Chapter 25

Martha.

I? Never, never. My little life-work lies here; and now I think I can give myself to it wholly and unreservedly.

Dina.

I cannot imagine being parted from you.

Martha.

Ah, one can part from so much, Dina. [Kisses her.] But you will not have to learn that lesson, my dear child. Promise me to make him happy.

Dina.

I will not promise anything. I hate this promising. Things must come as they can.

Martha.

Yes, yes, you are right. You have only to remain as you are—true and faithful to yourself.

Dina.

That I will, Aunt Martha.

Lona.

[Puts in her pocket some papers which Johan has given her.] Good, good, my dear boy. But now, away.

Johan.

Yes, now there’s no time to be lost. Good-bye, Lona; thanks, thanks for all you have been to me. Good-bye, Martha, and thanks to you too for your faithful friendship.

Martha.

Good-bye, Johan! Good-bye, Dina! And happiness be over all your days!

[She andLonahurry them towards the door in the background.Johan TönnesenandDinago quickly out through the garden.Lonashuts the door and draws the curtain.

Lona.

Now we are alone, Martha. You have lost her, and I him.

Martha.

You—him?

Lona.

Oh, I had half lost him already over there. The boy longed to stand on his own feet; so I made him imagine thatIwas suffering from home-sickness.

Martha.

That was it? Now I understand why you came. But he will want you back again, Lona.

Lona.

An old step-sister—what can he want with her now? Men break many a tie when happiness beckons to them.

Martha.

That is true, sometimes.

Lona.

Now we two must hold together, Martha.

Martha.

Can I be anything to you?

Lona.

Who more? We two foster-mothers—have we not both lost our children? Now we are alone.

Martha.

Yes, alone. So now I will tell you this—I have loved him more than all the world.

Lona.

Martha? [Seizes her arm.] Is this the truth?

Martha.

My whole life lies in the words. I have loved him, and waited for him. From summer to summer I have looked for his coming. And then he came—but he did not see me.

Lona.

Loved him! And it was you that gave his happiness into his hands.

Martha.

What else should I do, since I love him? Yes, I have loved him. I have lived my whole life for him, ever since he went away. What reason had I to hope, you ask? Oh, I think I hadsomereason. But then, when he came again—it seemed as if everything were wiped out of his memory. He did not see me.

Lona.

It was Dina that overshadowed you, Martha.

Martha.

It is well that she did. When he went away we were of the same age; when I saw him again—oh, that horrible moment—I realised that I was ten years older than he. He had lived out there in the bright, quivering sunshine, and drunk in youth and health at every breath; and here sat I the while, spinning and spinning——

Lona.

——the thread of his happiness, Martha.

Martha.

Yes, it was gold I spun. No bitterness! We have been two good sisters to him, Lona, have we not?

Lona.

[Embraces her.] Martha!

Consul Bernickcomes out of his room.

Bernick.

[To the men inside.] Yes, yes, settle it as you please. When the time comes, I shall be ready——[Shuts the door.] Ah, are you there? By-the-bye, Martha, you had better look to your dress a little.And tell Betty to do the same. I don’t want anything out of the way, of course; just homely neatness. But you must be quick.

Lona.

And you must look bright and happy, Martha; remember this is a joyful surprise to you.

Bernick.

Olaf must come down too. I will have him at my side.

Lona.

H’m, Olaf——

Martha.

I will tell Betty.

[She goes out by the second door on the left.

Lona.

Well, so the great and solemn hour has come.

Bernick.

[Walks restlessly up and down.] Yes, it has come.

Lona.

At such a time, no doubt, a man must feel proud and happy.

Bernick.

[Looks at her.] H’m——

Lona.

The whole town is to be illuminated, I hear.

Bernick.

Yes, I believe there is some such idea.

Lona.

All the clubs will turn out with their banners. Your name will shine in letters of fire. To-nightit will be telegraphed to every corner of the country—“Surrounded by his happy family, Consul Bernick received the homage of his fellow citizens as one of the pillars of society.”

Bernick.

So it will; and the crowd in the street will shout and hurrah, and insist on my coming forward into the doorway there, and I shall have to bow and thank them.

Lona.

Have to——?

Bernick.

Do you think I feel happy at this moment?

Lona.

No,Ido not think that you can feel altogether happy.

Bernick.

Lona, you despise me.

Lona.

Not yet.

Bernick.

And you have no right to. Not todespiseme!—Lona, you cannot conceive how unspeakably alone I stand, here in this narrow, stunted society—how, year by year, I have had to put a tighter curb on my ambition for a full and satisfying life-work. What have I accomplished, for all the show it makes? Scrap-work—odds and ends. There is no room here for other and larger work. If I tried to go a step in advance of the views and ideas of the day, all my power was gone. Do you know what we are, we, who are reckoned the pillarsof society? We are the tools of society, neither more nor less.

Lona.

Why do you only see this now?

Bernick.

