ACT FOURTH.

Rebecca.

Stop! You needn’t calculate. I may as well tell you at once: I am a year older than I give myself out to be.

Kroll.

[Smiles incredulously.] Really! I am surprised! What can be the reason of that?

Rebecca.

When I had passed twenty-five, it seemed to me I was getting altogether too old for an unmarried woman. And so I began to lie about my age.

Kroll.

You? An emancipated woman! Have you prejudices about the age for marriage?

Rebecca.

Yes, it was idiotic of me—idiotic and absurd. But some folly or other will always cling to us, not to be shaken off. We are made so.

Kroll.

Well, so be it; but my calculation may be right, none the less. For Dr. West was up there on a short visit the year before he got the appointment.

Rebecca.

[With a vehement outburst.] It is not true!

Kroll.

Is it not true?

Rebecca.

No. My mother never spoke of any such visit.

Kroll.

Did she not?

Rebecca.

No, never. Nor Dr. West either; not a word aboutit.it.

Kroll.

Might not that be because they both had reasons for suppressing a year? Just as you have done, Miss West. Perhaps it is a family foible.

Rebecca.

[Walks about clenching and wringing her hands.] It is impossible. You want to cheat me into believing it. This can never, never be true! It cannot! Never in this world——!

Kroll.

[Rises.] My dear Miss West—why in heaven’s name are you so terribly excited? You quite frighten me! What am I to think—to believe——?

Rebecca.

Nothing! You are to think and believe nothing.

Kroll.

Then you must really tell me how you can take this affair—this possibility—so terribly to heart.

Rebecca.

[Controlling herself.] It is perfectly simple, Rector Kroll. I have no wish to be taken for an illegitimate child.

Kroll.

Indeed! Well well, let us be satisfied with that explanation—in the meantime. But in that case you must still have a certain—prejudice on that point too?

Rebecca.

Yes, I suppose I have.

Kroll.

Ah, I fancy it is much the same with most of what you call your “emancipation.” You have read yourself into a number of new ideas and opinions. You have got a sort of smattering of recent discoveries in various fields—discoveries that seem to overthrow certain principles which have hitherto been held impregnable and unassailable. But all this has only been a matter of the intellect, Miss West—a superficial acquisition. It has not passed into your blood.

Rebecca.

[Thoughtfully.] Perhaps you are right.

Kroll.

Yes, look into your own mind, and you will see! And if this is the case with you, one may easily guess how it must be with Johannes Rosmer. It is sheer, unmitigated madness—it is running blindfold to destruction—for him to think of coming openly forward and confessing himself an apostate! Only think—a man of his sensitive nature! Imagine him disowned and persecuted by the circle of which he has always formed a part—exposed to ruthless attacks from all the best people in the community! He is not—he never can be the man to endure all that.

Rebecca.

Hemustendure it! It is too late now for him to retreat.

Kroll.

Not at all too late. By no means. What has happened can be hushed up—or at least explained away as a mere temporary aberration, howeverdeplorable. But—one measure is certainly indispensable.

Rebecca.

And what is that?

Kroll.

You must get him to legalise the position, Miss West.

Rebecca.

His position towards me?

Kroll.

Yes. You must make him do that.

Rebecca.

Then you absolutely cannot clear your mind of the idea that our position requires to be—legalised, as you call it?

Kroll.

I would rather not go into the matter too closely. But I believe I have noticed that it is nowhere easier to break through all so-called prejudices than in—h’m——

Rebecca.

In the relation between man and woman, you mean?

Kroll.

Yes,—to speak plainly—I think so.

Rebecca.

[Wanders across the room and looks out at the window.] I could almost say—I wish you were right, Rector Kroll.

Kroll.

What do you mean by that? You say it so strangely.

Rebecca.

Oh, well—please let us drop the subject. Ah,—there he comes.

Kroll.

Already! Then I will go.

Rebecca.

[Goes towards him.] No—please stay. There is something I want you to hear.

Kroll.

Not now. I don’t feel as if I could bear to see him.

