knew each other.
LÖVBORG.
And I must teach myself never to say Hedda Gabler again—never, as long
as I live.
HEDDA.
[_Still turning over the pages._] Yes, you must. And I think you ought
to practise in time. The sooner the better, I should say.
LÖVBORG.
[_In a tone of indignation._] Hedda Gabler married? And married
to—George Tesman!
HEDDA.
Yes—so the world goes.
LÖVBORG.
Oh, Hedda, Hedda—how could you[21] throw yourself away!
HEDDA.
[_Looks sharply at him._] What? I can’t allow this!
LÖVBORG.
What do you mean?
[TESMAN _comes into the room and goes towards the sofa._
HEDDA.
[_Hears him coming and says in an indifferent tone._] And this is a view
from the Val d’Ampezzo, Mr. Lövborg. Just look at these peaks! [_Looks
affectionately up at TESMAN._] What’s the name of these curious peaks,
dear?
TESMAN.
Let me see. Oh, those are the Dolomites.
HEDDA.
Yes, that’s it!—Those are the Dolomites, Mr. Lövborg.
TESMAN.
Hedda dear,—I only wanted to ask whether I shouldn’t bring you a little
punch after all? For yourself at any rate—eh?
HEDDA.
Yes, do, please; and perhaps a few biscuits.
TESMAN.
No cigarettes?
HEDDA.
No.
TESMAN.
Very well.
[_He goes into the inner room and out to the right._ BRACK
_sits in the inner room, and keeps an eye from time to time
on_ HEDDA _and_ LÖVBORG.
LÖVBORG.
[_Softly, as before._] Answer me, Hedda—how could you go and do this?
HEDDA.
[_Apparently absorbed in the album._] If you continue to say _du_ to me
I won’t talk to you.
LÖVBORG.
May I not say _du_ even when we are alone?
HEDDA.
No. You may think it; but you mustn’t say it.
LÖVBORG.
Ah, I understand. It is an offence against George Tesman, whom
you[22]—love.
HEDDA.
[_Glances at him and smiles._] Love? What an idea!
LÖVBORG.
You don’t love him then!
HEDDA.
But I won’t hear of any sort of unfaithfulness! Remember that.
LÖVBORG.
Hedda—answer me one thing——
HEDDA.
Hush!
[TESMAN _enters with a small tray from the inner room._
TESMAN.
Here you are! Isn’t this tempting?
[_He puts the tray on the table._
HEDDA.
Why do you bring it yourself?
TESMAN.
[_Filling the glasses._] Because I think it’s such fun to wait upon you,
Hedda.
HEDDA.
But you have poured out two glasses. Mr. Lövborg said he wouldn’t have
any——
TESMAN.
No, but Mrs. Elvsted will soon be here, won’t she?
HEDDA.
Yes, by-the-bye—Mrs. Elvsted——
TESMAN.
Had you forgotten her? Eh?
HEDDA.
We were so absorbed in these photographs. [_Shows him a picture._] Do
you remember this little village?
TESMAN.
Oh, it’s that one just below the Brenner Pass. It was there we passed
the night——
HEDDA.
——and met that lively party of tourists.
TESMAN.
Yes, that was the place. Fancy—if we could only have had _you_ with us,
Eilert! Eh?
[_He returns to the inner room and sits beside_ BRACK.
LÖVBORG.
Answer me this one thing, Hedda——
HEDDA.
Well?
LÖVBORG.
Was there no love in your friendship for _me_ either? Not a spark—not a
tinge of love in it?
HEDDA.
I wonder if there was? To me it seems as though we were two good
comrades—two thoroughly intimate friends. [_Smilingly._] You especially
were frankness itself.
LÖVBORG.
It was you that made me so.
HEDDA.
As I look back upon it all, I think there was really something
beautiful, something fascinating—something daring—in—in that secret
intimacy—that comradeship which no living creature so much as dreamed
of.
LÖVBORG.
Yes, yes, Hedda! Was there not?—When I used to come to your father’s in
the afternoon—and the General sat over at the window reading his
papers—with his back towards us——
HEDDA.
And we two on the corner sofa——
LÖVBORG.
Always with the same illustrated paper before us——
HEDDA.