Because I have been thinking much of late—since you came home—and most of all this evening.—Oh, Lona, why did I not know you through and through, then—in the old days?

Lona.

What then?

Bernick.

I should never have given you up; and, with you by my side, I should not have stood where I stand now.

Lona.

And do you never think what she might have been to you—she, whom you chose in my stead?

Bernick.

I know, at any rate, that she has not been anything that I required.

Lona.

Because you have never shared your life-work with her. Because you have never placed her in a free and true relation to you. Because you have allowed her to go on pining under the weight of shame you had cast upon those nearest her.

Bernick.

Yes, yes, yes; falsehood and hollowness are at the bottom of it all.

Lona.

Then why not break with all this falsehood and hollowness?

Bernick.

Now? It is too late now, Lona.

Lona.

Karsten, tell me—what satisfaction does this show and imposture give you?

Bernick.

It gives me none. I must go under, along with the whole of this bungled social system. But a new generation will grow up after us; it is my son that I am working for; it ishislife-work that I am laying out for him. There will come a time when truth will find its way into our social order, and upon it he shall found a happier life than his father’s.

Lona.

With a lie for its groundwork? Think what it is you are giving your son for an inheritance.

Bernick.

[With suppressed despair.] I am giving him an inheritance a thousand times worse than you know of. But, sooner or later, the curse must pass away. And yet—and yet——[Vehemently.] How could you bring all this upon my head! But it is done now. I must go on now. Youshallnot succeed in crushing me!

Hilmar Tönnesen,with an open note in his hand, and much discomposed, enters quickly from the right.

Hilmar.

Why, this is——Betty, Betty!

Bernick.

What now? Are they coming already?

Hilmar.

No, no; but I must speak to some one at once——

[He goes out by the second door on the left.

Lona.

Karsten, you say we came to crush you. Then let me tell you what stuff he is made of, this prodigal whom your moral society shrinks from as if he were plague-stricken. He can do without you all, for he has gone away.

Bernick.

But he is coming back——

Lona.

Johan will never come back. He has gone for ever, and Dina has gone with him.

Bernick.

Gone for ever? And Dina with him?

Lona.

Yes, to be his wife. That is how these two strike your seraphic society in the face, as I once——No matter!

Bernick.

Gone!—she too! In theIndian Girl?

Lona.

No; he dared not entrust such a precious freight to a ship with so ruffianly a crew. Johan and Dina have sailed in thePalm Tree.

Bernick.

Ah! Then it was—to no purpose——[Rushes to the door of his office, tears it open, and calls in.] Krap, stop theIndian Girl! She mustn’t sail to-night!

Krap.

[Inside.] TheIndian Girlis already standing out to sea, Consul.

Bernick.

[Shuts the door and says feebly.] Too late—and all for nothing.

Lona.

What do you mean?

Bernick.

Nothing, nothing. Leave me alone——!

Lona.

H’m. Listen, Karsten. Johan told me to tell you that he leaves in my keeping the good name he once lent you, and also that which you stole from him while he was far away. Johan will be silent; and I can do or let alone in this matter as I will. See, I hold in my hand your two letters.

Bernick.

You have them! And now—now you will—this very night perhaps—when the procession——

Lona.

I did not come here to unmask you, but to try if I could not move you to throw off the mask of your own accord. I have failed. Remain standing in the lie. See; I tear your two letters to shreds. Take the pieces; here they are. Now, there isnothing to bear witness against you, Karsten. Now you are safe; be happy too—if you can.

Bernick.

[Profoundly moved.] Lona, why did you not do this before! It is too late now; my whole life is ruined now; I cannot live after to-day.

Lona.

What has happened?

Bernick.

Don’t ask me. And yet Imustlive! Iwilllive—for Olaf’s sake. He shall restore all and atone for all——

Lona.

Karsten——!

Hilmar Tönnesenagain enters hurriedly.

Hilmar.

No one to be found; all away; not even Betty!

Bernick.

What is the matter with you?

Hilmar.

I daren’t tell you.

Bernick.

What is it? You must and shall tell me.

Hilmar.

Well then——Olaf has run away in theIndian Girl.

Bernick.

[Staggering backwards.] Olaf—in theIndian Girl! No,no!no!

Lona.

Yes, it is true! Now I understand——I saw him jump out of the window.

Bernick.

[At the door of his room, calls out in despair.] Krap, stop theIndian Girlat any cost!

Krap.

[Comes into the room.] Impossible, Consul. How should we be able to——

Bernick.

Wemuststop her! Olaf is on board!

Krap.

What!

Rummel.

[Enters from the office.] Olaf run away? Impossible!

Sandstad.

[Enters from the office.] They’ll send him back with the pilot, Consul.

Hilmar.

No, no; he has written to me. [Showing the letter.] He says he’s going to hide among the cargo until they are fairly out to sea.

Bernick.

I shall never see him again!

Rummel.

Oh, nonsense; a good stout ship, newly repaired——

Vigeland.

[Who has also come in.]——and in your own yard, too, Consul.

