Chapter 12

Mrs. Stockmann.

Who could have thought Mrs. Busk was such a bad woman!

Petra.

Oh mother, Mrs. Busk isn’t bad at all; I saw clearly how sorry she was. But she dared not do otherwise, she said; and so I am dismissed.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Laughing and rubbing his hands.] She dared not do otherwise—just like the rest! Oh, it’s delicious.

Mrs. Stockmann.

Oh well, after that frightful scene last night——

Petra.

It wasn’t only that. What do you think, father——?

Dr. Stockmann.

Well?

Petra.

Mrs. Busk showed me no fewer than three letters she had received this morning——

Dr. Stockmann.

Anonymous, of course?

Petra.

Yes.

Dr. Stockmann.

They never dare give their names, Katrina!

Petra.

And two of them stated that a gentleman who is often at our house said at the club last night that I held extremely advanced opinions upon various things——

Dr. Stockmann.

Of course you didn’t deny it.

Petra.

Of course not. You know Mrs. Busk herself ispretty advanced in her opinions when we’re alone together; but now that this has come out about me, she dared not keep me on.

Mrs. Stockmann.

Some one that is often at our house, too. There, you see, Thomas, what comes of all your hospitality.

Dr. Stockmann.

We won’t live any longer in such a pig-sty! Pack up as quickly as you can, Katrina; let’s get away—the sooner the better.

Mrs. Stockmann.

Hush! I think there is some one in the passage. See who it is, Petra.

Petra.

[Opening the door.] Oh, is it you, Captain Horster? Please come in.

Horster.

[From the hall.] Good morning. I thought I might just look in and ask how you are.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Shaking his hand.] Thanks; that’s very good of you.

Mrs. Stockmann.

And thank you for helping us through the crowd last night, Captain Horster.

Petra.

How did you ever get home again?

Horster.

Oh, that was all right. I am tolerably able-bodied, you know; and those fellows' bark is worse than their bite.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, isn’t it extraordinary, this piggish cowardice? Come here, and let me show you something! Look, here are all the stones they threw in at us. Only look at them? Upon my soul there aren’t more than two decent-sized lumps in the whole heap; the rest are nothing but pebbles—mere gravel. They stood down there, and yelled, and swore they’d half kill me;—but as for really doing it—no, there’s mighty little fear ofthatin this town!

Horster.

You may thank your stars for that this time, Doctor.

Dr. Stockmann.

So I do, of course. But it’s depressing all the same; for if ever it should come to a serious national struggle, you may be sure public opinion would be for taking to its heels, and the compact majority would scamper for their lives like a flock of sheep, Captain Horster.Thatis what’s so melancholy to think of; it grieves me to the heart.—But deuce take it—it’s foolish of me to feel anything of the sort! They have called me an enemy of the people; well then, let me be an enemy of the people!

Mrs. Stockmann.

That you’ll never be, Thomas.

Dr. Stockmann.

You’d better not take your oath of it, Katrina. A bad name may act like a pin-scratch in the lung. And that confounded word—I can’t get rid of it; it has sunk deep into my heart; and there it lies gnawing and sucking like an acid. And no magnesia can cure me.

Petra.

Pooh; you should only laugh at them, father.

Horster.

People will think differently yet, Doctor.

Mrs. Stockmann.

Yes, Thomas, that’s as certain as that you are standing here.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, perhaps, when it is too late. Well, as they make their bed so they must lie! Let them go on wallowing here in their pig-sty, and learn to repent having driven a patriot into exile. When do you sail, Captain Horster?

Horster.

Well—that’s really what I came to speak to you about——

Dr. Stockmann.

What? Anything wrong with the ship?

Horster.

No; but the fact is, I shan’t be sailing in her.

Petra.

Surely you have not been dismissed?

Horster.

[Smiling.] Yes, I have.

Petra.

You too!

Mrs. Stockmann.

There, you see, Thomas.

Dr. Stockmann.

And for the truth’s sake! Oh, if I could possibly have imagined such a thing——

Horster.