Rebecca.

I beg you to stay. Do! If not, you will regret it by-and-by. It is the last time I shall ask you for anything.

Kroll.

[Looks at her in surprise and puts down his hat.] Very well, Miss West—so be it, then.

A short silence. ThenJohannes Rosmerenters from the hall.

Rosmer.

[Sees theRector,and stops in the doorway.] What!—Areyouhere?

Rebecca.

He did not wish to meet you, dear.[11]

Kroll.

[Involuntarily.] “Dear!”

Rebecca.

Yes, Rector Kroll, Rosmer and I say “dear” to each other. That is one result of our “position.”

Kroll.

Wasthatwhat you wanted me to hear?

Rebecca.

That—and a little more.

Rosmer.

[Comes forward.] What is the object of this visit?

Kroll.

I wanted to try once more to stop you and win you back to us.

Rosmer.

[Points to the newspaper.] After what appears in that paper?

Kroll.

I did not write it.

Rosmer.

Did you make the slightest effort to prevent its appearance?

Kroll.

That would have been to betray the cause I serve. And, besides, it was not in my power.

Rebecca.

[Tears the paper into shreds, crushes up the pieces and throws them behind the stove.] There! Now it is out of sight. And let it be out of mind too. For there will be nothing more of that sort, Rosmer.

Kroll.

Ah, if you could only make sure ofthat!

Rebecca.

Come, let us sit down, dear. All three of us. And then I will tell you everything.

Rosmer.

[Seats himself mechanically.] What has come over you, Rebecca? This unnatural calmness—what is it?

Rebecca.

The calmness of resolution. [Seats herself.] Pray sit down too, Rector.

[Rector Krollseats himself on thesofasofa.

Rosmer.

Resolution, you say? What resolution?

Rebecca.

I am going to give you back what you require in order to live your life. Dear friend, you shall have your happy innocence back again!

Rosmer.

What can you mean?

Rebecca.

I have only to tell you something. That will be enough.

Rosmer.

Well!

Rebecca.

When I came down here from Finmark—along with Dr. West—it seemed to me that a great, widenew world was opening up before me. The Doctor had taught me all sorts of things—all the fragmentary knowledge of life that I possessed in those days. [With a struggle and in a scarcely audible voice.] And then——

Kroll.

And then?

Rosmer.

But Rebecca—I know all this.

Rebecca.

[Mastering herself.] Yes, yes—you are right. You know enough about this.

Kroll.

[Looks hard at her.] Perhaps I had better go.

Rebecca.

No, please stay where you are, my dear Rector. [ToRosmer.] Well, you see, this was how it was—I wanted to take my share in the life of the new era that was dawning, with all its new ideas.—Rector Kroll told me one day that Ulric Brendel had had great influence over you while you were still a boy. I thought it must surely be possible for me to carry on his work.

Rosmer.

You came here with a secret design——?

Rebecca.

We two, I thought, should march onward in freedom, side by side. Ever onward. Ever farther and farther to the front. But between youand perfect emancipation there rose that dismal, insurmountable barrier.

Rosmer.

What barrier do you mean?

Rebecca.

I mean this, Rosmer: You could grow into freedom only in the clear, fresh sunshine—and here you were pining, sickening in the gloom of such a marriage.

Rosmer.

You have never before spoken to me of my marriage inthattone.

Rebecca.

No, I did not dare to, for I should have frightened you.

Kroll.

[Nods toRosmer.] Do you hearthat?

Rebecca.

[Goes on.] But I saw quite well where your deliverance lay—your only deliverance. And then I went to work.

Rosmer.

Went to work? In what way?

Kroll.

Do you mean that——?

Rebecca.

Yes, Rosmer—— [Rises.] Sit still. You too, Rector Kroll. But now it must out. It was not you, Rosmer. You are innocent. It wasIthatlured—that ended in luring Beata out into the paths of delusion——

Rosmer.

[Springs up.] Rebecca!

Kroll.

