_Late evening. REBECCA WEST stands by a lighted lamp, with a
shade over it, packing sandwiches, &c., in a reticule, with a
faint smile. The antimacassar is on the sofa. Enter ROSMER._
_Rosmer_ (_seeing the sandwiches, &c._). Sandwiches? Then you _are_
going I Why, on earth,--I _can't_ understand!
_Reb._ Dear, you never _can_. Rosmershölm is too much for me. But how
did you get on with KROLL?
_Rosmer_. We have made it up. He has convinced me that the work of
ennobling men was several sizes too large for me--so I am going to let
it alone--
_Reb._ (_with her faint smile_). There I almost think, dear, that you
are wise.
_Rosmer_ (_as if annoyed_). What, so _you_ don't believe in me either,
REBECCA--you never _did! [Sits listlessly on chair._
_Reb._ Not much, dear, when you are left to yourself--but I've another
confession to make.
_Rosmer_. What, _another_? I really can't stand any more confessions
just now!
_Reb._ (_sitting close to him_). It is only a little one. I bullied
BEATA into the mill-race--because of a wild uncontrollable-- (_ROSMER
moves uneasily._) Sit still, dear--uncontrollable fancy--for _you_!
_Rosmer_ (_goes and sits on sofa_). Oh, my goodness, REBECCA--you
_mustn't_, you know!
[_He jumps up and down as if embarrassed._
_Reb._ Don't be alarmed, dear, it is all over now. After living alone
with you in solitude, when you showed me all your thoughts without
reserve,--little by little, somehow the fancy passed off. I caught
the ROSMER view of life badly, and dulness descended on my soul as an
extinguisher upon one of our Northern dips. The ROSMER view of life is
ennobling, very--but hardly lively. And I've more yet to tell you.
_Rosmer_ (_turning it off_). Isn't that enough for one evening P
_Reb._ (_almost voiceless_). No, dear. I have a Past--_behind_ me!
_Rosmer_. _Behind_ you? How strange. I had an idea of that sort
already. (_Starts, as if in fear._) A joke! (_Sadly._) Ah, no--_no_,
I must not give way to _that_! Never mind the Past, REBECCA; I
once thought that I had made the grand discovery that, if one is
only virtuous, one will be happy. I see now it was too daring, too
original--an immature dream. What bothers me is that I can't--somehow
I _can't_--believe entirely in you--I am not even sure that I _have_
ennobled you so very much--_isn't_ it terrible?
_Reb._ (_wringing her hands_). Oh, this killing doubt! (_Looks darkly
at him._) Is there anything _I_ can do to convince you?
_Rosmer_ (_as if impelled to speak against his will_). Yes, one
thing--only I'm afraid you wouldn't see it in the same light. And
yet I must mention it. It is like this. I want to recover faith in
my mission, in my power to ennoble human souls. And, as a logical
thinker, this I cannot do now, unless--well, unless you jump into the
mill-race, too, like BEATA!
_Reb._ (_takes up her antimacassar, with composure, and puts it on her
head_). Anything to oblige you.
_Rosmer_ (_springs up_). What? You really _will_! You are _sure_ you
don't mind? Then, REBECCA, I will go further. I will even go--yes--as
far as you go yourself!
_Reb._ (_bows her head towards his breast_). You will see me off?
Thanks. Now you are indeed an Ibsenite.
[_Smiles almost imperceptibly._
_Rosmer_ (_cautiously_). I said as far as _you_ go. I don't commit
myself further than that. Shall we go?
_Reb._ First tell me this. Are _you_ going with _me_, or am _I_ going
with _you_?
_Rosmer_. A subtle psychological point--but we have not time to think
it out here. We will discuss it as we go along. Come!
[_ROSMER takes his hat and stick, REBECCA her reticule, with
sandwiches. They go out hand-in-hand through the door, which
they leave open. The room (as is not uncommon with rooms in
Norway) is left empty. Then Madam HELSETH enters through
another door._
_Madam H._ The cab, Miss--not here! (_Looks out._) Out together--at
this time of night--upon my--_not_ on the garden-seat? (_Looks out of
window._) My goodness! _what_ is that white thing on the bridge--the
_Horse_ at last! (_Shrieks aloud._) And those two sinful creatures
running home!
_Enter ROSMER and REBECCA, _out of breath._
_Rosmer_ (_scarcely able to get the words out_). It's no use,
REBECCA--we must put it off till another evening. We can't be expected
to jump off a footbridge which already has a White Horse on it. And,
if it comes to that, why should we jump at all? I know now that I
really _have_ ennobled you, which was all _I_ wanted. What would
be the good of recovering faith in my mission at the bottom of a
mill-pond? No, REBECCA--(_lays his hand on her head_)--there is no
judge over us, and therefore--
_Reb._ (_interrupting gravely_). We will bind ourselves over in our
own recognisances to come up for judgment when called upon.
[_Madam HELSETH holds on to a chair-back, REBECCA finishes
the antimacassar calmly as Curtain falls._
* * * * *