Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (279 page)

Hedda.
No, thank you, my little Thea! Not there! You’ll be good enough to come over here to me. I will sit between you.

Mrs.
Elvsted. Yes, just as you please.

She goes round the table and seats herself on the sofa on
Hedda’s
right.
Lovborg
re-seats himself on his chair.

Lovborg.
[After a short pause, to
Hedda
.]
Is not she lovely to look at?

Hedda.
[Lightly stroking her hair.]
Only to look at!

Lovborg.
Yes. For we two — she and I — we are two real comrades. We have absolute faith in each other; so we can sit and talk with perfect frankness —

Hedda.
Not round about, Mr. Lovborg?

Lovborg.
Well —

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Softly clinging close to
Hedda
.]
Oh, how happy I am, Hedda! For only think, he says I have inspired him too.

Hedda.
[Looks at her with a smile.]
Ah! Does he say that, dear?

Lovborg.
And then she is so brave, Mrs. Tesman!

Mrs.
Elvsted. Good heavens — am I brave?

Lovborg.
Exceedingly — where your comrade is concerned.

Hedda.
Exceedingly — where your comrade is concerned.

Hedda.
Ah, yes — courage! If one only had that!

Lovborg.
What then? What do you mean?

Hedda.
Then life would perhaps be liveable, after all.
[With a sudden change of tone.]
But now, my dearest Thea, you really must have a glass of cold punch.

Mrs.
Elvsted. No, thanks — I never take anything of that kind.

Hedda.
Well then, you, Mr. Lovborg.

Lovborg.
Nor I, thank you.

Mrs.
Elvsted. No, he doesn’t either.

Hedda.
[Looks fixedly at him.]
But if I say you shall?

Lovborg.
It would be of no use.

Hedda.
[Laughing.]
Then I, poor creature, have no sort of power over you?

Lovborg.
Not in that respect.

Hedda.
But seriously, I think you ought to — for your own sake.

Mrs.
Elvsted. Why, Hedda — !

Lovborg.
How so?

Hedda.
Or rather on account of other people.

Lovborg.
Indeed?

Hedda.
Otherwise people might be apt to suspect that — in your heart of hearts — you did not feel quite secure — quite confident in yourself.

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Softly.]
Oh please, Hedda — !

Lovborg.
People may suspect what they like — for the present.

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Joyfully.]
Yes, let them!

Hedda.
I saw it plainly in Judge Brack’s face a moment ago.

Lovborg.
What did you see?

Hedda.
His contemptuous smile, when you dared not go with them into the inner room.

Lovborg.
Dared not? Of course I preferred to stop here and talk to you.

Mrs.
Elvsted. What could be more natural, Hedda?

Hedda.
But the Judge could not guess that. And I say, too, the way he smiled and glanced at Tesman when you dared not accept his invitation to this wretched little supper-party of his.

Lovborg.
Dared not! Do you say I dared not?

Hedda.
I don’t say so. But that was how Judge Brack understood it.

Lovborg.
Well, let him.

Hedda.
Then you are not going with them?

Lovborg.
I will stay here with you and Thea.

Mrs.
Elvsted. Yes, Hedda — how can you doubt that?

Hedda.
[Smiles and nods approvingly to
Lovborg
.]
Firm as a rock! Faithful to your principles, now and for ever! Ah, that is how a man should be!
[Turns to
Mrs. Elvsted
and caresses her.]
Well now, what did I tell you, when you came to us this morning in such a state of distraction —

Lovborg.
[Surprised.]
Distraction!

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Terrified.]
Hedda — oh Hedda — !

Hedda.
You can see for yourself! You haven’t the slightest reason to be in such mortal terror ——
[Interrupting herself.]
There! Now we can all three enjoy ourselves!

Lovborg.
[Who has given a start.]
Ah — what is all this, Mrs. Tesman?

Mrs.
Elvsted. Oh my God, Hedda! What are you saying? What are you doing?

Hedda.
Don’t get excited! That horrid Judge Brack is sitting watching you.

Lovborg.
So she was in mortal terror! On my account!

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Softly and piteously.]
Oh, Hedda — now you have ruined everything!

Lovborg.
[Looks fixedly at her for a moment. His face is distorted.]
So that was my comrade’s frank confidence in me?

