air of the west coast is so much milder than here.

MRS. BORKMAN.
[Smiling bitterly.] H'm--is it indeed? [Breaking off.] Yes,
it is true you have done a great deal for Erhart. [With a change
of tone.] Well, of course, you could afford it. [Smiling.] You
were so lucky, Ella; you managed to save all your money.

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Hurt.] I did not manage anything about it, I assure you. I
had no idea--until long, long afterwards--that the securities
belonging to me--that they had been left untouched.

MRS. BORKMAN.
Well, well; I don't understand anything about these things! I
only say you were lucky. [Looking inquiringly at her.] But when
you, of your own accord, undertook to educate Erhart for me--what
was your motive in that?

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Looking at her.] My motive?

MRS. BORKMAN.
Yes, some motive you must have had. What did you want to do
with him? To make of him, I mean?

ELLA RENTHEIM.
[Slowly.] I wanted to smooth the way for Erhart to happiness
in life.