 Act One of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Edmund Gossi and William Archer. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Hedda Gabler, play in four acts. Characters George Tasman, read by MB Hedda Gabler, read by Arielle Lipshaw Miss Juliana Tasman, read by Kalinda Mrs. Elfstead, read by Elizabeth Klatt Judge Brack, read by Joppa Man Eilert Loveborg, read by Bob Sherman Bertha, read by Diana Moilinger Narrated by Abaii The scene of the action is Tasman's villa in the west end of Christiania Act First A spacious, handsome and tastefully furnished drawing room, decorated in dark colors In the back, a wide doorway with curtains drawn back, leading into a smaller room, decorated in the same style as the drawing room In the right hand wall of the front room, a folding door leading out to the hall In the opposite wall, on the left, a glass door, also with curtains drawn back Through the panes can be seen part of a veranda outside, and trees covered with autumn foliage An oval table with a cover on it, and surrounded by chairs stands well forward In front, by the wall on the right, a white stove of dark porcelain, a high-backed armchair, a cushioned footrest and two footstools A setee with a small round table in front of it fills the upper right-hand corner In front, on the left, a little way from the wall, a sofa Further back than the glass door, a piano On either side of the doorway at the back, a what-not with terracotta and majolica ornaments Against the back wall of the inner room is sofa, with a table and one or two chairs Over the sofa hangs the portrait of a handsome elderly man in a general's uniform Over the table, a hanging lamp with an opal glass shade A number of bouquets are arranged about the drawing room in vases and glasses Others lie upon the tables The floors in both rooms are covered with thick carpets Morning light, the sun shines in through the glass door Miss Juliana Tesman, with her bonnet on and carrying a parasol, comes in from the hall, followed by Bertha who carries a bouquet wrapped in paper Miss Tesman is a comely and pleasant-looking lady of about sixty-five She is nicely but simply dressed in a grey walking costume Bertha is a middle-aged woman of plain and rather country-fied appearance Miss Tesman stops close to the door, listens and says softly Upon my word, I don't believe they're stirring it Bertha, also softly I told you so, miss Remember how late the steamboat got in last night And then, when they got home, good Lord, what a lot the young mistress had to unpack before she could get to bed Well, well, let them have their sleep out But let us see that they get a good breath of the fresh morning air when they do appear She goes to the glass door and throws it open Bertha, beside the table, at a loss what to do with a bouquet in her hand I declare there isn't a bit of room left I think I'll put it down here, miss She places it on the piano So, you've got a new mistress now, my dear Bertha Heaven knows it was a wrench to me to part with you Bertha, on the point of weeping And do you think it wasn't hard for me, too, miss? After all the blessed years I've been with you and Miss Reena We must make the best of it, Bertha There was nothing else to be done George can't do without you, you see He absolutely can't He's had you to look after him ever since he was a little boy Oh, but Miss Julia, I can't help thinking of Miss Reena lying helpless at home there, poor thing And with only that new girl, too, she'll never learn to take proper care of an invalid Oh, I shall manage to train her, and of course you know I shall take most of it upon myself You needn't be uneasy about my poor sister, my dear Bertha Well, but there's another thing, miss I'm so mortally afraid I shan't be able to suit the young mistress Oh, well, just at first there may be one or two things Most like she'll be terrible grander, her ways Well, you can't wonder at that, General Gabler's daughter Think of the sort of life she was accustomed to in her father's time Don't you remember how we used to see her riding down the road along with the general In that long black habit and with feathers in her hat Yes, indeed, I remember well enough But, good Lord, I should never have dreamt in those days that she and Master George would make a match of it Nor I But by the by, Bertha, while I think of it In future you mustn't say Master George, you must say Dr. Tessman Yes, the young mistress spoke of that, too, last night The moment they set foot in the house Is it true, Dan, miss? Yes, indeed it is Only think, Bertha, some foreign university has made him a doctor While he has been abroad, you understand I hadn't heard a word about it until he told me himself upon the pier Well, well, he's clever enough for anything he is But I didn't think he'd have gone in for doctoring people No, no, it's not that sort of doctor he is Not significantly But let me tell you, we may have to call him something still grander before long You don't say so What can that be, miss? Miss Tessman, smiling Hmm, wouldn't you like to know? With emotion Oh, dear, dear, if my poor brother could only look up from his grave now And see what his little boy has grown into Looks around But bless me, Bertha, why have you done this? Taking the chintz covers off all of the furniture The mistress told me, too She can't abide covers on the chairs, she says Are they going to make this their everyday sitting-room, then? Yes, that's what I understood from the mistress Master George, the doctor, he said nothing George Tessman comes from the right into the inner room Humming to himself and carrying an unstrapped empty portmanteau He is a middle-sized, young-looking man of 33, rather stout With a round, open, cheerful face, fair hair and beard He wears spectacles and is somewhat carelessly dressed in comfortable indoor clothes Good morning, good morning, George Tessman, in the doorway between the rooms Aunt Julia, dear Aunt Julia Goes up to her and shakes hands warmly Come on this way, so early, eh? Why, of course, I had to come and see how you were getting on In spite of your having had no proper night's rest? Oh, that makes no difference to me Well, I suppose you got home all right from the pier, eh? Yes, quite safely, thank goodness Judge Brack was good enough to see me right to my door Oh, we were so sorry we couldn't give you a seat in the carriage But you saw what a pile of boxes had I had to bring with her Yes, she certainly had plenty of boxes Berta, to Tessman Shall I go in and see if there's anything I can do for the mistress? No, thank you, Berta, you