have few enough ideals as it is; but I can see that his father
stands before him as an ideal.

MRS. ALVING. Yes, that is true.

MANDERS. And this habit of mind you have yourself implanted and
fostered by your letters.

MRS. ALVING. Yes; in my superstitious awe for duty and the
proprieties, I lied to my boy, year after year. Oh, what a coward--
what a coward I have been!

MANDERS. You have established a happy illusion in your son's heart,
Mrs. Alving; and assuredly you ought not to undervalue it.

MRS. ALVING. H'm; who knows whether it is so happy after all--? But,
at any rate, I will not have any tampering wide Regina. He shall not
go and wreck the poor girl's life.

MANDERS. No; good God--that would be terrible!

MRS. ALVING. If I knew he was in earnest, and that it would be for
his happiness--

MANDERS. What? What then?

MRS. ALVING. But it couldn't be; for unfortunately Regina is not the
right sort of woman.

MANDERS. Well, what then? What do you mean?