ACT SECOND

Brack.

The nomination may perhaps be made conditional on the result of a competition——

Tesman.

Competition! Think of that, Hedda!

Hedda.

[Leans further back in the chair.] Aha—aha!

Tesman.

But who can my competitor be? Surely not——?

Brack.

Yes, precisely—Eilert Lövborg.

Tesman.

[Clasping his hands.] No, no—it’s quite inconceivable! Quite impossible! Eh?

Brack.

H’m—that is what it may come to, all the same.

Tesman.

Well but, Judge Brack—it would show the most incredible lack of consideration for me. [Gesticulates with his arms.] For—just think—I’m a married man! We have married on the strength of these prospects, Hedda and I; and run deep into debt; and borrowed money from Aunt Julia too. Good heavens, they had as good as promised me the appointment. Eh?

Brack.

Well, well, well—no doubt you will get it in the end; only after a contest.

Hedda.

[Immovable in her arm-chair.] Fancy, Tesman, there will be a sort of sporting interest in that.

Tesman.

Why, my dearest Hedda, how can you be so indifferent aboutit?it?

Hedda.

[As before.] I am not at all indifferent. I am most eager to see who wins.

Brack.

In any case, Mrs. Tesman, it is best that you should know how matters stand. I mean—before you set about the little purchases I hear you are threatening.

Hedda.

This can make no difference.

Brack.

Indeed! Then I have no more to say. Good-bye! [ToTesman.] I shall look in on my way back from my afternoon walk, and take you home with me.

Tesman.

Oh yes; yes—your news has quite upset me.

Hedda.

[Reclining, holds out her hand.] Good-bye, Judge; and be sure you call in the afternoon.

Brack.

Many thanks. Good-bye, good-bye!

Tesman.

[Accompanying him to the door.] Good-bye my dear Judge! You must really excuse me——

[Judge Brackgoes out by the hall door.

Tesman.

[Crosses the room.] Oh Hedda—one should never rush into adventures. Eh?

Hedda.

[Looks at him, smiling.] Doyoudothat?

Tesman.

Yes, dear—there is no denying—it was adventurous to go and marry and set up house upon mere expectations.

Hedda.

Perhaps you are right there.

Tesman.

Well—at all events, we have our delightful home, Hedda! Fancy, the home we both dreamed of—the home we were in love with, I may almost say. Eh?

Hedda.

[Rising slowly and wearily.] It was part of our compact that we were to go into society—to keep open house.

Tesman.

Yes, if you only knew how I had been looking forward to it! Fancy—to see you as hostess—in a select circle! Eh? Well, well, well—for the present we shall have to get on without society, Hedda—only to invite Aunt Julia now and then.—Oh, I intended you to lead such an utterly different life, dear——!

Hedda.

Of course I cannot have my man in livery just yet.

Tesman.

Oh no, unfortunately. It would be out of the question for us to keep a footman, you know.

Hedda.

And the saddle-horse I was to have had——

Tesman.

[Aghast.] The saddle-horse!

Hedda.

——I suppose I must not think of that now.

Tesman.

Good heavens, no!—that’s as clear as daylight.

Hedda.

[Goes up the room.] Well, I shall have one thing at least to kill time with in the meanwhile.

Tesman.

[Beaming.] Oh thank heaven for that! What is it, Hedda? Eh?

Hedda.

[In the middle doorway, looks at him with covert scorn.] My pistols, George.

Tesman.

[In alarm.] Your pistols!

Hedda.

[With cold eyes.] General Gabler’s pistols.

[She goes out through the inner room, to the left.

Tesman.

[Rushes up to the middle doorway and calls after her:] No, for heaven’s sake, Hedda darling—don’t touch those dangerous things! For my sake, Hedda! Eh?

ACT SECOND

The room at theTesmans’as in the first Act, except that the piano has been removed, and an elegant little writing-table with book-shelves put in its place. A smaller table stands near the sofa on the left. Most of the bouquets have been taken away.Mrs. Elvsted’sbouquet is upon the large table in front.—It is afternoon.

Hedda,dressed to receive callers, is alone in the room. She stands by the open glass door, loading a revolver. The fellow to it lies in an open pistol-case on the writing-table.

Hedda.

[Looks down the garden, and calls:] So you are here again, Judge!

Brack.

[Is heard calling from a distance.] As you see, Mrs. Tesman!

Hedda.

[Raises the pistol and points.] Now I’ll shoot you, Judge Brack!

Brack.

[Calling unseen.] No, no, no! Don’t stand aiming at me!

Hedda.

This is what comes of sneaking in by the back way.[19][She fires.

Brack.

[Nearer.] Are you out of your senses——!

Hedda.

Dear me—did I happen to hit you?

Brack.

[Still outside.] I wish you would let these pranks alone!

Hedda.

Come in then, Judge.

Judge Brack,dressed as though for a men’s party, enters by the glass door. He carries a light overcoat over his arm.

Brack.