needn't She said she would ring if she wanted anything Berta, going towards the right Very well But look here, take this portmanteau with you Berta, taking it I'll put it in the attic She goes out by the hall door Fancy, auntie, I had that whole portmanteau Chock full of copies of the documents You wouldn't believe how much I have picked up From all the archives I've been examining Curious old details that no one had any idea of Yes, you don't seem to have wasted your time On your wedding trip, George No, that I haven't But do take off your bonnet, auntie Look here, let me untie the strings Miss Tessman, while he does so Well, well, this is just as if you were still at home with us Tessman, with the bonnet in his hand Looks at it from all sides Why, what a gorgeous bonnet you've been investing in I bought it on Heta's account On Heta's account, eh? Yes, so that Heta needn't be ashamed of me Tessman, patting her cheek You always think of everything, Aunt Julia Lay the bonnet on a chair beside the table And now, look here Suppose we sit comfortably on the sofa And have a little chat till Heta comes They seat themselves She places her parasol in the corner of the sofa Miss Tessman takes both his hands and looks at him What a delight it is to have you again As large as life before my very eyes, George My poor brother's own boy And it's a delight for me too to see you again, Aunt Julia You who've been father and mother in one to me Oh yes, I know you will always keep a place in your heart for your old aunts And what about Aunt Rina? No improvement, eh? Oh no, we can scarcely look for any improvement in her case, poor thing There she lies, helpless, as she has lain for all these years But heaven grant, I may not lose her yet a while For if I did, I don't know what I should make of my life, George Especially now that I haven't you to look after any more Tessman, patting her back There, there, there Miss Tessman, suddenly changing her tone And to think that here you are a married man, George And that you should be the one to carry off Heta Gabler, the beautiful Heta Gabler Only think of it, she that was so beset with admirers Tessman, hums a little and smiles complacently Yes, I fancy I have several good friends about town who would like to stand in my shoes, eh? And then this fine long wedding tour you have had More than five, nearly six months Well, for me it has been sort of a tour of research as well I've had to do so much grubbing among all the records And to read no end of books too, auntie Oh yes, I suppose so More confidentially and lowering her voice a little But listen now, George, have you nothing, nothing special to tell me? As to our journey? Yes No, I don't know of anything except what I've told you in my letters I had a doctor's degree conferred on me, but that I told you yesterday Yes, yes you did, but what I mean is Haven't you any, any expectations? Expectations? Why you know, George, I'm your old auntie Why, of course I have expectations Ah I have every expectation of being a professor one of these days Oh yes, a professor Indeed, I may say I'm certain of it But, my dear auntie, you know all about that already Miss Tessman, laughing to herself Yes, of course I do, you were quite right there Changing the subject But we were talking about your journey It must have cost a great deal of money, George Well, you see, my handsome traveling scholarship went a good way But I can't understand how you can have made it go far enough for two No, that's not easy to understand, eh? And especially traveling with a lady They tell me that makes it ever so much more expensive Yes, of course it makes it a little more expensive But had I had to have this trip, auntie, she really had to Nothing else would have done No, no, I suppose not A wedding tour seems to be quite indispensable nowadays But tell me now, have you gone thoroughly over the house yet? Yes, you may be sure I have I've been afoot ever since daylight And what do you think of it all? I'm delighted, quite delighted Only, I can't think what we were to do with the two empty rooms Between this inner parlor and Hedda's bedroom Miss Tessman, laughing Oh, my dear George, I dare say you may find some use for them in the course of time Why, of course you were quite right, Aunt Julia What do you mean as my library increases, eh? Yes, quite so, my dear boy It was your library I was thinking of I am specially pleased on Hedda's account Often and often, before we were engaged She said that you would never care to live anywhere but in Secretary Fox Villa Yes, it was lucky that this very house should come into the market just after you had started Yes, Aunt Julia, the luck was on our side, wasn't it, eh? But the expense, my dear George, you will find it very expensive all of this Tessman looks at her a little cast down Yes, I suppose I shall, Aunt Oh, frightfully How much do you think? In round numbers, eh? Oh, I can't even guess until all the accounts come in Well, fortunately Judge Brack has secured the most favourable terms for me So he said in a letter to Hedda Yes, don't be uneasy, my dear boy Besides, I have given security for the furniture and all the carpets Security? You? My dear Aunt Julia, what sort of security could you give? I have given a mortgage on our annuity Tessman jumps up What, on your Aunt Rena's annuity? Yes, I knew of no other plan, you see Tessman placing himself before her Have you gone out of your senses, Auntie? Your annuity, it's all that you and Aunt Rena have to live upon Well, well, don't get so excited about it It's only a matter of form, you know Judge Brack assured me of that It was he that was kind enough to arrange the whole affair for me A mere matter of form, he said Yes, that may be all very well, but nevertheless You will have your own salary to depend on now And good heavens, even if we did have to pay up a little To eke things out a bit at the start Why? It would be nothing but a pleasure to us Oh, Auntie, will you never be tired of making sacrifices for me? Miss Tessman rises and lays her hand on his shoulders Have I any other happiness in this world except to smooth your way for you, my dear boy? You who have had neither father nor mother to depend on And now we have reached the goal, George Things have looked black enough for us sometimes, but thank heaven Now you have nothing to fear Yes, it really is marvellous how everything has turned out for the best And the people who opposed you, who wanted to bar the way for you Now you have them at your feet They have fallen, George, your most dangerous rival His fall was the worst