[Same scene as Act I, but there is a large table with chairs around it
in middle of scene. On table there is writing material and a speaker's
gavel. Axel is painting. Abel is sitting near him. She is smoking.]
AXEL. They have finished dinner and are having their coffee now. Did
they drink much?
ABEL. Oh, yes, and Bertha bragged and was disagreeable.
AXEL. Tell me one thing, Abel, are you my friend, or not?
ABEL. H'm--I don't know.
AXEL. Can I trust you?
ABEL. No--you can't.
AXEL. Why not?
ABEL. Oh, I just feel that you can't.
AXEL. Tell me, Abel, you who have the common sense of a man and can be
reasoned with, tell me how it feels to be a woman. Is it so awful?
ABEL [Jokingly]. Yes, of course. It feels like being a nigger.
AXEL. That's strange. Listen, Abel. You know that I have a passion for
equity and justice--
ABEL. I know you are a visionary--and that's why things will never go
well with you.
AXEL. But things go well with you--because you never feel anything?
ABEL. Yes.
AXEL. Abel, have you really never had any desire to love a man?
ABEL. How silly you are!
AXEL. Have you never found any one?
ABEL. No, men are very scarce.
AXEL. H'm, don't you consider me a man?
ABEL. You! No!
AXEL. That's what I fancied myself to be.
ABEL. Are you a man? You, who work for a woman and go around dressed
like a woman?
AXEL. What? I, dressed like a woman?
ABEL. The way you wear your hair and go around bare-necked, while she
wears stiff collars and short hair; be careful, she'll soon take your
trousers away from you.
AXEL. How you talk!
ABEL. And what is your position in your own house? You beg money from
her, and she puts you under her guardianship. No, you are not a man! But
that's why she took you, when her affairs were in bad shape.
AXEL. You hate Bertha; what have you against her?
ABEL. I don't know, but perhaps I, too, have been struck with that same
passion for justice.
AXEL. Look here. Don't you believe in your great cause any longer?
ABEL. Sometimes! Sometimes not! What can one believe in any more?
Sometimes it strikes me that the old ways were better. As mothers we had
an honored and respected position when in that way we fulfilled our
duty as citizens; as housewives we were a great power, and to bring up
a family was not an ignominious occupation. Give me a cognac, Axel. We
have talked so much.
AXEL [Getting cognac]. Why do you drink?
ABEL. I don't know. If one could only find the exceptional man!
AXEL. What sort would that be?
ABEL. The man who rules a woman!
AXEL. Well, and if you found one?
ABEL. Then I would--as they say--fall in love with him. Think if this
whole noise were _blague_. Think!
AXEL. No, there is surely life, motion in the movement, whatever it is.
ABEL. Yes, there's so much motion--forward and backward! And a good deal
of folly can come of the "motion," if they only get the majority for it.
AXEL. If it turns out that way, then you've made a damned lot of noise
uselessly, for now it's beginning to be loathsome to live.
ABEL. We make so much noise that we make your heads reel. That's the
trouble! Well, Axel, your position will be freer now that Bertha has
been able to sell.
AXEL. Sell! Has she sold a picture?
ABEL. Don't you know that? The small picture with the apple-tree.
AXEL. No, she hasn't said anything about it. When did it happen?
ABEL. Day before yesterday. Don't you know about it? Well, then she
intends to surprise you with the money.
AXEL. Surprise me? She takes care of the cash herself.
ABEL. So! Then it will--Hush, she is coming.
[Bertha comes in.]
BERTHA [To Abel]. Oh, good evening; are you here? What made you leave
us?
ABEL. I thought it was tiresome.
BERTHA. Yes, there is no fun in rejoicing for others!
ABEL. No!
BERTHA [To Axel]. And you sit diligently niggling, I see.
AXEL. Yes, I'm daubing away.
BERTHA. Let me see! That's very good indeed--but the left arm is far too
long.
AXEL. Do you think so?
BERTHA. Think so? Can't I see that it is? Give me the brush and--[She
takes brush.]
AXEL. No, let me alone. Aren't you ashamed?
BERTHA. What's that?
AXEL [Vexed]. Shame, I said. [Rises.] Are you trying to teach me how to
paint?
BERTHA. Why not?
AXEL. Because you have still much to learn from me. But I can learn
nothing from you.
BERTHA. It seems to me that the gentleman is not very respectful to his
wife. One should bear in mind the respect one owes to--
ABEL. Now you're old-fashioned. What particular respect does a man owe a
woman if they are to be equals?
BERTHA [To Abel]. So you think it's all right for a man to be coarse
with his wife?
ABEL. Yes, when she is impudent to him.
AXEL. That's right! Tear each other's eyes out!
ABEL. Not at all! The whole thing is too insignificant for that.
AXEL. Don't say that. Look here, Bertha, considering that our economic
condition is to undergo a change from now on, won't you be so good as to
let me see the account-book?
BERTHA. What a noble revenge for being refused!
AXEL. What revenge? What has the account-book got to do with my being
turned down at the salon? Give me the key to the chiffonier.
