ALLMERS. She has drawn him down into the depths--that you may be sure
of, dear.
ASTA. But, Alfred, why should she?
ALLMERS. Yes, that is just the question! Why should she? There is no
retribution behind it all--no atonement, I mean. Eyolf never did her any
harm. He never called names after her; he never threw stones at her dog.
Why, he had never set eyes either on her or her dog till yesterday.
So there is no retribution; the whole thing is utterly groundless and
meaningless, Asta.--And yet the order of the world requires it.
ASTA. Have you spoken to Rita of these things?
ALLMERS. [Shakes his head.] I feel as if I can talk better to you about
them. [Drawing a deep breath.] And about everything else as well.
[ASTA takes sewing-materials and a little paper parcel out of her
pocket. ALLMERS sits looking on absently.]
ALLMERS. What leave you got there, Asta?
ASTA. [Taking his hat.] Some black crape.
ALLMERS. Oh, what is the use of that?
ASTA. Rita asked me to put it on. May I?
ALLMERS. Oh, yes; as far as I'm concerned--[She sews the crape on his
hat.]
ALLMERS. [Sitting and looking at her.] Where is Rita?
ASTA. She is walking about the garden a little, I think. Borgheim is
with her.
ALLMERS. [Slightly surprised.] Indeed! Is Borgheim out here to-day
again?
ASTA. Yes. He came out by the mid-day train.
ALLMERS. I didn't expect that.
ASTA. [Serving.] He was so fond of Eyolf.
ALLMERS. Borgheim is a faithful soul, Asta.
ASTA. [With quiet warmth.] Yes, faithful he is, indeed. That is certain.
ALLMERS. [Fixing his eyes upon her.] You are really fond of him?
ASTA. Yes, I am.
ALLMERS. And yet you cannot make up your mind to--?
ASTA. [Interrupting.] Oh, my dear Alfred, don't talk of that!
ALLMERS. Yes, yes; tell me why you cannot?
ASTA. Oh, no! Please! You really must not ask me. You see, it's so
painful for me.--There now! The hat is done.
ALLMERS. Thank you.
ASTA. And now for the left arm.
ALLMERS. Am I to have crape on it too?
ASTA. Yes, that is the custom.
ALLMERS. Well--as you please.
[She moves close up to him and begins to sew.]
ASTA. Keep your arm still--then I won't prick you.
ALLMERS. [With a half-smile.] This is like the old days.
ASTA. Yes, don't you think so?
ALLMERS. When you were a little girl you used to sit just like this,
mending my clothes. The first thing you ever sewed for me--that was
black crape, too.
ASTA. Was it?
ALLMERS. Round my student's cap--at the time of father's death.
ASTA. Could I sew then? Fancy, I have forgotten it.
ALLMERS. Oh, you were such a little thing then.
ASTA. Yes, I was little then.
ALLMERS. And then, two years afterwards--when we lost your mother--then
again you sewed a big crape band on my sleeve.
ASTA. I thought it was the right thing to do.
ALLMERS. [Patting her hand.] Yes, yes, it was the right thing to do,
Asta. And then when we were left alone in the world, we two--. Are you
done already?
ASTA. Yes. [Putting together her sewing-materials.] It was really a
beautiful time for us, Alfred. We two alone.
ALLMERS. Yes, it was--though we had to toil so hard.
ASTA. You toiled.
ALLMERS. [With more life.] Oh, you toiled too, in your way, I can assure
you--[smiling]--my dear, faithful--Eyolf.
ASTA. Oh--you mustn't remind me of that stupid nonsense about the name.
ALLMERS. Well, if you had been a boy, you would have been called Eyolf.
ASTA. Yes, if! But when you began to go to college--. [Smiling
involuntarily.] I wonder how you could be so childish.
ALLMERS. Was it I that was childish?
ASTA. Yes, indeed, I think it was, as I look back upon it all. You were
ashamed of having no brother--only a sister.
ALLMERS. No, no, it was you, dear--you were ashamed.
ASTA. Oh yes, I too, perhaps--a little. And somehow or other I was sorry
for you--
ALLMERS. Yes, I believe you were. And then you hunted up some of my old
boy's clothes--
ASTA. Your fine Sunday clothes--yes. Do you remember the blue blouse and
knickerbockers?
ALLMERS. [His eyes dwelling upon her.] I remember so well how you looked
when you used to wear them.
ASTA. Only when we were at home, alone, though.
ALLMERS. And how serious we were, dear, and how mightily pleased with
ourselves. I always called you Eyolf.
ASTA. Oh, Alfred, I hope you have never told Rita this?
ALLMERS. Yes, I believe I did once tell her.
ASTA. Oh, Alfred, how could you do that?
ALLMERS. Well, you see--one tells one's wife everything--very nearly.
ASTA. Yes, I suppose one does.
ALLMERS. [As if awakening, clutches at his forehead and starts up.] Oh,
how can I sit here and--
ASTA. [Rising, looks sorrowfully at him.] What is the matter?
ALLMERS. He had almost passed away from me. He had passed quite away.
ASTA. Eyolf!
ALLMERS. Here I sat, living in these recollections--and he had no part
in them.
ASTA. Yes, Alfred--little Eyolf was behind it all.
ALLMERS. No, he was not. He slipped out of my memory--out of my
thoughts. I did not see him for a moment as we sat here talking. I
utterly forgot him all that time.
ASTA. But surely you must take some rest in your sorrow.
ALLMERS. No, no, no; that is just what I will not do! I must not--I
have no right--and no heart for it, either. [Going in great excitement
towards the right.] All my thoughts must be out there, where he lies
drifting in the depths!
ASTA. [Following him and holding him back.] Alfred--Alfred! Don't go to
the fiord.
ALLMERS. I must go out to him! Let me go, Asta! I will take the boat.
ASTA. [In terror.] Don't go to the fiord, I say!
ALLMERS. [Yielding.] No, no--I will not. Only let me alone.
ASTA. [Leading him back to the table.] You must rest from your thoughts,
Alfred. Come here and sit down.
ALLMERS. [Making as if to seat himself on the bench.] Well, well--as you
please.
ASTA. No, I won't let you sit there.
ALLMERS. Yes, let me.
ASTA. No, don't. For then you will only sit looking out--[Forces him
down upon a chair, with his back to the right.] There now. Now that's
right. [Seats herself upon the bench.] And now we can talk a little
again.
ALLMERS. [Drawing a deep breath audibly.] It was good to deaden the
sorrow and heartache for a moment.
ASTA. You must do so, Alfred.
ALLMERS. But don't you think it is terribly weak and unfeeling of me--to
be able to do so?
ASTA. Oh, no--I am sure it is impossible to keep circling for ever round
one fixed thought.
ALLMERS. Yes, for me it is impossible. Before you came to me, here I
sat, torturing myself unspeakably with this crushing, gnawing sorrow--
ASTA. Yes?