For want of an album, yes.
LÖVBORG.
Yes, Hedda, and when I made my confessions to you—told you about myself,
things that at that time no one else knew! There I would sit and tell
you of my escapades—my days and nights of devilment. Oh, Hedda—what was
the power in you that forced me to confess these things?
HEDDA.
Do you think it was any power in me?
LÖVBORG.
How else can I explain it? And all those—those roundabout questions you
used to put to me——
HEDDA.
Which you understood so particularly well——
LÖVBORG.
How could you sit and question me like that? Question me quite frankly——
HEDDA.
In roundabout terms, please observe.
LÖVBORG.
Yes, but frankly nevertheless. Cross-question me about—all that sort of
thing?
HEDDA.
And how could you answer, Mr. Lövborg?
LÖVBORG.
Yes, that is just what I can’t understand—in looking back upon it. But
tell me now, Hedda—was there not love at the bottom of our friendship?
On your side, did you not feel as though you might purge my stains
away—if I made you my confessor? Was it not so?
HEDDA.
No, not quite.
LÖVBORG.
What was your motive, then?
HEDDA.
Do you think it quite incomprehensible that a young girl—when it can be
done—without any one knowing——
LÖVBORG.
Well?
HEDDA.
——should be glad to have a peep, now and then, into a world which——
LÖVBORG.
Which——?
HEDDA.
——which she is forbidden to know anything about?
LÖVBORG.
So _that_ was it?
HEDDA.
Partly. Partly—I almost think.
LÖVBORG.
Comradeship in the thirst for life. But why should not _that_, at any
rate, have continued?
HEDDA.
The fault was yours.
LÖVBORG.
It was you that broke with me.
HEDDA.
Yes, when our friendship threatened to develop into something more
serious. Shame upon you, Eilert Lövborg! How could you think of wronging
your—your frank comrade?
LÖVBORG.
[_Clenching his hands._] Oh, why did you not carry out your threat? Why
did you not shoot me down?
HEDDA.
Because I have such a dread of scandal.
LÖVBORG.
Yes, Hedda, you are a coward at heart.
HEDDA.
A terrible coward. [_Changing her tone._] But it was a lucky thing for
you. And now you have found ample consolation at the Elvsteds’.
LÖVBORG.
I know what Thea has confided to you.
HEDDA.
And perhaps you have confided to her something about us?
LÖVBORG.
Not a word. She is too stupid to understand anything of that sort.
HEDDA.
Stupid?
LÖVBORG.
She is stupid about matters of that sort.
HEDDA.
And I am cowardly. [_Bends over towards him, without looking him in the
face, and says more softly_:] But now I will confide something to _you_.
LÖVBORG.
[_Eagerly._] Well?
HEDDA.
The fact that I dared not shoot you down——
LÖVBORG.
Yes!
HEDDA.
——_that_ was not my most arrant cowardice—that evening.
LÖVBORG.
[_Looks at her a moment, understands, and whispers passionately._] Oh,
Hedda! Hedda Gabler! Now I begin to see a hidden reason beneath our
comradeship! You[23] and I——! After all, then, it was your craving for
life——
HEDDA.
[_Softly, with a sharp glance._] Take care! Believe nothing of the sort!
[_Twilight has begun to fall. The hall door is opened from
without by_ BERTA.
HEDDA.
[_Closes the album with a bang and calls smilingly_:] Ah, at last! My
darling Thea,—come along!
MRS. ELVSTED _enters from the hall. She is in evening dress. The door is
closed behind her._
HEDDA.
[_On the sofa, stretches out her arms towards her._] My sweet Thea—you
can’t think how I have been longing for you!
[MRS. ELVSTED, _in passing, exchanges slight salutations with
the gentlemen in the inner room, then goes up to the table
and gives_ HEDDA _her hand._ EILERT LÖVBORG _has risen. He
and_ MRS. ELVSTED _greet each other with a silent nod._
MRS. ELVSTED.
Ought I to go in and talk to your husband for a moment?
HEDDA.
Oh, not at all. Leave those two alone. They will soon be going.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Are they going out?
HEDDA.
Yes, to a supper-party.
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Quickly, to LÖVBORG._] Not _you_?
LÖVBORG.
No.
