Chapter 12

Hedda.

Yes, yes—I suppose it depends on that——[Lightly.] But, by-the-bye—here is a letter for you.

Tesman.

Fancy——!

Hedda.

[Handing it to him.] It came early this morning.

Tesman.

It’s from Aunt Julia! What can it be? [He lays the packet on the other footstool, opens the letter, runs his eye through it, and jumps up.] Oh, Hedda—she says that poor Aunt Rina is dying!

Hedda.

Well, we were prepared for that.

Tesman.

And that if I want to see her again, I must make haste. I’ll run in to them at once.

Hedda.

[Suppressing a smile.] Will you run?

Tesman.

Oh, my dearest Hedda—if you could only make up your mind to come with me! Just think!

Hedda.

[Rises and says wearily, repelling the idea.] No,no, don’t ask me. Iwillnot look upon sickness and death. I loathe all sorts of ugliness.

Tesman.

Well, well, then——! [Bustling around.] My hat——? My overcoat——? Oh, in the hall——. I do hope I mayn’t come too late, Hedda! Eh?

Hedda.

Oh, if you run———

[Bertaappears at the hall door.

Berta.

Judge Brack is at the door, and wishes to know if he may come in.

Tesman.

At this time! No, I can’t possibly see him.

Hedda.

But I can. [ToBerta.] Ask Judge Brack to come in.

[Bertagoes out.

Hedda.

[Quickly, whispering.] The parcel, Tesman!

[She snatches it up from the stool.

Tesman.

Yes, give it to me!

Hedda.

No, no, I will keep it till you come back.

[She goes to the writing-table and places it in the bookcase.Tesmanstands in a flurry of haste, and cannot get his gloves on.

Judge Brackenters from the hall.

Hedda.

[Nodding to him.] You are an early bird, I must say.

Brack.

Yes, don’t you think so? [ToTesman.] Are you on the move, too?

Tesman.

Yes, Imustrush off to my aunts’. Fancy—the invalid one is lying at death’s door, poor creature.

Brack.

Dear me, is she indeed? Then on no account let me detain you. At such a critical moment——

Tesman.

Yes, I must really rush——Good-bye! Good-bye!

[He hastens out by the hall door.

Hedda.

[Approaching.] You seem to have made a particularly lively night of it at your rooms, Judge Brack.

Brack.

I assure you I have not had my clothes off, Mrs. Hedda.

Hedda.

Not you, either?

Brack.

No, as you may see. But what has Tesman been telling you of the night’s adventures?

Hedda.

Oh, some tiresome story. Only that they went and had coffee somewhere or other.

Brack.

I have heard about that coffee-party already. Eilert Lövborg was not with them, I fancy?

Hedda.

No, they had taken him home before that.

Brack.

Tesman too?

Hedda.

No, but some of the others, he said.

Brack.

[Smiling.] George Tesman is really an ingenuous creature, Mrs. Hedda.

Hedda.

Yes, heaven knows he is. Then is there something behind all this?

Brack.

Yes, perhaps there may be.

Hedda.

Well then, sit down, my dear Judge, and tell your story in comfort.

[She seats herself to the left of the table.Bracksits near her, at the long side of the table.

Hedda.

Now then?

Brack.

I had special reasons for keeping track of my guests—or rather of some of my guests—last night.

Hedda.

Of Eilert Lövborg among the rest, perhaps?

Brack.

Frankly—yes.

Hedda.

Now you make me really curious——

Brack.

Do you know where he and one or two of the others finished the night, Mrs. Hedda?

Hedda.

If it is not quite unmentionable, tell me.

Brack.

Oh no, it’s not at all unmentionable. Well, they put in an appearance at a particularly animated soirée.

Hedda.

Of the lively kind?

Brack.

Of the very liveliest——

Hedda.

Tell me more of this, Judge Brack——

Brack.

Lövborg, as well as the others, had been invited in advance. I knew all about it. But he haddeclined the invitation; for now, as you know, he has become a new man.

Hedda.

Up at the Elvsteds’, yes. But he went after all, then?

Brack.

Well, you see, Mrs. Hedda—unhappily the spirit moved him at my rooms last evening——

Hedda.

Yes, I hear he found inspiration.

Brack.

Pretty violent inspiration. Well, I fancy that altered his purpose; for we menfolk are unfortunately not always so firm in our principles as we ought to be.

Hedda.

Oh, I am sureyouare an exception, Judge Brack. But as to Lövborg——?

Brack.

To make a long story short—he landed at last in Mademoiselle Diana’s rooms.

Hedda.

Mademoiselle Diana’s?

Brack.

It was Mademoiselle Diana that was giving the soirée, to a select circle of her admirers and her lady friends.

Hedda.

