Chapter 17

Gina.

Hedvig dear, you mustn’t sit reading any longer now.

Hedvig.

Oh mother, mayn’t I read a little more? Just a little bit?

Gina.

No no, you must put away your book now. Father doesn’t like it; he never reads hisself in the evening.

Hedvig.

[Shuts the book.] No, father doesn’t care much about reading.

Gina.

[Puts aside her sewing and takes up a lead pencil and a little account-book from the table.] Can you remember how much we paid for the butter to-day?

Hedvig.

It was one crown sixty-five.

Gina.

That’s right. [Puts it down.] It’s terrible what a lot of butter we get through in this house. Then there was the smoked sausage, and the cheese—let me see—[Writes]—and the ham—[Adds up.] Yes, that makes just——

Hedvig.

And then the beer.

Gina.

Yes, to be sure. [Writes.] How it do mount up! But we can’t manage with no less.

Hedvig.

And then you and I didn’t need anything hot for dinner, as father was out.

Gina.

No; that was so much to the good. And then I took eight crowns fifty for the photographs.

Hedvig.

Really! So much as that?

Gina.

Exactly eight crowns fifty.

[Silence.Ginatakes up her sewing again,Hedvigtakes paper and pencil and begins to draw, shading her eyes with her left hand.

Hedvig.

Isn’t it jolly to think that father is at Mr. Werle’s big dinner-party?

Gina.

You know he’s not really Mr. Werle’s guest. It was the son invited him. [After a pause.] We have nothing to do with that Mr. Werle.

Hedvig.

I'm longing for father to come home. He promised to ask Mrs. Sörby for something nice for me.

Gina.

Yes, there’s plenty of good things going inthathouse, I can tell you.

Hedvig.

[Goes on drawing.] And I believe I'm a little hungry too.

[Old Ekdal,with the paper parcel under his arm and another parcel in his coat pocket, comes in by the entrance door.

Gina.

How late you are to-day, grandfather!

Ekdal.

They had locked the office door. Had to wait in Gråberg’s room. And then they let me through—h’m.

Hedvig.

Did you get some more copying to do, grandfather?

Ekdal.

This whole packet. Just look.

Gina.

That’s capital.

Hedvig.

And you have another parcel in your pocket.

Ekdal.

Eh? Oh never mind, that’s nothing. [Puts his stick away in a corner.] This work will keep me going a long time, Gina. [Opens one of the sliding-doors in the back wall a little.] Hush! [Peeps into the room for a moment, then pushes the door carefully to again.]Hee-hee! They’re fast asleep, all the lot of them. And she’s gone into the basket herself. Hee-hee!

Hedvig.

Are you sure she isn’t cold in that basket, grandfather?

Ekdal.

Not a bit of it! Cold? With all that straw? [Goes towards the farther door on the left.] There are matches in here, I suppose.

Gina.

The matches is on the drawers.

[Ekdalgoes into his room.

Hedvig.

It’s nice that grandfather has got all that copying.

Gina.

Yes, poor old father; it means a bit of pocket-money for him.

Hedvig.

And he won’t be able to sit the whole forenoon down at that horrid Madam Eriksen’s.

Gina.

No more he won’t.

[Short silence.

Hedvig.

Do you suppose they are still at the dinner-table?

Gina.

Goodness knows; as like as not.

Hedvig.

Think of all the delicious things father is havingto eat! I'm certain he’ll be in splendid spirits when he comes. Don’t you think so, mother?

Gina.

Yes; and if only we could tell him that we’d got the room let——

Hedvig.

But we don’t need that this evening.

Gina.

Oh, we’d be none the worse of it, I can tell you. It’s no use to us as it is.

Hedvig.

I mean we don’t need it this evening, for father will be in a good humour at any rate. It is best to keep the letting of the room for another time.

Gina.

[Looks across at her.] You like having some good news to tell father when he comes home in the evening?

Hedvig.

Yes; for then things are pleasanter somehow.

Gina.

[Thinking to herself.] Yes, yes, there’s something in that.

[Old Ekdalcomes in again and is going out by the foremost door to the left.

Gina.

[Half turning in her chair.] Do you want something out of the kitchen, grandfather?

Ekdal.

Yes, yes, I do. Don’t you trouble.[Goes out.

Gina.

He’s not poking away at the fire, is he? [Waits a moment.] Hedvig, go and see what he’s about.

[Ekdalcomes in again with a small jug of steaming hot water.

Hedvig.

Have you been getting some hot water, grandfather?

Ekdal.

Yes, hot water. Want it for something. Want to write, and the ink has got as thick as porridge.—h’m.

Gina.

But you’d best have your supper, first, grandfather. It’s laid in there.

Ekdal.

Can’t be bothered with supper, Gina. Very busy, I tell you. No one’s to come to my room. No one—h’m.

[He goes into his room;GinaandHedviglook at each other.

Gina.

[Softly.] Can you imagine where he’s got money from?

Hedvig.

From Gråberg, perhaps.

Gina.

Not a bit of it. Gråberg always sends the money to me.

Hedvig.

