Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (185 page)

Dina: Oh, Aunt Martha, some day you will follow us.

Martha: I? Never — never. I have my little vocation here, and now I really believe I can live to the full the life that I ought.

Dina: I cannot imagine being parted from you.

Martha: Ah, one can part from much, Dina.
(Kisses her.)
But I hope you may never experience that, my sweet child. Promise me to make him happy.

Dina: I will promise nothing; I hate promises; things must happen as they will.

Martha: Yes, yes, that is true; only remain what you are — true and faithful to yourself.

Dina: I will, aunt.

Lona
(putting into her pocket some papers that JOHAN has given her)
: Splendid, splendid, my dear boy. But now you must be off.

Johan: Yes, we have no time to waste now. Goodbye, Lona, and thank you for all your love. Goodbye, Martha, and thank you, too, for your loyal friendship.

Martha: Goodbye, Johan! Goodbye, Dina! And may you be happy all your lives!
(She and LONA hurry them to the door at the back. JOHAN and DINA go quickly down the steps and through the garden. LONA shuts the door and draws the curtains over it.)

Lona: Now we are alone, Martha. You have lost her and I him.

Martha: You — lost him?

Lona: Oh, I had already half lost him over there. The boy was longing to stand on his own feet; that was why I pretended to be suffering from homesickness.

Martha: So that was it? Ah, then I understand why you came. But he will want you back, Lona.

Lona: An old step-sister — what use will he have for her now? Men break many very dear ties to win their happiness.

Martha: That sometimes is so.

Lona: But we two will stick together, Martha.

Martha: Can I be anything to you?

Lona: Who more so? We two foster-sisters — haven’t we both lost our children? Now we are alone.

Martha: Yes, alone. And therefore, you ought to know this too — I loved him more than anything in the world.

Lona: Martha!
(Grasps her by the arm.)
Is that true?

Martha: All my existence lies in those words. I have loved him and waited for him. Every summer I waited for him to come. And then he came — but he had no eyes for me.

Lona: You loved him! And it was you yourself that put his happiness into his hands.

Martha: Ought I not to be the one to put his happiness into his hands, since I loved him? Yes, I have loved him. All my life has been for him, ever since he went away. What reason had I to hope, you mean? Oh, I think I had some reason, all the same. But when he came back — then it seemed as if everything had been wiped out of his memory. He had no eyes for me.

Lona: It was Dina that overshadowed you, Martha?

Martha: And it is a good thing she did. At the time he went away, we were of the same age; but when I saw him again — oh, that dreadful moment! — I realised that now I was ten years older than he. He had gone out into the bright sparkling sunshine, and breathed in youth and health with every breath; and here I sat meanwhile, spinning and spinning —

Lona: Spinning the thread of his happiness, Martha.

Martha: Yes, it was a golden thread I spun. No bitterness! We have been two good sisters to him, haven’t we, Lona?

Lona
(throwing her arms round her)
: Martha!

(BERNICK comes in from his room.)

Bernick
(to the other men, who are in his room)
: Yes, yes, arrange it any way you please. When the time comes, I shall be able to — .
(Shuts the door.)
Ah, you are here. Look here, Martha — I think you had better change your dress; and tell Betty to do the same. I don’t want anything elaborate, of course — something homely, but neat. But you must make haste.

Lona: And a bright, cheerful face, Martha; your eyes must look happy.

Bernick: Olaf is to come downstairs too; I will have him beside me.

Lona: Hm! Olaf.

Martha: I will give Betty your message.
(Goes out by the farther door on the left.)

Lona: Well, the great and solemn moment is at hand.

Bernick
(walking uneasily up and down)
: Yes, it is.

Lona: At such a moment I should think a man would feel proud and happy.

Bernick
(looking at her)
: Hm!

Lona: I hear the whole town is to be illuminated.

Bernick: Yes, they have some idea of that sort.

Lona: All the different clubs will assemble with their banners — your name will blaze out in letters of fire — tonight the telegraph will flash the news to every part of the country: “In the bosom of his happy family, Mr. Bernick received the homage of his fellow citizens, as one of the pillars of society.”

Bernick: That is so; and they will begin to cheer outside, and the crowd will shout in front of my house until I shall be obliged to go out and bow to them and thank them.

Lona: Obliged to?

Bernick. Do you suppose I shall feel happy at that moment?

Lona: No, I don’t suppose you will feel so very happy.

Bernick: Lona, you despise me.

Lona: Not yet.

Bernick: And you have no right to; no right to despise me! Lona, you can have no idea how utterly alone I stand in this cramped and stunted community — where I have had, year after year, to stifle my ambition for a fuller life. My work may seem many-sided, but what have I really accomplished? Odds and ends — scraps. They would not stand anything else here. If I were to go a step in advance of the opinions and views that are current at the moment, I should lose all my influence. Do you know what we are — we who are looked upon as pillars of society? We are nothing more, nor less, than the tools of society.

