Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (129 page)

STENSGARD.
It’s hard to say. As the preliminary election comes on the day after to-morrow, there may scarcely be time to prepare the public mind; but —

LUNDESTAD.
I don’t believe he would manage it. The Chamberlain’s party, my party, would not vote for him. Of course “my party” is a figure of speech; I mean the men of property, the old families, who are settled on their own land and belong to it. They won’t have anything to do with Monsen. Monsen is a newcomer; no one really knows anything about Monsen and his affairs. And then he has had to cut down so much to clear a place for himself — to fell both trees and men, you may say.

STENSGARD.
Well, then, if you think he has no chance —

LUNDESTAD.
H’m! You are a man of rare gifts, Mr. Stensgard. Providence has dealt lavishly with you. But it has made one little oversight: it ought to have given you one thing more.

STENSGARD.
And what might that be?

LUNDESTAD.
Tell me — why do you never think of yourself? Why have you no ambition?

STENSGARD.
Ambition? I?

LUNDESTAD.
Why do you waste all your strength on other people? In one word — why not go into Parliament yourself?

STENSGARD.
I? You are not serious?

LUNDESTAD.
Why not? You have qualified, I hear. And if you don’t seize this opportunity, then some one else will come in; and when once he is firm in the saddle, it may not be so easy to unseat him.

STENSGARD.
Great heavens, Mr. Lundestad! do you really mean what you say?

LUNDESTAD.
Oh, I don’t want to commit you; if you don’t care about it —

STENSGARD.
Not care about it! Well, I must confess I’m not so utterly devoid of ambition as you suppose. But do you really think it possible?

LUNDESTAD.
Oh, there’s nothing impossible about it. I should do my best, and so, no doubt, would the Chamberlain; he knows your oratorical gifts. You have the young men on your side —

STENSGARD.
Mr. Lundestad, by heaven, you are my true friend!

LUNDESTAD.
Oh, you don’t mean much by that. If you really looked upon me as a friend, you would relieve me of this burden. You have young shoulders; you could bear it so easily.

STENSGARD.
I place myself entirely at your disposal; I will not fail you.

LUNDESTAD.
Then you are really not disinclined to —

STENSGARD.
Here’s my hand on it!

LUNDESTAD.
Thanks! Believe me, Mr. Stensgard, you will not regret it. But now we must go warily to work. We must both of us take care to be on the electoral college — I to propose you as my successor, and put you through your facings before the rest; and you to give an account of your views —

STENSGARD.
If we once get so far, we are safe. In the electoral college you are omnipotent.

LUNDESTAD.
There is a limit to omnipotence. You must of course bring your oratory into play; you must take care to explain away anything that might seem really awkward or objectionable —

STENSGARD.
You don’t mean that I am to break with my party?

LUNDESTAD.
Now just look at the thing reasonably. What do we mean when we talk of two parties? We have, on the one hand, certain men or families who are in possession of the common civic advantages — I mean property, independence, and power. That is the party I belong to. On the other hand, we have the mass of our younger fellow citizens who want to share in these advantages. That is your party. But that party you will quite naturally and properly pass out of when you get into power — to say nothing of taking up a solid position as a man of property — for, of course, that is essential, Mr. Stensgard.

STENSGARD.
Yes, I believe it is. But the time is short; and such a position is not to be attained in a day.

LUNDESTAD.
That’s true; but perhaps the prospect of such a position would be enough —

STENSGARD.
The prospect — ?

LUNDESTAD.
Have you any rooted objection to a good marriage, Mr. Stensgard? There are heiresses in the country-side. A man like you, with a future before him — a man who can reckon on attaining the highest offices — believe me, you needn’t fear a repulse if you play your cards neatly.

STENSGARD.
Then, for heaven’s sake, help me in the game! You open wide vistas to me — great visions! All that I have hoped and longed for, and that seemed so dreamlike and far away, stands suddenly before me in living reality — to lead the people forward towards emancipation, to —

LUNDESTAD.
Yes, we must keep our eyes open, Mr. Stensgard. I see your ambition is already on the alert. That’s well. The rest will come of itself. — In the meantime, thanks! I shall never forget your readiness to take the burden of office from my shoulders.
[The whole party gradually enters from the garden. Two maid-servants bring in candles and hand round refreshments during the following scene.]

SELMA
[goes towards the piano at the back, left.]
Mr. Stensgard, you must join us; we are going to have a game of forfeits.

STENSGARD.
With pleasure; I am just in the mood.
[Follows her towards the back, makes arrangements with her, places chairs, etc., etc.]

ERIK
Bratsberg
[in an undertone]
. What the deuce is this my father is saying, Mr. Heire? What speech has Mr. Stensgard been making yesterday?

HEIRE.
Hee-hee! Don’t you know about it?

ERIK.
No; we townspeople had our dinner and ball at the Club. My father declares Mr. Stensgard has entirely broken with the Stonelee gang — that he was frightfully rude to Monsen —

HEIRE.
To Monsen! No, you must have misunderstood him, my dear sir.

ERIK.
Well, there were a whole lot of people about, so that I couldn’t quite follow what he said; but I certainly heard —

HEIRE.
Wait till to-morrow — I say no more. You’ll have the whole story with your coffee, in Aslaksen’s paper.
[They separate.]

