READ STUDY GUIDE: Act 4, Part 1 of 2 | Act 4, Part 2 of 2 |
|
Act IV
 The same rooms at the TESMANS'. It is evening. The drawing- |
| room is in darkness. The back room is light by the hanging |
| lamp over the table. The curtains over the glass door are |
| drawn close. |
| HEDDA, dressed in black, walks to and fro in the dark room. |
| Then she goes into the back room and disappears for a moment |
| to the left. She is heard to strike a few chords on the |
| piano. Presently she comes in sight again, and returns to |
| the drawing-room. |
| BERTA enters from the right, through the inner room, with a |
| lighted lamp, which she places on the table in front of the |
| corner settee in the drawing-room. Her eyes are red with |
| weeping, and she has black ribbons in her cap. She goes |
| quietly and circumspectly out to the right. HEDDA goes up |
| to the glass door, lifts the curtain a little aside, and |
| looks out into the darkness. |
| Shortly afterwards, MISS TESMAN, in mourning, with a bonnet |
| and veil on, comes in from the hall. HEDDA goes towards her |
| and holds out her hand. |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Yes, Hedda, here I am, in mourning and forlorn; for now my poor |
| sister has at last found peace. |
| HEDDA.: |
| I have heard the news already, as you see. Tesman sent me a card. |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Yes, he promised me he would. But nevertheless I thought that to |
| Hedda—here in the house of life—I ought myself to bring the tidings |
| of death. |
| HEDDA.: |
| That was very kind of you.: |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Ah, Rina ought not to have left us just now. This is not the time |
| for Hedda's house to be a house of mourning. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Changing the subject.] She died quite peacefully, did she not, Miss |
| Tesman? |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Oh, her end was so calm, so beautiful. And then she had the |
| unspeakable happiness of seeing George once more—and bidding him |
| good-bye.—Has he not come home yet? |
| HEDDA.: |
| No. He wrote that he might be detained. But won't you sit down? |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| No thank you, my dear, dear Hedda. I should like to, but I have so |
| much to do. I must prepare my dear one for her rest as well as I can. |
| She shall go to her grave looking her best. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Can I not help you in any way? |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Oh, you must not think of it! Hedda Tesman must have no hand in such |
| mournful work. Nor let her thought dwell on it either—not at this |
| time. |
| HEDDA.: |
| One is not always mistress of one's thoughts—- |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| [Continuing.] Ah yes, it is the way of the world. At home we shall |
| be sewing a shroud; and here there will soon be sewing too, I suppose |
| —but of another sort, thank God! |
| GEORGE TESMAN enters by the hall door.: |
| HEDDA.: |
| Ah, you have come at last! |
| TESMAN.: |
| You here, Aunt Julia? With Hedda? Fancy that! |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| I was just going, my dear boy. Well, have you done all you promised? |
| TESMAN.: |
| No; I'm really afraid I have forgotten half of it. I must come to you |
| again to-morrow. To-day my brain is all in a whirl. I can't keep my |
| thoughts together. |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Why, my dear George, you mustn't take it in this way. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Mustn't—-? How do you mean? |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Even in your sorrow you must rejoice, as I do—rejoice that she is at |
| rest. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Oh yes, yes—you are thinking of Aunt Rina. |
| HEDDA.: |
| You will feel lonely now, Miss Tesman. |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Just at first, yes. But that will not last very long, I hope. I |
| daresay I shall soon find an occupant for Rina's little room. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Indeed? Who do you think will take it? Eh? |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Oh, there's always some poor invalid or other in want of nursing, |
