wear myself out nursing sick people.

OSWALD. Not even one who is so near to you?

REGINA. No, that I can't. A poor girl must make the best of her
young days, or she'll be left out in the cold before she knows
where she is. And I, too, have the joy of life in me, Mrs. Alving!

MRS. ALVING. Unfortunately, you leave. But don't throw yourself
away, Regina.

REGINA. Oh, what must be, must be. If Oswald takes after his
father, I take after my mother, I daresay.--May I ask, ma'am, if
Pastor Manders knows all this about me?

MRS. ALVING. Pastor Manders knows all about it.

REGINA. [Busied in putting on her shawl.] Well then, I'd better
make haste and get away by this steamer. The Pastor is such a nice
man to deal with; and I certainly think I've as much right to a
little of that money as he has--that brute of a carpenter.

MRS. ALVING. You are heartily welcome to it, Regina.

REGINA. [Looks hard at her.] I think you might have brought me up
as a gentleman's daughter, ma'am; it would have suited me better.
[Tosses her head.] But pooh--what does it matter! [With a bitter
side glance at the corked bottle.] I may come to drink champagne
with gentlefolks yet.