THE STRANGER, Has she then turned into a mere sociologist? Oh, you are
deceiving me!
THE MAID. If you don't believe me--I'll just open the door an inch, and
you can hear her talking.
THE STRANGER. Oh, it cannot be true!
_The maid quietly opens the door a little way. He listens_.
A VOICE. (_heard through the aperture_) We must all learn to function
socially. . . .
_The maid shuts the door again_.
THE MAID. Do you believe it now?
THE STRANGER. (_sadly_) It is too true!
THE MAID. Didn't I tell you?
THE STRANGER. So Hedda has become--a reformer!
THE MAID. Yes.
THE STRANGER. And Lovberg--what does he do?
THE MAID. He is rewriting his book--you know, the one Hedda burned up--
for use as a text-book in the public schools. And Hedda is helping him.
THE STRANGER. No more adventure--no more beauty--the flame . . . gone
out! My God!
_He staggers toward the wall, where a pistol is hanging, and puts his
hand on it_.
THE MAID. Look out! That's Hedda's pistol. You never can tell when an
old piece of junk like that is loaded.
THE STRANGER. Yes--I know. (_He takes it down and aims it at his
heart_.) The old Hedda is gone. I cannot bear the new. It would be
too--(_The maid screams_)--too dull.
_He fires, and falls_.
THE MAID. (_going over and looking down at him_) But--people don't do
such things!