What the deuce—haven’t you tired of that sport, yet? What are you shooting at?

Hedda.

Oh, I am only firing in the air.

Brack.

[Gently takes the pistol out of her hand.] Allow me, madam! [Looks at it.] Ah—I know this pistol well! [Looks around.] Where is the case? Ah, here it is. [Lays the pistol in it, and shuts it.] Now we won’t play at that game any more to-day.

Hedda.

Then what in heaven’s name would you have me do with myself?

Brack.

Have you had no visitors?

Hedda.

[Closing the glass door.] Not one. I suppose all our set are still out of town.

Brack.

And is Tesman not at home either?

Hedda.

[At the writing-table, putting the pistol-case in a drawer which she shuts.] No. He rushed off to his aunt’s directly after lunch; he didn’t expect you so early.

Brack.

H’m—how stupid of me not to have thought of that!

Hedda.

[Turning her head to look at him.] Why stupid?

Brack.

Because if I had thought of it I should have come a little—earlier.

Hedda.

[Crossing the room.] Then you would have found no one to receive you; for I have been in my room changing my dress ever since lunch.

Brack.

And is there no sort of little chink that we could hold a parley through?

Hedda.

You have forgotten to arrange one.

Brack.

That was another piece of stupidity.

Hedda.

Well, we must just settle down here—and wait. Tesman is not likely to be back for some time yet.

Brack.

Never mind; I shall not be impatient.

Heddaseats herself in the corner of the sofa.Bracklays his overcoat over the back of the nearest chair, and sits down, but keeps his hat in his hand. A short silence. They look at each other.

Hedda.

Well?

Brack.

[In the same tone.] Well?

Hedda.

I spoke first.

Brack.

[Bending a little forward.] Come, let us have a cosy little chat, Mrs. Hedda.[20]

Hedda.

[Leaning further back in the sofa.] Does it not seem like a whole eternity since our last talk? Of course I don’t count those few words yesterday evening and this morning.

Brack.

You mean since our last confidential talk? Our lasttête-à-tête?

Hedda.

Well yes—since you put it so.

Brack.

Not a day has passed but I have wished that you were home again.

Hedda.

And I have done nothing but wish the same thing.

Brack.

You? Really, Mrs. Hedda? And I thought you had been enjoying your tour so much!

Hedda.

Oh yes, you may be sure of that!

Brack.

But Tesman’s letters spoke of nothing but happiness.

Hedda.

Oh,Tesman! You see, he thinks nothing so delightful as grubbing in libraries and making copies of old parchments, or whatever you call them.

Brack.

[With a spice of malice.] Well, that is his vocation in life—or part of it at any rate.

Hedda.

Yes, of course; and no doubt when it’s your vocation——. ButI! Oh, my dear Mr. Brack, how mortally bored I have been.

Brack.

[Sympathetically.] Do you really say so? In downright earnest?

Hedda.

Yes, you can surely understand it——! To go for six whole months without meeting a soul that knew anything of our circle, or could talk about the things we are interested in.

Brack.

Yes, yes—I too should feel that a deprivation.

Hedda.

And then, what I found most intolerable of all——

Brack.

Well?

Hedda.

——was being everlastingly in the company of—one and the same person——

Brack.

[With a nod of assent.] Morning, noon, and night, yes—at all possible times and seasons.

Hedda.

I said “everlastingly.”

Brack.

Just so. But I should have thought, with our excellent Tesman, one could——

Hedda.

Tesman is—a specialist, my dear Judge.

Brack.

Undeniably.

Hedda.

And specialists are not at all amusing to travel with. Not in the long run at any rate.

Brack.

Not even—the specialist one happens tolove?

Hedda.

Faugh—don’t use that sickening word!

Brack.

[Taken aback.] What do you say, Mrs. Hedda?

Hedda.

[Half laughing, half irritated.] You should just try it! To hear of nothing but the history of civilisation, morning, noon, and night——

Brack.

Everlastingly.

Hedda.

Yes, yes, yes! And then all this about the domestic industry of the middle ages——! That’s the most disgusting part of it!

Brack.

[Looks searchingly at her.] But tell me—in that case, how am I to understand your——? H’m——

Hedda.

My accepting George Tesman, you mean?

Brack.

Well, let us put it so.

Hedda.

Good heavens, do you see anything so wonderful in that?

Brack.

Yes and no—Mrs. Hedda.

Hedda.

I had positively danced myself tired, my dear Judge. My day was done—— [With a slight shudder.] Oh no—I won’t say that; nor think it either!

Brack.

You have assuredly no reason to.

Hedda.

Oh, reasons—— [Watching him closely.] And George Tesman—after all, you must admit that he is correctness itself.

Brack.

His correctness and respectability are beyond all question.

Hedda.

And I don’t see anything absolutely ridiculous about him.—Do you?

Brack.

Ridiculous? N—no—I shouldn’t exactly say so——

Hedda.