| unfortunately. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Would you really take such a burden upon you again? |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| A burden! Heaven forgive you, child—it has been no burden to me. |
| HEDDA.: |
| But suppose you had a total stranger on your hands—- |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Oh, one soon makes friends with sick folk; and it's such an absolute |
| necessity for me to have some one to live for. Well, heaven be |
| praised, there may soon be something in this house, too, to keep an |
| old aunt busy. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Oh, don't trouble about anything here. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Yes, just fancy what a nice time we three might have together, if—-? |
| HEDDA.: |
| If—-? |
| TESMAN.: |
| [Uneasily.] Oh nothing. It will all come right. Let us hope so—eh? |
| MISS TESMAN.: |
| Well well, I daresay you two want to talk to each other.[Smiling.] |
| And perhaps Hedda may have something to tell you too, George. Good- |
| bye! I must go home to Rina.[Turning at the door.]How strange it |
| is to think that now Rina is with me and with my poor brother as well! |
| TESMAN.: |
| Yes, fancy that, Aunt Julia! Eh? |
| [MISS TESMAN goes out by the hall door. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Follows TESMAN coldly and searchingly with her eyes.] I almost |
| believe your Aunt Rina's death affects you more than it does your |
| Aunt Julia. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Oh, it's not that alone. It's Eilert I am so terribly uneasy about. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Quickly.] Is there anything new about him? |
| TESMAN.: |
| I looked in at his rooms this afternoon, intending to tell him the |
| manuscript was in safe keeping. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Well, did you find him? |
| TESMAN.: |
| No. He wasn't at home. But afterwards I met Mrs. Elvsted, and she |
| told me that he had been here early this morning. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Yes, directly after you had gone. |
| TESMAN.: |
| And he said that he had torn his manuscript to pieces—eh? |
| HEDDA.: |
| Yes, so he declared. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Why, good heavens, he must have been completely out of his mind! And |
| I suppose you thought it best not to give it back to him, Hedda? |
| HEDDA.: |
| No, he did not get it. |
| TESMAN.: |
| But of course you told him that we had it? |
| HEDDA.: |
| No.[Quickly.]Did you tell Mrs. Elvsted? |
| TESMAN.: |
| No; I thought I had better not. But you ought to have told him. |
| Fancy, if, in desperation, he should go and do himself some injury! |
| Let me have the manuscript, Hedda! I will take it to him at once. |
| Where is it? |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Cold and immovable, leaning on the arm-chair.] I have not got it. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Have not got it? What in the world do you mean? |
| HEDDA.: |
| I have burnt it—every line of it. |
| TESMAN.: |
| [With a violent movement of terror.] Burnt! Burnt Eilert's |
| manuscript! |
| HEDDA.: |
| Don't scream so. The servant might hear you. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Burnt! Why, good God—-! No, no, no! It's impossible! |
| HEDDA.: |
| It is so, nevertheless. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Do you know what you have done, Hedda? It's unlawful appropriation |
| of lost property. Fancy that! Just ask Judge Brack, and he'll tell |
| you what it is. |
| HEDDA.: |
| I advise you not to speak of it—either to Judge Brack or to anyone |
| else. |
| TESMAN.: |
| But how could you do anything so unheard-of? What put it into your |
| head? What possessed you? Answer me that—eh? |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Suppressing an almost imperceptible smile.] I did it for your sake, |
| George. |
| TESMAN.: |
| For my sake! |
| HEDDA.: |
| This morning, when you told me about what he had read to you—- |
| TESMAN.: |
| Yes yes—what then? |
| HEDDA.: |
| You acknowledged that you envied him his work.: |
| TESMAN.: |
| Oh, of course I didn't mean that literally. |
