MRS. ALVING. You?

ENGSTRAND. Yes; it might be a sort of Orphanage, too, in a manner
of speaking. There's such a many temptations for seafaring folk
ashore. But in this Home of mine, a man might feel like as he was
under a father's eye, I was thinking.

MANDERS. What do you say to this, Mrs. Alving?

ENGSTRAND. It isn't much as I've got to start with, Lord help me!
But if I could only find a helping hand, why--

MANDERS. Yes, yes; we will look into the matter more closely. I
entirely approve of your plan. But now, go before me and make
everything ready, and get the candles lighted, so as to give the
place an air of festivity. And then we will pass an edifying hour
together, my good fellow; for now I quite believe you are in the
right frame of mind.

ENGSTRAND. Yes, I trust I am. And so I'll say good-bye, ma'am, and
thank you kindly; and take good care of Regina for me--[Wipes a
tear from his eye]--poor Johanna's child. Well, it's a queer thing,
now; but it's just like as if she'd growd into the very apple of my
eye. It is, indeed. [He bows and goes out through the hall.]

MANDERS. Well, what do you say of that man now, Mrs. Alving? That
was a very different account of matters, was it not?

MRS. ALVING. Yes, it certainly was.