Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (292 page)

SOLNESS. No. I build no more church-towers now. Nor churches either.

HILDA. What do you build then?

SOLNESS. Homes for human beings.

HILDA.
[Reflectively.]
Couldn’t you build a little — a little bit of a church-tower over these homes as well?

SOLNESS.
[Starting.]
What do you mean by that?

HILDA. I mean — something that points — points up into the free air. With the vane at a dizzy height.

SOLNESS.
[Pondering a little.]
Strange that you should say that — for that is just what I am most anxious to do.

HILDA.
[Impatiently.]
Why don’t you do it, then?

SOLNESS.
[Shakes his head.]
No, the people will not have it.

HILDA. Fancy their not wanting it!

SOLNESS.
[More lightly.]
But now I am building a new home for myself — just opposite here.

HILDA. For yourself?

SOLNESS. Yes. It is almost finished. And on that there is a tower.

HILDA. A high tower?

SOLNESS. Yes.

HILDA. Very high?

SOLNESS. No doubt people will say it is too high — too high for a dwelling-house.

HILDA. I’ll go out to look at that tower first thing to-morrow morning.

SOLNESS.
[Sits resting his cheek on his hand, and gazes at her.]
Tell me, Miss Wangel — what is your name? Your Christian name, I mean.

HILDA. Why, Hilda, of course.

SOLNESS.
[As before.]
Hilda? Indeed?

HILDA. Don’t you remember that? You called me Hilda yourself — that day when you misbehaved.

SOLNESS. Did I really.

HILDA. But then you said “little Hilda”; and I didn’t like that.

SOLNESS. Oh, you didn’t like that, Miss Hilda?

HILDA. No, not at such a time as that. But—”Princess Hilda” — that will sound very well, I think.

SOLNESS. Very well indeed. Princess Hilda of — of — what was to be the name of the kingdom?

HILDA. Pooh! I won’t have anything to do with that stupid kingdom. I have set my heart upon quite a different one!

SOLNESS.
[Has leaned back in the chair, still gazing at her.]
Isn’t it strange — ? The more I think of it now, the more it seems to me as though I had gone about all these years torturing myself with — h’m —

HILDA. With what?

SOLNESS. With the effort to recover something — some experience, which I seemed to have forgotten. But I never had the least inkling of what it could be.

HILDA. You should have tied a knot in your pocket-handkerchief, Mr. Solness.

SOLNESS. In that case, I should simply have had to go racking my brains to discover what the knot could mean.

HILDA. Oh yes, I suppose there are trolls of that kind in the world, too.

SOLNESS.
[Rises slowly.]
What a good thing it is that you have come to me now.

HILDA.
[Looks deeply into his eyes.]
Is it a good thing!

SOLNESS. For I have been so lonely here. I have been gazing so helplessly at it all.
[In a lower voice.]
I must tell you — I have begun to be afraid of the younger generation.

HILDA.
[With a little snort of contempt.]
Pooh — is the younger generation something to be afraid of?

SOLNESS. It is indeed. And that is why I have locked and barred myself in.
[Mysteriously.]
I tell you the younger generation will one day come and thunder at my door! They will break in upon me!

HILDA. Then I should say you ought to go out and open the door to the younger generation.

SOLNESS. Open the door?

HILDA. Yes. Let them come in to you on friendly terms, as it were.

SOLNESS. No, no, no! The younger generation — it means retribution, you see. It comes, as if under a new banner, heralding the turn of fortune.

HILDA.
[Rises, looks at him, and says with a quivering twitch of her lips.]
Can
I
be of any use to you, Mr. Solness?

SOLNESS. Yes, you can indeed! For you, too, come — under a new banner it seems to me. You marshalled against youth — ! DR. HERDAL comes in by the hall-door.

DR. HERDAL. What — you and Miss Wangel here still?

SOLNESS. Yes. We have had no end of things to talk about.

HILDA. Both old and new.

DR. HERDAL. Have you really?

HILDA. Oh, it has been the greatest fun. For Mr. Solness — he has such a miraculous memory. All the least little details he remembers instantly. MRS. SOLNESS enters by the door on the right.

MRS. SOLNESS. Well, Miss Wangel, your room is quite ready for you now.

HILDA. Oh, how kind you are to me!

SOLNESS.
[To MRS. SOLNESS.]
The nursery?

MRS. SOLNESS. Yes, the middle one. But first let us go in to supper.

SOLNESS.
[Nods to HILDA.]
Hilda shall sleep in the nursery, she shall.

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Looks at him.]
Hilda?

SOLNESS. Yes, Miss Wangel’s name is Hilda. I knew her when she was a child.

MRS. SOLNESS. Did you really, Halvard? Well, shall we go?

[She takes DR. HERDAL’s arm and goes out with him to the right.
 
HILDA has meanwhile been collecting her travelling things.

HILDA.
[Softly and rapidly to SOLNESS.]
Is it true, what you said? Can I be of use to you?

SOLNESS.
[Takes the things from her.]
You are the very being I have needed most.

HILDA.
[Looks at him with happy, wondering eyes and clasps her hands.]
But then, great heavens — !