| HEDDA.: |
| No matter—I could not bear the idea that any one should throw you |
| into the shade. |
| TESMAN.: |
| [In an outburst of mingled doubt and joy.] Hedda! Oh, is this true? |
| But—but—I never knew you show your love like that before. Fancy |
| that! |
| HEDDA.: |
| Well, I may as well tell you that—just at this time—-[Impatientlybreaking off.]No, no; you can ask Aunt Julia. She well tell you, |
| fast enough. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Oh, I almost think I understand you, Hedda![Clasps his handstogether.]Great heavens! do you really mean it! Eh? |
| HEDDA.: |
| Don't shout so. The servant might hear. |
| TESMAN.: |
| [Laughing in irrepressible glee.] The servant! Why, how absurd you |
| are, Hedda. It's only my old Berta! Why, I'll tell Berta myself. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Clenching her hands together in desperation.] Oh, it is killing me, |
| —it is killing me, all this! |
| TESMAN.: |
| What is, Hedda? Eh? |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Coldly, controlling herself.] All this—absurdity—George. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Absurdity! Do you see anything absurd in my being overjoyed at the |
| news! But after all—perhaps I had better not say anything to Berta. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Oh—-why not that too? |
| TESMAN.: |
| No, no, not yet! But I must certainly tell Aunt Julia. And then |
| that you have begun to call me George too! Fancy that! Oh, Aunt |
| Julia will be so happy—so happy! |
| HEDDA.: |
| When she hears that I have burnt Eilert Lovborg's manuscript—for |
| your sake? |
| TESMAN.: |
| No, by-the-bye—that affair of the manuscript—of course nobody must |
| know about that. But that you love me so much,(13) Hedda—Aunt Julia |
| must really share my joy in that! I wonder, now, whether this sort |
| of thing is usual in young wives? Eh? |
| HEDDA.: |
| I think you had better ask Aunt Julia that question too.: |
| TESMAN.: |
| I will indeed, some time or other.[Looks uneasy and downcast again.] |
| And yet the manuscript—the manuscript! Good God! it is terrible to |
| think what will become of poor Eilert now. |
| MRS. ELVSTED, dressed as in the first Act, with hat and cloak, |
| enters by the hall door. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [Greets them hurriedly, and says in evident agitation.] Oh, dear |
| Hedda, forgive my coming again. |
| HEDDA.: |
| What is the matter with you, Thea? |
| TESMAN.: |
| Something about Eilert Lovborg again—eh? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Yes! I am dreadfully afraid some misfortune has happened to him. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Seized her arm.] Ah,—do you think so? |
| TESMAN.: |
| Why, good Lord—what makes you think that, Mrs. Elvsted? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| I heard them talking of him at my boarding-house—just as I came in. |
| Oh, the most incredible rumours are afloat about him to-day. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Yes, fancy, so I heard too! And I can bear witness that he went |
| straight home to bed last night. Fancy that! |
| HEDDA.: |
| Well, what did they say at the boarding-house? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Oh, I couldn't make out anything clearly. Either they knew nothing |
| definite, or else—-. They stopped talking when the saw me; and I |
| did not dare to ask. |
| TESMAN.: |
| [Moving about uneasily.] We must hope—we must hope that you |
| misunderstood them, Mrs. Elvsted. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| No, no; I am sure it was of him they were talking. And I heard |
| something about the hospital or—- |
| TESMAN.: |
| The hospital? |
| HEDDA.: |
| No—surely that cannot be! |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Oh, I was in such mortal terror! I went to his lodgings and asked |
| for him there. |
| HEDDA.: |
| You could make up your mind to that, Thea! |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| What else could I do? I really could bear the suspense no longer. |
| TESMAN.: |
| But you didn't find him either—eh? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| No. And the people knew nothing about him. He hadn't been home |
