Hedviggoes out almost crying, at the kitchen door.
Hedviggoes out almost crying, at the kitchen door.
Gregers.Yes, Hjalmar—now we shall see who is right—he or I.
Hjalmar(slowly tears the paper across, and lays both pieces on the table). Here is my answer.
Gregers.I expected it.
Hjalmar(going up toGinawho stands by the oven, and speaking in a low tone). And now no more deceit. If the connection between you and him was quite at an end, when you—came to care for me, as you call it—why did he make it possible for us to marry?
Gina.I suppose he thought he’d be free of the house.
Hjalmar.Onlythat? Wasn’t he afraid of a certain result?
Gina.I don’t understand what you mean.
Hjalmar.I want to know if—your child has the right to live under my roof.
Gina(drawing herself up, her eyes flashing). And you ask that?
Hjalmar.You must answer me this one question: Is Hedvig my child, or——? Well!
Gina(looks at him with cold defiance). I don’t know.
Hjalmar(shudders slightly). You don’t know!
Gina.How shouldIknow? Such a woman as I?
Hjalmar(quietly turning from her). Then I have nothing more to do in this house.
Gregers.Think what you’re doing, Hjalmar.
Hjalmar(taking up his overcoat). There’s nothing for a man like me to think about here.
Gregers.Yes, here there is so much to be thought over. You three must remain together, if you are to reach the great height of self-sacrificing forgiveness.
Hjalmar.I will not. Never, never! My hat! (Takes his hat.) My home has fallen into ruins about me (bursting into tears). Gregers, I have no child!
Hedvig(who has opened the kitchen door). What do you say? (Going up to him.) Father, father!
Gina.There now!
Hjalmar.Do not come near me, Hedvig. Stand away. I can not bear to see you. Ah! the eyes! Good-bye.
Goes towards the door.
Goes towards the door.
Hedvig(holding him fast and crying out). No, no! No, no! Don’t go away from me!
Gina(calls out). Look at the child, Ekdal! Look at the child!
Hjalmar.I will not. I can not. I must away; away from all this.
He tears himself away fromHedvigand goes out at the entrance-door.
He tears himself away fromHedvigand goes out at the entrance-door.
Hedvig(with despairing look). He is going from us mother! He is going from us! He will never come back again!
Gina.If only you’ll not cry, Hedvig, father’ll come again!
Hedvig(throws herself sobbing upon the sofa). No, no, he’ll never come home to us any more.
Gregers.You believe that I meant it all for the best, Mrs. Ekdal?
Gina.Yes, I do almost, but God forgive you, all the same.
Hedvig(lying on the sofa). Oh! I feel as if it would kill me! What have I done to him? Mother, you must bring him home again!
Gina.Yes, yes, yes; only be quiet, and I’ll go out and look for him. (Puts on her out-door things.) Perhaps he’s gone to Relling’s. But youmustn’tlie there and howl. Will you promise me that?
Hedvig(crying convulsively). Yes, I’ll stop, if only father will come home again.
Gregers(toGinawho is going out). Wouldn’t it be better after all that you let him first fight out to the end his bitter fight?
Gina.Oh! he can do that afterwards. First and foremost we must quiet the child.
She goes out at the entrance-door.
She goes out at the entrance-door.
Hedvig(sitting up and drying her eyes). Now you must tell me what it’s all about. Why won’t father have anything more to do with me?
Gregers.You mustn’t ask about that till you’re a big girl and grown up.
Hedvig(sobbing). But I can’t go on being so terribly miserable till I’m big and grown up—I know what it is—perhaps I’m not father’s real child.
Gregers(uneasily). How could that be?
Hedvig.Why, mother may have found me. And now, perhaps, father has got to know it; for I’ve read about such things.
Gregers.Well, but if it were so——
Hedvig.Yes, I think he might love me just as much for all that. And even more. Why the wild duck, too, was sent us for a present, and yet I care so much for her.
Gregers(trying to change the subject). Yes, the wild duck, that’s true! Let’s talk a little about the wild duck, Hedvig.
Hedvig.The poor wild duck. He can’t bear to see her either. Only think, he wanted to wring her neck!
Gregers.Oh! he’ll not do that I’m sure.
Hedvig.No, but he said so. And I think it was so horrid of father, because I say my prayers for the wild duck every night and beg she may be preserved from death, and all that is evil.
Gregers(looking at her). Do you always say your prayers at night?
Hedvig.Oh, yes.
Gregers.Who taught you to do that?
Hedvig.I myself; it was once when father was so ill,and had leeches on his throat, and then he said he was wrestling with death.
Gregers.Well?
Hedvig.So I prayed for him after I had gone to bed. And ever since I’ve gone on with it.
Gregers.And now you pray for the wild duck, too?
Hedvig.I thought it would be best to put the wild duck in too, for she was so sickly at first.
Gregers.Do you pray in the morning, too?
Hedvig.No, I don’t do that.
Gregers.Why not in the morning as well?
Hedvig.Oh! it’s light in the morning, and there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Gregers.And the wild duck that you’re so very fond of—your father wanted to wring its neck?
Hedvig.No, he said it would be best for him if he did, but that he would spare her for my sake; and that was very good of father.
Gregers(coming a little closer). But if you were to sacrifice the wild duck of your own free will for his sake?
Hedvig(rising). The wild duck!
Gregers.If you now freely sacrificed for him the best thing you know and possess on earth?
Hedvig.Do you think that would help?
Gregers.Try it, Hedvig.
Hedvig(in a low voice and brightening eyes). Yes, I will try.
Gregers.And do you think you’ve enough strength of mind?
Hedvig.I will ask grandfather to shoot her for me.
Gregers.Yes, do so. But not a word of all this to your mother!
Hedvig.Why not?
Gregers.She does not understand us.
Hedvig.The wild duck? I’ll try it early to-morrow.
Ginacomes in at the entrance door.
Ginacomes in at the entrance door.
Hedvig(going up to her). Did you meet him, mother?
Gina.No, but I heard that he’d gone into Relling’s and taken him along with him.
Gregers.Are you sure of that?
Gina.Yes, the porter’s wife told me. Molvik went with them too, she said.
Gregers.And this at a time when he needs so sorely to wrestle in solitude!
Gina(taking off her things). Yes, men folk are so different. Heaven knows where Relling has dragged him to. I ran over to Mrs. Ericksen’s; but they weren’t there.
Hedvig(struggling with her tears). Oh! if he should never come home any more!
Gregers.Hewillcome home again. I will bear him a message to-morrow, and you will seehowhe’ll come. Sleep peacefully on that, Hedvig. Good night.
He goes out at the entrance door.
He goes out at the entrance door.
Hedvig(throwing herself sobbing onGina’sneck). Mother, mother!
Gina(patting her on the back and sighing). Ah, yes! Relling was right. That is what comes of crazy people going about and presenting intricate claims.