ACT SECOND.

Hilda.

Yes, indeed you did. You took me in both your arms, and bent my head back, and kissed me—many times.

Solness.

Now really, my dear Miss Wangel——!

Hilda.

[Rises.] You surely cannot mean to deny it?

Solness.

Yes, I do. I deny it altogether!

Hilda.

[Looks scornfully at him.] Oh, indeed!

[She turns and goes slowly close up to the stove, where she remains standing motionless, her face averted from him, her hands behind her back. Short pause.

Solness.

[Goes cautiously up behind her.] Miss Wangel——!

Hilda.

[Is silent and does not move.]

Solness.

Don’t stand there like a statue. You must have dreamt all this. [Lays his hand on her arm.] Now just listen——

Hilda.

[Makes an impatient movement with her arm.]

Solness.

[As a thought flashes upon him.] Or——! Wait a moment! There is something under all this, you may depend!

Hilda.

[Does not move.]

Solness.

[In a low voice, but with emphasis.] I must havethoughtall that. I must havewishedit—havewilledit—havelongedto do it. And then——. May not that be the explanation?

Hilda.

[Is still silent.]

Solness.

[Impatiently.] Oh very well, deuce take it all—then Ididdo it, Isuppose.suppose.

Hilda.

[Turns her head a little, but without looking at him.] Then you admit it now?

Solness.

Yes—whatever you like.

Hilda.

You came and put your arms round me?

Solness.

Oh yes!

Hilda.

And bent my head back?

Solness.

Very far back.

Hilda.

And kissed me?

Solness.

Yes, I did

Hilda.

Many times?

Solness.

As many as ever you like.

Hilda.

[Turns quickly towards him and has once more the sparkling expression of gladness in her eyes.] Well, you see, I got it out of you at last!

Solness.

[With a slight smile.] Yes—just think of my forgetting such a thing as that.

Hilda.

[Again a little sulky, retreats from him.] Oh, you have kissed so many people in your time, I suppose.

Solness.

No, you mustn’t thinkthatof me. [Hildaseats herself in the arm-chair.Solnessstands and leans against the rocking-chair. Looks observantly at her.] Miss Wangel!

Hilda.

Yes!

Solness.

Howwasit now? What came of all this—between us two?

Hilda.

Why, nothing more came of it. You know that quite well. For then the other guests came in, and then—bah!

Solness.

Quite so! The others came in. To think of my forgettingthattoo!

Hilda.

Oh, you haven’t really forgotten anything: you are only a little ashamed of it all. I am sure one doesn’t forget things of that kind.

Solness.

No, one would suppose not.

Hilda.

[Lively again, looks at him.] Perhaps you have even forgotten what day it was?

Solness.

What day——?

Hilda.

Yes, on what day did you hang the wreath on the tower? Well? Tell me at once!

Solness.

H’m—I confess I have forgotten the particular day. I only know it was ten years ago. Some time in the autumn.

Hilda.

[Nods her head slowly several times.] It was ten years ago—on the 19th of September.

Solness.

Yes, it must have been about that time. Fancy your remembering that too! [Stops.] But wait a moment——! Yes—it’s the 19th of September to-day.

Hilda.

Yes, it is; and the ten years are gone. And you didn’t come—as you had promised me.

Solness.

Promised you? Threatened, I suppose you mean?

Hilda.

I don’t think there was any sort of threat inthat.

Solness.

Well then, a little bit of fun.

Hilda.

Wasthatall you wanted? To make fun of me?

Solness.

Well, or to have a little joke with you! Upon my soul, I don’t recollect. But it must have been something of that kind; for you were a mere child then.

Hilda.

Oh, perhaps I wasn’t quite such a child either. Not such a mere chit as you imagine.

Solness.

[Looks searchingly at her.] Did you really and seriously expect me to come again?

Hilda.

[Conceals a half-teasing smile.] Yes, indeed! I did expectthatof you.

Solness.

That I should come back to your home, and take you away with me?

Hilda.

Just like a troll—yes.

Solness.

And make a princess of you?

Hilda.

That’s what you promised.

Solness.

And give you a kingdom as well?

Hilda.

[Looks up at the ceiling.] Why not? Of course it need not have been an actual, every-day sort of a kingdom.

Solness.

But something else just as good?

Hilda.

Yes, at least as good. [Looks at him a moment.] I thought, if you could build the highest church-towers in the world, you could surely manage to raise a kingdom of one sort or another as well.

Solness.

[Shakes his head.] I can’t quite make you out, Miss Wangel.

Hilda.

Can you not? To me it seems all so simple.

Solness.

No, I can’t make up my mind whether you mean all you say, or are simply having a joke with me.

Hilda.

