Chapter 7

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Presses and pats her hands.] Oh, how good and kind you are! I am not used to such kindness.

Hedda.

There, there, there! And I shall sayduto you, as in the old days, and call you my dear Thora.

Mrs. Elvsted.

My name is Thea.[17]

Hedda.

Why, of course! I meant Thea. [Looks at her compassionately.] So you are not accustomed to goodness and kindness, Thea? Not in your own home?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Oh, if I only had a home! But I haven’t any; I have never had a home.

Hedda.

[Looks at her for a moment.] I almost suspected as much.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Gazing helplessly before her.] Yes—yes—yes.

Hedda.

I don’t quite remember—was it not as housekeeper that you first went to Mr. Elvsted’s?

Mrs. Elvsted.

I really went as governess. But his wife—his late wife—was an invalid,—and rarely left her room. So I had to look after the housekeeping as well.

Hedda.

And then—at last—you became mistress of the house.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Sadly.] Yes, I did.

Hedda.

Let me see—about how long ago was that?

Mrs. Elvsted.

My marriage?

Hedda.

Yes.

Mrs. Elvsted.

Five years ago.

Hedda.

To be sure; it must be that.

Mrs. Elvsted.

Oh those five years——! Or at all events the last two or three of them! Oh, if you[18]could only imagine——

Hedda.

[Giving her a little slap on the hand.]De?Fie, Thea!

Mrs. Elvsted.

Yes, yes, I will try——Well, if—you could only imagine and understand——

Hedda.

[Lightly.] Eilert Lövborg has been in your neighbourhood about three years, hasn’t he?

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Looks at her doubtfully.] Eilert Lövborg? Yes—he has.

Hedda.

Had you known him before, in town here?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Scarcely at all. I mean—I knew him by name of course.

Hedda.

But you saw a good deal of him in the country?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Yes, he came to us every day. You see, he gave the children lessons; for in the long run I couldn’t manage it all myself.

Hedda.

No, that’s clear.—And your husband——? I suppose he is often away from home?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Yes. Being sheriff, you know, he has to travel about a good deal in his district.

Hedda.

[Leaning against the arm of the chair.] Thea—my poor, sweet Thea—now you must tell me everything—exactly as it stands.

Mrs. Elvsted.

Well then, you must question me.

Hedda.

What sort of a man is your husband, Thea? I mean—you know—in everyday life. Is he kind to you?

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Evasively.] I am sure he means well in everything.

Hedda.

I should think he must be altogether too old for you. There is at least twenty years’ difference between you, is there not?

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Irritably.] Yes, that is true, too. Everything about him is repellent to me! We have not a thought in common. We have no single point of sympathy—he and I.

Hedda.

But is he not fond of you all the same? In his own way?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Oh I really don’t know. I think he regards me simply as a useful property. And then it doesn’t cost much to keep me. I am not expensive.

Hedda.

That is stupid of you.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Shakes her head.] It cannot be otherwise—not with him. I don’t think he really cares for any one but himself—and perhaps a little for the children.

Hedda.

And for EilertLövborgLövborg, Thea.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Looking at her.] For Eilert Lövborg? What puts that into your head?

Hedda.

Well, my dear—I should say, when he sends you after him all the way to town——[Smiling almost imperceptibly.] And besides, you said so yourself, to Tesman.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[With a little nervous twitch.] Did I? Yes, I suppose I did. [Vehemently, but not loudly.] No—I may just as well make a clean breast of it at once! For it must all come out in any case.

Hedda.

Why, my dear Thea——?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Well, to make a long story short: My husband did not know that I was coming.

Hedda.

What! Your husband didn’t know it!

Mrs. Elvsted.

No, of course not. For that matter, he was away from home himself—he was travelling. Oh, I could bear it no longer, Hedda! I couldn’t indeed—so utterly alone as I should have been in future.

Hedda.

Well? And then?

Mrs. Elvsted.

So I put together some of my things—what I needed most—as quietly as possible. And then I left the house.

Hedda.

Without a word?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Yes—and took the train straight to town.

Hedda.

Why, my dear, good Thea—to think of you daring to do it!

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Rises and moves about the room.] What else could I possibly do?

Hedda.

But what do you think your husband will say when you go home again?

Mrs. Elvsted.

[At the table, looks at her.] Back tohim?

Hedda.

Of course.

Mrs. Elvsted.

I shall never go back to him again.

Hedda.

[Rising and going towards her.] Then you have left your home—for good and all?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Yes. There was nothing else to be done.

Hedda.

But then—to take flight soopenlyopenly

Mrs. Elvsted.

Oh, it’s impossible to keep things of that sort secret.

Hedda.