| since yesterday afternoon, they said. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Yesterday! Fancy, how could they say that? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Oh, I am sure something terrible must have happened to him. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Hedda dear—how would it be if I were to go and make inquiries—-? |
| HEDDA.: |
| No, no—don't you mix yourself up in this affair. |
| JUDGE BRACK, with his hat in his hand, enters by the hall |
| door, which BERTA opens, and closes behind him. He looks |
| grave and bows in silence. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Oh, is that you, my dear Judge? Eh? |
| BRACK.: |
| Yes. It was imperative I should see you this evening. |
| TESMAN.: |
| I can see you have heard the news about Aunt Rina? |
| BRACK.: |
| Yes, that among other things. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Isn't it sad—eh? |
| BRACK.: |
| Well, my dear Tesman, that depends on how you look at it. |
| TESMAN.: |
| [Looks doubtfully at him.] Has anything else happened? |
| BRACK.: |
| Yes.: |
| HEDDA.: |
| [In suspense.] Anything sad, Judge Brack? |
| BRACK.: |
| That, too, depends on how you look at it, Mrs. Tesman. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [Unable to restrain her anxiety.] Oh! it is something about Eilert |
| Lovborg! |
| BRACK.: |
| [With a glance at her.] What makes you think that, Madam? Perhaps |
| you have already heard something—-? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [In confusion.] No, nothing at all, but—- |
| TESMAN.: |
| Oh, for heaven's sake, tell us! |
| BRACK.: |
| [Shrugging his shoulders.] Well, I regret to say Eilert Lovborg has |
| been taken to the hospital. He is lying at the point of death. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [Shrieks.] Oh God! oh God—-! |
| TESMAN.: |
| To the hospital! And at the point of death! |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Involuntarily.] So soon then—- |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [Wailing.] And we parted in anger, Hedda! |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Whispers.] Thea—Thea—be careful! |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [Not heeding her.] I must go to him! I must see him alive! |
| BRACK.: |
| It is useless, Madam. No one will be admitted. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Oh, at least tell me what has happened to him? What is it? |
| TESMAN.: |
| You don't mean to say that he has himself—- Eh? |
| HEDDA.: |
| Yes, I am sure he has. |
| BRACK.: |
| [Keeping his eyes fixed upon her.] Unfortunately you have guessed |
| quite correctly, Mrs. Tesman. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Oh, how horrible! |
| TESMAN.: |
| Himself, then! Fancy that! |
| HEDDA.: |
| Shot himself! |
| BRACK.: |
| Rightly guessed again, Mrs. Tesman. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [With an effort at self-control.] When did it happen, Mr. Brack? |
| BRACK.: |
| This afternoon—between three and four. |
| TESMAN.: |
| But, good Lord, where did he do it? Eh? |
| BRACK.: |
| [With some hesitation.] Where? Well—I suppose at his lodgings. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| No, that cannot be; for I was there between six and seven. |
| BRACK.: |
| Well then, somewhere else. I don't know exactly. I only know that |
| he was found—-. He had shot himself—in the breast. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Oh, how terrible! That he should die like that! |
| HEDDA.: |
| [To BRACK.] Was it in the breast? |
| BRACK.: |
| Yes—as I told you. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Not in the temple? |
| BRACK.: |
| In the breast, Mrs. Tesman. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Well, well—the breast is a good place, too. |
| BRACK.: |
| How do you mean, Mrs. Tesman? |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Evasively.] Oh, nothing—nothing. |
| TESMAN.: |
| And the wound is dangerous, you say—eh? |
| BRACK.: |
| Absolutely mortal. The end has probably come by this time. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Yes, yes, I feel it. The end! The end! Oh, Hedda—-! |
| TESMAN.: |
| But tell me, how have you learnt all this? |
| BRACK.: |
