[Eagerly.] Redeem yourself! What do you mean by that? MRS. BORKMAN. Redeem my name, and honour, and fortune! Redeem my ruined life-- that is what I mean! I have some one in reserve, let me tell you-- one who will wash away every stain that he has left. ELLA RENTHEIM. Gunhild! Gunhild! MRS. BORKMAN. [With rising excitement.] There is an avenger living, I tell you! One who will make up to me for all his father's sins! ELLA RENTHEIM. Erhart you mean. MRS. BORKMAN. Yes, Erhart, my own boy! He will redeem the family, the house, the name. All that can be redeemed.--And perhaps more besides. ELLA RENTHEIM. And how do you think that is to be done? MRS. BORKMAN. It must be done as best it can; I don't know how. But I know that it must and shall be done. [Looks searchingly at her.] Come now, Ella; isn't that really what you have had in mind too, ever since he was a child? ELLA RENTHEIM. No, I can't exactly say that. MRS. BORKMAN. No? Then why did you take charge of him when the storm broke upon--upon this house? ELLA RENTHEIM. You could not look after him yourself at that time, Gunhild. MRS. BORKMAN. No, no, I could not. And his father--he had a valid enough excuse--while he was there--in safe keeping---- ELLA RENTHEIM. [Indignant.] Oh, how can you say such things!--You! MRS. BORKMAN. [With a venomous expression.] And how could you make up your mind to take charge of the child of a--a John Gabriel! Just as if he had been your own? To take the child away from me--home