BERTHA [Feeling in her pocket]. Very well. H'm! That's strange! I
thought I just had it.
AXEL. Find it!
BERTHA. You speak in such a commanding tone. I don't like that.
AXEL. Come now, find the key.
BERTHA [Looking here and there in the room]. Yes, but I can't understand
it; I can't find it. It must be lost some way.
AXEL. Are you sure that you haven't got it?
BERTHA. Absolutely sure.
[Axel rings; after a moment the maid comes in.]
AXEL [To maid]. Go fetch a locksmith.
MAID. A locksmith?
AXEL. Yes, a smith who can pick a lock.
[Bertha gives the maid a look.]
MAID. Right away, monsieur.
[Maid goes out. Axel changes his coat, discovers the order on the lapel,
tears it off and throws it on the table.]
AXEL. Pardon me, ladies!
BERTHA [Mildly]. Don't mind us. Are you going out?
AXEL. I am going out.
BERTHA. Aren't you going to stay for the meeting?
AXEL. No, I am not!
BERTHA. Yes, but they will think that very discourteous.
AXEL. Let them. I have more important things to do than listening to the
drivel of you women.
BERTHA [Worried]. Where are you going?
AXEL. I don't need to account for myself, as I don't ask you to account
for your actions.
BERTHA. You won't forget that we have invited guests for the masquerade
tomorrow evening?
AXEL. Guests? That's true, tomorrow evening. H'm!
BERTHA. It won't do to postpone it when both Oestermark and Carl have
arrived today, and I have asked them to come.
AXEL. So much the better!
BERTHA. And now come home early enough to try on your costume.
AXEL. My Costume? Yes, of course; I am to take the part of a woman.
[The maid enters.]
MAID. The smith hasn't time now, but he'll come within two hours.
AXEL. He hasn't time, eh? Well, perhaps the key will turn up anyway.
However, I must be off now. Good-bye.
BERTHA [Very mild]. Good-bye then. Don't come home late.
AXEL. I don't know just what I will do. Goodbye.
[Abel nods good-bye, Axel goes out.]
ABEL. How very cocky his lordship was!
BERTHA. Such impudence! Do you know, I had a good mind to tame him,
break him so that he'd come back crawling to me.
ABEL. Yes, that tweak the salon disappointment gave him doesn't seem
to have taken all the spunk out of him. Bertha, tell me, have you ever
loved that clown?
BERTHA. Loved him? I liked him very much because he was nice to me. But
he is so silly and--when he nags as he did just now, I feel that I could
hate him. Think of it, it's already around that he painted my picture!
ABEL. Well, if it's gone as far as that, then you must do something
eclatant.
BERTHA. If I only knew how!
ABEL. I'm usually inventive. Let me see. Look here, why couldn't you
have his refused picture brought home just as all your friends have
gathered here?
BERTHA. No, that would look as if I wanted to triumph. No, that would be
too terrible.
ABEL. Yes, but if I should have it done? Or Gaga, that would be better
still. It would be sent here in Axel's name by the porter. It's got to
come home anyway, and it's no secret that it was refused.
BERTHA. No, but you know--
ABEL. What? Hasn't he spread false reports, and haven't you the right to
defend yourself?
BERTHA. I would like it to happen very much, but I don't want to have
anything to do with the doing of it. I want to be able to stand and
swear that I am quite clean and innocent.
ABEL. You shall be able to do so. I'll attend to it.
BERTHA. What do you think he wanted the account-book for? He has never
asked to see it before. Do you think he has some scheme in his head
about it?
ABEL. Ye-es! Doubtless. He wants to see if you've accounted for the
three hundred francs you got for your picture.
BERTHA. What picture?
ABEL. The one you sold to Madame Roubey.
BERTHA. How do you know about that?
ABEL. The whole crowd knows about it.
BERTHA. And Axel, too?
ABEL. Yes. I happened to mention it because I thought he knew. It was
stupid of you not to tell him.
BERTHA. Does it concern him if I sell a--
ABEL. Yes, in a way, of course it concerns him.
BERTHA. Well, then, I will explain that I didn't want to give him
another disappointment after he had already had the unhappiness of
seeing me accepted at the salon.
ABEL. Strictly speaking, he has nothing to do with your earnings, as you
have a marriage compact, and you have every reason to be tight with him.
Just to establish a precedent, buck up and stand your own ground when he
returns with his lecture tonight.
BERTHA. Oh, I know how to take care of him. But--another matter. How are
we to treat the Oestermark case?
ABEL. Oestermark,--yes, he is my great enemy. You had better let me take
care of him. We have an old account that is still unsettled, he and I.
Calm yourself on that score. I'll make him yield, for we have the law on
our side.
BERTHA. What do you intend to do?
ABEL. Invite Mrs. Hall and her two daughters here for tomorrow night,
and then we will find out how he takes it.
BERTHA. No, indeed, no scandal in my house!
ABEL. Why not? Can you deny yourself such a triumph? If it's war, one
must kill one's enemies, not just wound them. And now it is war. Am I
right?