SOLNESS.
[Eagerly.]
What — ?

HILDA. Then I have my kingdom!

SOLNESS.
[Involuntarily.]
Hilda — !

HILDA.
[Again with the quivering twitch of her lips.]
Almost — I was going to say.

[She goes out to the right, SOLNESS follows her.

ACT SECOND
.

A prettily furnished small drawing-room in SOLNESS’S house. In the back, a glass-door leading out to the verandah and garden.
 
The right-hand corner is cut off transversely by a large bay-window, in which are flower-stands.
 
The left- hand corner is similarly cut off by a transverse wall, in which is a small door papered like the wall.
 
On each side, an ordinary door.
 
In front, on the right, a console table with a large mirror over it.
 
Well-filled stands of plants and flowers.
 
In front, on the left, a sofa with a table and chairs.
 
Further back, a bookcase.
 
Well forward in the room, before the bay window, a small table and some chairs. It is early in the day.

SOLNESS sits by the little table with RAGNAR BROVIK’S portfolio open in front of him.
 
He is turning the drawings over and closely examining some of them.
 
MRS. SOLNESS moves about noiselessly with a small watering-pot, attending to her flowers.
 
She is dressed in black as before.
 
Her hat, cloak and parasol lie on a chair near the mirror.
 
Unobserved by her, SOLNESS now and again follows her with his eyes.
 
Neither of them speaks.

KAIA FOSLI enters quietly by the door on the left.

SOLNESS.
[Turns his head, and says in an off-hand tone of indifference:]
Well, is that you?

KAIA. I merely wished to let you know that I have come.

SOLNESS. Yes, yes, that’s all right. Hasn’t Ragnar come too?

KAIA. No, not yet. He had to wait a little while to see the doctor. But he is coming presently to hear —

SOLNESS. How is the old man to-day?

KAIA. Not well. He begs you to excuse him; he is obliged to keep his bed to-day.

SOLNESS. Why, of course; by all means let him rest. But now, get to your work.

KAIA. Yes.
[Pauses at the door.]
Do you wish to speak to Ragnar when he comes?

SOLNESS. No — I don’t know that I have anything particular to say to him.

[KAIA goes out again to the left.
 
SOLNESS remains seated, turning over the drawings.

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Over beside the plants.]
I wonder if he isn’t going to die now, as well?

SOLNESS.
[Looks up at her.]
As well as who?

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Without answering.]
Yes, yes — depend upon it, Halvard, old Brovik is going to die too. You’ll see that he will.

SOLNESS. My dear Aline, ought you not to go out for a little walk?

MRS. SOLNESS. Yes, I suppose I ought to.

[She continues to attend the flowers.

SOLNESS.
[Bending over the drawings.]
Is she still asleep?

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Looking at him.]
Is it Miss Wangel you are sitting there thinking about?

SOLNESS.
[Indifferently.]
I just happened to recollect her.

MRS. SOLNESS. Miss Wangle was up long ago.

SOLNESS. Oh, was she?

MRS. SOLNESS. When I went in to see her, she was busy putting her things in order.

[She goes in front of the mirror and slowly begins to put on her hat.

SOLNESS.
[After a short pause.]
So we have found a use for one our nurseries after all, Aline.

MRS. SOLNESS. Yes, we have.

SOLNESS. That seems to me better than to have them all standing empty.

MRS. SOLNESS. That emptiness is dreadful; you are right there.

SOLNESS.
[Closes the portfolio, rises and approaches her.]
You will find that we shall get on far better after this, Aline. Things will be more comfortable. Life will be easier — especially for you.

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Looks at him.]
After this?

SOLNESS. Yes, believe me, Aline —

MRS. SOLNESS. Do you mean — because she has come here?

SOLNESS.
[Checking himself.]
I mean, of course — when once we have moved into the new home.

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Takes her cloak.]
Ah, do you think so, Halvard? Will it be better then?

SOLNESS. I can’t think otherwise. And surely you think so too?

MRS. SOLNESS. I think nothing at all about the new house.

SOLNESS.
[Cast down.]
It’s hard for me to hear you say that; for you know it is mainly for your sake that I have built it.

[He offers to help her on with her cloak.

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Evades him.]
The fact is, you do far too much for my sake.

SOLNESS.
[With a certain vehemence.]
No, no, you really mustn’t say that, Aline! I cannot bear to hear you say such things!

MRS. SOLNESS. Very well, then I won’t say it, Halvard.

SOLNESS. But I stick to what
I
said. You’ll see that things will be easier for you in the new place.

MRS. SOLNESS. Oh, heavens — easier for me — !

SOLNESS.
[Eagerly.]
Yes, indeed they will! You may be quite sure of that! For you see — there will be so very, very much there that will remind you of your own home —

MRS. SOLNESS. The home that used to be father’s and mother’s — and that was burnt to the ground —

SOLNESS.
[In a low voice.]
Yes, yes, my poor Aline. That was a terrible blow for you.

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Breaking out in lamentation.]
You may build as much as ever you like, Halvard — you can never build up again a real home for me!