And now he has to lie on the bed he has made for himself Poor, misguided creature Have you heard anything of Island? Since I went away, I mean Only that he has said to have published a new book I learnt Loveborg recently, eh? Yes, so they say Heaven knows whether it can be worth anything Ah, when your new book appears, that will be another story, George What is it to be about? It will deal with the domestic industries of Brabant during the Middle Ages Fancy, to be able to write on such a subject as that However, it may be some time before the book is ready I have all these collections to arrange first, you see Yes, collecting and arranging, no one can beat you with that There you are, my poor brother's own son I am looking forward eagerly to setting to work at it Especially now that I have my own delightful home to work in And most of all now that you have got the wife of your heart, my dear George Tasman, embracing her Oh yes, yes, Aunt Julia, Hedda She is the best part of it all I believe I hear her coming, eh? Hedda enters from the left through the inner room Her face and figure show refinement and distinction Her complexion is pale and opaque Her steel grey eyes express a cold, unruffled repose Her hair is often agreeable brown, but not particularly abundant She is dressed in a tasteful, somewhat loose-fitting morning gown Miss Tasman, going to meet Hedda Good morning, my dear Hedda Good morning and a hearty welcome Hedda holds out her hand Good morning, dear Miss Tasman So early a call, that is kind of you Miss Tasman, with some embarrassment Well, has the bride slept well in her new home? Oh yes, thanks, passably Tasman, laughing Passably? Come, that's good, Hedda You were sleeping like a stone when I got up Fortunately, of course One has always to accustom oneself to new surroundings, Miss Tasman Little by little Looking towards the left Oh, there the servant has gone and opened the veranda door and let in a whole flood of sunshine Miss Tasman, going towards the door Well, then we will shut it No, no, not that Tasman, please draw the curtains That will give a softer light Tasman, at the door All right, all right There, now, Hedda, you have both shade and fresh air Yes, fresh air we certainly must have with all these stacks of flowers But won't you sit down, Miss Tasman? No, thank you Now that I have seen that everything is all right here, thank heaven I must be getting home again My sister is lying, longing for me, poor thing Give her my very best love, auntie and say that I shall look in and see her later in the day Yes, yes, I'll be sure to tell her But by the by, George Feeling in her dress pocket I've forgotten, I have something for you here What is it, auntie? Miss Tasman, produces a flat parcel wrapped in newspaper and hands it to him Look here, my dear boy Tasman, opening the parcel Well, I declare, have you really saved them for me at Julia? Hedda, isn't this touching, eh? Hedda, beside the what-not on the right Well, what is it? Good morning, shoes My slippers Indeed, I remember you often spoke of them while we were abroad Yes, I missed them terribly Goes up to her Now you shall see them, Hedda Hedda, going towards the stove Thanks, I really don't care about it Tasman, following her Only think, ill as she was Aunt Rena embroidered these for me Oh, you can't think how many associations cling to them Hedda, at the table Scarcely for me Of course not for Hedda, George Well, but now that she belongs to the family, I thought Hedda, interrupting We shall never get on with this servant, Tasman Not get on with Bertha Why, dear, what puts that in your head, eh? Hedda, pointing Look there, she has left her old bonnet lying about on a chair Tasman, in consternation, drops the slippers on the floor Why, Hedda? Just fancy if anyone should come in and see it But Hedda, that's Aunt Julia's bonnet Is it? Miss Tasman, taking up the bonnet Yes, indeed, it's mine And what's more, it's not old, Madame Hedda I really did not look closely at it, Miss Tasman Miss Tasman, trying on the bonnet Let me tell you, it's the first time I have worn it, the very first time And a very nice bonnet it is too Quite a beauty Oh, it's no such great things, George Looks around her My parasol? Ah, here Takes it For this is mine too Mutters Not Berthas A new bonnet and a new parasol, only think, Hedda Very handsome indeed Yes, isn't it, eh? But, Auntie, take a good look at Hedda before you go See how handsome she is Oh, my dear boy, there's nothing new in that Hedda was always lovely She nods and goes toward direct Tasman, following Yes, but have you noticed what splendid condition she's in? How she's filled out on the journey? Hedda, crossing the room Oh, do be quiet Miss Tasman, who has stopped and turned Filled out? Of course, you don't notice it so much now that she has that dress on But I, who can see Hedda, at the glass door, impatiently Oh, you can't see anything It must be the mountain air in the teural Hedda, curtly interrupting I am exactly as I was when I started So you insist, but I'm quite certain you're not Don't you agree with me, Auntie? Miss Tasman, who has been gazing at her with folded hands Hedda is lovely Lovely Lovely Goes up to her, takes her head between both hands Draws it downwards and kisses her hair God bless and preserve Hedda Tasman for George's sake Hedda, gently freeing herself Oh, let me go Miss Tasman, in quiet emotion I shall not let a day pass without coming to see you No, you won't, will you, Addy? Nay? Goodbye, goodbye She goes out by the whole door Tasman accompanies her The door remains half open Tasman can be heard repeating his message to Andrina and his thanks for the slippers In the meantime, Hedda walks about the room raising her arms and clenching her hands as if in desperation Then she flings back to curtains from the glass door and stands there looking out Presently, Tasman returns and closes the door behind him Tasman picks up the slippers from the floor What are you looking at, Hedda? Hedda, once more calm and mistress of herself I'm only looking at the leaves They are so yellow, so withered Tasman wraps up the slippers and lays them on the table Well, you see, we are well into September now Hedda, again restless Yes, to think of it Already in... in September Don't you think, Ad Julia's manner was strange, dear? Almost solemn? Can you imagine what was the matter with her, eh? I scarcely know her, you see Is she not often like that? No, not as she was today Hedda, leaving the glass door Do you think she was annoyed about the bonnet? Oh, scarcely at all Perhaps a little just at the moment