Mrs. Stockmann.
What have you to account to him for?
Dr. Stockmann.
H'm;—never mind about that, Katrina.—It's very odd the postman doesn't come.
[Hovstad, Billing and Horster have risen from table and come forward into the sitting-room. Eilif and Morten presently follow.
Billing.
[Stretching himself.] Ah! Strike me dead if one doesn't feel a new man after such a meal.
Hovstad.
The Burgomaster didn't seem in the best of tempers this evening.
Dr. Stockmann.
That's his stomach. He has a very poor digestion.
Hovstad.
I fancy it's the staff of the Messenger he finds it hardest to stomach.
Mrs. Stockmann.
I thought you got on well enough with him.
Hovstad.
Oh, yes; but it's only a sort of armistice between us.
Billing.
That's it. That word sums up the situation.