| [Curtly.] Through one of the police. A man I had some business with. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [In a clear voice.] At last a deed worth doing! |
| TESMAN.: |
| [Terrified.] Good heavens, Hedda! what are you saying? |
| HEDDA.: |
| I say there is beauty in this.: |
| BRACK.: |
| H'm, Mrs. Tesman—- |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Oh, Hedda, how can you talk of beauty in such an act! |
| HEDDA.: |
| Eilert Lovborg has himself made up his account with life. He has had |
| the courage to do—the one right thing. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| No, you must never think that was how it happened! It must have been |
| in delirium that he did it. |
| TESMAN.: |
| In despair! |
| HEDDA.: |
| That he did not. I am certain of that. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Yes, yes! In delirium! Just as when he tore up our manuscript. |
| BRACK.: |
| [Starting.] The manuscript? Has he torn that up? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Yes, last night. |
| TESMAN.: |
| [Whispers softly.] Oh, Hedda, we shall never get over this. |
| BRACK.: |
| H'm, very extraordinary. |
| TESMAN.: |
| [Moving about the room.] To think of Eilert going out of the world |
| in this way! And not leaving behind him the book that would have |
| immortalised his name—- |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Oh, if only it could be put together again! |
| TESMAN.: |
| Yes, if it only could! I don't know what I would not give—- |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Perhaps it can, Mr. Tesman. |
| TESMAN.: |
| What do you mean? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [Searches in the pocket of her dress.] Look here. I have kept all |
| the loose notes he used to dictate from. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [A step forward.] Ah—-! |
| TESMAN.: |
| You have kept them, Mrs. Elvsted! Eh? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Yes, I have them here. I put them in my pocket when I left home. |
| Here they still are—- |
| TESMAN.: |
| Oh, do let me see them! |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [Hands him a bundle of papers.] But they are in such disorder—all |
| mixed up. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Fancy, if we could make something out of them, after all! Perhaps if |
| we two put our heads together—- |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Oh yes, at least let us try—- |
| TESMAN.: |
| We will manage it! We must! I will dedicate my life to this task. |
| HEDDA.: |
| You, George? Your life? |
| TESMAN.: |
| Yes, or rather all the time I can spare. My own collections must |
| wait in the meantime. Hedda—you understand, eh? I owe this to |
| Eilert's memory. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Perhaps.: |
| TESMAN.: |
| And so, my dear Mrs. Elvsted, we will give our whole minds to it. |
| There is no use in brooding over what can't be undone—eh? We must |
| try to control our grief as much as possible, and—- |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Yes, yes, Mr. Tesman, I will do the best I can. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Well then, come here. I can't rest until we have looked through the |
| notes. Where shall we sit? Here? No, in there, in the back room. |
| Excuse me, my dear Judge. Come with me, Mrs. Elvsted. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Oh, if only it were possible! |
| [TESMAN and MRS. ELVSTED go into the back room. She takes |
| off her hat and cloak. They both sit at the table under the |
| hanging lamp, and are soon deep in an eager examination of |
| the papers. HEDDA crosses to the stove and sits in the arm- |
| chair. Presently BRACK goes up to her. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [In a low voice.] Oh, what a sense of freedom it gives one, this act |
| of Eilert Lovborg's. |
| BRACK.: |
| Freedom, Mrs. Hedda? Well, of course, it is a release for him—- |
| HEDDA.: |
| I mean for me. It gives me a sense of freedom to know that a deed |
| of deliberate courage is still possible in this world,—a deed of |
| spontaneous beauty. |
| BRACK.: |
| [Smiling.] H'm—my dear Mrs. Hedda—- |
| HEDDA.: |
| Oh, I know what you are going to say. For you are a kind of |
