ELLA RENTHEIM. [Warmly.] I want his affection--his soul--his whole heart! MRS. BORKMAN. [With an outburst.] That you shall never have in this world! ELLA RENTHEIM. [Looking at her.] You have seen to that? MRS. BORKMAN. [Smiling.] Yes, I have taken that liberty. Could you not see that in his letters? ELLA RENTHEIM. [Nods slowly.] Yes. I could see you--the whole of you--in his letters of late. MRS. BORKMAN. [Gallingly.] I have made the best use of these eight years. I have had him under my own eye, you see. ELLA RENTHEIM. [Controlling herself.] What have you said to Erhart about me? Is it the sort of thing you can tell me? MRS. BORKMAN. Oh yes, I can tell you well enough. ELLA RENTHEIM. Then please do. MRS. BORKMAN. I have only told him the truth. ELLA RENTHEIM. Well? MRS. BORKMAN. I have impressed upon him, every day of his life, that he must never forget that it is you we have to thank for being able to live as we do--for being able to live at all. ELLA RENTHEIM. Is that all? MRS. BORKMAN. Oh, that is the sort of thing that rankles; I feel that in my own heart. ELLA RENTHEIM.