HILDA.

I thought so.


SOLNESS.

For you see, Hilda--up there, amidst those new surroundings, I used
to go about musing and pondering within myself. Then I saw plainly
why he had taken my little children from me. It was that I should
have nothing else to attach myself to. No such thing as love and
happiness, you understand. I was to be only a master builder--
nothing else. and all my life long I was to go on building for him.
[Laughs.] But I can tell you nothing came of that!


HILDA.

What did you do then?


SOLNESS.

First of all, I searched and tried my own heart---


HILDA.

And then?