ACT SECOND.

Rosmer.

I should have felt so happy—so intensely happy, in what you call my apostasy. But nevertheless I suffered deeply; for I knew it would be a bitter sorrow to you.

Kroll.

Rosmer—Rosmer! I shall never get over this! [Looks gloomily at him.] To think that you toocan find it in your heart to help on the work of corruption and ruin in this unhappy land.

Rosmer.

It is the work of emancipation I wish to help on.

Kroll.

Oh yes, I know. That is what both the tempters and their victims call it. But do you think there is any emancipation to be expected from the spirit that is now poisoning our whole social life?

Rosmer.

I am not in love with the spirit that is in the ascendant, nor with either of the contending parties. I will try to bring together men from both sides—as many as I can—and to unite them as closely as possible. I will devote my life and all my energies to this one thing—the creation of a true democracy in this country.

Kroll.

So you don’t think we have democracy enough already! For my part it seems to me we are all in a fair way to be dragged down into the mire, where hitherto only the mob have been able to thrive.

Rosmer.

That is just why I want to awaken the democracy to its true task.

Kroll.

What task?

Rosmer.

That of making all the people of this country noble-men.

Kroll.

All the people——?

Rosmer.

As many as possible, at any rate.

Kroll.

By what means?

Rosmer.

By freeing their minds and purifying their wills.

Kroll.

You are a dreamer, Rosmer. Willyoufree them? Willyoupurify them?

Rosmer.

No, my dear friend—I will only try to arouse them to their task. They themselves must accomplish it.

Kroll.

And you think they can?

Rosmer.

Yes.

Kroll.

By their own strength?

Rosmer.

Yes, precisely by their own strength. There is no other.

Kroll.

[Rises.] Is this becoming language for a priest?

Rosmer.

I am no longer a priest.

Kroll.

Well but—the faith of your fathers——?

Rosmer.

It is mine no more.

Kroll.

No more——!

Rosmer.

[Rises.] I have given it up. Ihadto give it up, Kroll.

Kroll.

[Controlling his agitation.] Oh, indeed——Yes, yes, yes. I suppose one thing goes with another. Was this, then, your reason for leaving the Church?

Rosmer.

Yes. As soon as my mind was clear—as soon as I was quite certain that this was no passing attack of scepticism, but a conviction I neither could nor would shake off—then I at once left the Church.

Kroll.

So this has been your state of mind all this time! And we—your friends—have heard nothing of it. Rosmer—Rosmer—how could you hide the miserable truth from us!

Rosmer.

Because it seemed to me a matter that concerned myself alone. And besides, I did not wish to give you and my other friends any needless pain. I thought I might live on here, as before, quietly, serenely, happily. I wanted to read, to bury myself in all the studies that until then hadbeen sealed books to me. I wanted to make myself thoroughly at home in the great world of truth and freedom that has been revealed to me.

Kroll.

Apostate! Every word proves it. But why, then, do you confess your secret apostasy after all? And why just at this time?

Rosmer.

You yourself have driven me to it, Kroll.

Kroll.

I? Have I driven you——?

Rosmer.

When I heard of your violence on the platform—when I read all the rancorous speeches you made—your bitter onslaughts on your opponents—the contemptuous invectives you heaped on them—oh Kroll, to think that you—you—could come to this!—then my duty stood imperatively before me. Men are growing evil in this struggle. Peace and joy and mutual forbearance must once more enter into our souls. That is why I now intend to step forward and openly avow myself for what I am. I, too, will try my strength. Could not you—from your side—help me in this, Kroll?

Kroll.

Never so long as I live will I make peace with the subversive forces in society.

Rosmer.

Then at least let us fight with honourable weapons—since fight we must.

Kroll.

Whoever is not with me in the essential things of life, him I no longer know. I owe him no consideration.

Rosmer.

Does that apply to me too?

Kroll.

It is you that have broken with me, Rosmer.

Rosmer.

Is this a breach then?

Kroll.

This! It is a breach with all who have hitherto been your friends. You must take the consequences.

Rebecca Westenters from the right, and opens the door wide.