[Smiles.] Making fun of you, perhaps? I, too?

Solness.

Yes, exactly. Making fun—of both of us. [Looks at her.] Is it long since you found out that I was married?

Hilda.

I have known it all along. Why do you ask methat?

Solness.

[Lightly.] Oh, well, it just occurred to me. [Looks earnestly at her, and says in a low voice.] What have you come for?

Hilda.

I want my kingdom. The time is up.

Solness.

[Laughs involuntarily.] What a girl you are!

Hilda.

[Gaily.] Out with my kingdom, Mr. Solness! [Raps with her fingers.] The kingdom on the table!

Solness.

[Pushing the rocking-chair nearer and sitting down.] Now, seriously speaking—what have you come for? What do you really want to do here?

Hilda.

Oh, first of all, I want to go round and look at all the things that you have built.

Solness.

That will give you plenty of exercise.

Hilda.

Yes, I know you have built a tremendous lot.

Solness.

I have indeed—especially of late years.

Hilda.

Many church-towers among the rest? Immensely high ones?

Solness.

No. I build no more church-towers now. Nor churches either.

Hilda.

Whatdoyou build then?

Solness.

Homes for human beings.

Hilda.

[Reflectively.] Couldn’t you build a little—a little bit of a church-tower over these homes as well?

Solness.

[Starting.] What do you mean bythat?

Hilda.

I mean—something that points—points up into the free air. With the vane at a dizzy height.

Solness.

[Pondering a little.] Strange that you should saythat—for that is just what I am most anxious to do.

Hilda.

[Impatiently.] Why don’t you do it, then?

Solness.

[Shakes his head.] No, the people will not have it.

Hilda.

Fancy their not wanting it!

Solness.

[More lightly.] But now I am building a new home for myself—just opposite here.

Hilda.

For yourself?

Solness.

Yes. It is almost finished. And on that there is a tower.

Hilda.

A high tower?

Solness.

Yes.

Hilda.

Very high?

Solness.

No doubt people will say it istoohigh—too high for a dwelling-house.

Hilda.

I’ll go out and look at that tower the first thing to-morrow morning.

Solness.

[Sits resting his check on his hand, and gazes at her.] Tell me, Miss Wangel—what is your name? Your Christian name, I mean?

Hilda.

Why, Hilda, of course.

Solness.

[As before.] Hilda? Indeed?

Hilda.

Don’t you rememberthat? You called me Hilda yourself—that day when you misbehaved.

Solness.

Did I really?

Hilda.

But then you said “littleHilda”; and I didn’t like that.

Solness.

Oh, you didn’t like that, Miss Hilda?

Hilda.

No, not at such a time as that. But—“Princess Hilda”—that will sound very well, I think.

Solness.

Very well indeed. Princess Hilda of—of—what was to be the name of the kingdom?

Hilda.

Pooh! I won’t have anything to do withthatstupid kingdom. I have set my heart upon quite a different one!

Solness.

[Has leaned back in the chair, still gazing at her.] Isn’t it strange——? The more I think of it now, the more it seems to me as though I had gone about all these years torturing myself with—h’m——

Hilda.

With what?

Solness.

With the effort to recover something—some experience, which I seemed to have forgotten. But I never had the least inkling of what it could be.

Hilda.

You should have tied a knot in your pocket-handkerchief, Mr. Solness.

Solness.

In that case, I should simply have had to go racking my brains to discover what the knot could mean.

Hilda.

Oh yes, I suppose there are trolls ofthatkind in the world, too.

Solness.

[Rises slowly.] What a good thing it is thatyouhave come to me now.

Hilda.

[Looks deeply into his eyes.]Isit a good thing!

Solness.

For I have been so lonely here. I have been gazing so helplessly at it all. [In a lower voice.] I must tell you—I have begun to be so afraid—so terribly afraid of the younger generation.

Hilda.

[With a little snort of contempt.] Pooh—is the younger generation a thing to be afraid of?

Solness.

It is indeed. And that is why I have locked and barred myself in. [Mysteriously] I tell you the younger generation will one day come and thunder at my door! They will break in upon me!

Hilda.

Then I should say you ought to go out and open the door to the younger generation.

Solness.

Open the door?

Hilda.

Yes. Let them come in to you on friendly terms, as it were.

Solness.

No, no, no! The younger generation—it means retribution, you see. It comes, as if under a new banner, heralding the turn of fortune.

Hilda.

[Rises, looks at him, and says with a quivering twitch of her lips.] CanIbe of any use to you, Mr. Solness?

Solness.

Yes, you can indeed! For you, too, come—under a new banner, it seems to me. Youth marshalled against youth——!

Dr. Herdalcomes in by the hall-door.

Dr. Herdal.

