MANDERS. Ah, that melancholy weakness! But, a is often driven to it
by his injured leg, lie says,' Last time he was in town I was
really touched by him. He came and thanked me so warmly for having
got him work here, so that he might be near Regina.

MRS. ALVING. He doesn't see much of her.

MANDERS. Oh, yes; he has a talk with her every day. He told me so
himself.

MRS. ALVING. Well, it may be so.

MANDERS. He feels so acutely that he needs some one to keep a firm
hold on him when temptation comes. That is what I cannot help
liking about Jacob Engstrand: he comes to you so helplessly,
accusing himself and confessing his own weakness. The last time he
was talking to me--Believe me, Mrs. Alving, supposing it were a
real necessity for him to have Regina home again--

MRS. ALVING. [Rising hastily.] Regina!

MANDERS. --you must not set yourself against it.

MRS. ALVING. Indeed I shall set myself against it. And besides--
Regina is to have a position in the Orphanage.

MANDERS. But, after all, remember he is her father--

MRS. ALVING. Oh, I know very well what sort of a father he has been