| specialist too, like—you know! |
| BRACK.: |
| [Looking hard at her.] Eilert Lovborg was more to you than perhaps |
| you are willing to admit to yourself. Am I wrong? |
| HEDDA.: |
| I don't answer such questions. I only know that Eilert Lovborg has |
| had the courage to live his life after his own fashion. And then— |
| the last great act, with its beauty! Ah! that he should have the |
| will and the strength to turn away from the banquet of life—so early. |
| BRACK.: |
| I am sorry, Mrs. Hedda,—but I fear I must dispel an amiable illusion. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Illusion? |
| BRACK.: |
| Which could not have lasted long in any case.: |
| HEDDA.: |
| What do you mean? |
| BRACK.: |
| Eilert Lovborg did not shoot himself—voluntarily. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Not voluntarily? |
| BRACK.: |
| No. The thing did not happen exactly as I told it. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [In suspense.] Have you concealed something? What is it? |
| BRACK.: |
| For poor Mrs. Elvsted's sake I idealised the facts a little. |
| HEDDA.: |
| What are the facts? |
| BRACK.: |
| First, that he is already dead. |
| HEDDA.: |
| At the hospital? |
| BRACK.: |
| Yes—without regaining consciousness. |
| HEDDA.: |
| What more have you concealed? |
| BRACK.: |
| This—the event did not happen at his lodgings. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Oh, that can make no difference. |
| BRACK.: |
| Perhaps it may. For I must tell you—Eilert Lovborg was found shot |
| in—in Mademoiselle Diana's boudoir. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Makes a motion as if to rise, but sinks back again.] That is |
| impossible, Judge Brack! He cannot have been there again to-day. |
| BRACK.: |
| He was there this afternoon. He went there, he said, to demand the |
| return of something which they had taken from him. Talked wildly |
| about a lost child—- |
| HEDDA.: |
| Ah—so that is why—- |
| BRACK.: |
| I thought probably he meant his manuscript; but now I hear he |
| destroyed that himself. So I suppose it must have been his pocket- |
| book. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Yes, no doubt. And there—there he was found? |
| BRACK.: |
| Yes, there. With a pistol in his breast-pocket, discharged. The |
| ball had lodged in a vital part. |
| HEDDA.: |
| In the breast—yes? |
| BRACK.: |
| No—in the bowels. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Looks up at him with an expression of loathing.] That too! Oh, |
| what curse is it that makes everything I touch turn ludicrous and |
| mean? |
| BRACK.: |
| There is one point more, Mrs. Hedda—another disagreeable feature in |
| the affair. |
| HEDDA.: |
| And what is that? |
| BRACK.: |
| The pistol he carried—- |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Breathless.] Well? What of it? |
| BRACK.: |
| He must have stolen it.: |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Leaps up.] Stolen it! That is not true! He did not steal it! |
| BRACK.: |
| No other explanation is possible. He must have stolen it—-. Hush! |
| TESMAN and MRS. ELVSTED have risen from the table in the back- |
| room, and come into the drawing-room. |
| TESMAN.: |
| [With the papers in both his hands.] Hedda, dear, it is almost |
| impossible to see under that lamp. Think of that! |
| HEDDA.: |
| Yes, I am thinking. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Would you mind our sitting at you writing-table—eh? |
| HEDDA.: |
| If you like.[Quickly.]No, wait! Let me clear it first! |
| TESMAN.: |
| Oh, you needn't trouble, Hedda. There is plenty of room. |
| HEDDA.: |
| No no, let me clear it, I say! I will take these things in and put |
| them on the piano. There! |
| [She has drawn out an object, covered with sheet music, from |
| under the bookcase, places several other pieces of music upon |
| it, and carries the whole into the inner room, to the left. |
| TESMAN lays the scraps of paper on the writing-table, and moves |
| the lamp there from the corner table. He and Mrs. Elvsted sit |
| down and proceed with their work. HEDDA returns. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Behind Mrs. Elvsted's chair, gently ruffling her hair.] Well, my |