Well—and his powers of research, at all events, are untiring.—I see no reason why he should not one day come to the front, after all.

Brack.

[Looks at her hesitatingly.] I thought that you, likeevery one else, expected him to attain the highest distinction.

Hedda.

[With an expression of fatigue.] Yes, so I did.—And then, since he was bent, at all hazards, on being allowed to provide for me—I really don’t know why I should not have accepted his offer?

Brack.

No—if you look at it inthatlight——

Hedda.

It was more than my other adorers were prepared to do for me, my dear Judge.

Brack.

[Laughing.] Well, I can’t answer for all the rest; but as for myself, you know quite well that I have always entertained a—a certain respect for the marriage tie—for marriage as an institution, Mrs. Hedda.

Hedda.

[Jestingly.] Oh, I assure you I have never cherished any hopes with respect to you.

Brack.

All I require is a pleasant and intimate interior, where I can make myself useful in every way, and am free to come and go as—as a trusted friend——

Hedda.

Of the master of the house, do you mean?

Brack.

[Bowing.] Frankly—of the mistress first of all; but of course of the master too, in the secondplace. Such a triangular friendship—if I may call it so—is really a great convenience for all parties, let me tell you.

Hedda.

Yes, I have many a time longed for some one to make a third on our travels. Oh—those railway-carriagetête-à-têtes——!

Brack.

Fortunately your wedding journey is over now.

Hedda.

[Shaking her head.] Not by a long—long way. I have only arrived at a station on the line.

Brack.

Well, then the passengers jump out and move about a little, Mrs. Hedda.

Hedda.

I never jump out.

Brack.

Really?

Hedda.

No—because there is always some one standing by to——

Brack.

[Laughing.] To look at your ankles, do you mean?

Hedda.

Precisely.

Brack.

Well but, dear me——

Hedda.

[With a gesture of repulsion.] I won’t have it.I would rather keep my seat where I happen to be—and continue thetête-à-tête.

Brack.

But suppose a third person were to jump in and join the couple.

Hedda.

Ah—that is quite another matter.

Brack.

A trusted, sympathetic friend——

Hedda.

——with a fund of conversation on all sorts of lively topics——

Brack.

——and not the least bit of a specialist!

Hedda.

[With an audible sigh.] Yes, that would be a relief indeed.

Brack.

[Hears the front door open, and glances in that direction.] The triangle is completed.

Hedda.

[Half aloud.] And on goes the train.

George Tesman,in a grey walking-suit, with a soft felt hat, enters from the hall. He has a number of unbound books under his arm and in his pockets.

Tesman.

[Goes up to the table beside the corner settee.] Ouf—what a load for a warm day—all these books.[Lays them on the table.] I’m positively perspiring, Hedda. Hallo—are you there already, my dear Judge? Eh? Berta didn’t tell me.

Brack.

[Rising.] I came in through the garden.

Hedda.

What books have you got there?

Tesman.

[Stands looking them through.] Some new books on my special subjects—quite indispensable to me.

Hedda.

Your special subjects?

Brack.

Yes, books on his special subjects, Mrs. Tesman.

[BrackandHeddaexchange a confidential smile.

Hedda.

Do you need still more books on your special subjects?

Tesman.

Yes, my dear Hedda, one can never have too many of them. Of course one must keep up with all that is written and published.

Hedda.

Yes, I suppose one must.

Tesman.

[Searching among his books.] And look here—I have got hold of Eilert Lövborg’s new book too.[Offering it to her.] Perhaps you would like to glance through it, Hedda? Eh?

Hedda.

No, thank you. Or rather—afterwards perhaps.

Tesman.

I looked into it a little on the way home.

Brack.

Well, what do you think of it—as a specialist?

Tesman.

I think it shows quite remarkable soundness of judgment. He never wrote like that before. [Putting the books together.] Now I shall take all these into my study. I’m longing to cut the leaves——! And then I must change my clothes. [ToBrack.] I suppose we needn’t start just yet? Eh?

Brack.

Oh, dear no—there is not the slightest hurry.

Tesman.

Well then, I will take my time. [Is going with his books, but stops in the doorway and turns.] By-the-bye, Hedda—Aunt Julia is not coming this evening.

Hedda.

Not coming? Is it that affair of the bonnet that keeps her away?

Tesman.

Oh, not at all. How could you think such a thing of Aunt Julia? Just fancy——! The fact is, Aunt Rina is very ill.

Hedda.

She always is.

Tesman.

Yes, but to-day she is much worse than usual, poor dear.

Hedda.

Oh, then it’s only natural that her sister should remain with her. I must bear my disappointment.

Tesman.

And you can’t imagine, dear, how delighted Aunt Julia seemed to be—because you had come home looking so flourishing!

Hedda.

[Half aloud, rising.] Oh, those everlasting Aunts!

Tesman.

What?

Hedda.

[Going to the glass door.] Nothing.

Tesman.

Oh, all right.

[He goes through the inner room, out to the right.

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