But what an idea to pitch her bonnet about in the drawing room No one does that sort of thing Well, you may be sure, Ad Julia won't do it again In any case, I shall manage to make my peace with her Yes, my dear good Hedda, if you only would When you call this afternoon You might invite her to spend the evening here Yes, that I will And there's one more thing you could do that would delight her heart What is it? If you could only prevail on yourself to say due to her for my sake, Hedda No, no Tasman, you really mustn't ask that of me I have told you so already I shall try to call her aunt And you must be satisfied with that Well, well, only I think now that you belong to the family I can't in the least see why She goes up towards the middle doorway, Tasman, after a pause Is there anything that matters with you, Hedda? I'm only looking at my old piano It doesn't go at all well with all the other things The first time I draw my salary we'll see about exchanging it No, no, no exchanging I don't want to part with it Suppose we put it there in the inner room and then get another here in its place When it's convenient, I mean Tasman, a little take in a back Yes, of course we could do that Hedda takes up the bouquet from the piano These flowers were not here last night when we arrived And Julia must have brought them for you Hedda, examining the bouquet A visiting card Takes it out and reads Shall return later in the day Yes, whose card it is? No, whose, eh? The name is Mrs. Elvestead Is it really? Sheriff Elvestead's wife? Miss Rising, that was Exactly, the girl with the irritating hair that she was always showing off An old flame of yours I've been told Tasman, laughing Oh, that didn't last long And it was before I met you, Hedda But fancy her being in town It's odd that she should call upon us I have scarcely seen her since we left school I haven't seen her either, for heaven knows how long I wonder how she can endure to live in such an out-of-the-way hole, eh? Hedda, after a moment's thought, says suddenly Tell me, Tasman, isn't it somewhere near there that he, that Eilert Loveborg is living? Yes, he is somewhere in that part of the country Bertha enters by the whole door That lady, ma'am, that brought some flowers a little while ago, is here again Pointing The flowers you have in your hand, ma'am Ah, is she? Well, please show her in Bertha opens the door for Mrs. Elvestead and goes out herself Mrs. Elvestead is a woman of fragile figure with pretty soft features Her eyes are light blue, large, round, and somewhat prominent With a startled, inquiring expression Her hair is remarkably light, almost flexing and unusually abundant and wavy She is a couple of years younger than Hedda She wears a dark visiting dress, tasteful, but not quite in the latest fashion Hedda receives her warmly How do you do, my dear Mrs. Elvestead? It's delightful to see you again Mrs. Elvestead, nervously struggling for self-control Yes, it's a very long time since we met Tesman gives her his hand And we too, eh? Thanks for your lovely flowers Oh, not at all I would have come straight here yesterday afternoon, but I heard that you were away Have you just come to town, eh? I arrived yesterday, about midday Oh, I was quite in despair when I heard that you were not at home In despair? How so? Why, my dear Mrs. Rising? I mean, Mrs. Elvestead I hope that you are not in any trouble Yes, I am And I don't know another living creature here that I can turn to Hedda, laying the bouquet on the table Come, let us sit here on the sofa Oh, I am too restless to sit down Oh, no, you're not. Come here She draws Mrs. Elvestead down upon the sofa and sits at her side Well, what is it, Mrs. Elvestead? Has anything particular happened to you at home? Yes, and no Oh, I am so anxious that you should not misunderstand me Then your best plan is to tell us the whole story, Mrs. Elvestead I suppose that's what you've come for, eh? Yes, yes, of course it is Well, then I must tell you If you don't already know that Eilert Loveborg is in town too Loveborg? What, has Eilert Loveborg come back? Fancy that, Hedda Well, well, I hear it He has been here a week already Just fancy a whole week in this terrible town alone with so many temptations on all sides But, my dear Mrs. Elvestead how does he concern you so much? Mrs. Elvestead looks at her with a startled air and says rapidly He was the children's tutor Your children's? My husband's, I have none Your stepchildren's, then? Yes Tessman, somewhat hesitatingly Then was he... I don't know how to express it Was he regular enough in his habits to be fit for the post, eh? For the last two years his conduct has been irreproachable Has it indeed? Fancy that, Hedda I hear it Perfectly irreproachable I assure you in every respect But all the same now that I know he is here in this great town and with a large sum of money in his hands I can't help being in mortal fear for him Why did he not remain where he was? With you and your husband, eh? After his book was published he was too restless and unsettled to remain with us Yes, by the by Aunt Julia told me he had published a new book Yes, a big book dealing with the march of civilization in broad outline as it were It came out about a fortnight ago and since it has sold so well and been so much read and made such a sensation Has it indeed? It must be something he has had lying by since his better days Long ago, you mean? Yes No, he has written it all since he has been with us within the last year Isn't that good news, Hedda? Think of that Yes, if only it would last Have you seen him here in town? No, not yet I have had the greatest difficulty in finding out his address but this morning I discovered it at last Hedda, look searchingly at her Do you know? It seems to me a little odd of your husband Hmm Mrs. Elfstead, starting nervously Of my husband? What? That he should send you to town on such an errand that he does not come himself and look after his friend Oh, no, no, my husband has no time and besides, I... I had some shopping to do Hedda, with a slight smile Ah, that is a different matter Mrs. Elfstead, rising quickly and uneasily And now I beg and implore you, Mr. Tessman Receive Eilert Lovebore kindly if he comes to you and that he is sure to do You see, you were such great friends in the old days and then you are interested in the same studies the same branch of science so far as I can understand We used to be at any rate That is why I beg so earnestly that you you too will keep a sharp eye upon him Oh, you will promise me that, Mr. Tessman, won't you? With the greatest of