HEDDA.
Mr. Lövborg remains with us.
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Takes a chair and is about to seat herself at his side._] Oh, how nice
it is here!
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._ LÖVBORG _re-seats himself on his chair._
LÖVBORG.
[_After a short pause, to HEDDA._] Is not she lovely to look at?
HEDDA.
[_Lightly stroking her hair._] Only to look at?
LÖVBORG.
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. Lövborg?
LÖVBORG.
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?
LÖVBORG.
And then she is so brave, Mrs. Tesman!
MRS. ELVSTED.
Good heavens—am I brave?
LÖVBORG.
Exceedingly—where your comrade is concerned.
HEDDA.
Ah yes—courage! If one only had _that_!
LÖVBORG.
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. Lövborg.
LÖVBORG.
Nor I, thank you.
MRS. ELVSTED.
No, he doesn’t either.
HEDDA.
[_Looks fixedly at him._] But if I say you _shall_?
LÖVBORG.
It would be no use.
HEDDA.
[_Laughing._] Then I, poor creature, have no sort of power over you?
LÖVBORG.
Not in _that_ respect.
HEDDA.
But seriously, I think you ought to—for your own sake.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Why, Hedda——!
LÖVBORG.
How so?
HEDDA.
Or rather on account of other people.
LÖVBORG.
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——
LÖVBORG.
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.
LÖVBORG.
What did you see?
HEDDA.
His contemptuous smile, when you dared not go with them into the inner
room.
LÖVBORG.
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 saw, too, the way he smiled
and glanced at Tesman when you dared not accept his invitation to this
wretched little supper-party of his.
LÖVBORG.
Dared not! Do you say I dared not?
HEDDA.
_I_ don’t say so. But that was how Judge Brack understood it.
LÖVBORG.
Well, let him.
HEDDA.
Then you are not going with them?
LÖVBORG.
I will stay here with you and Thea.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes, Hedda—how can you doubt that?
HEDDA.
[_Smiles and nods approvingly to LÖVBORG._] 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——
LÖVBORG.
[_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!
LÖVBORG.
[_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.
LÖVBORG.
So she was in mortal terror! On my account!
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Softly and piteously._] Oh, Hedda—now you have ruined everything!
LÖVBORG.
[_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——
LÖVBORG.
[_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?
LÖVBORG.
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.
LÖVBORG.
[_Putting down the glass._] Now, Thea—tell me the truth——
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes.
LÖVBORG.
Did your husband know that you had come after me?
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Wringing her hands._] Oh, Hedda—do you hear what he is asking?
LÖVBORG.
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, Lövborg, Lövborg——!
LÖVBORG.
[_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.
LÖVBORG.
[_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.
LÖVBORG.
[_Rising._] Mine too, Judge Brack.
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Softly and imploringly._] Oh, Lövborg, don’t do it!
HEDDA.
[_Pinching her arm._] They can hear you!
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_With a suppressed shriek._] Ow!
LÖVBORG.
[_To BRACK._] You were good enough to invite me.
BRACK.
Well, are you coming after all?
LÖVBORG.
Yes, many thanks.
BRACK.
I’m delighted——
LÖVBORG.
[_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.
LÖVBORG.
[_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 ever you please.
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Trying to conceal her anxiety._] Well then, Mr. Lövborg—I shall remain
here until you come.
LÖVBORG.
[_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.
LÖVBORG.
[_Bowing._] About ten o’clock, then.
[BRACK, LÖVBORG, _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——
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh, I hope he may.
HEDDA.
And then, you see—then he will have regained control over himself. Then
he will be a free man for all his days.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh God!—if he would only come as you see him now!
HEDDA.
He will come as I see him—so, and not otherwise! [_Rises and approaches
THEA._] You may doubt him as long as you please; _I_ believe in him. And
now we will try——
MRS. ELVSTED.
You have some hidden motive in this, Hedda!
HEDDA.
Yes, I _have_. I want for once in my life to have power to mould a human
destiny.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Have you not the power?
HEDDA.
I have not—and have never had it.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Not your husband’s?
HEDDA.