What—you and Miss Wangel here still?

Solness.

Yes. We have had no end of things to talk about.

Hilda.

Both old and new.

Dr. Herdal.

Have you really?

Hilda.

Oh, it has been the greatest fun. For Mr. Solness—he has such a miraculous memory. All the least little details he remembers instantly.

Mrs. Solnessenters by the door on the right.

Mrs. Solness.

Well, Miss Wangel, your room is quite ready for you now.

Hilda.

Oh, how kind you are to me!

Solness.

[ToMrs. Solness.] The nursery?

Mrs. Solness.

Yes, the middle one. But first let us go in to supper.

Solness.

[Nods toHilda.] Hilda shall sleep in the nursery, she shall.

Mrs. Solness.

[Looks at him.] Hilda?

Solness.

Yes, Miss Wangel’s name is Hilda. I knew her when she was a child.

Mrs. Solness.

Did you really, Halvard? Well, shall we go? Supper is on the table.

[She takesDr. Herdal’sarm and goes out with him to the right.Hildahas meanwhile been collecting her travelling things.

Hilda.

[Softly and rapidly toSolness.] Is it true, what you said?CanI be of use to you?

Solness.

[Takes the things from her.]Youare the very being I have needed most.

Hilda.

[Looks at him with happy, wondering eyes and clasps her hands.] But then, great heavens——!

Solness.

[Eagerly.] What——?

Hilda.

Then Ihavemy kingdom!

Solness.

[Involuntarily.] Hilda——!

Hilda.

[Again with the quivering twitch of her lips.]Almost—I was going to say.

[She goes out to the right,Solnessfollows her.

ACT SECOND.

A prettily furnished small drawing-room inSolness’shouse. In the back, a glass-door leading out to the verandah and garden. The right-hand corner is cut off transversely by a large bay-window, in which are flower-stands. The left-hand corner is similarly cut off by a transverse wall, in which is a small door papered like the wall. On each side, an ordinary door. In front, on the right, a console table with a large mirror over it. Well-filled stands of plants and flowers. In front, on the left, a sofa with a table and chairs. Further back, a bookcase. Well forward in the room, before the bay window, a small table and some chairs. It is early in the day.

Solnesssits by the little table withRagnar Brovik’sportfolio open in front of him. He is turning the drawings over and closely examining some of them.Mrs. Solnessmoves about noiselessly with a small watering-pot, attending to her flowers. She is dressed in black as before. Her hat, cloak and parasol lie on a chair near the mirror. Unobserved by her,Solnessnow and again follows her with his eyes. Neither of them speaks.

Kaia Foslienters quietly by the door on the left.

Solness.

[Turns his head, and says in an off hand tone of indifference] Well, is that you?

Kaia.

I merely wished to let you know that I have come.

Solness.

Yes, yes, that’s all right. Hasn’t Ragnar come too?

Kaia.

No, not yet. He had to wait a little while to see the doctor. But he is coming presently to hear——

Solness.

How is the old man to-day?

Kaia.

Not well. He begs you to excuse him; he is obliged to keep his bed to-day.

Solness.

Why, of course; by all means let him rest. But now, get to your work.

Kaia.

Yes. [Pauses at the door.] Do you wish to speak to Ragnar when he comes?

Solness.

No—I don’t know that I have anything particular to say to him.

[Kaiagoes out again to the left.Solnessremains seated, turning over the drawings.

Mrs. Solness.

[Over beside the plants.] I wonder if he isn’t going to die now, as well?

Solness.

[Looks up at her.] As well as who?

Mrs. Solness.

[Without answering.] Yes, yes—depend upon it, Halvard, old Brovik is going to die too. You’ll see that he will.

Solness.

My dear Aline, ought you not to go out for a little walk?

Mrs. Solness.

Yes, I suppose I ought to.

[She continues to attend to the flowers.

Solness.

[Bending over the drawings.] Is she still asleep?

Mrs. Solness.

[Looking at him.] Is it Miss Wangel you are sitting there thinking about?

Solness.

[Indifferently.] I just happened to recollect her.

Mrs. Solness.

Miss Wangel was up long ago.

Solness.

Oh, was she?

Mrs. Solness.

When I went in to see her, she was busy putting her things in order.

[She goes in front of the mirror and slowly begins to put on her hat.

Solness.

[After a short pause.] So we have found a use for one of our nurseries after all, Aline.

Mrs. Solness.

Yes, we have.

Solness.

That seems to me better than to have them all standing empty.

Mrs. Solness.

That emptiness is dreadful; you are right there.

Solness.

[Closes the portfolio, rises and approaches her.] You will find that we shall get on far better after this, Aline. Things will be more comfortable. Life will be easier—especially foryou.

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