| sweet Thea,—how goes it with Eilert Lovborg's monument? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [Looks dispiritedly up at her.] Oh, it will be terribly hard to put |
| in order. |
| TESMAN.: |
| We must manage it. I am determined. And arranging other people's |
| papers is just the work for me. |
| [HEDDA goes over to the stove, and seats herself on one of the |
| footstools. BRACK stands over her, leaning on the arm-chair. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Whispers.] What did you say about the pistol? |
| BRACK.: |
| [Softly.] That he must have stolen it. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Why stolen it? |
| BRACK.: |
| Because every other explanation ought to be impossible, Mrs. Hedda. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Indeed? |
| BRACK.: |
| [Glances at her.] Of course Eilert Lovborg was here this morning. |
| Was he not? |
| HEDDA.: |
| Yes.: |
| BRACK.: |
| Were you alone with him? |
| HEDDA.: |
| Part of the time.: |
| BRACK.: |
| Did you not leave the room whilst he was here? |
| HEDDA.: |
| No.: |
| BRACK.: |
| Try to recollect. Were you not out of the room a moment? |
| HEDDA.: |
| Yes, perhaps just a moment—out in the hall. |
| BRACK.: |
| And where was you pistol-case during that time? |
| HEDDA.: |
| I had it locked up in—- |
| BRACK.: |
| Well, Mrs. Hedda? |
| HEDDA.: |
| The case stood there on the writing-table.: |
| BRACK.: |
| Have you looked since, to see whether both the pistols are there? |
| HEDDA.: |
| No.: |
| BRACK.: |
| Well, you need not. I saw the pistol found in Lovborg's pocket, and |
| I knew it at once as the one I had seen yesterday—and before, too. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Have you it with you? |
| BRACK.: |
| No; the police have it. |
| HEDDA.: |
| What will the police do with it? |
| BRACK.: |
| Search till they find the owner.: |
| HEDDA.: |
| Do you think they will succeed? |
| BRACK.: |
| [Bends over her and whispers.] No, Hedda Gabler—not so long as I |
| say nothing. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Looks frightened at him.] And if you do not say nothing,—what then? |
| BRACK.: |
| [Shrugs his shoulders.] There is always the possibility that the |
| pistol was stolen. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Firmly.] Death rather than that. |
| BRACK.: |
| [Smiling.] People say such things—but they don't do them. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Without replying.] And supposing the pistol was not stolen, and the |
| owner is discovered? What then? |
| BRACK.: |
| Well, Hedda—then comes the scandal! |
| HEDDA.: |
| The scandal! |
| BRACK.: |
| Yes, the scandal—of which you are so mortally afraid. You will, of |
| course, be brought before the court—both you and Mademoiselle Diana. |
| She will have to explain how the thing happened—whether it was an |
| accidental shot or murder. Did the pistol go off as he was trying to |
| take it out of his pocket, to threaten her with? Or did she tear the |
| pistol out of his hand, shoot him, and push it back into his pocket? |
| That would be quite like her; for she is an able-bodied young person, |
| this same Mademoiselle Diana. |
| HEDDA.: |
| But _I_ have nothing to do with all this repulsive business.: |
| BRACK.: |
| No. But you will have to answer the question: Why did you give Eilert |
| the pistol? And what conclusions will people draw from the fact that |
| you did give it to him? |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Lets her head sink.] That is true. I did not think of that. |
| BRACK.: |
| Well, fortunately, there is no danger, so long as I say nothing. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Looks up at him.] So I am in your power, Judge Brack. You have me |
| at your beck and call, from this time forward. |
| BRACK.: |
| [Whispers softly.] Dearest Hedda—believe me—I shall not abuse my |
| advantage. |
| HEDDA.: |
| I am in your power none the less. Subject to your will and your |
| demands. A slave, a slave then![Rises impetuously.]No, I cannot |
| endure the thought of that! Never! |
| BRACK.: |
| [Looks half-mockingly at her.] People generally get used to the |
| inevitable. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Returns his look.] Yes, perhaps. [She crosses to the writing-table.Suppressing an involuntary smile, she imitates TESMAN'S intonations.] |