Bernick.

I shall never see him again, I tell you. I have lost him, Lona; and—I see it now—he has never been really mine. [Listens.] What is that?

Rummel.

Music. The procession is coming.

Bernick.

I cannot, I will not see any one!

Rummel.

What are you thinking of? It’s impossible——

Sandstad.

Impossible, Consul; think how much you have at stake.

Bernick.

What does it all matter to me now? Whom have I now to work for?

Rummel.

Can you ask? You have us and society.

Vigeland.

Yes, very true.

Sandstad.

And surely, Consul, you don’t forget that we——

Marthaenters by the second door on the left. Music is heard, from far down the street.

Martha.

Here comes the procession; but Betty is not at home; I can’t think where she——

Bernick.

Not at home! There, you see, Lona; no support either in joy or sorrow.

Rummel.

Back with the curtains! Come and help me, Mr. Krap! You too, Sandstad! What a terrible pity that the family should be scattered just at this moment! Quite against the programme.

The curtains over the door and windows are drawn back. The whole street is seen to be illuminated. On the house opposite is a large transparency with the inscription,“Long live Karsten Bernick, the Pillar of our Society!”

Bernick.

[Shrinking back.] Away with all this! I will not look at it! Out with it, out with it!

Rummel.

Are you in your senses, may I ask?

Martha.

What is the matter with him, Lona?

Lona.

Hush!

[Whispers to her.

Bernick.

Away with the mocking words, I say! Can you not see, all these lights are gibing at us?

Rummel.

Well, I must say——

Bernick.

Oh, you know nothing——! But I, I——! They are the lights in a dead-room!

Krap.

H’m——!

Rummel.

Come now, really—you make far too much of it.

Sandstad.

The boy will have a trip over the Atlantic, and then you’ll have him back again.

Vigeland.

Only put your trust in the Almighty, Consul.

Rummel.

And in the ship, Bernick; she’s seaworthy enough, I’m sure.

Krap.

H’m——

Rummel.

Now, if it were one of those floating coffins we hear of in the great nations——

Bernick.

I can feel my very hair growing grey.

Mrs. Bernick,with a large shawl over her head, comes through the garden door.

Mrs. Bernick.

Karsten, Karsten, do you know——?

Bernick.

Yes, I know——; but you—you who can see nothing—you who have not a mother’s care for him——!

Mrs. Bernick.

Oh, listen to me——!

Bernick.

Why did you not watch over him? Now I have lost him. Give him back to me, if you can!

Mrs. Bernick.

I can, I can; I have him!

Bernick.

You have him!

The Men.

Ah!

Hilmar.

Ah, I thought so.

Martha.

Now you have him again, Karsten.

Lona.

Yes; now win him as well.

Bernick.

You have him! Can this be true? Where is he?

Mrs. Bernick.

I shall not tell you until you have forgiven him.

Bernick.

Oh, forgiven, forgiven——! But how did you come to know——?

Mrs. Bernick.

Do you think a mother has no eyes? I was in mortal terror lest you should hear of it. A few words he let fall yesterday——; and his roombeing empty, and his knapsack and clothes gone——

Bernick.

Yes, yes——?

Mrs. Bernick.

I ran; I got hold of Aune; we went out in his sailing-boat; the American ship was on the point of sailing. Thank Heaven, we arrived in time—we got on board—we searched in the hold—and we found him. Oh, Karsten, you mustn’t punish him!

Bernick.

Betty!

Mrs. Bernick.

Nor Aune either!

Bernick.

Aune? What of him? Is theIndian Girlunder sail again?

Mrs. Bernick.

No, that is just the thing——

Bernick.

Speak, speak!

Mrs. Bernick.

Aune was as terrified as I was; the search took some time; darkness came on, and the pilot made objections: so Aune ventured—in your name——

Bernick.

Well?

Mrs. Bernick.

To stop the ship till to-morrow.

Krap.

H’m——

Bernick.

Oh, what unspeakable happiness!

Mrs. Bernick.

You are not angry?

Bernick.

Oh, what surpassing happiness, Betty!

Rummel.

Why, you’re absurdly nervous.

Hilmar.

Yes; the moment it comes to a little struggle with the elements—ugh!

Krap.

[At the window.] The procession is coming through the garden gate, Consul.

Bernick.

Yes, now let them come!

Rummel.

The whole garden is full of people.

Sandstad.

The very street is packed.

Rummel.

The whole town has turned out, Bernick. This is really an inspiring moment.

Vigeland.

Let us take it in a humble spirit, Mr. Rummel.

Rummel.

All the banners are out. What a procession! Ah, here’s the Committee, with Doctor Rörlund at its head.

Bernick.

Let them come, I say!

Rummel.

But look here: in your agitated state of mind——

Bernick.

What then?

Rummel.

Why, I should have no objection to speaking for you.

Bernick.

No, thank you; to-night I shall speak myself.

Rummel.

But do you know what you have got to say?

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