Then he must have got a bottle on credit somewhere.

Gina.

Poor grandfather, who’d give him credit?

Hialmar Ekdal,in an overcoat and grey felt hat, comes in from the right.

Gina.

[Throws down her sewing and rises.] Why, Ekdal. Is that you already?

Hedvig.

[At the same time jumping up.] Fancy your coming so soon, father!

Hialmar.

[Taking off his hat.] Yes, most of the people were coming away.

Hedvig.

So early?

Hialmar.

Yes, it was a dinner-party, you know.

[Is taking off his overcoat.

Gina.

Let me help you.

Hedvig.

Me too.

[They draw off his coat;Ginahangs it up on the back wall.

Hedvig.

Were there many people there, father?

Hialmar.

Oh no, not many. We were about twelve or fourteen at table.

Gina.

And you had some talk with them all?

Hialmar.

Oh yes, a little; but Gregers took me up most of the time.

Gina.

Is Gregers as ugly as ever?

Hialmar.

Well, he’s not very much to look at. Hasn’t the old man come home?

Hedvig.

Yes, grandfather is in his room, writing.

Hialmar.

Did he say anything?

Gina.

No, what should he say?

Hialmar.

Didn’t he say anything about——? I heard something about his having been with Gråberg. I'll go in and see him for a moment.

Gina.

No, no, better not.

Hialmar.

Why not? Did he say he didn’t want me to go in?

Gina.

I don’t think he wants to seenobodythis evening——

Hedvig.

[Making signs.] H'm—h’m!

Gina.

[Not noticing.]——he has been in to fetch hot water——

Hialmar.

Aha! Then he’s——

Gina.

Yes, I suppose so.

Hialmar.

Oh God! my poor old white-haired father!—Well, well; there let him sit and get all the enjoyment he can.

[Old Ekdal,in an indoor coat and with a lighted pipe, comes from his room.

Ekdal.

Got home? Thought it was you I heard talking.

Hialmar.

Yes, I have just come.

Ekdal.

You didn’t see me, did you?

Hialmar.

No; but they told me you had passed through—so I thought I would follow you.

Ekdal.

H'm, good of you, Hialmar.—Who were they, all those fellows?

Hialmar.

Oh, all sorts of people. There was ChamberlainFlor, and Chamberlain Balle, and Chamberlain Kaspersen, and Chamberlain—this, that, and the other—I don’t know who all——

Ekdal.

[Nodding.] Hear that, Gina! Chamberlains every one of them!

Gina.

Yes, I hear as they’re terrible genteel in that house nowadays.

Hedvig.

Did the Chamberlains sing, father? Or did they read aloud?

Hialmar.

No, they only talked nonsense. They wantedmeto recite something for them; but I knew better than that.

Ekdal.

You weren’t to be persuaded, eh?

Gina.

Oh, you might have done it.

Hialmar.

No; one mustn’t be at everybody’s beck and call. [Walks about the room.] That’s notmyway, at any rate.

Ekdal.

No no; Hialmar’s not to be had for the asking, he isn’t.

Hialmar.

I don’t see whyIshould bother myself to entertain people on the rare occasions when I go into society. Let the others exert themselves.These fellows go from one great dinner-table to the next and gorge and guzzle day out and day in. It’s for them to bestir themselves and do something in return for all the good feeding they get.

Gina.

But you didn’t say that?

Hialmar.

[Humming.] Ho-ho-ho——; faith, I gave them a bit of my mind.

Ekdal.

Not the Chamberlains?

Hialmar.

Oh, why not? [Lightly.] After that, we had a little discussion about Tokay.

Ekdal.

Tokay! There’s a fine wine for you!

Hialmar.

[Comes to a standstill.] Itmaybe a fine wine. But of course you know the vintages differ; it all depends on how much sunshine the grapes have had.

Gina.

Why, you know everything, Ekdal.

Ekdal.

And did they dispute that?

Hialmar.

They tried to; but they were requested to observe that it was just the same with Chamberlains—thatwith them, too, different batches were of different qualities.

Gina.

What things you do think of!

Ekdal.

Hee-hee! So they got that in their pipes too?

Hialmar.

Right in their teeth.

Ekdal.

Do you hear that, Gina? He said it right in the very teeth of all the Chamberlains.

Gina.

Fancy——! Right in their teeth!

Hialmar.

Yes, but I don’t want it talked about. One doesn’t speak of such things. The whole affair passed off quite amicably of course. They were nice, genial fellows; I didn’t want to wound them—not I!

Ekdal.

Right in their teeth, though——!

Hedvig.

[Caressingly.] How nice it is to see you in a dress-coat! It suits you so well, father.

Hialmar.

Yes, don’t you think so? And this one really sits to perfection. It fits almost as if it had been made for me;—a little tight in the arm-holes perhaps;—help me, Hedvig. [Takes off the coat.]I think I'll put on my jacket. Where is my jacket, Gina?

Gina.

Here it is. [Brings the jacket and helps him.]

Hialmar.

That’s it! Don’t forget to send the coat back to Molvik first thing to-morrow morning.