Rebecca.

There now; he is on his way to his great sacrifice. And now we can go to supper. Will you come in, Rector?

Kroll.

[Takes up his hat.] Good-night, Miss West. I have nothing more to do here.

Rebecca.

[Eagerly.] What is this? [Shuts the door and comes forward.] Have you spoken?

Rosmer.

He knows everything.

Kroll.

We will not let you go, Rosmer. We will force you to come back to us.

Rosmer.

I can never stand where I did.

Kroll.

We shall see. You are not the man to endure standing alone.

Rosmer.

I shall not be so completely alone after all.—There are two of us to bear the loneliness together.

Kroll.

Ah——! [A suspicion appears in his face.] That too! Beata’s words——!

Rosmer.

Beata’s——?

Kroll.

[Shaking off the thought.] No, no—that was vile. Forgive me.

Rosmer.

What? What do you mean?

Kroll.

Don’t ask. Bah! Forgive me! Good-bye!

[Goes towards the entrance door.

Rosmer.

[Follows him.] Kroll! Our friendship must not end like this. I will come and see you to-morrow.

Kroll.

[In the hall, turns.] You shall never cross my threshold again.

[He takes up his stick and goes out.

[Rosmerstands for a moment in the doorway; then shuts the door and walks up to the table.

Rosmer.

It does not matter, Rebecca. We will see it out, we two faithful friends—you[10]and I.

Rebecca.

What do you think he meant when he said “That was vile”?

Rosmer.

Don’t trouble about that, dear. He himself didn’t believe what was in his mind. To-morrow I will go and see him. Good-night!

Rebecca.

Are you going upstairs so early to-night? After this?

Rosmer.

To-night as usual. I feel so relieved, now it is over. You see—I am quite calm, Rebecca. Do you, too, take it calmly. Good-night!

Rebecca.

Good-night, dear friend! Sleep well.

[Rosmergoes out by the hall door; his steps are heard ascending the staircase.

[Rebeccagoes and pulls a bell-rope near the stove. Shortly after,Madam Helsethenters from the right.

Rebecca.

You can take away the supper things, Madam Helseth. Mr. Rosmer doesn’t want anything, and the Rector has gone home.

Madam Helseth.

Has the Rector gone? What was the matter with him?

Rebecca.

[Takes up her crochet work.] He said he thought there was a heavy storm brewing——

Madam Helseth.

What a strange notion! There’s not a cloud in the sky this evening.

Rebecca.

Let us hope he mayn’t meet the White Horse! I’m afraid we shall soon be hearing something from the bogies now.

Madam Helseth.

Lord forgive you, Miss! Don’t say such awful things.

Rebecca.

Well, well, well——

Madam Helseth.

[Softly.] Do you really think some one is to go soon, Miss?

Rebecca.

No; why should I think so? But there are somany sorts of white horses in this world, Madam Helseth.—Well, good-night. I shall go to my room now.

Madam Helseth.

Good-night, Miss.

[RebeccaRebeccagoes out to the right, with her crochet-work.

Madam Helseth.

[Turns the lamp down, shaking her head and muttering to herself.] Lord—Lord! That Miss West! The things she does say!

ACT SECOND.

Johannes Rosmer’sstudy. Entrance door on the left. At the back, a doorway with a curtain drawn aside, leading intoRosmer’sbedroom. On the right a window, and in front of it a writing-table covered with books and papers. Bookshelves and cases round the room. The furniture is simple. On the left, an old-fashioned sofa, with a table in front of it.

Johannes Rosmer,in an indoor jacket, is sitting in a high-backed chair at the writing-table. He is cutting and turning over the leaves of a pamphlet, and reading a little here and there.

There is a knock at the door on the left.

Rosmer.

[Without moving.] Come in.

Rebecca West.

[Enters, dressed in a morning gown.] Good morning.

Rosmer.

[Turning the leaves of the pamphlet.] Good morning, dear. Do you want anything?

Rebecca.

I only wanted to hear if you had slept well.

Rosmer.

Oh I have had a beautiful, peaceful night. [Turns.] And you?