pleasure, Mrs. Rising Elfstead I assure you I shall do all I possibly can for Eilert You may rely upon me Oh, how very, very kind of you Precious his hands Thanks, thanks, thanks Frightened You see, my husband is so very fond of him Hedda, Rising You ought to write to him, Tessman Perhaps he may not care to come to you of his own accord Well, perhaps it would be the right thing to do, Hedda And the sooner the better Why not at once? Mrs. Elfstead, imploringly Oh, if only you would I'll write this moment Have you his address, Mrs. Elfstead? Yes Takes a slip of paper from her pocket and hands it to him Here it is Good, good, then I'll go in Looks about him By the byve My slippers? Oh, here Takes the packet and is about to go Be sure you write him a cordial friendly letter And a good long one, too Yes, I will But please, please don't say a word to show that I have suggested it No, how could you think I would, eh? He goes out to the right through the inner room Hedda goes up to Mrs. Elfstead, smiles, and says in a low voice There, we have killed two birds with one stone What do you mean? Could you not see that I wanted him to go? Yes, to write the letter And that I might speak to you alone Mrs. Elfstead, confused About the same thing Precisely Mrs. Elfstead, apprehensively But there is nothing more, Mrs. Tasman, absolutely nothing Oh, yes, but there is There is a great deal more, I can see that Sit here, and we'll have a cozy, confidential chat She forces Mrs. Elfstead to sit in the easy chair beside the stove And seats herself on one of the food stalls Mrs. Elfstead, anxiously looking at her watch But, my dear Mrs. Tasman, I was really on the point of going Oh, you can't be in such a hurry Well, now tell me something about your life at home Oh, that is just what I care least to speak about But to me, dear, why, weren't we school fellows? Yes, but you were in the class above me Oh, how dreadfully afraid of you I was then Afraid of me Yes, dreadfully. For when we met on the stairs You always used to pull my hair Did I really? Yes, and once you said you would burn it off my head Oh, that was all nonsense, of course Yes, but I was so silly in those days And since then, too, we have drifted so far Far apart from each other Our circles have been so entirely different Well then, we must try to drift together again Now listen, at school we said do to each other And we called each other by our Christian names No, I am sure you must be mistaken No, not at all, I can remember quite distinctly So now we are going to renew our old friendship Draws the food stall closer to Mrs. Elfstead There now Kisses her cheek You must say do to me and call me Hedda Mrs. Elfstead presses and pats her hands Oh, how good and kind you are I am not used to such kindness There, there, there, and I shall say do to you As in the old days and call you my dear Torah My name is Taya Why, of course, I meant Taya Looks at her compassionately So you are not accustomed to goodness and kindness, Taya Not in your own home Oh, if only I had a home But I haven't any, I have never had a home Hedda looks at her for a moment I almost suspect it as much Mrs. Elfstead, gazing helplessly before her Yes, yes, yes I don't quite remember Was it not as housekeeper that you first went to Mr. Elfstead's? I really went as a 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 And then at last you became mistress of the house Mrs. Elfstead, sadly Yes, I did Let me see, about how long ago was that? My marriage Yes Five years ago To be sure it must be that Oh, those five years What all events the last two or three of them Oh, if you could only imagine Hedda, giving her a little slap on the hand Day five, Taya Yes, yes, I will try Well, if you could only imagine and understand Hedda, lightly Eilert Loveborg has been in your neighbourhood about three years, hasn't he? Mrs. Elfstead looks at her doubtfully Eilert Loveborg? Yes, he has Had you known him before, in town here? Scarcely at all I mean, I knew him by name, of course But you saw a good deal of him in the country 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 No, that's clear And your husband, I suppose he is often away from home Yes, being sheriff, you know He has to travel about a good deal in his district Hedda, leaning against the arm of the chair Taya My poor sweet Taya, now you must tell me everything Exactly as it stands Well, then you must question me What sort of a man is your husband, Taya? I mean, you know, in everyday life Is he kind to you? Mrs. Elfstead, evasively I am sure he means well in everything I should think he must be altogether too old for you There is at least twenty years difference between you, is there not? Mrs. Elfstead, 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 But is he not fond of you all the same, in his own way? No, 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 That is stupid of you Mrs. Elfstead, shakes her head It cannot be otherwise, not with him I don't think he really cares for anyone but himself And perhaps a little for the children And for Eilert Loveborg, Taya? Mrs. Elfstead, looking at her For Eilert Loveborg? What put that into your head? 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 Tasman Mrs. Elfstead, 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 What, my dear Taya? Well, to make a long story short My husband did not know that I was coming What? Your husband didn't know it? 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 Well, and then? So I put together some of my things What I needed most, as quietly as possible And then I left the house Without a word? Yes, and took the train to town Why, my dear good Taya To think of you daring to do it Mrs. Elfstead rises and moves about the room What else could I possibly do? But what do you think your husband will say when you go home again? Mrs. Elfstead at the table looks at her Back to him? Of course I shall never go back to him again Hedda, rising and going towards her Then you have left your home, for good and all Yes, there was nothing else to be done But then to take flight so openly Oh, it's impossible to keep things of that sort secret But what do you think people will say of you, Taya? They may say what they like, for ought I care Seats herself wearily and sadly on the sofa I have done nothing but what I had to do Hedda, after a short silence And what are your plans now? What do you think of doing? I don't know yet I only know this That I must live here where Eilert Loveborg 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 Taya, how did this, this Friendship between you and Eilert Loveborg come about? Oh, it grew up gradually I gained a sort of influence over him Indeed He gave up his old habits Not because I asked him to, for I never dared to 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 Taya 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 Did he give you lessons too, then? 