Is she a red-haired woman?

Brack.

Precisely.

Hedda.

A sort of a—singer?

Brack.

Oh yes—in her leisure moments. And moreover a mighty huntress—of men—Mrs. Hedda. You have no doubt heard of her. Eilert Lövborg was one of her most enthusiastic protectors—in the days of his glory.

Hedda.

And how did all this end?

Brack.

Far from amicably, it appears. After a most tender meeting, they seem to have come to blows——

Hedda.

Lövborg and she?

Brack.

Yes. He accused her or her friends of having robbed him. He declared that his pocket-book had disappeared—and other things as well. In short, he seems to have made a furious disturbance.

Hedda.

And what came of it all?

Brack.

It came to a general scrimmage, in which the ladies as well as the gentlemen took part. Fortunately the police at last appeared on the scene.

Hedda.

The police too?

Brack.

Yes. I fancy it will prove a costly frolic for Eilert Lövborg, crazy being that he is.

Hedda.

How so?

Brack.

He seems to have made a violent resistance—to have hit one of the constables on the head and torn the coat off his back. So they had to march him off to the police-station with the rest.

Hedda.

How have you learnt all this?

Brack.

From the police themselves.

Hedda.

[Gazing straight before her.] So that is what happened. Then he had no vine-leaves in his hair.

Brack.

Vine-leaves, Mrs. Hedda?

Hedda.

[Changing her tone.] But tell me now, Judge—what is your real reason for tracking out Eilert Lövborg’s movements so carefully?

Brack.

In the first place, it could not be entirely indifferent to me if it should appear in the police-court that he came straight from my house.

Hedda.

Will the matter come into court then?

Brack.

Of course. However, I should scarcely have troubled so much about that. But I thought that, as a friend of the family, it was my duty to supply you and Tesman with a full account of his nocturnal exploits.

Hedda.

Why so, Judge Brack?

Brack.

Why, because I have a shrewd suspicion that he intends to use you as a sort of blind.

Hedda.

Oh, how can you think such a thing!

Brack.

Good heavens, Mrs. Hedda—we have eyes in our head. Mark my words! This Mrs. Elvsted will be in no hurry to leave town again.

Hedda.

Well, even if there should be anything between them, I suppose there are plenty of other places where they could meet.

Brack.

Not a singlehome. Henceforth, as before, every respectable house will be closed against Eilert Lövborg.

Hedda.

And so ought mine to be, you mean?

Brack.

Yes. I confess it would be more than painful to me if this personage were to be made free of your house. How superfluous, how intrusive, he would be, if he were to force his way into——

Hedda.

——into the triangle?

Brack.

Precisely. It would simply mean that I should find myself homeless.

Hedda.

[Looks at him with a smile.] So you want to be the one cock in the basket[24]—that is your aim.

Brack.

[Nods slowly and lowers his voice.] Yes, that is my aim. And for that I will fight—with every weapon I can command.

Hedda.

[Her smile vanishing.] I see you are a dangerous person—when it comes to the point.

Brack.

Do you think so?

Hedda.

I am beginning to think so. And I am exceedingly glad to think—that you have no sort of hold over me.

Brack.

[Laughing equivocally.] Well well, Mrs. Hedda—perhaps you are right there. If I had, who knows what I might be capable of?

Hedda.

Come come now, Judge Brack! That sounds almost like a threat.

Brack.

[Rising.] Oh, not at all! The triangle, you know, ought, if possible, to be spontaneously constructed.

Hedda.

There I agree with you.

Brack.

Well, now I have said all I had to say; and I had better be getting back to town. Good-bye, Mrs. Hedda.

[He goes towards the glass door.

Hedda.

[Rising.] Are you going through the garden?

Brack.

Yes, it’s a short cut for me.

Hedda.

And then it is a back way, too.

Brack.

Quite so. I have no objection to back ways. They may be piquant enough at times.

Hedda.

When there is ball practice going on, you mean?

Brack.

[In the doorway, laughing to her.] Oh, people don’t shoot their tame poultry, I fancy.

Hedda.

[Also laughing.] Oh no, when there is only one cock in the basket——

[They exchange laughing nods of farewell. He goes. She closes the door behind him.

[Hedda,who has become quite serious, stands for a moment looking out. Presently she goes and peeps through the curtain over the middle doorway. Then she goes to the writing-table, takesLövborg’spacket out of the bookcase, and is on the point of looking through its contents.Bertais heard speaking loudly in the hall.Heddaturns and listens. Then she hastily locks up the packet in the drawer, and lays the key on the inkstand.

Eilert Lövborg,with his greatcoat on and his hat in his hand, tears open the hall door. He looks somewhat confused and irritated.

Lövborg.