Rebecca.

Oh yes, thanks—towards morning——

Rosmer.

I don’t know when I have felt so light-hearted as I do now. I am so glad I managed to speak out at last.

Rebecca.

Yes, it is a pity you remained silent so long, Rosmer.

Rosmer.

I don’t understand myself how I could be such a coward.

Rebecca.

It wasn’t precisely cowardice——

Rosmer.

Oh yes, dear—when I think the thing out, I can see there was a touch of cowardice at the bottom of it.

Rebecca.

All the braver, then, to make the plunge atlast.last.[Sits on a chair at the writing-table, close to him.] But now I want to tell you of something I have done—and you mustn’t be vexed with me about it.

Rosmer.

Vexed? How can you think——?

Rebecca.

Well, it was perhaps rather indiscreet of me, but——

Rosmer.

Let me hear what it was.

Rebecca.

Yesterday evening, when Ulric Brendel was leaving—I gave him a note to Peter Mortensgård.

Rosmer.

[A little doubtful.] Why, my dear Rebecca——Well, what did you say?

Rebecca.

I said that he would be doing you a service if he would look after that unfortunate creature a little, and help him in any way he could.

Rosmer.

Dear, you shouldn’t have done that. You have only done Brendel harm. And Mortensgård is not a man I care to have anything to do with. You know of that old episode between us.

Rebecca.

But don’t you think it would be as well to make it up with him again?

Rosmer.

I? With Mortensgård? In what way do you mean?

Rebecca.

Well, you know you can’t feel absolutely secure now—after this breach with your old friends.

Rosmer.

[Looks at her and shakes his head.] Can you really believe that Kroll or any of the others would try to take revenge on me? That they would be capable of——?

Rebecca.

In the first heat of anger, dear——. No one can be sure. I think—after the way the Rector took it——

Rosmer.

Oh, you ought surely to know him better than that. Kroll is a gentleman, to the backbone. I am going into town this afternoon to talk to him. I will talk to them all. Oh you shall see how easily it will all go——

Madam Helsethappears at the door on the left.

Rebecca.

[Rises.] What is it, Madam Helseth?

Madam Helseth.

Rector Kroll is downstairs in the hall.

Rosmer.

[Rises hastily.] Kroll!

Rebecca.

The Rector! Is it possible——

Madam Helseth.

He wants to know if he may come up and see Mr. Rosmer.

Rosmer.

[ToRebecca.] What did I tell you?—Of coursehe may. [Goes to the door and calls down the stairs.] Come up, dear friend! I am delighted to see you.

[Romerstands holding the door open.Madam Helsethgoes out.Rebeccadraws the curtain before the doorway at the back, and then begins arranging things in the room.

Rector Krollenters, with his hat in his hand.

Rosmer.

[With quiet emotion.] I knew it couldn’t be the last time——

Kroll.

I see things to-day in quite a different light from yesterday.

Rosmer.

Ah yes, Kroll; I was sure you would, now that you have had time to reflect.

Kroll.

You misunderstand me completely. [Lays his hat on the table beside the sofa.] It is of the utmost importance that I should speak to you, alone.

Rosmer.

Why may not Miss West——?

Rebecca.

No no, Mr. Rosmer. I will go.

Kroll.

[Looks at her from head to foot.] And I must ask Miss West to excuse my coming at such anuntimely hour—taking her unawares before she has had time to——

Rebecca.

[Surprised.] What do you mean? Do you see any harm in my wearing a morning gown about the house?

Kroll.

Heaven forbid! I know nothing of what may now be customary at Rosmersholm.

Rosmer.

Why, Kroll—you are not yourself to-day!

Rebecca.

Allow me to wish you good morning, Rector Kroll.

[She goes out to the left.

Kroll.

By your leave——[Sits on the sofa.

Rosmer.

Yes, Kroll, sit down, and let us talk things out amicably.

[He seats himself in a chair directly opposite to theRector.

Kroll.

I haven’t closed an eye since yesterday. I have been lying thinking and thinking all night.

Rosmer.

And what do you say to things to-day?