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 Oh, he did, did he? Yes, he never wrote anything without my assistance You were two good comrades, in fact Mrs. Elfstedt, eagerly Comrades! Yes, fancy, Hedda, that is the very word he used I ought to feel perfectly happy, and yet I cannot For I don't know how long it will last Are you no sureer of him than that? Mrs. Elfstedt, gloomily A woman's shadow stands between Eilard Loveborg and me Hedda, looks at her anxiously Who can that be? I don't know Someone he knew in his—in his past Someone he has never been able wholly to forget What has he told you about this? He is only once quite vaguely alluded to it Well, and what did he say? 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 No, and that is why I think it must have been that red-haired singing woman whom he wants Yes, very likely For I remember they used to say of her that she carried loaded firearms Oh, then, of course, it must have been she Mrs. Elfstedt, ringing her hands And now just fancy, Hedda I hear that this singing woman, that she is in town again I don't know what to do Hedda, glancing towards the inner room Ah, here comes Tessman Rises and whispers Taya, all this must remain between you and me Mrs. Elfstedt, springing up Oh, yes, yes, for heaven's sake George Tessman, with a letter in his hand Comes from the right through the inner room There now, the epistle is finished That's right, and now Mrs. Elfstedt is just going Wait a moment, I'll go with you to the garden gate Do you think Bertha could post the letter, Hedda? Hedda, takes it I will tell her to Bertha enters from the hall Judge Brack wishes to know if Mrs. Tessman will receive him Yes, ask Judge Brack to come in and look here Put this letter in the post Bertha, taking the letter Yes, ma'am She opens the door for Judge Brack And goes out herself Brack is 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 eyebrows thick His stashes are also thick With short-cut ends He wears a well-cut walking suit A little too youthful for his age He uses an eyeglass 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 Of course one may Tessman presses his hand You're welcome at any time Introducing him Brack, Miss Rising Oh Brack, bowing Ah, delighted Hedda, looks at him and laughs It's nice to have a look at you by daylight, Judge So you find me altered A little younger, I think Thank you so much But what do you think of Hedda, eh? Doesn't she look flourishing? She's actually... Oh, do leave me alone You haven't thanked Judge Brack Oh, nonsense It was a pleasure to me Yes, you are a friend indeed But here stands Taya, all impatient to be off So, au revoir, Judge I shall be back again presently Mutual salutations Mrs. Elfstead and Hedda go out by the hall door Well, is your wife tolerably satisfied? Yes, we can't thank you sufficiently Of course she talked of a little rearrangement There, and one or two things are still wanting We shall have to buy some additional trifles Indeed But we won't trouble you about these things Hedda says she herself will look after what is wanting Shouldn't we sit down, eh? Thanks, for a moment Seats himself beside the table There is something I wanted to speak to you about, my dear Tasman Indeed? Ah, I understand Seating himself I suppose it's the serious part of the frolic that is coming now, eh? Oh, the money question is not so very pressing Though for that matter I wish we had gone a little more economically to work 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 No, no, that is just the difficulty And then, fortunately, it can't be long before I receive my appointment Well, you see, such things are often apt to hang fire for a long time Have you heard anything definite, eh? Nothing exactly definite Interrupting himself But by the by, I have one piece of news for you Well? Your old friend, Eilert Loveborg, has returned to town I know that already Indeed, how did you learn it? From that lady who went out with Hedda Really? What was her name? I didn't quite catch it Mrs. Elvestead Aha, Sheriff Elvestead's wife Of course, he has been living up in their regions And fancy I'm delighted here that he is quite a reformed character So they say And then he has published a new book, eh? Yes, indeed he has And I hear it has made some sensation White and unusual sensation Fancy, isn't that good news? A man of such extraordinary talents I felt so grieved to think he had gone Irretrievably to ruin That was what everybody thought 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, Hedda has entered by the whole door Hedda, to break, laughing with a touch of scorn Tessman is forever worrying about how people are to make their living Well, you see, dear, we were talking about poor Eilert Loveboard Hedda glancing at him rapidly Oh, indeed Seats herself in the armchair beside the stove And asks indifferently What does the matter with him? 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 I can give you some information on that point Indeed You must remember that his relations have a good deal of influence Oh, his relations, unfortunately, have entirely washed their hands of him At one time they called him the hope of the family At one time, yes, but he has put an end to all that Who knows? With a slight smile I hear they have reclaimed him up at Sheriff Elstead's And then this book that he has published 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 But, my dear fellow, you are booked for my bachelor's party this evening You promised on the pier last night Had you forgotten, Tessman? Yes, I'd utterly forgot But it doesn't matter, for you may be sure he won't come What makes you think that, eh? With a little hesitation, rising and resting his hands on the back of his chair My dear Tessman And you too, Mrs. Tessman I think I ought not to keep you in the dark about something that, that That concerns Eiler? Both you and him Well, my dear judge, out with it You must be prepared to find your appointment deferred longer than you desired or expected Tessman, jumping up uneasily Is there some hitch about it, eh? The nomination may perhaps be made conditional on the result of a competition Competition? Think of that, Hedda Hedda leans further back in the chair Aha, aha But who can my competitor be? Surely not