MRS. ALVING. Yes; but your own judgment--

MANDERS. My dear Mrs. Alving, there are many occasions in life when
one must rely upon others. Things are so ordered in this world; and
it is well that they are. Otherwise, what would become of society?

MRS. ALVING. Well, well, I daresay you're right there.

MANDERS. Besides, I of course do not deny that there may be much
that is attractive in such books. Nor can I blame you for wishing
to keep up with the intellectual movements that are said to be
going on in the great world-where you have let your son pass so
much of his life. But--

MRS. ALVING. But?

MANDERS. [Lowering his voice.] But one should not talk about it,
Mrs. Alving. One is certainly not bound to account to everybody for
what one reads and thinks within one's own four walls.

MRS. ALVING. Of course not; I quite agree with you.

MANDERS. Only think, now, how you are bound to consider the
interests of this Orphanage, which you decided on founding at a
time when--if I understand you rightly--you thought very
differently on spiritual matters.

MRS. ALVING. Oh, yes; I quite admit that. But it was about the
Orphanage--