[Looking towards the hall.] And I tell you I must and will come in! There!

[He closes the door, turns, seesHedda,at once regains his self-control, and bows.

Hedda.

[At the writing table.] Well, Mr. Lövborg, this is rather a late hour to call for Thea.

Lövborg.

You mean rather an early hour to call on you. Pray pardon me.

Hedda.

How do you know that she is still here?

Lövborg.

They told me at her lodgings that she had been out all night.

Hedda.

[Going to the oval table.] Did you notice anything about the people of the house when they said that?

Lövborg.

[Looks inquiringly at her.] Notice anything about them?

Hedda.

I mean, did they seem to think it odd?

Lövborg.

[Suddenly understanding.] Oh yes, of course! I am dragging her down with me! However, I didn’t notice anything.—I suppose Tesman is not up yet?

Hedda.

No—I think not——

Lövborg.

When did he come home?

Hedda.

Very late.

Lövborg.

Did he tell you anything?

Hedda.

Yes, I gathered that you had had an exceedingly jolly evening at Judge Brack’s.

Lövborg.

Nothing more?

Hedda.

I don’t think so. However, I was so dreadfully sleepy——

Mrs. Elvstedenters through the curtains of the middle doorway.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Going towards him.] Ah, Lövborg! At last——!

Lövborg.

Yes, at last. And too late!

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Looks anxiously at him.] What is too late?

Lövborg.

Everything is too late now. It is all over with me.

Mrs. Elvsted.

Oh no, no—don’t say that!

Lövborg.

You will say the same when you hear——

Mrs. Elvsted.

I won’t hear anything!

Hedda.

Perhaps you would prefer to talk to her alone? If so, I will leave you.

Lövborg.

No, stay—you too. I beg you to stay.

Mrs. Elvsted.

Yes, but I won’t hear anything, I tell you.

Lövborg.

It is not last night’s adventures that I want to talk about.

Mrs. Elvsted.

What is it then——?

Lövborg.

I want to say that now our ways must part.

Mrs. Elvsted.

Part!

Hedda.

[Involuntarily.] I knew it!

Lövborg.

You can be of no more service to me, Thea.

Mrs. Elvsted.

How can you stand there and say that! No more service to you! Am I not to help you now, as before? Are we not to go on working together?

Lövborg.

Henceforward I shall do no work.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Despairingly.] Then what am I to do with my life?

Lövborg.

You must try to live your life as if you had never known me.

Mrs. Elvsted.

But you know I cannot do that!

Lövborg.

Try if you cannot, Thea. You must go home again——

Mrs. Elvsted.

[In vehement protest.] Never in this world! Where you are, there will I be also! I will not let myself be driven away like this! I will remain here! I will be with you when the book appears.

Hedda.

[Half aloud, in suspense.] Ah yes—the book!

Lövborg.

[Looks at her.] My book and Thea’s; forthatis what it is.

Mrs. Elvsted.

Yes, I feel that it is. And that is why I have a right to be with you when it appears! I will see with my own eyes how respect and honour pour in upon you afresh. And the happiness—the happiness—oh, I must share it with you!

Lövborg.

Thea—our book will never appear.

Hedda.

Ah!

Mrs. Elvsted.

Never appear!

Lövborg.

Cannever appear.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[In agonised foreboding.] Lövborg—what have you done with the manuscript?

Hedda.

[Looks anxiously at him.] Yes, the manuscript——?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Where is it?

Lövborg.

Oh Thea—don’t ask me about it!

Mrs. Elvsted.

Yes, yes, Iwillknow. I demand to be told at once.

Lövborg.

The manuscript——. Well then—I have torn the manuscript into a thousand pieces.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Shrieks.] Oh no, no——!

Hedda.

[Involuntarily.] But that’s not——

Lövborg.

[Looks at her.] Not true, you think?

Hedda.

[Collecting herself.] Oh well, of course—since you say so. But it sounded so improbable——

Lövborg.

It is true, all the same.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Wringing her hands.] Oh God—oh God, Hedda—torn his own work to pieces!

Lövborg.

I have torn my own life to pieces. So why should I not tear my life-work too——?

Mrs. Elvsted.

And you did this last night?

Lövborg.

Yes, I tell you! Tore it into a thousand pieces—and scattered them on the fiord—far out. There there is cool sea-water at any rate—let them drift upon it—drift with the current and the wind. And then presently they will sink—deeper and deeper—as I shall, Thea.

Mrs. Elvsted.

Do you know, Lövborg, that what you have done with the book—I shall think of it to my dying day as though you had killed a little child.

Lövborg.

Yes, you are right. It is a sort of child-murder.

Mrs. Elvsted.

How could you, then——! Did not the child belong to me too?

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