Ghosts

Mrs. Alving [bending over him]. It has been a dreadful fancy of yours, Oswald--nothing but a fancy. You have not been able to bear all this excitement. But now you shall have a long rest; at home with your own mother, my own blessed boy. Everything you point to you shall have, just as when you were a little child. There now! That crisis is over now. You see how easily it passed. Oh! I was sure it would----- And do you see, Oswald, what a lovely day we are going to have? Brilliant sunshine! Now you will really be able to see your home.
[She goes to the table and puts the lamp out. Sunrise. The glacier and the snow-peaks in the background glow in the morning light.]
Oswald [sits in the arm-chair with his back towards the landscape, without moving. Suddenly he says:] Mother, give me the sun.
Mrs. Alving [by the table, starts and looks at him.]. What do you say?
Oswald [repeats, in a dull toneless voice:] The sun. The sun.
Mrs. Alving [goes to him]. Oswald, what is the matter with you? [ Oswald seems to shrink together in the chair; all his muscles relax; his face is expressionless, his eyes have a glassy stare. MRS. ALVINGis quivering with terror]. What is this? [shrieks.] Oswald, what is the matter with you?
[Falls on her knees beside him and shakes him]. Oswald, Oswald! look at me! Don't you know me?
Oswald [tonelessly as before]. The sun. The sun.
Mrs. Alving [springs up in despair, intwines her hands in her hair and shrieks]. I can't bear it [whispers as though petrified] I can't bear it! Never! [Suddenly.] Where
has he got them? [Fumbles hastily in his breast.] Here! [Shrinks back a few steps and screams.] No, no, no! Yes!--No, no!
[She stands a few steps him with her hands twisted in her hair, and stares at him in speechless terror.]
Oswald [sits motionless as before and says:] The sun. The sun.