The Master Builder (42 of 45)

ACT THIRD. (CONT'D) SOLNESS.I am afraid of retribution, Hilda. HILDA.Of retribution? [Shakes her head.] I don't understand that. SOLNESS.Sit down, and I will tell you something. HILDA.Yes, do! At once! [She sits on a stool by the railing, and looks expectantly at him. SOLNESS.[Throws his hat on the table.] You know that I began by building churches. HILDA.[Nods.] I know that well. SOLNESS.For, you see, I came as a boy from a pious home in the country; and so it seemed to me that this church-building was the noblest task I could set myself. HILDA.Yes, yes. SOLNESS.And I venture to say that I built those poor little churches with such honest and warm and heartfelt devotion that--that--- HILDA.That---? Well? SOLNESS.Well, that I think that he ought to have been pleased with me. HILDA.He? What he? SOLNESS.He who was to have the churches, of course! He to whose honour and glory they were dedicated. HILDA.Oh, indeed! But are you certain, then, that--that he was not--pleased with you? SOLNESS.[Scornfully.] He pleased with me! How can you talk so, Hilda? He who gave the troll in me leave to lord it just as it pleased. He who bade them be at hand to serve me, both day and might--all these-- all these--- HILDA.Devils--- SOLNESS.Yes, of both kinds. Oh no, he mad me feel clearly enough that he was not pleased with me. [Mysteriously.] You see, that was really the reason why he made the old house burn down. HILDA.Was that why? SOLNESS.Yes, don't you understand? He wanted to give me the chance of becoming an accomplished master in my own sphere--so that I might build all the more glorious churches for him. At first I did not understand what he was driving at; but all of a sudden it flashed upon me. HILDA.When was that? SOLNESS.It was when I was building the church-tower up at Lysanger. 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? SOLNESS.The I did the impossible--I, no less than he. HILDA.The impossible? SOLNESS.I had never before been able to climb up to a great, free height. But that day I did it. HILDA.[Leaping up.] Yes, yes, you did! SOLNESS.And when I stood there, high over everything, and was hanging the wreath over the vane, I said to him: Hear me now, thou Mighty One! From this day forward I will be a free builder--I too, in my sphere-- just as thou in thine. I will never more build churches for thee-- only homes for human beings. HILDA.[With great sparkling eyes.] That was the song that I heard through the air! SOLNESS.But afterwards his turn came. HILDA.What do you mean by that? SOLNESS.[Looks despondently at her.] Building homes for human beings--is not worth a rap, Hilda.
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