Kroll.

It will be a long story, Rosmer. Let me beginwith a sort of introduction. I can give you news of Ulric Brendel.

Rosmer.

Has he called on you?

Kroll.

No. He took up his quarters in a low public-house—in the lowest company of course—and drank and stood treat as long as he had any money. Then he began abusing the whole company as a set of disreputable blackguards—and so far he was quite right—whereupon they thrashed him and pitched him out into the gutter.

Rosmer.

So he is incorrigible after all.

Kroll.

He had pawned the coat too; but I am told that has been redeemed for him. Can you guess by whom?

Rosmer.

Perhaps by you?

Kroll.

No; by the distinguished Mr. Mortensgård.

Rosmer.

Ah, indeed.

Kroll.

I understand that Mr. Brendel’s first visit was to the “idiot” and “plebeian.”

Rosmer.

Well, it was lucky for him——

Kroll.

To be sure it was. [Leans over the table towardsRosmer.] And that brings me to a matter it is my duty to warn you about, for our old—for our former friendship’s sake.

Rosmer.

My dear Kroll, what canthatbe?

Kroll.

It is this: there are things going on behind your back in this house.

Rosmer.

How can you think so? Is it Reb—is it Miss West you are aiming at?

Kroll.

Precisely. I can quite understand it on her part. She has so long been accustomed to have everything her own way here. But nevertheless——

Rosmer.

My dear Kroll, you are utterly mistaken. She and I—we have no concealments from each other on any subject whatever.

Kroll.

Has she told you, then, that she has entered into correspondence with the editor of the “Beacon”?

Rosmer.

Oh, you are thinking of the few lines she sent by Ulric Brendel?

Kroll.

Then youhavefound it out. And do you approve of her entering into relations with a scurrilous scribbler, who never lets a week pass without holding me up to ridicule, both as a schoolmaster and as a public man?

Rosmer.

My dear Kroll, I don’t suppose that side of the matter ever entered her head. And besides, of course she has full liberty of action, just as I have.

Kroll.

Indeed? Ah, no doubt that follows from your new line of thought. For Miss West presumably shares your present standpoint?

Rosmer.

Yes, she does. We two have worked our way forward in faithful comradeship.

Kroll.

[Looks at him and slowly shakes his head.] Oh, you blind, deluded being!

Rosmer.

I? Why do you say that?

Kroll.

Because I dare not—I will not think the worst. No no, let me say my say out.—You really do value my friendship, Rosmer? And my respect too? Do you not?

Rosmer.

I surely need not answer that question.

Kroll.

Well, but there are other questions that do require an answer—a full explanation on your part.—Will you submit to a sort of investigation——?

Rosmer.

Investigation?

Kroll.

Yes; will you let me question you about certain things it may pain you to be reminded of? You see—this apostasy of yours—well, this emancipation, as you call it—is bound up with many other things that for your own sake you must explain to me.

Rosmer.

My dear Kroll, ask what questions you please. I have nothing to conceal.

Kroll.

Then tell me—what do you think was the real, the ultimate reason why Beata put an end to her life?

Rosmer.

Can you have any doubt on the subject? Or, rather, can you ask for reasons for what an unhappy, irresponsible invalid may do?

Kroll.

Are you certain that Beata was completely irresponsible for her actions? The doctors, at any rate, were by no means convinced of it.

Rosmer.

If the doctors had ever seen her as I have sooften seen her, for days and nights together, they would have had no doubts.

Kroll.

I had no doubts either—then.

Rosmer.

Oh no, unhappily, there wasn’t the smallest room for doubt. I have told you of her wild frenzies of passion—which she expected me to return. Oh, how they appalled me! And then her causeless, consuming self-reproaches during the last few years.

Kroll.

Yes, when she had learnt that she must remain childless all her life.

Rosmer.

Yes, just think of that! Such terrible, haunting agony of mind about a thing utterly beyond her control——! How could you call her responsible for her actions?

Kroll.

H’m———. Can you remember whether you had any books in the house at that time treating of the rationale of marriage—according to the “advanced” ideas of the day.

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