Morten Kiil.
Morten Kiil.
Morten Kiil.
Hullo! look at these two.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
[Staring at them.] What! Do you actually venture to come here?
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Why, to be sure we do.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
You see, we’ve something to discuss with you.
Morten Kiil.
Morten Kiil.
Morten Kiil.
[Whispers.] Yes or no—by two o’clock.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
[With a glance atHovstad.] Aha!
[Morten Kiilgoes out.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Well, what do you want with me? Be brief.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
I can quite understand that you resent our attitude at the meeting yesterday——
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
YourYourattitude, you say? Yes, it was a pretty attitude! I call it the attitude of cowards—of old women——Shame upon you!
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Call it what you will; but wecouldnot act otherwise.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Youdarednot, I suppose? Isn’t that so?
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Yes, if you like to put it so.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
But why didn’t you just say a word to us beforehand? The merest hint to Mr. Hovstad or to me——
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
A hint? What about?
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
About what was really behind it all.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
I don’t in the least understand you?
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
[Nods confidentially.] Oh yes, you do, Dr. Stockmann.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
It’s no good making a mystery of it any longer.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
[Looking from one to the other.] Why, what in the devil’s name——!
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
May I ask—isn’t your father-in-law going about the town buying up all the Bath stock?
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Yes, he has been buying Bath stock to-day but——
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
It would have been more prudent to let somebody else do that—some one not so closely connected with you.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
And then you ought not to have appeared in the matter under your own name. No one need have known that the attack on the Baths came from you. You should have taken me into your counsels, Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
[Stares straight in front of him; a light seems to break in upon him, and he says as though thunderstruck.] Is this possible? Can such things be?
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
[Smiling.] It’s plain enough that they can. But they ought to be managed delicately, you understand.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
And there ought to be more people in it; for the responsibility always falls more lightly when there are several to share it.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
[Calmly.] In one word, gentlemen—what is it you want?
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Mr. Hovstad can best——
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
No, you explain, Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Well, it’s this: now that we know how the matter really stands, we believe we can venture to place thePeople’s Messengerat your disposal.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
You can venture tonow, eh? But how about public opinion? Aren’t you afraid of bringing down a storm upon us?
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
We must manage to ride out the storm.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
And you must be ready to put about quickly, Doctor. As soon as your attack has done its work——
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
As soon as my father-in-law and I have bought up the shares at a discount, you mean?
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
I presume it is mainly on scientific grounds that you want to take the management of the Baths into your own hands.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Of course; it was on scientific grounds that I got the old Badger to stand in with me. And then we’ll tinker up the water-works a little, and potter about a bit down at the beach, without its costing the town sixpence. That ought to do the business? Eh?
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
I think so—if you have theMessengerto back you up.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
In a free community the press is a power, Doctor.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Yes, indeed; and so is public opinion. And you, Mr. Aslaksen—I suppose you will answer for the House-owners' Association?
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Both for the House-owners' Association and the Temperance Society. You may make your mind easy.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
But, gentlemen—really I'm quite ashamed to mention such a thing—but—what return——?
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Of course, we should prefer to give you our support for nothing. But theMessengeris not very firmly established; it’s not getting on as it ought to; and I should be very sorry to have to stop the paper just now, when there’s so much to be done in general politics.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Naturally; that would be very hard for a friend of the people like you. [Flaring up.] But I—I am an enemy of the people! [Striding about the room.] Where’s my stick? Where the devil is my stick?
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
What do you mean?
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Surely you wouldn’t——
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
[Standing still.] And suppose I don’t give you a single farthing out of all my shares? You must remember we rich folk don’t like parting with our money.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
And you must remember that this business of the shares can be represented in two ways.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Yes, you are the man for that; if I don’t come to the rescue of theMessenger, you’ll manage to put a vile complexion on the affair; you’ll hunt me down, I suppose—bait me—try to throttle me as a dog throttles a hare!
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
That’s a law of nature—every animal fights for its own subsistence.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
And must take its food where it can find it, you know.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Then see if you can’t find some out in the gutter; [Striding about the room] for now, by heaven! we shall see which is the strongest animal of us three.[Finds his umbrella and brandishes it.] Now, look here——!
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
You surely don’t mean to assault us!
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
I say, be careful with that umbrella!
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Out at the window with you, Mr. Hovstad!
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
[By the hall door.] Are you utterly crazy?
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Out at the window, Mr. Aslaksen! Jump I tell you! Be quick about it!
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
[Running round the writing-table.] Moderation, Doctor; I'm not at all strong; I can’t stand much——[Screams.] Help! help!
Mrs. Stockmann,Petra,andHorsterenter from sitting-room.
Mrs. Stockmann,Petra,andHorsterenter from sitting-room.
Mrs. Stockmann,Petra,andHorsterenter from sitting-room.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Good heavens, Thomas! whatcanbe the matter?
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
[Brandishing the umbrella.] Jump, I tell you! Out into the gutter!
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
Hovstad.
An unprovoked assault! I call you to witness, Captain Horster.
[Rushes off through the hall.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
Aslaksen.
[Bewildered.] If one only knew the local situation——![14]
[He slinks out by the sitting-room door.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
[Holding back theDoctor.] Now, do restrain yourself, Thomas!
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
[Throwing down the umbrella.] I'll be hanged if they haven’t got off after all.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Why, what can they have wanted with you?
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
I'll tell you afterwards; I have other things to think of now. [Goes to the table and writes on a visiting-card.] Look here, Katrina: what’s written here?
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Three bigNoes; what does that mean?
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
That I'll tell you afterwards, too. [Handing the card.] There, Petra; let smudgy-face run to the Badger’s with this as fast as she can. Be quick!
[Petragoes out through the hall with the card.