SOLNESS.
[Crosses the room.]
Well, in Heaven’s name, let us talk no more about it then.

MRS. SOLNESS. We are not in the habit of talking about it. For you always put the thought away from you —

SOLNESS.
[Stops suddenly and looks at her.]
Do I? And why should I do that? Put the thought away from me?

MRS. SOLNESS. Oh yes, Halvard, I understand you very well. You are so anxious to spare me — and to find excuses for me too — as much as ever you can.

SOLNESS.
[With astonishment in his eyes.]
You! Is it you — yourself, that your are talking about, Aline?

MRS. SOLNESS. Yes, who else should it be but myself?

SOLNESS.
[Involuntarily to himself.]
That too!

MRS. SOLNESS. As for the old house, I wouldn’t mind so much about that. When once misfortune was in the air — why —

SOLNESS. Ah, you are right there. Misfortune will have its way — as the saying goes.

MRS. SOLNESS. But it’s what came of the fire — the dreadful thing that followed — ! That is the thing! That, that, that!

SOLNESS.
[Vehemently.]
Don’t think about that, Aline!

MRS. SOLNESS. Ah, that is exactly what I cannot help thinking about. And now, at last, I must speak about it, too; for I don’t seem to be able to bear it any longer. And then never to be able to forgive myself —

SOLNESS.
[Exclaiming.]
Yourself — !

MRS. SOLNESS. Yes, for I had duties on both sides — both towards you and towards the little ones. I ought to have hardened myself — not to have let the horror take such hold upon me — nor the grief for the burning of my home.
[Wrings her hands.]
Oh, Halvard, if I had only had the strength!

SOLNESS.
[Softly, much moved, comes closer.]
Aline — you must promise me never to think these thoughts any more. — Promise me that, dear!

MRS. SOLNESS. Oh, promise, promise! One can promise anything.

SOLNESS.
[Clenches his hands and crosses the room.]
Oh, but this is hopeless, hopeless! Never a ray of sunlight! Not so much as a gleam of brightness to light up our home!

MRS. SOLNESS. This is no home, Halvard.

SOLNESS. Oh no, you may well say that.
[Gloomily.]
And God knows whether you are not right in saying that it will be no better for us in the new house, either.

MRS. SOLNESS. It will never be any better. Just as empty — just as desolate — there as here.

SOLNESS.
[Vehemently.]
Why in all the world have we built it then? Can you tell me that?

MRS. SOLNESS. No; you must answer that question for yourself.

SOLNESS.
[Glances suspiciously at her.]
What do you mean by that, Aline?

MRS. SOLNESS. What do I mean?

SOLNESS. Yes, in the devil’s name! You said it so strangely — as if you had some hidden meaning in it.

MRS. SOLNESS. No, indeed, I assure you —

SOLNESS.
[Comes closer.]
Oh, come now — I know what I know. I have both my eyes and my ears about me, Aline — you may depend upon that!

MRS. SOLNESS. Why, what are you talking about? What is it?

SOLNESS.
[Places himself in front of her.]
Do you mean to say you don’t find a kind of lurking, hidden meaning in the most innocent word I happen to say?

MRS. SOLNESS.
I
do you say?
I
do that?

SOLNESS.
[Laughs.]
Ho-ho-ho! It’s natural enough, Aline! When you have a sick man on your hands —

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Anxiously.]
Sick? Are you ill, Halvard?

SOLNESS.
[Violently.]
A half-mad man then! A crazy man! Call me what you will.

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Feels blindly for a chair and sits down.]
Halvard — for God’s sake —

SOLNESS. But you are wrong, both you and the doctor. I am not in the state that you imagine.

[He walks up and down the room.
 
MRS. SOLNESS follows him anxiously with her eyes.
 
Finally he goes up to her.

SOLNESS.
[Calmly.]
In reality there is nothing whatever the matter with me.

MRS. SOLNESS. No, there isn’t, is there? But then what is it that troubles you so?

SOLNESS. Why this, that I often feel ready to sink under this terrible burden of debt —

MRS. SOLNESS. Debt, do you say? But you owe no one anything, Halvard!

SOLNESS.
[Softly, with emotion.]
I owe a boundless debt to you — to you — to you, Aline.

MRS. SOLNESS.
[Rises slowly.]
What is behind all this? You may just as well tell me at once.

SOLNESS. But there is nothing behind it! I have never done you any wrong — not wittingly and willfully, at any rate. And yet — and yet it seems as though a crushing debt rested upon me and weighed me down.

MRS. SOLNESS. A debt to me?

SOLNESS. Chiefly to you.

MRS. SOLNESS. Then you are — ill after all, Halvard.

SOLNESS.
[Gloomily.]
I suppose I must be — or not far from it.
[Looks towards the door to the right, which is opened at this moment.]
Ah! now it grows light. HILDA WANGEL comes in.
 
She has made some alteration in her dress, and let down her skirt.

HILDA. Good morning, Mr. Solness!

SOLNESS.
[Nods.]
Slept well?

HILDA. Quite deliciously! Like a child in a cradle. Oh — I lay and stretched myself like — like a princess!