Regina (with a significant look at him). What is it you want to humbug
Mr. Manders out of this time?
Engstrand. Sh! Sh! Are you crazy? Do you suppose I would want to
humbug Mr. Manders? No, no--Mr. Manders has always been too kind
a friend for me to do that. But what I wanted to talk to you about, was
my going back home tonight.
Regina. The sooner you go, the better I shall be pleased.
Engstrand. Yes, only I want to take you with me, Regina.
Regina (open-mouthed). You want to take me--? What did you say?
Engstrand. I want to take you home with me, I said.
Regina (contemptuously). You will never get me home with you.
Engstrand. Ah, we shall see about that.
Regina. Yes, you can be quite certain we shall see about that. I, who
have been brought up by a lady like Mrs. Alving?--I, who have been
treated almost as if I were her own child?--do you suppose I am going
home with you?--to such a house as yours? Not likely!
Engstrand. What the devil do you mean? Are you setting yourself up
against your father, you hussy?
Regina (mutters, without looking at him). You have often told me I was
none of yours.
Engstrand. Bah!--why do you want to pay any attention to that?
Regina. Haven't you many and many a time abused me and called me a
--? For shame?
Engstrand. I'll swear I never used such an ugly word.

Regina. Oh, it doesn't matter what word you used.
Engstrand. Besides, that was only when I was a bit fuddled...hm!
Temptations are manifold in this world, Regina.
Regina. Ugh!
Engstrand. And it was when your mother was in a nasty temper. I had
to find some way of getting my knife into her, my girl. She was always
so precious gentile. (Mimicking her.) "Let go, Jacob! Let me be! Please
to remember that I was three years with the Alvings at Rosenvold, and
they were people who went to Court! (Laughs.) Bless my soul, she
never could forget that Captain Alving got a Court appointment while
she was in service here.
Regina. Poor mother--you worried her into her grave pretty soon.
Engstrand (shrugging his shoulders). Of course, of course; I have got to
take the blame for everything.
Regina (beneath her breath, as she turns away). Ugh--that leg, too!
Engstrand. What are you saying, my girl?
Regina. Pied de mouton.
Engstrand. Is that English?
Regina. Yes.
Engstrand. You have had a good education out here, and no mistake;
and it may stand you in good stead now, Regina.
Regina (after a short silence). And what was it you wanted me to come
to town for?
Engstrand. Need you ask why a father wants his only child? Ain't I a
poor lonely widower?

Regina. Oh, don't come to me with that tale. Why do you want me to
go?
Engstrand. Well, I must tell you I am thinking of taking up a new line
now.
Regina (whistles). You have tried that so often--but it has always
proved a fool's errand.
Engstrand. Ah, but this time you will just see, Regina! Strike me dead
if--
Regina (stamping her foot). Stop swearing!
Engstrand. Sh! Sh!--you're quite right, my girl, quite right! What I
wanted to say was only this, that I have put by a tidy penny out of what
I have made by working at this new Orphanage up here.
Regina. Have you? All the better for you.
Engstrand. What is there for a man to spend his money on, out here in
the country?
Regina. Well, what then?
Engstrand. Well, you see, I thought of putting the money into
something that would pay. I thought of some kind of an eating- house
for seafaring folk--
Regina. Heavens!
Engstrand. Oh, a high-class eating-house, of course--not a pigsty for
common sailors. Damn it, no; it would be a place ships' captains and
first mates would come to;