You mustn’t be troubled about this; I shall soon find a berth with some other company, elsewhere.

Dr. Stockmann.

And this is that man Vik! A wealthy man, independent of every one! Faugh!

Horster.

Oh, for that matter, he’s a very well-meaning man. He said himself he would gladly have kept me on if only he dared——

Dr. Stockmann.

But he didn’t dare? Of course not!

Horster.

It’s not so easy, he said, when you belong to a party——

Dr. Stockmann.

My gentleman has hit it there! A party is like a sausage-machine; it grinds all the brains together in one mash; and that’s why we see nothing but porridge-heads and pulp-heads all around!

Mrs. Stockmann.

Now really, Thomas!

Petra.

[ToHorster.] If only you hadn’t seen us home, perhaps it would not have come to this.

Horster.

I don’t regret it.

Petra.

[Gives him her hand.] Thank you for that!

Horster.

[ToDr. Stockmann.] And then, too, I wanted to tell you this: if you are really determined to go abroad, I've thought of another way——

Dr. Stockmann.

That’s good—if only we can get off quickly——

Mrs. Stockmann.

Hush! Isn’t that a knock?

Petra.

I believe it is uncle.

Dr. Stockmann.

Aha! [Calls.] Come in!

Mrs. Stockmann.

My dear Thomas, now do promise me——

TheBurgomasterenters from the hall.

Burgomaster.

[In the doorway.] Oh, you are engaged. Then I'd better——

Dr. Stockmann.

No no; come in.

Burgomaster.

But I wanted to speak to you alone.

Mrs. Stockmann.

We can go into the sitting-room.

Horster.

And I shall look in again presently.

Dr. Stockmann.

No no; go with the ladies, Captain Horster; I must hear more about——

Horster.

All right, then I'll wait.

[He followsMrs. StockmannandPetrainto the sitting-room. TheBurgomastersays nothing, but casts glances at the windows.

Dr. Stockmann.

I daresay you find it rather draughty here today? Put on your cap.

Burgomaster.

Thanks, if I may. [Does so.] I fancy I caught cold yesterday evening. I stood there shivering——

Dr. Stockmann.

Really. On my soul, now, I found it quite warm enough.

Burgomaster.

I regret that it was not in my power to prevent these nocturnal excesses.

Dr. Stockmann.

Have you anything else in particular to say to me?

Burgomaster.

[Producing a large letter.] I have this document for you from the Directors of the Baths.

Dr. Stockmann.

My dismissal?

Burgomaster.

Yes; dated from to-day. [Places the letter on the table.] We are very sorry—but frankly, we dared not do otherwise, on account of public opinion.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Smiling.] Dared not? I've heard that phrase already to-day.

Burgomaster.

I beg you to realise your position clearly. For the future, you cannot count upon any sort of practice in the town.

Dr. Stockmann.

Devil take the practice! But how can you be so sure of that?

Burgomaster.

The House-owners' Association is sending round a circular from house to house, in which all well-disposed citizens are called upon not to employ you; and I dare swear that not a single head of a family will venture to refuse his signature; he simplydarenot.

Dr. Stockmann.

Well well; I don’t doubt that. But what then?

Burgomaster.

If I might advise, I would suggest that you should leave the town for a time——

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, I've had some such idea in my mind already.

Burgomaster.

Good. And when you have had six months or so for mature deliberation, if you could make up your mind to acknowledge your error, with a few words of regret——

Dr. Stockmann.

I might perhaps be reinstated, you think?

Burgomaster.

Perhaps it’s not quite out of the question.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, but how about public opinion? You daren’t, on account of public opinion.

Burgomaster.

Opinion is extremely variable. And, to speak candidly, it is of the greatest importance for us to have such an admission under your own hand.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, I daresay it would be mightily convenient for you! But you remember what I've said to you before about such foxes' tricks!

Burgomaster.

At that time your position was infinitely morefavourable; at that time you thought you had the whole town at your back——

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, and now I have the whole town on my back——[Flaring up.] But no—not if I had the devil and his dam on my back—! Never—never, I tell you!