But what do you think people will say of you, Thea?

Mrs. Elvsted.

They may say what they like, for aughtIcare. [Seats herself wearily and sadly on the sofa.] I have done nothing but what Ihadto do.

Hedda.

[After a short silence.] And what are your plans now? What do you think of doing?

Mrs. Elvsted.

I don’t know yet. I only know this, that Imustlive here, where Eilert Lövborg is—if I am to live at all.

Hedda.

[Takes a chair from the table, seats herself beside her, and strokes her hands.] My dear Thea—how did this—this friendship—between you and Eilert Lövborg come about?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Oh it grew up gradually. I gained a sort of influence over him.

Hedda.

Indeed?

Mrs. Elvsted.

He gave up his old habits. Not because I asked him to, for I never dared do that. But of course he saw how repulsive they were to me; and so he dropped them.

Hedda.

[Concealing an involuntary smile of scorn.] Then you have reclaimed him—as the saying goes—my little Thea.

Mrs. Elvsted.

So he says himself, at any rate. And he, on his side, has made a real human being of me—taught me to think, and to understand so many things.

Hedda.

Did he giveyoulessons too, then?

Mrs. Elvsted.

No, not exactly lessons. But he talked to me—talked about such an infinity of things. And then came the lovely, happy time when I began to share in his work—when he allowed me to help him!

Hedda.

Oh he did, did he?

Mrs. Elvsted.

Yes! He never wrote anything without my assistance.

Hedda.

You were two good comrades, in fact?

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Eagerly.] Comrades! Yes, fancy, Hedda—that is the very word he used!—Oh, I ought to feel perfectly happy; and yet I cannot; for I don’t know how long it will last.

Hedda.

Are you no surer of him than that?

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Gloomily.] A woman’s shadow stands between EilertLövborgLövborgand me.

Hedda.

[Looks at her anxiously.] Who canthatbe?

Mrs. Elvsted.

I don’t know. Some one he knew in his—in his past. Some one he has never been able wholly to forget.

Hedda.

What has he told you—about this?

Mrs. Elvsted.

He has only once—quite vaguely—alluded to it.

Hedda.

Well! And what did he say?

Mrs. Elvsted.

He said that when they parted, she threatened to shoot him with a pistol.

Hedda.

[With cold composure.] Oh nonsense! No one does that sort of thing here.

Mrs. Elvsted.

No. And that is why I think it must have been that red-haired singing-woman whom he once——

Hedda.

Yes, very likely.

Mrs. Elvsted.

For I remember they used to say of her that she carried loaded firearms.

Hedda.

Oh—then of course it must have been she.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Wringing her hands.] And now just fancy, Hedda—I hear that this singing-woman—that she is in town again! Oh, I don’t know what to do——

Hedda.

[Glancing towards the inner room.] Hush! Here comes Tesman. [Rises and whispers.] Thea—all this must remain between you and me.

Mrs. Elvsted.

[Springing up.] Oh yes—yes! For heaven’s sake——!

George Tesman,with a letter in his hand, comes from the right through the inner room.

Tesman.

There now—the epistle is finished.

Hedda.

That’s right. And now Mrs. Elvsted is just going. Wait a moment—I’ll go with you to the garden gate.

Tesman.

Do you think Berta could post the letter, Hedda dear?

Hedda.

[Takes it.] I will tell her to.

Bertaenters from the hall.

Berta.

Judge Brack wishes to know if Mrs. Tesman will receive him.

Hedda.

Yes, ask Judge Brack to come in. And look here—put this letter in the post.

Berta.

[Taking the letter.] Yes, ma’am.

[She opens the door forJudge Brackand goes out herself.Brackis a man of forty-five; thick set, but well-built and elastic in his movements. His face is roundish with an aristocratic profile. His hair is short, still almost black, and carefully dressed. His eyes are lively and sparkling. His eyebrows thick. His moustaches are also thick, with short-cut ends. He wears a well-cut walking-suit, a little too youthful for his age. He uses an eye-glass, which he now and then lets drop.

Judge Brack.

[With his hat in his hand, bowing.] May one venture to call so early in the day?

Hedda.

Of course one may.

Tesman.

[Presses his hand.] You are welcome at any time. [Introducing him.] Judge Brack—Miss Rysing——

Hedda.

Oh——!

Brack.

[Bowing.] Ah—delighted——

Hedda.

[Looks at him and laughs.] It’s nice to have a look at you by daylight, Judge!

Brack.

Do you find me—altered?

Hedda.

A little younger, I think.

Brack.

Thank you so much.

Tesman.

But what do you think of Hedda—eh? Doesn’t she look flourishing? She has actually——

Hedda.