[Rises from the sofa.] The paths of delusion!

Rebecca.

The paths—that led to the mill race. Now you know it, both of you.

Rosmer.

[As if stunned.] But I don’t understand——What is it she is saying? I don’t understand a word——!

Kroll.

Oh yes, Rosmer, I am beginning to understand.

Rosmer.

But what did you do? What can you possibly have told her? There was nothing—absolutely nothing to tell!

Rebecca.

She came to know that you were working yourself free from all the old prejudices.

Rosmer.

Yes, but that was not the case at that time.

Rebecca.

I knew that it soon would be.

Kroll.

[Nods toRosmer.] Aha!

Rosmer.

And then? What more? I must know all now.

Rebecca.

Some time after—I begged and implored her to let me go away from Rosmersholm.

Rosmer.

Why did you want to go—then?

Rebecca.

I did not want to go; I wanted to stay here, where I was. But I told her that it would be best for us all—that I should go away in time. I gave her to understand that if I stayed here any longer, I could not—I could not tell—what might happen.

Rosmer.

Then this is what you said and did!

Rebecca.

Yes, Rosmer.

Rosmer.

Thisis what you call “going to work.”

Rebecca.

[In a broken voice.] I called it so, yes.

Rosmer.

[After a pause.] Have you confessed all now, Rebecca?

Rebecca.

Yes.

Kroll.

Not all.

Rebecca.

[Looks at him in fear.] What more should there be?

Kroll.

Did you not at last give Beata to understand that it was necessary—not only that it would be wisest, but that it was necessary—both for your own sake and Rosmer’s, that you should go away somewhere—as soon as possible?—Well?

Rebecca.

[Low and indistinctly.] Perhaps I did say something of the sort.

Rosmer.

[Sinks into the arm-chair by the window] And] Andthis tissue of lies and deceit she—my unhappy, sick wife believed in! Believed in it so firmly! So immovably! [Looks up atRebecca.] And she never turned to me. Never said one word to me! Oh, Rebecca,—I can see it in your face—you dissuaded her from it!

Rebecca.

She had conceived a fixed idea that she, as a childless wife, had no right to be here. And then she imagined that it was her duty to you to efface herself.

Rosmer.

And you—you did nothing to disabuse her of the idea?

Rebecca.

No.

Kroll.

Perhaps you confirmed her in it? Answer me! Did you not?

Rebecca.

I believe she may have understood me so.

Rosmer.

Yes, yes—and in everything she bowed before your will. And she did efface herself! [Springs up.] How could you—how could you play this ghastly game!

Rebecca.

It seemed to me I had to choose between your life and hers, Rosmer.

Kroll.

[Severely and impressively.] That choice was not foryouto make.

Rebecca.

[Vehemently.] You think then that I was cool and calculating and self-possessed all the time! I was not the same woman then that I am now, as I stand here telling it all. Besides, there are two sorts of will in us I believe! I wanted Beata away, by one means or another; but I never really believed that it would come to pass. As I felt my way forward, at each step I ventured, I seemed to hear something within me cry out: No farther! Not a step farther! And yet Icouldnot stop. I had to venture the least little bit farther. Only one hair’s-breadth more. And then one more—and always one more.—And then it happened.—That is the way such things come about.

[A short silence.

Rosmer

[ToRebecca.] What do you think lies beforeyounow? After this?

Rebecca.

Things must go with me as they will. It doesn’t greatly matter.

Kroll.

Not a word of remorse! Is it possible you feel none?

Rebecca.

[Coldly putting aside his question.] Excuse me, Rector Kroll—that is a matter which concerns no one but me. I must settle it with myself.

Kroll.

[ToRosmer.] And this is the woman you are living under the same roof with—in the closest intimacy! [Looks round at the pictures.] Oh if those that are gone could see us now!

Rosmer.

Are you going back to town?

Kroll.

[Takes up his hat.] Yes. The sooner the better.

Rosmer.

[Does the same.] Then I will go with you.

Kroll.

