ACT SECOND.

Stensgård.

Stop, I say! What right have you to break in upon my happiness? Do you think I am not sincere?

Fieldbo.

Yes, I am sure you are.

Stensgård.

Well, then, why go and make me feel empty, and disgusted, and suspicious of myself? [Shouts and cheers from the tent.] There—listen! They are drinking my health. An idea that can take such hold upon people—by God, itmusthave truth in it!

Thora Bratsberg,Ragna Monsen,andMr. Helleenter from the left and cross, half-way back.

Helle.

Look, Miss Bratsberg; there is Mr. Stensgård.

Thora.

Then I won’t go any further. Good-night, Ragna dear.

Helle and Miss Monsen.

Good-night, good-night.

[They go out to the right.

Thora.

[Advancing.] I am Miss Bratsberg. I have a letter for you, from my father.

Stensgård.

For me?

Thora.

Yes; here it is.[Going.

Fieldbo.

May I not see you home?

Thora.

No, thank you. I can go alone. Good-night.

[Goes out to the left.

Stensgård.

[Reading the letter by a Chinese lantern.] What is this!

Fieldbo.

Well—what has the Chamberlain to say to you?

Stensgård.

[Bursts into loud laughter.] I must say I didn’t expect this!

Fieldbo.

Tell me——?

Stensgård.

Chamberlain Bratsberg is a pitiful creature.

Fieldbo.

You dare to——

Stensgård.

Pitiful! Pitiful. Tell any one you please that I said so. Or rather, say nothing about it——[Puts the letter in his pocket.] Don’t mention this to any one!

[TheCompanycome out from the tent.

Monsen.

Mr. President! Where is Mr. Stensgård?

The Crowd.

There he is! Hurrah!

Lundestad.

Mr. President has forgotten his hat.

[Hands it to him.

Aslaksen.

Here; have some punch! Here’s a whole bowlful!

Stensgård.

Thanks, no more.

Monsen.

And the members of the League will recollect that we meet to-morrow at Stonelee——

Stensgård.

To-morrow? It wasn’t to-morrow, was it——?

Monsen.

Yes, certainly; to draw up the manifesto——

Stensgård.

No, I really can’t to-morrow—I shall see about it the day after to-morrow, or the day after that.Well, good-night, gentlemen; hearty thanks all round, and hurrah for the future!

The Crowd.

Hurrah! Let’s take him home in triumph!

Stensgård.

Thanks, thanks! But you really mustn’t——

Aslaksen.

We’ll all go with you.

Stensgård.

Very well, come along. Good-night, Fieldbo; you’re not coming with us?

Fieldbo.

No; but let me tell you, what you said about Chamberlain Bratsberg——

Stensgård.

Hush, hush! It was an exaggeration—I withdraw it! Well, my friends, if you’re coming, come; I’ll take the lead.

Monsen.

Your arm, Stensgård!

Bastian.

A song! Strike up! Something thoroughly patriotic!

The Crowd.

A song! A song! Music!

[A popular air is played and sung. The procession marches out by the back to the right.

Fieldbo.

[ToLundestad,who remains behind.] A gallant procession.

Lundestad.

Yes—and with a gallant leader.

Fieldbo.

And where are you going, Mr. Lundestad?

Lundestad.

I? I’m going home to bed.

[He nods and goes off.Doctor Fieldboremains behind alone.

1. Letter to Lucie Wolf, May 1883.Correspondence, Letter 171.

2. SeeCorrespondence, Letters 44 and 45.

3. “Chamberlain” (Kammerherre) is a title conferred by the King of Norway upon men of wealth and position. Hereditary nobility was abolished in 1821.

4. PronounceStaynsgore.

5. In the original “Storli.”

6. PronounceHellë.

7. Heire (pronounceHeirë) = Heron.

8. Married women and widows of the lower middle-class are addressed as Madam in Norway.

9. The Norwegian “Independence Day.”

10. “Local situation” is a very ineffectual rendering of Aslaksen’s phrase, “lokale forholde”—German,Verhältnisse—but there seems to be no other which will fit into all the different contexts in which it occurs. It reappears inAn Enemy of the People, ActV

11. The system of indirect election obtains in Norway. The constituencies choose a College of Electors, who, in turn, choose the Members of the Storthing or Parliament. It is the preliminary “Election of Electors” to which Monsen refers.

12. In this untranslatable passage Daniel Heire seems to be making a sort of pun onsuffragiumandnaufragium.

13. In Norway, before an action comes into Court, the parties are bound to appear in person before a Commission of Arbitration or Conciliation. If the Commission can suggest an arrangement acceptable to both sides, this arrangement has the validity of a judgment, and the case goes no further. Counsel are not allowed to appear before the Commission.

ACT SECOND.

A garden-room at the Chamberlains, elegantly furnished, with a piano, flowers, and rare plants. Entrance door at the back. On the left, a door leading to the dining-room; on the right, several glass doors lead out to the garden.

Aslaksenstands at the entrance door. AMaidservantis carrying some dishes of fruit into the dining-room.

The Maid.

Yes, but I tell you they’re still at table; you must call again.

Aslaksen.