Gina.

[Laying it away.] I'll be sure and see to it.

Hialmar.

[Stretching himself.] After all, there’s a more homely feeling about this. A free-and-easy indoor costume suits my whole personality better. Don’t you think so, Hedvig?

Hedvig.

Yes, father.

Hialmar.

When I loosen my necktie into a pair of flowing ends—like this—eh?

Hedvig.

Yes, that goes so well with your moustache and the sweep of your curls.

Hialmar.

I should not call them curls exactly; I should rather say locks.

Hedvig.

Yes, they aretootoobig for curls.

Hialmar.

Locks describes them better.

Hedvig.

[After a pause, twitching his jacket.] Father.

Hialmar.

Well, what is it?

Hedvig.

Oh, you know very well.

Hialmar.

No, really I don’t——

Hedvig.

[Half laughing, half whimpering.] Oh yes, father, now don’t tease me any longer!

Hialmar.

Why, what do you mean?

Hedvig.

[Shaking him.] Oh what nonsense; come, where are they, father? All the good things you promised me, you know?

Hialmar.

Oh—if I haven’t forgotten all about them!

Hedvig.

Now you’re only teasing me, father! Oh, it’s too bad of you! Where have you put them?

Hialmar.

No, I positively forgot to get anything. But wait a little! I have something else for you, Hedvig.

[Goes and searches in the pockets of the coat.

Hedvig.

[Skipping and clapping her hands.] Oh mother, mother!

Gina.

There, you see; if you only give him time——

Hialmar.

[With a paper.] Look, here it is.

Hedvig.

That? Why, that’s only a paper.

Hialmar.

That is the bill of fare, my dear; the whole bill of fare. Here you see: “Menu ”—that means bill of fare.

Hedvig.

Haven’t you anything else?

Hialmar.

I forgot the other things, I tell you. But you may take my word for it, these dainties are very unsatisfying. Sit down at the table and read the bill of fare, and then I'll describe to you how the dishes taste. Here you are, Hedvig.

Hedvig.

[Gulping down her tears.] Thank you.

[She seats herself, but does not read;Ginamakes signs to her;Hialmarnotices it.

Hialmar.

[Pacing up and down the room.] It’s monstrous what absurd things the father of a family is expected to think of; and if he forgets the smallesttrifle, he is treated to sour faces at once. Well, well, one gets used to that too. [Stops near the stove, by the old man’s chair.] Have you peeped in there this evening, father?

Ekdal.

Yes, to be sure I have. She’s gone into the basket.

Hialmar.

Ah, shehasgone into the basket. Then she’s beginning to get used to it.

Ekdal.

Yes; just as I prophesied. But you know there are still a few little things——

Hialmar.

A few improvements, yes.

Ekdal.

They’vegotto be made, you know.

Hialmar.

Yes, let us have a talk about the improvements, father. Come, let us sit on the sofa.

Ekdal.

All right. H'm—think I'll just fill my pipe first. Must clean it out, too. H'm.

[He goes into his room.

Gina.

[Smiling toHialmar.] His pipe!

Hialmar.

Oh yes yes, Gina; let him alone—the poorshipwrecked old man.—Yes, these improvements—we had better get them out of hand to-morrow.

Gina.

You’ll hardly have time to-morrow, Ekdal.

Hedvig.

[Interposing.] Oh yes he will, mother!

Gina.

——for remember them prints that has to be retouched; they’ve sent for them time after time.

Hialmar.

There now! those prints again! I shall get them finished all right! Have any new orders come in?

Gina.

No, worse luck; to-morrow I have nothing but those two sittings, you know.

Hialmar.

Nothing else? Oh no, if people won’t set about things with a will——

Gina.

But what more can I do? Don’t I advertise in the papers as much as we can afford?

Hialmar.

Yes, the papers, the papers; you see how much goodtheydo. And I suppose no one has been to look at the room either?

Gina.

No, not yet.

Hialmar.

That was only to be expected. If people won’t keep their eyes open——. Nothing can be done without a real effort, Gina!

Hedvig.

[Going towards him.] Shall I fetch you the flute, father?

Hialmar.

No; no flute for me;Iwant no pleasures in this world. [Pacing about.] Yes, indeed I will work to-morrow; you shall see if I don’t. You may be sure I shall work as long as my strength holds out.

Gina.

But my dear good Ekdal, I didn’t mean it inthatway.

Hedvig.

Father, mayn’t I bring in a bottle of beer?

Hialmar.

No, certainly not. I require nothing, nothing——[Comes to a standstill.] Beer? Was it beer you were talking about?

Hedvig.

[Cheerfully.] Yes, father; beautiful fresh beer.

Hialmar.

Well—since you insist upon it, you may bring in a bottle.

Gina.

Yes, do; and we’ll be nice and cosy.

[Hedvigruns towards the kitchen door.

Hialmar.

[By the stove, stops her, looks at her, puts his arm round her neck and presses her to him.] Hedvig, Hedvig!

Hedvig.

[With tears of joy.] My dear, kind father!

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