| Well? Are you getting on, George? Eh? |
| TESMAN.: |
| Heaven knows, dear. In any case it will be the work of months. |
| HEDDA.: |
| [As before.] Fancy that! [Passes her hands softly through Mrs.Elvsted's hair.] Doesn't it seem strange to you, Thea? Here are you |
| sitting with Tesman—just as you used to sit with Eilert Lovborg? |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| Ah, if I could only inspire your husband in the same way! |
| HEDDA.: |
| Oh, that will come too—in time. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Yes, do you know, Hedda—I really think I begin to feel something of |
| the sort. But won't you go and sit with Brack again? |
| HEDDA.: |
| Is there nothing I can do to help you two? |
| TESMAN.: |
| No, nothing in the world.[Turning his head.]I trust to you to keep |
| Hedda company, my dear Brack. |
| BRACK.: |
| [With a glance at HEDDA.] With the very greatest of pleasure. |
| HEDDA.: |
| Thanks. But I am tired this evening. I will go in and lie down a |
| little on the sofa. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Yes, do dear—eh? |
| [HEDDA goes into the back room and draws the curtains. A short |
| pause. Suddenly she is heard playing a wild dance on the piano. |
| MRS. ELVSTED. |
| [Starts from her chair.] Oh—what is that? |
| TESMAN.: |
| [Runs to the doorway.] Why, my dearest Hedda—don't play dance-music |
| to-night! Just think of Aunt Rina! And of Eilert too! |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Puts her head out between the curtains.] And of Aunt Julia. And |
| of all the rest of them.—After this, I will be quiet.[Closes thecurtains again.] |
| TESMAN.: |
| [At the writing-table.] It's not good for her to see us at this |
| distressing work. I'll tell you what, Mrs. Elvsted,—you shall take |
| the empty room at Aunt Julia's, and then I will come over in the |
| evenings, and we can sit and work there—eh? |
| HEDDA.: |
| [In the inner room.] I hear what you are saying, Tesman. But how am |
| _I_ to get through the evenings out here? |
| TESMAN.: |
| [Turning over the papers.] Oh, I daresay Judge Brack will be so kind |
| as to look in now and then, even though I am out. |
| BRACK.: |
| [In the arm-chair, calls out gaily.] Every blessed evening, with |
| all the pleasure in life, Mrs. Tesman! We shall get on capitally |
| together, we two! |
| HEDDA.: |
| [Speaking loud and clear.] Yes, don't you flatter yourself we will, |
| Judge Brack? Now that you are the one cock in the basket—- |
| [A shot is heard within. TESMAN, MRS. ELVSTED, and BRACK leap |
| to their feet. |
| TESMAN.: |
| Oh, now she is playing with those pistols again. |
| [He throws back the curtains and runs in, followed by MRS. |
| ELVSTED. HEDDA lies stretched on the sofa, lifeless. |
| Confusion and cries. BERTA enters in alarm from the right. |
| TESMAN.: |
| [Shrieks to BRACK.] Shot herself! Shot herself in the temple! |
| Fancy that! |
| BRACK.: |
| [Half-fainting in the arm-chair.] Good God!—people don't do |
| such things. |
| THE END |
| FOOTNOTES.: |
| (1)Pronounce _Reena_. |
| (2)In the original "Statsradinde Falks villa"—showing that it had |
| belonged to the widow of a cabinet minister. |
| (3)_Du_ equals thou: Tesman means, "If you could persuade yourself |
| to _tutoyer_ her." |
| (4)See previous note. |
| (5)Pronounce _Tora_ and _Taya_. |
| (6)Mrs. Elvsted here uses the formal pronoun _De_, whereupon Hedda |
| rebukes her. In her next speech Mrs. Elvsted says _du_. |
| (7)"Bagveje" means both "back ways" and "underhand courses." |
| (8)As this form of address is contrary to English usage, and as the |
| note of familiarity would be lacking in "Mrs. Tesman," Brack may, |
| in stage representation, say "Miss Hedda," thus ignoring her |
| marriage and reverting to the form of address no doubt customarry |
| between them of old. |
| (9)He uses the familiar _du_. |
| (10)From this point onward Lovborg use the formal _De_. |
| (11)In this speech he once more says _du_. Hedda addresses him |
| throughout as _De_. |
| (12)"Enest hane i kurven"—a proverbial saying. |
| (13)Literally, "That you burn for me." |
| End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Hedda Gabler, by Henrik Ibsen |
|
|
||||
|
