Borgheim.
And what more does that leave you to do here? You have not the poor little boy to take care of now. You have no duties—no claims upon you of any sort.
Asta.
Oh, please, Mr. Borgheim—don't make it so hard for me.
Borgheim.
I must; I should be mad if I did not try my uttermost. I shall be leaving town before very long, and perhaps I shall have no opportunity of meeting you there. Perhaps I shall not see you again for a long, long time. And who knows what may happen in the meanwhile?
Asta.
[With a grave smile.] So you are afraid of the law of change, after all?
Borgheim.
No, not in the least. [Laughing bitterly.] And there is nothing to be changed, either—not in you, I mean. For I can see you don't care much about me.
Asta.
You know very well that I do.
Borgheim.
Perhaps, but not nearly enough. Not as I want you to. [More forcibly.] By Heaven,