I’d rather wait, if I may.

The Maid.

Oh yes, if you like. You can sit there for the present.

[She goes into the dining-room.Aslaksentakes a seat near the door. Pause.Dr. Fieldboenters from the back.

Fieldbo.

Ah, good evening, Aslaksen: are you here?

The Maid.

[Returning.] You’re late this evening, sir.

Fieldbo.

I was called to see a patient.

The Maid.

The Chamberlain and Miss Bratsberg have both been inquiring about you.

Fieldbo.

Indeed?

The Maid.

Yes. Won’t you go in at once, sir; or shall I say that——?

Fieldbo.

No, no; never mind. I can have a snack afterwards; I shall wait here in the meantime.

The Maid.

Dinner will soon be over.

[She goes out by the back.

Aslaksen.

[After a pause.] How can you resist such a dinner, Doctor—with dessert, and fine wines, and all sorts of good things?

Fieldbo.

Why, man, it seems to me we get too many good things hereabouts, rather than too few.

Aslaksen.

There I can’t agree with you.

Fieldbo.

H’m. I suppose you are waiting for someone.

Aslaksen.

Yes, Iam.am.

Fieldbo.

And are things going tolerably at home? Your wife——?

Aslaksen.

In bed, as usual; coughing and wasting away.

Fieldbo.

And your second child?

Aslaksen.

Oh, he’s a cripple for the rest of his days; you know that. That’s our luck, you see; what the devil’s the use of talking about it?

Fieldbo.

Let me look at you, Aslaksen!

Aslaksen.

Well; what do you want to see?

Fieldbo.

You’ve been drinking to-day.

Aslaksen.

Yes, and yesterday too.

Fieldbo.

Well, yesterday there was some excuse for it; but to-day——

Aslaksen.

What about your friends in there, then? Aren’t they drinking too?

Fieldbo.

Yes, my dear Aslaksen; that’s a fair retort; but circumstances differ so in this world.

Aslaksen.

I didn’t choose my circumstances.

Fieldbo.

No; God chose them for you.

Aslaksen.

No, he didn’t—men chose them. Daniel Heire chose, when he took me from the printing-house and sent me to college. And Chamberlain Bratsberg chose, when he ruined Daniel Heire and sent me back to the printing-house.

Fieldbo.

Now you know that’s not true. The Chamberlain did not ruin Daniel Heire; Daniel Heire ruined himself.

Aslaksen.

Perhaps! But how dared Daniel Heire ruin himself, in the face of his responsibilities towards me? God’s partly to blame too, of course. Why should he give me talent and ability? Well, of course I could have turned them to account as a respectable handicraftsman; but then comes that tattling old fool——

Fieldbo.

It’s base of you to say that. Daniel Heire acted with the best intentions.

Aslaksen.

What good do his “best intentions” do me? You hear them in there, clinking glasses and drinking healths? Well, I too have sat at that table in my day, dressed in purple and fine linen, like the best of them——! That was just the thing for me, that was—for me, that had read so muchand had thirsted so long to have my share in all the good things of life. Well, well; how long was Jeppe in Paradise?[14]Smash, crash! down you go—and my fine fortunes fell to pie, as we printers say.

Fieldbo.

But, after all, you were not so badly off; you had your trade to fall back upon.

Aslaksen.

That’s easily said. After getting out of your class you can’t get into it again. They took the ground from under my feet, and shoved me out on the slippery ice—and then they abuse me because I stumble.

Fieldbo.

Well, far be it from me to judge you harshly——

Aslaksen.

No; you have no right to.—What a queer jumble it is! Daniel Heire, and Providence, and the Chamberlain, and Destiny, and Circumstance—and I myself in the middle of it! I’ve often thought of unravelling it all and writing a book about it; but it’s so cursedly entangled that——[Glances towards the door on the left.] Ah! They’re rising from table.

[The party, ladies and gentlemen, pass from the dining-room into the garden, in lively conversation. Among the guests isStensgård,withThoraon his left arm andSelmaon his right.FieldboandAslaksenstand beside the door at the back.

Stensgård.

I don’t know my way here yet; you must tell me where I am to take you, ladies.

Selma.

Out into the air; you must see the garden.

Stensgård.

Oh, that will be delightful.

[They go out by the foremost glass door on the right.

Fieldbo.

Why, by all that’s wonderful, there’s Stensgård!

Aslaksen.

It’s him I want to speak to. I’ve had a fine chase after him; fortunately I met Daniel Heire——

Daniel HeireandErik Bratsbergenter from the dining-room.

Heire.

Hee-hee! Excellent sherry, upon my word. I’ve tasted nothing like it since I was in London.

Erik.

Yes, it’s good, isn’t it? It puts life into you.

Heire.

Well, well—it’s a real pleasure to see one’s money so well spent.

Erik.

How so? [Laughing.] Oh, yes; I see, I see.

[They go into the garden.

Fieldbo.

You want to speak to Stensgård, you say?

Aslaksen.

Yes.

Fieldbo.

On business?

Aslaksen.

Of course; the report of the fête——

Fieldbo.

Well, then, you must wait out there in the meantime.

Aslaksen.