Oh, do leave me alone. You haven’t thanked Judge Brack for all the trouble he has taken——

Brack.

Oh, nonsense—it was a pleasure to me——

Hedda.

Yes, you are a friend indeed. But here stands Thea all impatience to be off—soau revoirJudge. I shall be back again presently.

[Mutual salutations.Mrs. ElvstedandHeddago out by the hall door.

Brack.

Well,—is your wife tolerably satisfied——

Tesman.

Yes, we can’t thank you sufficiently. Of course she talks of a little re-arrangement here and there; and one or two things are stillwanting.wanting.We shall have to buy some additional trifles.

Brack.

Indeed!

Tesman.

But we won’t trouble you about these things. Hedda says she herself will look after what is wanting.—Shan’t we sit down? Eh?

Brack.

Thanks, for a moment. [Seats himself beside the table.] There is something I wanted to speak to you about, my dear Tesman.

Tesman.

Indeed? Ah, I understand! [Seating himself.] I suppose it’s the serious part of the frolic that is coming now. Eh?

Brack.

Oh, the money question is not so very pressing; though, for that matter, I wish we had gone a little more economically to work.

Tesman.

But that would never have done, you know! Think of Hedda, my dear fellow! You, who know her so well——. I couldn’t possibly ask her to put up with a shabby style of living!

Brack.

No, no—that is just the difficulty.

Tesman.

And then—fortunately—it can’t be long before I receive my appointment.

Brack.

Well, you see—such things are often apt to hang fire for a time.

Tesman.

Have you heard anything definite? Eh?

Brack.

Nothing exactly definite——. [Interrupting himself.] But by-the-bye—I have one piece of news for you.

Tesman.

Well?

Brack.

Your old friend, Eilert Lövborg, has returned to town.

Tesman.

I know that already.

Brack.

Indeed! How did you learn it?

Tesman.

From that lady who went out with Hedda.

Brack.

Really? What was her name? I didn’t quite catch it.

Tesman.

Mrs. Elvsted.

Brack.

Aha—Sheriff Elvsted’s wife? Of course—he has been living up in their regions.

Tesman.

And fancy—I’m delighted to hear that he is quite a reformed character!

Brack.

So they say.

Tesman.

And then he has published a new book—eh?

Brack.

Yes, indeed he has.

Tesman.

And I hear it has made some sensation!

Brack.

Quite an unusual sensation.

Tesman.

Fancy—isn’t that good news! A man of such extraordinary talents——. I felt so grieved to think that he had gone irretrievably to ruin.

Brack.

That was what everybody thought.

Tesman.

But I cannot imagine what he will take to now! How in the world will he be able to make his living? Eh?

[During the last words,Heddahas entered by the hall door.

Hedda.

[ToBrack, laughing with a touch of scorn.] Tesman is for ever worrying about how people are to make their living.

Tesman.

Well you see, dear—we were talking about poor Eilert Lövborg.

Hedda.

[Glancing at him rapidly.] Oh, indeed? [Seats herself in the arm-chair beside the stove and asks indifferently:] What is the matter withhim?

Tesman.

Well—no doubt he has run through all his property long ago; and he can scarcely write a new book every year—eh? So I really can’t see what is to become of him.

Brack.

Perhaps I can give you some information on that point.

Tesman.

Indeed!

Brack.

You must remember that his relations have a good deal of influence.

Tesman.

Oh, his relations, unfortunately, have entirely washed their hands of him.

Brack.

At one time they called him the hope of the family.

Tesman.

At one time, yes! But he has put an end to all that.

Hedda.

Who knows? [With a slight smile.] I hear they have reclaimed him up at Sheriff Elvsted’s——

Brack.

And then this book that he has published——

Tesman.

Well well, I hope to goodness they may find something for him to do. I have just written to him. I asked him to come and see us this evening, Hedda dear.

Brack.

But my dear fellow, you are booked for my bachelors’ party this evening. You promised on the pier last night.

Hedda.

Had you forgotten, Tesman?

Tesman.

Yes, I had utterly forgotten.

Brack.

But it doesn’t matter, for you may be sure he won’t come.

Tesman.

What makes you think that? Eh?

Brack.

[With a little hesitation, rising and resting his hands on the back of his chair.] My dear Tesman—and you too, Mrs. Tesman—I think I ought not to keep you in the dark about something that—that——

Tesman.

That concerns Eilert——?

Brack.

Both you and him.

Tesman.

Well, my dear Judge, out with it.

Brack.

You must be prepared to find your appointment deferred longer than you desired or expected.

Tesman.

[Jumping up uneasily.] Is there some hitch about it? Eh?

Back to Index Next