Burgomaster.

The father of a family has no right[13]to act as you are doing. You have no right to do it, Thomas.

Dr. Stockmann.

I have no right! There’s only one thing in the world that a free man has no right to do; and do you know what that is?

Burgomaster.

No.

Dr. Stockmann.

Of course not; butIwill tell you. A free man has no right to wallow in filth like a cur; he has no right to act so that he ought to spit in his own face!

Burgomaster.

That sounds extremely plausible; and if there were not another explanation of your obstinacy—but we all know there is——

Dr. Stockmann.

What do you mean by that?

Burgomaster.

You understand well enough. But as your brother, and as a man who knows the world, I warn you not to build too confidently upon prospects and expectations that may very likely come to nothing.

Dr. Stockmann.

Why, what on earth are you driving at?

Burgomaster.

Do you really want me to believe that you are ignorant of the terms of old Morten Kiil’s will?

Dr. Stockmann.

I know that the little he has is to go to a home for old and needy artizans. But what has that got to do with me?

Burgomaster.

To begin with, “the little he has” is no trifle. Morten Kiil is a tolerably wealthy man.

Dr. Stockmann.

I have never had the least notion of that!

Burgomaster.

H'm—really? Then I suppose you have no notion that a not inconsiderable part of his fortune is to go to your children, you and your wife having a life-interest in it. Has he not told you that?

Dr. Stockmann.

No, I'll be hanged if he has! On the contrary, he has done nothing but grumble about being so preposterously over-taxed, But are you really sure of this, Peter?

Burgomaster.

I have it from a thoroughly trustworthy source.

Dr. Stockmann.

Why, good heavens, then Katrina’s provided for—and the children too! Oh, I must tell her——[Calls.] Katrina, Katrina!

Burgomaster.

[Holding him back.] Hush! don’t say anything about it yet.

Mrs. Stockmann.

[Opening the door.] What is it?

Dr. Stockmann.

Nothing my dear; go in again.

[Mrs. Stockmanncloses the door.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Pacing up and down.] Provided for! Only think—all of them provided for! And for life! After all, it’s a grand thing to feel yourself secure!

Burgomaster.

Yes, but that is just what you are not. Morten Kiil can revoke his will any day or hour he chooses.

Dr. Stockmann.

But he won’t, my good Peter. The Badger is only too delighted to see me fall foul of you and your wiseacre friends.

Burgomaster.

[Starts and looks searchingly at him.] Aha! That throws a new light on a good many things.

Dr. Stockmann.

What things?

Burgomaster.

So the whole affair has been a carefully-concocted intrigue. Your recklessly violent onslaught—in the name of truth—upon the leading men of the town——

Dr. Stockmann.

Well, what of it?

Burgomaster.

It was nothing but a preconcerted requital for that vindictive old Morten Kiil’s will.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Almost speechless.] Peter—you are the most abominable plebeian I have ever known in all my born days.

Burgomaster.

All is over between us. Your dismissal is irrevocable—for now we have a weapon against you.[He goes out.

Dr. Stockmann.

Shame! shame! shame! [Calls.] Katrina! The floor must be scrubbed after him! Tell her to come here with a pail—what’s her name? confound it—the girl with the smudge on her nose——

Mrs. Stockmann.

[In the sitting-room doorway.] Hush, hush Thomas!

Petra.

[Also in the doorway.] Father, here’s grandfather; he wants to know if he can speak to you alone.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, of course he can. [By the door.] Come in, father-in-law.

Morten Kiilenters.Dr. Stockmanncloses the door behind him.

Dr. Stockmann.

Well, what is it? Sit down.

Morten Kiil.

I won’t sit down. [Looking about him.] It looks cheerful here to-day, Stockmann.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, don’t you think so?

Morten Kiil.

Sure enough. And you’ve plenty of fresh air too; you’ve got your fill of that oxygen you were talking about yesterday. You must have a rare good conscience to-day, I should think.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, I have.