Do you think _that_ is worth the trouble? Oh, if you could only
understand how poor I am. And fate has made _you_ so rich! [_Clasps her
passionately in her arms._] I think I must burn your hair off, after
all.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Let me go! Let me go! I am afraid of you, Hedda!
BERTA.
[_In the middle doorway._] Tea is laid in the dining-room, ma’am.
HEDDA.
Very well. We are coming.
MRS. ELVSTED.
No, no, no! I would rather go home alone! At once!
HEDDA.
Nonsense! First you shall have a cup of tea, you little stupid. And
then—at ten o’clock—Eilert Lövborg will be here—with vine-leaves in his
hair.
[_She drags_ MRS. ELVSTED _almost by force towards the middle
doorway._
ACT THIRD.
_The room at the_ TESMANS’. _The curtains are drawn over the middle
doorway, and also over the glass door. The lamp, half turned down,
and with a shade over it, is burning on the table. In the stove,
the door of which stands open, there has been a fire, which is now
nearly burnt out._
MRS. ELVSTED, _wrapped in a large shawl, and with her feet upon a
foot-rest, sits close to the stove, sunk back in the arm-chair._
HEDDA, _fully dressed, lies sleeping upon the sofa, with a
sofa-blanket over her._
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_After a pause, suddenly sits up in her chair, and listens eagerly.
Then she sinks back again wearily, moaning to herself._] Not yet!—Oh
God—oh God—not yet!
BERTA _slips cautiously in by the hall door. She has a letter in her
hand._
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Turns and whispers eagerly._] Well—has any one come?
BERTA.
[_Softly._] Yes, a girl has just brought this letter.
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Quickly, holding out her hand._] A letter! Give it to me!
BERTA.
No, it’s for Dr. Tesman, ma’am.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh, indeed.
BERTA.
It was Miss Tesman’s servant that brought it. I’ll lay it here on the
table.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes, do.
BERTA.
[_Laying down the letter._] I think I had better put out the lamp. It’s
smoking.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes, put it out. It must soon be daylight now.
BERTA.
[_Putting out the lamp._] It is daylight already, ma’am.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes, broad day! And no one come back yet——!
BERTA.
Lord bless you, ma’am—I guessed how it would be.
MRS. ELVSTED.
You guessed?
BERTA.
Yes, when I saw that a certain person had come back to town—and that he
went off with them. For we’ve heard enough about that gentleman before
now.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Don’t speak so loud. You will waken Mrs. Tesman.
BERTA.
[_Looks towards the sofa and sighs._] No, no—let her sleep, poor thing.
Shan’t I put some wood on the fire?
MRS. ELVSTED.
Thanks, not for me.
BERTA.
Oh, very well.
[_She goes softly out by the hall door._
HEDDA.
[_Is wakened by the shutting of the door, and looks up._] What’s that——?
MRS. ELVSTED.
It was only the servant——
HEDDA.
[_Looking about her._] Oh, we’re here——! Yes, now I remember. [_Sits
erect upon the sofa, stretches herself, and rubs her eyes._] What
o’clock is it, Thea?
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Looks at her watch._] It’s past seven.
HEDDA.
When did Tesman come home?
MRS. ELVSTED.
He has not come.
HEDDA.
Not come home yet?
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Rising._] No one has come.
HEDDA.
Think of our watching and waiting here till four in the morning——
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Wringing her hands._] And _how_ I watched and waited for him!
HEDDA.
[_Yawns, and says with her hand before her mouth._] Well well—we might
have spared ourselves the trouble.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Did you get a little sleep?
HEDDA.
Oh yes; I believe I have slept pretty well. Have you not?
MRS. ELVSTED.
Not for a moment. I couldn’t, Hedda!—not to save my life.
HEDDA.
[_Rises and goes towards her._] There there there! There’s nothing to be
so alarmed about. I understand quite well what has happened.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Well, what do you think? Won’t you tell me?
HEDDA.
Why, of course it has been a very late affair at Judge Brack’s——
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes, yes—that is clear enough. But all the same——
HEDDA.
And then, you see, Tesman hasn’t cared to come home and ring us up in
the middle of the night. [_Laughing._] Perhaps he wasn’t inclined to
show himself either—immediately after a jollification.
MRS. ELVSTED.
But in that case—where can he have gone?
HEDDA.
