Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (138 page)

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
And you are going over to these subversive ideas?

LUNDESTAD.
I’ve read in old story-books about people who could summon up spirits, but could not lay them again.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Why, my dear Lundestad, how can a man of your enlightenment — ?

LUNDESTAD.
I know it’s mere popish superstition, Chamberlain. But new ideas are like those spirits: it’s not so easy to lay them; the best plan is to compromise with them as best you can.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
But now that Monsen has fallen, and no doubt his crew of agitators with him —

LUNDESTAD.
If Monsen’s fall had come two or three days ago, things would have been very different.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Yes, unfortunately. You have been too hasty.

LUNDESTAD.
Partly out of consideration for you, Chamberlain.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
For me?

LUNDESTAD.
Our party must keep up its reputation in the eyes of the people. We represent the old, deep-rooted Norse sense of honour. If I had deserted Stensgard, you know he holds a paper —

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Not now.

LUNDESTAD.
What?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Here it is.

LUNDESTAD.
He has given it up to you?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Yes. Personally, he is a gentleman; so much I must say for him.

LUNDESTAD
[thoughtfully.]
Mr. Stensgard has rare abilities.

STENSGARD
[at the back, standing in the doorway.]
May I come in?

THE CHAMBERLAIN
[going to meet him.]
I am delighted to see you.

STENSGARD.
And you will accept my congratulations?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
With all my heart.

STENSGARD.
Then with all my heart I wish you happiness! And you must forget all the stupid things I have written.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
I go by deeds, not words, Mr. Stensgard.

STENSGARD.
How good of you to say so!

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
And henceforth — since you wish it — you must consider yourself at home here.

STENSGARD.
May I? May I really?
[A knock at the door.]

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Come in. Several LEADING MEN of the neighbourhood, TOWN COUNCILLORS, etc., enter. THE CHAMBERLAIN goes to receive them, accepts their congratulations, and converses with them.

THORA
[who has meantime entered by the second door on the left.]
Mr. Stensgard, let me thank you.

STENSGARD.
You, Miss Bratsberg!

THORA.
My father has told me how nobly you have acted.

STENSGARD.
But — ?

THORA.
Oh, how we have misjudged you!

STENSGARD.
Have you — ?

THORA.
It was your own fault — No, no; it was ours. Oh, what would I not do to atone for our error.

STENSGARD.
Would you? You yourself? Would you really — ?

THORA.
All of us would; if we only knew —

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Refreshments for these gentlemen, my child.

THORA.
They are just coming.
[She retires towards the door again, where a SERVANT at the same moment appears with cake and wine, which are handed round.]

STENSGARD.
Oh, my dear Lundestad! I feel like a conquering god.

LUNDESTAD.
So you must have felt yesterday, I suppose.

STENSGARD.
Pooh! This is something quite different; the final triumph; the crown of all! There is a glory, a halo, over my life.

LUNDESTAD.
Oho; dreams of love!

STENSGARD.
Not dreams! Realities, glorious realities!

LUNDESTAD.
So brother Bastian has brought you the answer?

STENSGARD.
Bastian — ?

LUNDESTAD.
Yes, he gave me a hint yesterday; he had promised to plead your cause with a certain young lady.

STENSGARD.
Oh, what nonsense —

LUNDESTAD.
Why make a mystery of it? If you haven’t heard already, I can give you the news. You have won the day, Mr. Stensgard; I have it from Ringdal.

STENSGARD.
What have you from Ringdal?

LUNDESTAD.
Miss Monsen has accepted you.

STENSGARD.
What!

LUNDESTAD.
Accepted you, I say,

STENSGARD.
Accepted me! And the father has bolted!

LUNDESTAD.
But the daughter hasn’t.

STENSGARD.
Accepted me! In the midst of all this family trouble! How unwomanly! How repellant to any man with the least delicacy of feeling! But the whole thing is a misunderstanding. I never commissioned Bastian — How could that idiot — ? However, it doesn’t matter to me; he must answer for his follies himself.

DANIEL HEIRE
[enters from the back.]
Hee-hee! Quite a gathering! Of course, of course! We are paying our respects, propitiating the powers that be, as the saying goes. May I, too —

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Thanks, thanks, old friend!

HEIRE.
Oh, I protest, my dear sir? That is too much condescension.
[New GUESTS arrive.]
Ah, here we have the myrmidons of justice — the executive — I say no more.
[Goes over to STENSGARD.]
Ah, my dear fortunate youth, are you there? Your hand! Accept the assurance of an old man’s unfeigned rejoicing.

STENSGARD.
At what?

HEIRE.
You asked me yesterday to run you down a little to her — you know —

STENSGARD.
Yes, yes; what then?

HEIRE.
It was a heartfelt pleasure to me to oblige you —

STENSGARD.
Well — and what happened then? How did she take it?

