Bernick: At first, of course, she had a whole lot of romantic
notions about love; she could not reconcile herself to the idea
that, little by little, it must change into a quiet comradeship.

Lona: But now she is quite reconciled to that?

Bernick: Absolutely. As you can imagine, daily intercourse with
me has had no small share in developing her character. Every one,
in their degree, has to learn to lower their own pretensions, if
they are to live worthily of the community to which they belong.
And Betty, in her turn, has gradually learned to understand this;
and that is why our home is now a model to our fellow citizens.

Lona: But your fellow citizens know nothing about the lie?

Bernick: The lie?

Lona: Yes--the lie you have persisted in for these fifteen years.

Bernick: Do you mean to say that you call that--?

Lona: I call it a lie--a threefold lie: first of all, there is the
lie towards me; then, the lie towards Betty; and then, the lie
towards Johan.

Bernick: Betty has never asked me to speak.

Lona: Because she has known nothing.