Chapter 19

Ella Rentheim.

[In suppressed but rising agitation.] Yes, your love is still down there, John. It has alwaysbeen rooted there. But here, in the light of day, here there was a living, warm, human heart that throbbed and glowed for you. And this heart you crushed. Oh worse than that! Ten times worse! You sold it for—for——

Borkman.

[Trembles; a cold shudder seems to go through him.] For the kingdom—and the power—and the glory—you mean?

Ella Rentheim.

Yes, that’s what I mean. I have said it once before to-night: you have murdered the love-life in the woman who loved you. And whom you loved in return, so far as youcouldlove any one. [With uplifted arm.] And therefore I prophesy to you, John Gabriel Borkman—you will never touch the price you demanded for the murder. You will never enter in triumph into your cold, dark kingdom!

Borkman.

[Staggers to the bench and seats himself heavily.] I almost fear your prophecy will come true, Ella.

Ella Rentheim.

[Going up to him.] You must not fear it, John. That is the best thing that can happen to you.

Borkman.

[With a shriek; clutching at his breast.] Ah——! [Feebly.] Now it let me go again.

Ella Rentheim.

[Shaking him.] What was it, John?

Borkman.

[Sinking down against the back of the seat.] It was a hand of ice that clutched at my heart.

Ella Rentheim.

John! Did you feel the ice-hand again!

Borkman.

[Murmurs.] No. No ice-hand. It was a metal hand.

[He sinks right down upon the bench.

Ella Rentheim.

[Tears off her cloak and throws it over him.] Lie still where you are! I will go and bring help for you.

[She goes a step or two towards the right; then she stops, returns, and carefully feels his pulse and touches his face.

Ella Rentheim.

[Softly and firmly.] No. It is best so, John Borkman. Best so for you.

[She spreads the cloak closer around him, and sinks down in the snow in front of the bench. A short silence.

[Mrs. Borkman, wrapped in a mantle, comes through the wood on the right.The Maidgoes before her carrying a lantern.

The Maid.

[Throwing the light upon the snow.] Yes, yes, ma’am, here are their tracks.

Mrs. Borkman.

[Peering around.] Yes, here they are! They are sitting there on the bench. [Calls.] Ella!

Ella Rentheim.

[Rising.] Are you looking for us?

Mrs. Borkman.

[Sternly.] Yes, you see I have to.

Ella Rentheim.

[Pointing.] Look, there he lies, Gunhild.

Mrs. Borkman.

Sleeping?

Ella Rentheim.

A long, deep sleep, I think.

Mrs. Borkman.

[With an outburst.] Ella! [Controls herself and asks in a low voice.] Did he do it—of his own accord?

Ella Rentheim.

No.

Mrs. Borkman.

[Relieved.] Not by his own hand then?

Ella Rentheim.

No. It was an ice-cold metal hand that gripped him by the heart.

Mrs. Borkman.

[ToThe Maid.] Go for help. Get the men to come up from the farm.

The Maid.

Yes, I will, ma’am. [To herself.] Lord save us!

[She goes out through the wood to the right.

Mrs. Borkman.

[Standing behind the bench.] So the night air has killed him——

Ella Rentheim.

So it appears.

Mrs. Borkman.

——strong man that he was.

Ella Rentheim.

[Coming in front of the bench.] Will you not look at him, Gunhild?

Mrs. Borkman.

[With a gesture of repulsion.] No, no, no. [Lowering her voice.] He was a miner’s son,John Gabriel Borkman. He could not live in the fresh air.

Ella Rentheim.

It was rather the cold that killed him.

Mrs. Borkman.

[Shakes her head.] The cold, you say? The cold—that had killed him long ago.

Ella Rentheim.

[Nodding to her.] Yes—and changed us two into shadows.

Mrs. Borkman.

You are right there.

Ella Rentheim.

[With a painful smile.] A dead man and two shadows—thatis what the cold has made of us.

Mrs. Borkman.

Yes, the coldness of heart.—And now I think we two may hold out our hands to each other, Ella.

Ella Rentheim.

I think we may, now.

Mrs. Borkman.

We twin sisters—over him we have both loved.

Ella Rentheim.

We two shadows—over the dead man.

[Mrs. Borkmanbehind the bench, andElla Rentheimin front of it, take each other’s hand.

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