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Imploringly.]
Oh, my dearest friend — only let me tell you —

Lovborg.
[Takes one of the glasses of punch, raises it to his lips, and says in a low, husky voice.]
Your health, Thea!

He empties the glass, puts it down, and takes the second.

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Softly.]
Oh, Hedda, Hedda — how could you do this?

Hedda.
I do it?
I
? Are you crazy?

Lovborg.
Here’s to your health too, Mrs. Tesman. Thanks for the truth. Hurrah for the truth!

He empties the glass and is about to re-fill it.

Hedda.
[Lays her hand on his arm.]
Come, come — no more for the present. Remember you are going out to supper.

Mrs.
Elvsted. No, no, no!

Hedda.
Hush! They are sitting watching you.

Lovborg.
[Putting down the glass.]
Now, Thea — tell me the truth —

Mrs.
Elvsted. Yes.

Lovborg.
Did your husband know that you had come after me?

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Wringing her hands.]
Oh, Hedda — do you hear what his is asking?

Lovborg.
Was it arranged between you and him that you were to come to town and look after me? Perhaps it was the Sheriff himself that urged you to come? Aha, my dear — no doubt he wanted my help in his office! Or was it at the card-table that he missed me?

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Softly, in agony.]
Oh, Lovborg, Lovborg — !

Lovborg.
[Seizes a glass and is on the point of filling it.]
Here’s a glass for the old Sheriff too!

Hedda.
[Preventing him.]
No more just now. Remember, you have to read your manuscript to Tesman.

Lovborg.
[Calmly, putting down the glass.]
It was stupid of me all this. Thea — to take it in this way, I mean. Don’t be angry with me, my dear, dear comrade. You shall see — both you and the others — that if I was fallen once — now I have risen again! Thanks to you, Thea.

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Radiant with joy.]
Oh, heaven be praised — !

Brack
has in the meantime looked at his watch. He and
Tesman
rise and come into the drawing-room.

Brack.
[Takes his hat and overcoat.]
Well, Mrs. Tesman, our time has come.

Hedda.
I suppose it has.

Lovborg.
[Rising.]
Mine too, Judge Brack.

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Softly and imploringly.]
Oh, Lovborg, don’t do it!

Hedda.
[Pinching her arm.]
They can hear you!

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[With a suppressed shriek.]
Ow!

Lovborg.
[To
Brack
.]
You were good enough to invite me.

Judge Brack.
Well, are you coming after all?

Lovborg.
Yes, many thanks.

Brack.
I’m delighted —

Lovborg.
[To
Tesman
, putting the parcel of MS. in his pocket.]
I should like to show you one or two things before I send it to the printers.

Tesman.
Fancy — that will be delightful. But, Hedda dear, how is Mrs. Elvsted to get home? Eh?

Hedda.
Oh, that can be managed somehow.

Lovborg.
[Looking towards the ladies.]
Mrs. Elvsted? Of course, I’ll come again and fetch her.
[Approaching.]
At ten or thereabouts, Mrs. Tesman? Will that do?

Hedda.
Certainly. That will do capitally.

Tesman.
Well, then, that’s all right. But you must not expect me so early, Hedda.

Hedda.
Oh, you may stop as long — as long as every you please.

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Trying to conceal her anxiety.]
Well then, Mr. Lovborg — I shall remain here until you come.

Lovborg.
[With his hat in his hand.]
Pray do, Mrs. Elvsted.

Brack.
And now off goes the excursion train, gentlemen! I hope we shall have a lively time, as a certain fair lady puts it.

Hedda.
Ah, if only the fair lady could be present unseen — !

Brack.
Why unseen?

Hedda.
In order to hear a little of your liveliness at first hand, Judge Brack.

Brack.
[Laughing.]
I should not advise the fair lady to try it.

Tesman.
[Also laughing.]
Come, you’re a nice one Hedda! Fancy that!

Brack.
Well, good-bye, good-bye, ladies.

Lovborg.
[Bowing.]
About ten o’clock, then,

Brack, Lovborg
, and
Tesman
go out by the hall door. At the same time,
Berta
enters from the inner room with a lighted lamp, which she places on the drawing-room table; she goes out by the way she came.

Mrs.
Elvsted.
[Who has risen and is wandering restlessly about the room.]
Hedda — Hedda — what will come of all this?

Hedda.
At ten o’clock — he will be here. I can see him already — with vine-leaves in his hair — flushed and fearless —