EYOLF. And what will you do then? ALLMERS. [Seriously.] Then I will go to the mountains again-- RITA. Fie, Alfred! For shame! ALLMERS. --up to the peaks and the great waste places. EYOLF. Papa, don't you think I shall soon be well enough for you to take me with you? ALLMERS. [With painful emotion.] Oh, yes, perhaps, my little boy. EYOLF. It would be so splendid, you know, if I could climb the mountains, like you. ASTA. [Changing the subject.] Why, how beautifully you are dressed to-day, Eyolf! EYOLF. Yes, don't you think so, Auntie? ASTA. Yes, indeed. Is it in honour of Papa that you have got your new clothes on? EYOLF. Yes, I asked Mama to let me. I wanted so to let Papa see me in them. ALLMERS. [In a low voice, to RITA.] You shouldn't have given him clothes like that. RITA. [In a low voice.] Oh, he has teased me so long about them--he had set his heart on them. He gave me no peace. EYOLF. And I forgot to tell you, Papa--Borgheim has bought me a new bow. And he has taught me how to shoot with it too. ALLMERS. Ah, there now--that's just the sort of thing for you, Eyolf. EYOLF. And next time he comes, I shall ask him to teach me to swim, too. ALLMERS. To swim! Oh, what makes you want to learn swimming? EYOLF. Well, you know, all the boys down at the beach can swim. I am the only one that can't. ALLMERS. [With emotion, taking him in his arms.] You shall learn whatever you like--everything you really want to. EYOLF. Then do you know what I want most of all, Papa?