Yes, precisely, Eiler'd love work Tessman, clasping his hands No, no, it's quite impossible, eh? Hmm, that is what it may come to all the same Well, but, Judge Brack, it would show the most incredible lack of consideration for me Justi collates 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? Well, well, well No doubt you will get it in the end, only after a contest Hedda, immovable in her armchair Fancy, Tessman, there will be a sort of sporting interest in that Why, my dearest Hedda, how can you be so indifferent about it? Hedda, as before I am not at all indifferent, I am most eager to see who wins In any case, Mrs. Tessman, it is best that you should know how matters stand I mean, before you set about the little purchases I hear you are threatening This can make no difference Indeed, then I have no more to say To Tessman Goodbye, I shall look in on my way back from my afternoon walk and take you home with me Oh, yes, yes, your news has quite upset me Hedda, reclining holds out her hand Goodbye, Judge, and be sure you call in the afternoon Many thanks, goodbye, goodbye Tessman, accompanying him to the door Goodbye, my dear Judge, you really must excuse me Judge Brack goes out by the whole door Tessman crosses the room Oh, Hedda, one should never rush into adventures, eh? Hedda looks at him, smiling Do you do that? Yes, dear, there is no denying It was adventurous to go and marry and set up house upon mere expectations Perhaps you are right there 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 Hedda, rising slowly and wearily It was part of our compact that we were to go into society To keep open house 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, not only to invite Aunt Julia now and then Oh, I intended you to lead such an utterly different life, dear Of course I cannot have my man in livery just yet Oh, no, unfortunately, it would be out of the question for us to keep a footman, you know And the saddle horse I was to have had? Tessman, aghast The saddle horse? I suppose I must not think of that now Good heavens, though, 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 Tessman, beaming Oh, thank heaven for that What is it, Hedda, eh? Hedda, in the middle doorway, looks at him with covered scorn My pistols, George Tessman, in alarm Your pistols? Hedda, with cold eyes General Gobler's pistols She goes out through the inner room to the left Tessman 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? End of Act I Act II of Hedda Gobler by Henrik Ibsen Translated by Edmund Gossy and William Archer This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Act II The room at the Tessmans, as in the first act Except that the piano has been removed and an elegant little writing table With bookshelves put in its place A smaller table stands near the sofa on the left Most of the bouquets have been taken away Mrs. Elfstad's bouquet 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 here you are again, Judge Brack is heard calling from a distance As you see, Mrs. Tessman 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 This is what comes of sneaking in the back way She fires Brack, nearer Are you out of your senses? Dear me, did I happen to hit you? Brack, still outside I wish you would let these pranks alone 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 What the deuce? Haven't you tired of that sport yet? What are you shooting at? Oh, I'm 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 today Then what in heaven's name would you have me do with myself? Have you had no visitors? Heda, closing the glass door Not one. I suppose all our set are still out of town And is Tessman not at home, either? Heda, at the writing table, putting the pistol case in a drawer which she shuts No, he rushed off to his aunts directly after lunch He didn't expect you so early Hmm, how stupid of me not to have thought of that Heda, turning her head to look at him Why stupid? Because if I had thought of it, I should have come a little earlier Heda, 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 And is there no sort of little chink that we could hold a parley through? You have forgotten to arrange one That was another piece of stupidity Well, we must just settle down here and wait Tessman is not likely to be back for some time yet Never mind, I shall not be impatient Heda seats herself in the corner of the sofa Brak lays his overcoat over the back of the nearest chair and sits down But keeps his head in his hand A short silence They look at each other Well? Brak, in the same tone Well? I spoke first Brak, bending a little forward Come, let us have a cozy little chat, Mrs. Heda Heda, 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 in this morning You mean since our last confidential talk? Our last tet-a-tet? Well, yes, since you put it so Not a day passed, but I have wished that you were home again And I have done nothing but wish the same thing You? Really, Mrs. Heda? And I thought you had been enjoying your tour so much Oh, yes, you may be sure of that But Tessman's letters spoke of nothing but happiness Oh, Tessman, you see, he thinks nothing is so delightful as grubbing in libraries and making copies of old parchment or whatever you call them Brak, with a smile of melis Well, that is his vocation in life Or part of it at any rate Yes, of course, and no doubt when it's your vocation But I, oh, my dear Mr. Brak, how mortally bored I have been Brak, sympathetically Do you really say so? In downright earnest? 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 things we were interested in Yes, yes, I too should feel that a deprivation And then, what I found most intolerable of all Well? Was being everlastingly in the company of one and the same person Brak, with a knot of assent Morning, noon, and night, yes, at all possible times and seasons I said everlastingly Just so, but I should have thought with our excellent Tessman one could Tessman is a specialist, my dear judge Undeniable And specialists are not at all amusing to travel with Not in the long run at any rate Not even the specialist one happens to love Oh, don't use that sickening word Brak, 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 civilization Morning, noon, and night Everlastingly Yes, yes, yes, and then all this about the domestic industry of the Middle Ages That's the most disgusting part of it Brak, look searchingly at her But tell me, in that case, how am I to understand your... My accepting George Tessman, you mean? Well, let us put it so Good heavens, do you see anything so wonderful in that? Yes and