Lona: Why have you only begun to realise that now?

Bernick: Because I have been thinking a great deal lately — since you came back — and this evening I have thought more seriously than ever before. Oh, Lona, why did not I really know you then — in the old days, I mean?

Lona: And if you had?

Bernick: I should never have let you go; and, if I had had you, I should not be in the position I am in tonight.

Lona: And do you never consider what she might have been to you — she whom you chose in my place?

Bernick: I know, at all events, that she has been nothing to me of what I needed.

Lona: Because you have never shared your interests with her; because you have never allowed her full and frank exchange of thoughts with you; because you have allowed her to be borne under by self-reproach for the shame you cast upon one who was dear to her.

Bernick: Yes, yes; it all comes from lying and deceit.

Lona: Then why not break with all this lying and deceit?

Bernick: Now? It is too late now, Lona.

Lona: Karsten, tell me — what gratification does all this show and deception bring you?

Bernick: It brings me none. I must disappear someday, and all this community of bunglers with me. But a generation is growing up that will follow us; it is my son that I work for — I am providing a career for him. There will come a time when truth will enter into the life of the community, and on that foundation he shall build up a happier existence than his father.

Lona: With a lie at the bottom of it all? Consider what sort of an inheritance it is that you are leaving to your son.

Bernick
(in tones of suppressed despair)
: It is a thousand times worse than you think. But surely some day the curse must be lifted; and yet — nevertheless — .
(Vehemently.)
How could I bring all this upon my own head! Still, it is done now; I must go on with it now. You shall not succeed in crushing me!
(HILMAR comes in hurriedly and agitatedly from the right, with an open letter in his hand.)

Hilmar: But this is — Betty, Betty.

Bernick: What is the matter? Are they coming already?

Hilmar: No, no — but I must speak to some one immediately.
(Goes out through the farther door on the left.)

Lona: Karsten, you talk about our having come here to crush you. So let me tell you what sort of stuff this prodigal son, whom your moral community shuns as if he had the plague, is made of. He can do without any of you — for he is away now.

Bernick: But he said he meant to come back

Lona: Johan will never come back. He is gone for good, and Dina with him.

Bernick: Never come back? — and Dina with him?

Lona: Yes, to be his wife. That is how these two strike your virtuous community in the face, just as I did once — but never mind that.

Bernick: Gone — and she too — in the “Indian Girl” —

Lona: No; he would not trust so precious a freight to that rascally crew. Johan and Dina are on the “Palm Tree.”

Bernick: Ah! Then it is all in vain —
(Goes hurriedly to the door of his room, opens it and calls in.)
Krap, stop the “Indian Girl” — she must not sail tonight!

Krap
(from within)
: The “Indian Girl” is already standing out to sea, Mr. Bernick.

Bernick
(shutting the door and speaking faintly)
: Too late — and all to no purpose —

Lona: What do you mean?

Bernick: Nothing, nothing. Leave me alone!

Lona: Hm! — look here, Karsten. Johan was good enough to say that he entrusted to me the good name and reputation that he once lent to you, and also the good name that you stole from him while he was away. Johan will hold his tongue; and I can act just as I please in the matter. See, I have two letters in my hand.

Bernick: You have got them! And you mean now — this very evening-perhaps when the procession comes —

Lona: I did not come back here to betray you, but to stir your conscience so that you should speak of your own free will. I did not succeed in doing that — so you must remain as you are, with your life founded upon a lie. Look, I am tearing your two letters in pieces. Take the wretched things — there you are. Now there is no evidence against you, Karsten. You are safe now; be happy, too — if you can.

Bernick
(much moved)
: Lona — why did you not do that sooner! Now it is too late; life no longer seems good to me; I cannot live on after today.

Lona: What has happened?

Bernick: Do not ask me — But I must live on, nevertheless! I will live — for Olaf’s sake. He shall make amends for everything — expiate everything.

Lona: Karsten — !
(HILMAR comes hurriedly back.)

Hilmar: I cannot find anyone; they are all out — even Betty!

Bernick: What is the matter with you?

Hilmar: I daren’t tell you.

Bernick: What is it? You must tell me!

Hilmar: Very well — Olaf has run away, on board the “Indian Girl.”

Bernick
(stumbling back)
: Olaf — on board the “Indian Girl”! No, no!

Lona: Yes, he is! Now I understand — I saw him jump out of the window.

Bernick
(calls in through the door of his room in a despairing voice)
: Krap, stop the “Indian Girl” at any cost!

Krap: It is impossible, sir. How can you suppose — ?

Bernick: We must stop her; Olaf is on board!

Krap: What!

Rummel
(coming out of BERNICK’S room)
: Olaf, run away? Impossible!

Sandstad
(following him)
: He will be sent back with the pilot, Mr. Bernick.