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Well, my dear Lundestad, are you sticking to those crotchets of yours?

LUNDESTAD.
They are no crotchets, Chamberlain; rather than be ousted, one should give way gracefully.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Nonsense; who is dreaming of ousting you?

LUNDESTAD.
H’m; I’m an old weather-prophet. There has been a change in the wind. Besides, I have my successor ready. Mr. Stensgard is willing —

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Mr. Stensgard?

LUNDESTAD.
Wasn’t that what you meant? I took it for a hint when you said he was a man we must make friends with and support.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
I meant in his onslaught upon all the corruption and swindling that goes on at Stonelee.

LUNDESTAD.
But how could you count so confidently upon his breaking with that crew?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
He did it openly enough last evening, my dear fellow.

LUNDESTAD.
Last evening?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Yes, when he spoke of Monsen’s deplorable influence in the district.

LUNDESTAD
[open-mouthed.]
Of Monsen’s — ?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Of course; that time on the table —

LUNDESTAD.
On the table? Yes?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
He was frightfully rude; called him a money-bag, and a griffin or a basilisk, or something, Ha-ha! — it was great sport to hear him.

LUNDESTAD.
Great sport, was it?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Yes, I own I’m not sorry to see these people a little roughly handled. But now we must back him up; for after such a savage attack —

LUNDESTAD.
As that of yesterday, you mean?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Of course.

LUNDESTAD.
Upon the table?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Yes, upon the table.

LUNDESTAD.
Against Monsen?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Yes, against Monsen and his set. Of course they’ll try to have their revenge; you can’t blame them —

LUNDESTAD
[decidedly.]
Mr. Stensgard must be supported — that is clear.

THORA.
Father dear, you must join in the game.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Oh, nonsense, child —

THORA.
Yes, indeed you must; Selma insists upon it.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Very well, I suppose I must give in.
[In an undertone as they go towards the back.]
I’m quite distressed about Lundestad; he is really failing; fancy, he didn’t in the least understand what Stensgard —

THORA.
Oh, come, come; they’ve begun the game.
[She drags him into the circle of young people where the game is in full swing.]

ERIK
[calls from his place.]
Mr. Heire, you are appointed forfeit-judge.

HEIRE.
Hee-hee! It’s the first appointment I ever had.

STENSGARD
[also in the circle.]
On account of your legal experience, Mr. Heire.

HEIRE.
Oh, my amiable young friends, I should be delighted to sentence you all — I say no more!

STENSGARD
[slips up to LUNDESTAD, who stands in front on the left.]
You were speaking to the Chamberlain. What about? Was it about me?

LUNDESTAD.
Unfortunately it was — about that affair of yesterday evening —

STENSGARD
[writhing.]
Oh, confound it all!

LUNDESTAD.
He said you had been frightfully rude.

STENSGARD.
Do you think it isn’t a torture to me?

LUNDESTAD.
Now is your chance to atone for it.

ERIK
[calls.]
Mr. Stensgard, it’s your turn.

STENSGARD.
Coming.
[Quickly to LUNDESTAD.]
What do you mean?

LUNDESTAD.
Find an opportunity and apologise to the Chamberlain.

STENSGARD.
By heaven, I will!

SELMA.
Make haste, make haste!

STENSGARD.
I’m coming! Here I am!
[The game goes on with noise and laughter. Some elderly gentlemen play cards on the right. LUNDESTAD takes a seat on the left; DANIEL HEIRE near him.]

HEIRE.
That whelp twits me with my legal experience, does he?

LUNDESTAD.
He’s rather free with his tongue, that’s certain.

HEIRE.
And so the whole family goes and fawns upon him. Hee-hee! They’re pitifully afraid of him.

LUNDESTAD.
No, there you are wrong, Mr. Heire; the Chamberlain is not afraid of him.

HEIRE.
Not afraid? Do you think I’m blind, my good sir?

LUNDESTAD.
No, but — I can trust you to keep the secret? Well, I’ll tell you all about it. The Chamberlain thinks it was Monsen he was attacking.

HEIRE.
Monsen? Oh, absurd!

LUNDESTAD.
Fact, Mr. Heire! Ringdal or Miss Thora must have got him persuaded that —

HEIRE.
And so he goes and asks him to a state dinner- party! Deuce take me, if that isn’t the best thing I’ve heard for long! No, really now, I can’t keep that bottled up.

LUNDESTAD.
Sh, sh! Remember your promise. The Chamberlain’s your old school-fellow; and even if he has been a little hard upon you —

HEIRE.
Hee-hee! I’ll pay him back with interest!

LUNDESTAD.
Take care! The Chamberlain is powerful. Don’t play tricks in the lion’s den!

HEIRE.
Bratsberg a lion? Pooh, he’s a blockhead, sir, and I am not. Oh, won’t I get a rare crop of taunts, and jibes, and innuendoes out of this, when once our great suit comes on!

SELMA
[calls from the circle.]
Learned judge, what shall the owner of this forfeit do?

ERIK
[unnoticed, to HEIRE.]
It’s Stensgard’s! Think of something amusing.