Of course he has gone to his Aunts’ and slept there. They have his old
room ready for him.
MRS. ELVSTED.
No, he can’t be with _them_; for a letter has just come for him from
Miss Tesman. There it lies.
HEDDA.
Indeed? [_Looks at the address._] Why yes, it’s addressed in Aunt
Julia’s own hand. Well then, he has remained at Judge Brack’s. And as
for Eilert Lövborg—he is sitting, with vine leaves in his hair, reading
his manuscript.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh Hedda, you are just saying things you don’t believe a bit.
HEDDA.
You really are a little blockhead, Thea.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh yes, I suppose I am.
HEDDA.
And how mortally tired you look.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes, I am mortally tired.
HEDDA.
Well then, you must do as I tell you. You must go into my room and lie
down for a little while.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh no, no—I shouldn’t be able to sleep.
HEDDA.
I am sure you would.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Well, but your husband is certain to come soon now; and then I want to
know at once——
HEDDA.
I shall take care to let you know when he comes.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Do you promise me, Hedda?
HEDDA.
Yes, rely upon me. Just you go in and have a sleep in the meantime.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Thanks; then I’ll try to.
[_She goes off through the inner room._
[HEDDA _goes up to the glass door and draws back the curtains.
The broad daylight streams into the room. Then she takes a
little hand-glass from the writing-table, looks at herself
in it, and arranges her hair. Next she goes to the hall door
and presses the bell-button._
ce BERTA _presently appears at the hall door._
BERTA.
Did you want anything, ma’am?
HEDDA.
Yes; you must put some more wood in the stove. I am shivering.
BERTA.
Bless me—I’ll make up the fire at once. [_She rakes the embers together
and lays a piece of wood upon them; then stops and listens._] That was a
ring at the front door, ma’am.
HEDDA.
Then go to the door. I will look after the fire.
BERTA.
It’ll soon burn up.
[_She goes out by the hall door._
[HEDDA _kneels on the foot-rest and lays some more pieces of
wood in the stove._
_After a short pause,_ GEORGE TESMAN _enters from the hall. He looks
tired and rather serious. He steals on tiptoe towards the middle
doorway and is about to slip through the curtains._
HEDDA.
[_At the stove, without looking up._] Good morning.
TESMAN.
[_Turns._] Hedda! [_Approaching her._] Good heavens—are you up so early?
Eh?
HEDDA.
Yes, I am up very early this morning.
TESMAN.
And I never doubted you were still sound asleep. Fancy that, Hedda!
HEDDA.
Don’t speak so loud. Mrs. Elvsted is resting in my room.
TESMAN.
Has Mrs. Elvsted been here all night?
HEDDA.
Yes, since no one came to fetch her.
TESMAN.
Ah, to be sure.
HEDDA.
[_Closes the door of the stove and rises._] Well, did you enjoy
yourselves at Judge Brack’s?
TESMAN.
Have you been anxious about me? Eh?
HEDDA.
No, I should never think of being anxious. But I asked if you had
enjoyed yourself.
TESMAN.
Oh yes,—for once in a way. Especially the beginning of the evening; for
then Eilert read me part of his book. We arrived more than an hour too
early—fancy that! And Brack had all sorts of arrangements to make—so
Eilert read to me.
HEDDA.
[_Seating herself by the table on the right._] Well? Tell me, then——
TESMAN.
[_Sitting on a footstool near the stove._] Oh Hedda, you can’t conceive
what a book that is going to be! I believe it is one of the most
remarkable things that have ever been written. Fancy that!
HEDDA.
Yes, yes; I don’t care about that——
TESMAN.
I must make a confession to you, Hedda. When he had finished reading—a
horrid feeling came over me.
HEDDA.
A horrid feeling?
TESMAN.
I felt jealous of Eilert for having had it in him to write such a book.
Only think, Hedda!
HEDDA.
Yes, yes, I am thinking!
TESMAN.
And then how pitiful to think that he—with all his gifts—should be
irreclaimable, after all.
HEDDA.
I suppose you mean that he has more courage than the rest?
TESMAN.
No, not at all—I mean that he is incapable of taking his pleasures in
moderation.
HEDDA.
And what came of it all—in the end?
TESMAN.