BERTHA. Yes, but a father, and his wife and daughters whom he has not
seen for eighteen years!
ABEL. Well, he'll have a chance to see them now.
BERTHA. You're terrible, Abel!
ABEL. I'm a little stronger than you, that's all. Marriage must have
softened you. Do you live as married people, h'm?
BERTHA. How foolish you are!
ABEL. You have irritated Axel; you have trampled on him. But he can yet
bite your heel.
BERTHA. Do you think he would dare to do anything?
ABEL. I believe he'll create a scene when he comes home.
BERTHA. Well, I shall give him as good as he sends--
ABEL. If you only can! But that business about the chiffonier key--that
was foolish, very foolish.
BERTHA. Perhaps it was foolish. But he will be nice enough again after
he has had an airing. I know him.
[The maid comes in with a package.]
MAID. A messenger brought this costume for Monsieur.
BERTHA. Very well, let me have it. That's fine!
MAID. But it must be for madame, as it's a lady's costume.
BERTHA. No, that's all right. It's for monsieur.
MAID. But, heavens! is monsieur to wear dresses too?
BERTHA. Why not, when we have to wear them? But you may leave us now.
[Maid goes out. Bertha opens bundle and takes out Spanish costume.]
ABEL. But that is certainly well thought out. Oh, it's beautiful to
avenge any one's stupidities.
[Willmer comes in zenith a messenger, who carries a package. Willmer is
dressed in black frock coat with lapels faced with white, a flower in
buttonhole, knee breeches, red cravat, and turned over cuffs.]
WILLMER. Good evening; are you alone? Here are the candles and here are
the bottles. One chartreuse and two vermouth; here are two packages of
tobacco and the rest of the things.
BERTHA. Well, but you are a good boy, Gaga!
WILLMER. And here is the receipted bill.
BERTHA. Is it paid? Then you have spent money again?
WILLMER. We'll have plenty of time to settle that. But you must hurry
now, as the old lady will soon be here.
BERTHA. Then be good enough to open the bottles while I fix the candles.
WILLMER. Of course I will.
[Bertha opens package of candles at table; Willmer stands beside her,
taking the wrappers from bottles.]
ABEL. You look quite family-like as you stand there together. You might
have made quite a nice little husband, Gaga.
[Willmer puts his arm around Bertha and kisses her on the neck. Bertha
turns on Willmer and slaps his face.]
BERTHA. Aren't you ashamed, you little hornet! What are you up to,
anyway?
ABEL. If you can stand that, Gaga, then you can stand the knife.
WILLMER [Angry]. Little hornet? Don't you know who I am? Don't you know
that I'm an author of rank?
BERTHA. You! who write nothing but trash!
WILLMER. It wasn't trash when I wrote for you.
BERTHA. You only copied what we said, that was all!
WILLMER. Take care, Bertha. You know that I can ruin you!
BERTHA. So, you threaten, you little Fido! [To Abel.] Shall we give the
boy a spanking?
ABEL. Think what you are saying!
WILLMER. So! I've been a little Fido, who has been lying on your skirt;
but don't forget that I can bite too.
BERTHA. Let me see your teeth!
WILLMER. No, but you shall feel them!
BERTHA. Very well, come on then! Come!
ABEL. Now, now, be quiet before you go too far.
WILLMER [To Bertha]. Do you know what one has a right to say about a
married woman who accepts presents from a young bachelor?
BERTHA. Presents?
WILLMER. You've accepted presents from me for two years.
BERTHA. Presents! You should have a thrashing, you lying little snipe,
always hanging around the petticoats! Don't you suppose I can squelch
you?
WILLMER [With a shrug]. Perhaps.
BERTHA. And you dare throw a shadow on a woman's honor!
WILLMER, Honor! H'm! Does it do you any honor to have had me buy part of
the household things which you have charged up to your husband?
BERTHA. Leave my house, you scamp!
WILLMER. Your house! Among comrades one is not careful, but among
enemies one must count every hair! And you shall be compelled to go over
the accounts with me--adventuress--depend on that! [Goes out.]
ABEL. You will suffer for this foolishness! To let a friend leave you as
an enemy--that's dangerous.
BERTHA. Oh, let him do what he likes. He dared to kiss me! He dared to
remind me that I'm a woman.
ABEL. Do you know, I believe a man will always have that in mind. You
have been playing with fire.
BERTHA. Fire! Can one ever find a man and a woman who can live like
comrades without danger of fire?
ABEL. No, I don't think so; as long as there are two sexes there is
bound to be fire.
BERTHA. Yes, but that must be done away with!
ABEL. Yes--it must be--try it!
[The maid comes in; she is bursting with laughter.]
MAID. There is a lady out here who calls herself--Richard--Richard
Wahlstroem!
BERTHA [Going toward door]. Oh! Richard is here.
ABEL. Oh, well then, if she has come, we can open the meeting. And now
to see if we can disentangle your skein.
BERTHA. Disentangle it, or cut it!
ABEL. Or get caught in it!
CURTAIN.