In the passage?

Fieldbo.

In the anteroom. This is scarcely the time or place—but the moment I see Stensgård alone, I’ll tell him——

Aslaksen.

Very well; I’ll bide my time.

[Goes out by the back.

Chamberlain Bratsberg,Lundestad,Ringdal,and one or two other gentlemen comeout of the dining-room.

Chamberlain Bratsberg,Lundestad,Ringdal,

and one or two other gentlemen come

out of the dining-room.

The Chamberlain.

[Conversing withLundestad.] Violent, you say? Well, perhaps the form wasn’t all that could be desired; but there were real gems in the speech, I can assure you.

Lundestad.

Well, if you are satisfied, Chamberlain, I have no right to complain.

The Chamberlain.

Why should you? Ah, here’s the Doctor! Starving, I’ll be bound.

Fieldbo.

It doesn’t matter, Chamberlain. The servants will attend to me. I feel myself almost at home here, you know.

The Chamberlain.

Oh, you do, do you? I wouldn’t be in too great a hurry.

Fieldbo.

What? Am I taking too great a liberty? You yourself permitted me to——

The Chamberlain.

What I permitted, I permitted. Well, well, make yourself at home, and forage for something to eat. [Slaps him lightly on the shoulder and turns toLundestad.] Now,here’sone you may call an adventurer and—and the other thing I can’t remember.

Fieldbo.

Why, Chamberlain——!

Lundestad.

No, I assure you——

The Chamberlain.

No arguments after dinner; it’s bad for the digestion. They’ll serve the coffee outside presently.

[Goes with the guests into the garden.

Lundestad.

[ToFieldbo.] Did you ever see the Chamberlain so strange as he is to-day?

Fieldbo.

I noticed it yesterday evening.

Lundestad.

He will have it that I called Mr. Stensgård an adventurer and something else of that sort.

Fieldbo.

Oh, well, Mr. Lundestad, what if you did? Excuse me; I must go and talk to the ladies.

[Goes out to the right.

Lundestad.

[ToRingdal,who is arranging a card table.] How do you account for Mr. Stensgård’s appearance here to-day?

Ringdal.

Yes, how? He wasn’t on the original list.

Lundestad.

An afterthought, then? After his attack on the Chamberlain yesterday——?

Ringdal.

Yes, can you understand it?

Lundestad.

Understand it? Oh yes, I suppose I can.

Ringdal.

[More softly.] You think the Chamberlain is afraid of him?

Lundestad.

I think he is prudent—that’s what I think.

[They go up to the back conversing, and so out into the garden. At the same timeSelmaandStensgårdenter by the foremost door on the right.

Selma.

Yes, just look—over the tops of the trees you can see the church tower and all the upper part of the town.

Stensgård.

So you can; I shouldn’t have thought so.

Selma.

Don’t you think it’s a beautiful view?

Stensgård.

Everything is beautiful here: the garden, and the view, and the sunshine, and the people! Great heaven, how beautiful it all is! And you live here all the summer?

Selma.

No, not my husband and I; we come and go. We have a big, showy house in town, much finer than this; you’ll see it soon.

Stensgård.

Perhaps your family live in town?

Selma.

My family? Who are my family?

Stensgård.

Oh, I didn’t know——

Selma.

We fairy princesses have no family.

Stensgård.

Fairy princesses?

Selma.

At most we have a wicked stepmother——

Stensgård.

A witch, yes! So you are a princess!

Selma.

Princess of all the sunken palaces, whence you hear the soft music on midsummer nights. Doctor Fieldbo thinks it must be pleasant to be a princess; but I must tell you——

Erik Bratsberg.

[Coming from the garden.] Ah, at last I find the little lady!

Selma.

The little lady is telling Mr. Stensgård the story of her life.

Erik.

Oh, indeed. And what part does the husband play in the little lady’s story?

Selma.

The Prince, of course. [ToStensgård.] You know the prince always comes and breaks the spell, and then all ends happily, and every one calls and congratulates, and the fairy-tale is over.

Stensgård.

Oh, it’s too short.

Selma.

Perhaps—in a way.

Erik.

[Putting his arm round her waist.] But a new fairy-tale grows out of the old one, and in it the Princess becomes a Queen!

Selma.

On the same condition as real Princesses?

Erik.

What condition?

Selma.

They must go into exile—to a foreign kingdom.

Erik.

A cigar, Mr. Stensgård?

Stensgård.

Thank you, not just now.

Doctor FieldboandThoraenter from the garden.

Selma.

[Going towards them.] Is that you, Thora dear? I hope you’re not ill?

Thora.

I? No.

Selma.

Oh, but I’m sure you must be; you seem to be always consulting the doctor of late.

Thora.

No, I assure you——

Selma.

Nonsense; let me feel your pulse! You are burning. My dear Doctor, don’t you think the fever will pass over?

Fieldbo.

Everything has its time.

Thora.

Would you rather have me freezing——?

Selma.

No, a medium temperature is the best—ask my husband.

The Chamberlain.

[Enters from the garden.] The whole family gathered in secret conclave? That’s not very polite to the guests.

Thora.

I am just going, father dear——

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