Petra. And two of them were to the effect that a man, who has been our guest here, was declaring last night at the Club that my views on various subjects are extremely emancipated--Dr. Stockmann. You did not deny that, I hope?
Petra. No, you know I wouldn't. Mrs. Busk's own views are tolerably emancipated, when we are alone together; but now that this report about me is being spread, she dare not keep me on any longer.
Mrs. Stockmann. And someone who had been a guest of ours! That shows you the return you get for your hospitality, Thomas!
Dr. Stockmann. We won't live in such a disgusting hole any longer. Pack up as quickly as you can, Katherine; the sooner we can get away, the better.
Mrs. Stockmann. Be quiet--I think I hear someone in the hall.
See who it is, Petra.
Petra (opening the door). Oh, it's you, Captain Horster! Do come in.
Horster (coming in). Good morning. I thought I would just come in and see how you were.
Dr. Stockmann (shaking his hand). Thanks--that is really kind of you.
Mrs. Stockmann. And thank you, too, for helping us through the crowd, Captain Horster.
Petra. How did you manage to get home again?
Horster. Oh, somehow or other. I am fairly strong, and there is more sound than fury about these folk.
Dr. Stockmann. Yes, isn't their swinish cowardice astonishing?
Look here, I will show you something! There are all the stones they have thrown through my windows. Just look at them! I'm hanged if there are more than two decently large bits of hardstone in the whole heap; the rest are nothing but gravel--wretched little things. And yet they stood out there bawling and swearing that they would do me some violence; but as for doing anything--you don't see much of that in this town.
Horster. Just as well for you this time, doctor!
Dr. Stockmann. True enough. But it makes one angry all the same;because if some day it should be a question of a national fight in real earnest, you will see that public opinion will be in favour of taking to one's heels, and the compact majority will turn tail like a flock of sheep, Captain Horster. That is what is so mournful to think of; it gives me so much concern, that--. No, devil take it, it is ridiculous to care about it! They have called me an enemy of the people, so an enemy of the people let me be!
Mrs. Stockmann. You will never be that, Thomas.
Dr. Stockmann. Don't swear to that, Katherine. To be called an ugly name may have the same effect as a pin-scratch in the lung.
And that hateful name--I can't get quit of it. It is sticking here in the pit of my stomach, eating into me like a corrosive acid. And no magnesia will remove it.
Petra. Bah!--you should only laugh at them, father,Horster. They will change their minds some day, Doctor.
Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, as sure as you are standing here.
Dr. Stockmann. Perhaps, when it is too late. Much good may it do them! They may wallow in their filth then and rue the day when they drove a patriot into exile. When do you sail, Captain Horster?
Horster. Hm!--that was just what I had come to speak about--Dr. Stockmann. Why, has anything gone wrong with the ship?
Horster. No; but what has happened is that I am not to sail in it.
Petra. Do you mean that you have been dismissed from your command?
Horster (smiling). Yes, that's just it.
Petra. You too.
Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas!
Dr. Stockmann. And that for the truth's sake! Oh, if I had thought such a thing possible--Horster. You mustn't take it to heart; I shall be sure to find a job with some ship-owner or other, elsewhere.
Dr. Stockmann. And that is this man Vik--a wealthy man, independent of everyone and everything--! Shame on him!
Horster. He is quite an excellent fellow otherwise; he told me himself he would willingly have kept me on, if only he had dared--
Dr. Stockmann. But he didn't dare? No, of course not.
Horster. It is not such an easy matter, he said, for a party man--
Dr. Stockmann. The worthy man spoke the truth. A party is like a sausage machine; it mashes up all sorts of heads together into the same mincemeat--fatheads and blockheads, all in one mash!
Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Thomas dear!
Petra (to HORSTER). If only you had not come home with us, things might not have come to this pass.
Horster. I do not regret it.
Petra (holding out her hand to him). Thank you for that!
Horster (to DR. STOCKMANN). And so what I came to say was that if you are determined to go away, I have thought of another plan--Dr. Stockmann. That's splendid!--if only we can get away at once.
Mrs. Stockmann. Hush!--wasn't that some one knocking?
Petra. That is uncle, surely.
Dr. Stockmann. Aha! (Calls out.) Come in!
Mrs. Stockmann. Dear Thomas, promise me definitely--. (PETERSTOCKMANN comes in from the hall.)
Peter Stockmann. Oh, you are engaged. In that case, I will--Dr. Stockmann. No, no, come in.
Peter Stockmann. But I wanted to speak to you alone.
Mrs. Stockmann. We will go into the sitting-room in the meanwhile.
Horster. And I will look in again later.
Dr. Stockmann. No, go in there with them, Captain Horster; I want to hear more about--.
Horster. Very well, I will wait, then. (He follows MRS. STOCKMANNand PETRA into the sitting-room.)
Dr. Stockmann. I daresay you find it rather draughty here today.
Put your hat on.
Peter Stockmann. Thank you, if I may. (Does so.) I think I caught cold last night; I stood and shivered--Dr. Stockmann. Really? I found it warm enough.
Peter Stockmann. I regret that it was not in my power to prevent those excesses last night.
Dr. Stockmann. Have you anything in particular to say to me besides that?
Peter Stockmann (taking a big letter from his pocket). I have this document for you, from the Baths Committee.
Dr. Stockmann. My dismissal?
Peter Stockmann. Yes, dating from today. (Lays the letter on the table.) It gives us pain to do it; but, to speak frankly, we dared not do otherwise on account of public opinion.
Dr. Stockmann (smiling). Dared not? I seem to have heard that word before, today.