HEIRE.
Like a loving woman, of course — burst into tears; locked herself into her room; would neither answer nor show herself —

STENSGARD.
Ah, thank goodness!

HEIRE.
It’s barbarous to subject a widow’s heart to such cruel tests, to go and gloat over her jealous agonies! But love has cat’s eyes — I say no more! For to-day, as I drove past, there stood Madam Rundholmen, brisk and buxom, at her open window, combing her hair. She looked like a mermaid, if you’ll allow me to say so. Oh, she’s a fine woman!

STENSGARD.
Well, and then?

HEIRE.
Why, she laughed like one possessed, sir, and waved a letter in the air, and called out “A proposal, Mr. Heire! I’m engaged to be married.”

STENSGARD.
What! Engaged?

HEIRE.
My hearty congratulations, young man; I’m inexpressibly pleased to be the first to announce to you —

STENSGARD.
It’s all rubbish! It’s nonsense!

HEIRE.
What is nonsense?

STENSGARD.
You have misunderstood her; or else she has misunderstood — Engaged! Preposterous! Now that Monsen’s down, she’ll probably —

HEIRE.
Not at all, sir, not at all! Madam Rundholmen has solid legs to stand on.

STENSGARD.
No matter! I have quite other intentions. All that about the letter was only a joke — a wager, as I told you. My dear Mr. Heire, do oblige me by not saying a word to any one of this silly affair.

HEIRE.
I see, I see! It’s to be kept secret; it’s to be a romance. Ah, youth, youth! it’s nothing if not poetical.

STENSGARD.
Yes, yes; mum’s the word. You shan’t regret it — I’ll take up your cases — Sh! I rely upon you.
[He retires.]

THE CHAMBERLAIN
[who has meanwhile been talking to LUNDESTAD.]
No, Lundestad — that I really cannot believe!

LUNDESTAD.
I assure you, Chamberlain — Daniel Heire told me so himself.

HEIRE.
What did I tell you, may I inquire?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Did Mr. Stensgard show you a bill yesterday?

HEIRE.
Yes, by-the-bye — ! What on earth was the meaning of all that?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
I’ll tell you afterwards. And you told him —

LUNDESTAD.
You persuaded him it was a forgery?

HEIRE.
Pooh, a mere innocent jest, to bewilder him a little in the hour of triumph.

LUNDESTAD.
And you told him both signatures were forged?

HEIRE.
Oh, yes; why not both while I was about it?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
So that was it!

LUNDESTAD
[to the CHAMBERLAIN.]
And when he heard that —

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
He gave the bill to Ringdal!

LUNDESTAD.
The bill that was useless as a weapon of offence.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
He shams magnanimity! Makes a fool of me a second time! Gains admission to my house, and makes me welcome him and thank him — this — this — ! And this is the fellow —

HEIRE.
Why, what are you going on about, my dear sir?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
I’ll tell you all about it afterwards.
[Takes LUNDESTAD apart.]
And this is the fellow you protect, push forward, help to rise!

LUNDESTAD.
Well, he took you in, too!

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Oh, I should like to — !

LUNDESTAD
[pointing to STENSGARD, who is speaking to THORA.]
Look there! What will people be fancying!

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
I shall soon put a stop to these fancies.

LUNDESTAD.
Too late, Chamberlain; he’ll worm himself forward by dint of promises and general plausibility —

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
I, too, can manoeuvre, Mr. Lundestad.

LUNDESTAD.
What will you do?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Just watch.
[Goes over to FIELDBO.]
Doctor Fieldbo, will you do me a service?

FIELDBO.
With pleasure.

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Then turn that fellow out of my house.

FIELDBO.
Stensgard?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Yes, the adventurer; I hate his very name; turn him out!

FIELDBO.
But how can I — ?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
This is your affair; I give you a free hand.

FIELDBO.
A free hand! Do you mean it? Entirely free?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Yes, yes, by all means.

FIELDBO.
Your hand on it, Chamberlain!

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Here it is.

FIELDBO.
So be it, then; now or never!
[Loudly.]
May I request the attention of the company for a moment?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Silence for Doctor Fieldbo!

FIELDBO.
With Chamberlain Bratsberg’s consent, I have the pleasure of announcing my engagement to his daughter.
[An outburst of astonishment. THORA utters a slight scream. THE CHAMBERLAIN is on the point of speaking, but refrains. Loud talk and congratulations.]

STENSGARD.
Engagement! Your engagement —

HEIRE.
With the Chamberlain’s — ? With your — What does it mean?

LUNDESTAD.
Is the Doctor out of his mind?

STENSGARD.
But, Chamberlain — ?

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
What can I do? I am a Liberal. I join the League of Youth!

FIELDBO.
Thanks, thanks — and forgive me!

THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Associations are the order of the day, Mr. Stensgard. There is nothing like free competition!