Morten Kiil.

So I should suppose. [Tapping himself on the breast.] But do you know whatIhave got here?

Dr.StockmannStockmann.

A good conscience too, I hope.

MortenMortenKiil.

Pooh! No; something far better than that.

[Takes out a large pocket-book, opens it, and showsStockmanna bundle of papers.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Looking at him in astonishment.] Shares in the Baths!

Morten Kiil.

They weren’t difficult to get to-day.

Dr. Stockmann.

And you’ve gone and bought these up——?

Morten Kiil.

All I had the money to pay for.

Dr. Stockmann.

Why, my dear sir,—just when things are in such a desperate way at the Baths——

Morten Kiil.

If you behave like a reasonable being, you can soon set the Baths all right again.

Dr. Stockmann.

Well, you can see for yourself I'm doing all I can. But the people of this town are mad!

Morten Kiil.

You said yesterday that the worst filth came from my tannery. Now, if that’s true, then my grandfather, and my father before me, and I myself, have for ever so many years been poisoning the town with filth, like three destroying angels. Do you think I'm going to sit quiet under such a reproach?

Dr. Stockmann.

Unfortunately, you can’t help it.

Morten Kiil.

No, thank you. I hold fast to my good name, I've heard that people call me “the Badger.” A badger’s a sort of a pig, I know; but I'm determined to give them the lie. I will live and die a clean man.

Dr. Stockmann.

And how will you managethat?

Morten Kiil.

You shall make me clean, Stockmann.

Dr. Stockmann.

Morten Kiil.

Do you know what money I've used to buy these shares with? No, you can’t know; but now I'll tell you. It’s the money Katrina and Petra and the boys are to have after my death. For, you see, I've laid by something after all.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Flaring up.] And you’ve taken Katrina’s money and donethiswith it!

Morten Kiil.

Yes; the whole of it is invested in the Baths now. And now I want to see if you’re really so stark, staring mad; after all, Stockmann. If you go on making out that these beasts and other abominations dribble down from my tannery, it’ll be just as if you were to flay broad stripes of Katrina’s skin—and Petra’s too, and the boys'. No decent father would ever do that—unless he were a madman.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Walking up and down.] Yes, but Iama madman; Iama madman!

Morten Kiil.

You surely can’t be so raving, ramping mad where your wife and children are concerned.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Stopping in front of him.] Why couldn’t you have spoken to me before you went and bought all that rubbish?

Morten Kiil.

What’s done can’t be undone.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Walking restlessly about.] If only I weren’t so certain about the affair——! But I am absolutely convinced that I'm right.

Morten Kiil.

[Weighing the pocket book in his hand.] If you stick to this lunacy, these aren’t worth much.

[Puts the book into his pocket.

Dr. Stockmann.

But, deuce take it! surely science ought to be able to hit upon some antidote, some sort of prophylactic——

Morten Kiil.

Do you mean something to kill the beasts?

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, or at least to make them harmless.

Morten Kiil.

Couldn’t you try ratsbane?

Dr. Stockmann.

Oh, nonsense, nonsense!—But since every one declares it’s nothing but fancy, why fancy let it be! Let them have it their own way! Haven’t the ignorant, narrow-hearted curs reviled me as an enemy of the people?—and weren’t they on the point of tearing the clothes off my back?

Morten Kiil.

And they’ve smashed all your windows for you too!

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, and then there’s one’s duty to one’s family! I must talk that over with Katrina; such things are more in her line.

Morten Kiil.

That’s right! You just follow the advice of a sensible woman.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Turning upon him angrily.] How could you act so preposterously! Risking Katrina’s money, and putting me to this horrible torture! When I look at you, I seem to see the devil himself——!

Morten Kiil.

Then I'd better be off. But I must, hear from you, yes or no, by two o’clock. If it’s no, all the shares go to the Hospital—and that this very day.

Dr. Stockmann.

And what will Katrina get?

Morten Kiil.

Not a rap.

[The door leading to the hall opens.HovstadandAslaksenare seen outside it.

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