[Petragoes out through the hall with the card.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Well, if I haven’t had visits to-day from all theemissaries of the devil! But now I'll sharpen my pen against them till it becomes a goad; I'll dip it in gall and venom; I'll hurl my inkstand straight at their skulls.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
You forget we are going away, Thomas.
Petrareturns.
Petrareturns.
Petrareturns.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Well?
Petra.
Petra.
Petra.
She has gone.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Good. Going away, do you say? No, I'll be damned if we do; we stay where we are, Katrina!
Petra.
Petra.
Petra.
Stay!
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Here in the town?
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Yes, here; the field of battle is here; here the fight must be fought; here I will conquer! As soon as my trousers are mended, I shall go out into the town and look for a house; we must have a roof over our heads for the winter.
Horster.
Horster.
Horster.
That you can have in my house.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Can I?
Horster.
Horster.
Horster.
Yes, there’s no difficulty about that. I have room enough, and I'm hardly ever at home myself.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Oh, how kind of you, Captain Horster.
Petra.
Petra.
Petra.
Thank you!
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
[Shaking his hand.] Thanks, thanks! So that is off my mind. And this very day I shall set to work in earnest. Oh, there’s no end of work to be done here, Katrina! It’s a good thing I shall have all my time at my disposal now; for you must know I've had notice from the Baths——
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
[Sighing.] Oh yes, I was expecting that.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
——And now they want to take away my practice as well. But let them! The poor I shall keep anyhow—those that can’t pay; and, good Lord! it’s they that need me most. But by heaven! I'll make them listen to me; I'll preach to them in season and out of season, as the saying goes.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
My dear Thomas, I should have thought you had learnt what good preaching does.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
You really are absurd, Katrina. Am I to letmyself be beaten off the field by public opinion, and the compact majority, and all that sort of devilry? No, thank you! Besides, my point is so simple, so clear and straightforward. I only want to drive it into the heads of these curs that the Liberals are the craftiest foes free men have to face; that party-programmes wring the necks of all young and living truths; that considerations of expediency turn justice and morality upside down, until life here becomes simply unlivable. Come, Captain Horster, don’t you think I shall be able to make the people understand that?
Horster.
Horster.
Horster.
Maybe; I don’t know much about these things myself.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Well, you see—this is the way of it! It’s the party-leaders that must be exterminated. For a party-leader is just like a wolf, you see—like a ravening wolf; he must devour a certain number of smaller animals a year, if he’s to exist at all. Just look at Hovstad and Aslaksen! How many small animals they polish off—or at least mangle and maim, so that they’re fit for nothing else but to be house-owners and subscribers to thePeople’s Messenger! [Sits on the edge of the table.] Just come here, Katrina—see how bravely the sun shines to-day! And how the blessed fresh spring air blows in upon me!
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Yes, if only we could live on sunshine and spring air,Thomas.Thomas.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Well, you’ll have to pinch and save to eke them out—and then we shall get on all right. That’s what troubles me least. No, what does trouble me is that I don’t see any man free enough and high-minded enough to dare to take up my work after me.
Petra.
Petra.
Petra.
Oh, don’t think about that, father; you have time enough before you.—Why, see, there are the boys already.
EilifandMortenenter from the sitting-room.
EilifandMortenenter from the sitting-room.
EilifandMortenenter from the sitting-room.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Have you a holiday to-day?
Morten.
Morten.
Morten.
No; but we had a fight with the other fellows in play-time—-
Eilif.
Eilif.
Eilif.
That’s not true; it was the other fellows that fought us.
Morten.
Morten.
Morten.
Yes, and then Mr. Rörlund said we had better stop at home for a few days.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
[Snapping his fingers and springing down from the table.] Now I have it! Now I have it, on my soul! You shall never set foot in school again!
The Boys.
The Boys.
The Boys.
Never go to school!
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Why, Thomas——
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Never, I say! I shall teach you myself—that’s to say, I won’t teach you any mortal thing——
Morten.
Morten.
Morten.
Hurrah!
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
——but I shall help you to grow into free, high-minded men.—Look here, you’ll have to help me, Petra.
Petra.
Petra.
Petra.
Yes, father, you may be sure I will.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
And we’ll have our school in the room where they reviled me as an enemy of the people. But we must have more pupils. I must have at least a dozen boys to begin with.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
You’ll never get them in this town.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
We shall see. [To the boys.] Don’t you know any street urchins—any regular ragamuffins——?
Morten.
Morten.
Morten.
Yes, father, I know lots!
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
That’s all right; bring me a few of them. Ishall experiment with the street-curs for once in a way; there are sometimes excellent heads amongst them.
Morten.
Morten.
Morten.
But what are we to do when we’ve grown into free and high-minded men?
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Drive all the wolves out to the far west, boys!
[Eiliflooks rather doubtful;Mortenjumps about shouting “Hurrah!â€
[Eiliflooks rather doubtful;Mortenjumps about shouting “Hurrah!â€
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
If only the wolves don’t drive you out, Thomas.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Are you quite mad, Katrina!Drive me out!Now that I am the strongest man in the town?
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
The strongest—now?
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Yes, I venture to say this: that now I am one of the strongest men in the whole world.
Morten.
Morten.
Morten.
I say, what fun!
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
[In a subdued voice.] Hush; you mustn’t speak about it yet; but I have made a great discovery.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
What, another?
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Dr. Stockmann.
Yes, of course! [Gathers them about him, and speaks confidentially.] This is what I have discovered, you see: the strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
Mrs. Stockmann.
[Shakes her head, smiling.] Ah, Thomas dear——!
Petra.
Petra.
Petra.
[Grasping his hands cheerily.] Father!
THE END.
THE END.
THE END.