Will you! Ah yes, I was sure we had not lost you for good.

Rosmer.

Come then, Kroll! Come!

[Both go out through the hall without looking atRebecca.

[After a moment,Rebeccagoes cautiously to the window and looks out through the flowers.

Rebecca.

[Speaks to herself under her breath.] Not over the foot-bridge to-day either. He goes round. Never across the mill race. Never. [Leaves the window.] Well, well, well!

[Goes and pulls the bell-rope; a moment after,Madam Helsethenters from the right.

Madam Helseth.

What is it, Miss?

Rebecca.

Madam Helseth, would you be so good as to have my trunk brought down from the garret?

Madam Helseth.

Your trunk?

Rebecca.

Yes—the brown sealskin trunk, you know.

Madam Helseth.

Yes, yes. But, Lord preserve us—are you going on a journey, Miss?

Rebecca.

Yes—now I am going on a journey, Madam Helseth.

Madam Helseth.

And immediately!

Rebecca.

As soon as I have packed up.

Madam Helseth.

Well, I’ve never heard the like of that! But you’ll come back again soon, Miss, of course?

Rebecca.

I shall never come back again.

Madam Helseth.

Never! Dear Lord, what will things be like at Rosmersholm when you’re gone, Miss? And the poor Pastor was just beginning to be so happy and comfortable.

Rebecca.

Yes, but I have taken fright to-day, Madam Helseth.

Madam Helseth.

Taken fright! Dear, dear! how was that?

Rebecca.

I thought I saw something like a glimpse of white horses.

Madam Helseth.

White horses! In broad daylight!

Rebecca.

Oh, they are abroad early and late—the white horses of Rosmersholm. [With a change of tone.] Well,—about the trunk, Madam Helseth.

Madam Helseth.

Yes, yes. The trunk.[Both go out to the right.

ACT FOURTH.

The sitting-room at Rosmersholm. Late evening. A lighted lamp, with a shade over it, on the table.

Rebecca Weststands by the table, packing some small articles in a hand-bag. Her cloak, hat, and the white crocheted shawl are hanging over the back of the sofa.

Madam Helsethenters from the right.

Madam Helseth.

[Speaks in a low voice and appears ill at ease.] All your things have been taken down, Miss. They are in the kitchen passage.

Rebecca.

Very well. You have ordered the carriage?

Madam Helseth.

Yes. The coachman wants to know what time he ought to be here.

Rebecca.

About eleven o’clock, I think. The steamer starts at midnight.

Madam Helseth.

[Hesitates a little.] But the Pastor? If he shouldn’t be home by that time?

Rebecca.

I shall go all the same. If I don’t see him, you can tell him that I will write to him—a long letter. Tell him that.

Madam Helseth.

Yes, writing—that may be all very well. But, poor Miss West—I do think you should try to speak to him once more.

Rebecca.

Perhaps so. And yet—perhaps not.

Madam Helseth.

Well—that I should live to see this! I never thought of such a thing.

Rebecca.

What did you think then, Madam Helseth?

Madam Helseth.

Well, I certainly thought Pastor Rosmer was a more dependable man than this.

Rebecca.

Dependable?

Madam Helseth.

Yes, that’s whatIsay.

Rebecca.

Why, my dear Madam Helseth, what do you mean?

Madam Helseth.

I mean what’s right and true, Miss. He shouldn’t get out of it inthisway, that he shouldn’t.

Rebecca.

[Looks at her.] Come now, Madam Helseth, tell me plainly; what do you think is the reason I am going away?

Madam Helseth.

Well, Heaven forgive us, I suppose it can’t be helped, Miss. Ah, well, well, well! But I certainly don’t think the Pastor’s behaving handsome-like. Mortensgård had some excuse; for her husband was alive, so that they two couldn’t marry, however much they wanted to. But as for the Pastor—h’m!

Rebecca.

[With a faint smile.] Could you have believed such a thing of Pastor Rosmer and me?

Madam Helseth.

No, never in this world. At least, I mean—not until to-day.

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