no, Mrs. Hedda I have 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 You have assuredly no reason to Oh, reasons Watching him closely And George Tessman, after all, you must admit that he is correctness itself His correctness and respectability are beyond all question And I don't see anything absolutely ridiculous about him, do you? Ridiculous? No, I shouldn't exactly say so 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 Brak, looks at her hesitatingly I thought that you, like everyone 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 No, if you look at it in that light It was more than my other adorers were prepared to do for me, my dear judge Brak, laughing Well, I can't answer for all the rest But as for myself, you know quite well that I have always entertained a certain respect for the marriage tie For marriage as an institution, Mrs. Hedda Hedda, distinctly Oh, I assure you I have never cherished any hopes with respect to you All I require is a pleasant and intimate interior where I can make myself useful in every way And I'm free to come and go as a trusted friend Of the master of the house, do you mean? Brak, bowing Frankly, of the mistress, first of all But, of course, of the master, too, in the second place Such a triangular friendship, if I may call it so Is really a great convenience for all the parties, let me tell you Yes, I have many a time longed for someone to make a third on our travels Oh, those railway carriage teta tets 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 Well, then the passengers jump out and move about a little, Mrs. Hedda I never jump out Really? No, because there is always someone standing by to Brak, laughing To look at your ankles, do you mean? Precisely Wow, 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 the teta tet But suppose a third person were to jump in and join the couple Ah, that is quite another matter A trusted, sympathetic friend With a fund of conversation on all sorts of lively topics And not the least bit of a specialist Hedda, with an audible sigh Yes, that would be a relief indeed Brak, he has the front door open and glances in that direction The triangle is completed Hedda, half allowed And on goes the train George Tessman, 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 Tessman goes up to the table beside the corner settee Oof, what a load for a warm day, all these books Lays them on the table I'm positively perspiring, Hedda Hello, are you there already, my dear George, eh? Berda didn't tell me Brak, rising I came into the garden What books have you got there? Tessman, stands looking them through Some new books on my special subjects, quite indispensable to me Your special subjects? Books on his special subjects, Mrs. Tessman Brak and Hedda exchange a confidential smile Do you need still more books on your special subjects? 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 Yes, I suppose one must Tessman, searching among his books And look here, I've got hold of Eilert Lovebug's new book too Offering it to her Perhaps you would like to glance through it, Hedda No, thank you, or rather, afterwards perhaps I looked into it a little on my way home Well, what do you think of it as a specialist? 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 To Brak I suppose we need to start just yet, eh? Oh, dear no, there is not the slightest hurry Well then, I will take my time Is going with his books, but stops in the doorway and turns By the by, Hedda, Aunt Julia is not coming this evening Not coming? Is it that affair of the bonnet that keeps her away? No, not at all How could you think such a thing about Julia, just fancy The fact is Aunt Rena is very ill She always is Yes, but today she is much worse than usual, poor dear Oh, then it's only natural that her sister should remain with her I must bear my disappointment And you can't imagine, dear, how delighted Aunt Julia seemed to be Because you had come home looking so flourishing Hedda, half allowed, rising Oh, these everlasting aunts What? Hedda, going to the glass door Nothing Oh, alright He goes through the inner room, out to the right What bonnet were you talking about? Oh, it was a little episode with Miss Tessamon this morning She had laid down her bonnet on the chair there Looks at him and smiles And I pretended to think it was the servants Brack, shaking his head No, my dear Mrs. Hedda, how could you do such a thing? To the excellent old lady too Hedda, nervously crossing the room Well, you see, these impulses come over me all of a sudden And I cannot resist them Throws herself down in the easy chair by the stove Oh, I don't know how to explain it Brack, behind the easy chair You are not really happy That is at the bottom of it Hedda, looking straight before her I know of no reason why I should be happy Perhaps you can give me one Well, amongst other things Because you have got exactly the home you had set your heart on Hedda, looks up at him and laughs Do you too believe in that legend? Is there nothing in it then? Oh yes, there is something in it Well There is this in it That I made use of Tessamon to see me home from evening parties last summer I, unfortunately, had to go quite a different way That's true, I know you were going a different way last summer Brack, laughing Oh, fine Mrs. Hedda Well, then, you and Tessamon Well, we happened to pass here one evening Tessamon, poor fellow, was writhing in the agony of having to find conversation So I took pity on the learned man Brack, smiles doubtfully You took pity? Yes, I really did And so to help him out of his torment I happened to say in pure thoughtlessness That I should like to live in this villa No more than that Not that evening But afterwards? Yes, my thoughtlessness had consequences, my dear judge Unfortunately, that too often happens, Mrs. Hedda Thanks, so you see, it was this enthusiasm for Secretary Falk's villa That first constituted a bond of sympathy between George Tessamon and me From that came our engagement and our marriage And our wedding journey and all the rest of it Well, well, my dear judge As you make your bed so you must lie, I could almost say This is exquisite And you really cared not a rap about it all the time No, Heaven knows I didn't But now? Now that we have made it so homelike for you? The rooms all seem to smell of lavender and dried rose leaves But perhaps it's Aunt Julia that has brought that scent with her Brack, laughing No, I think it must be a legacy from the late Mrs. Secretary Falk Yes, there is an odor of mortality about it It reminds me of a bouquet the day after the ball Clasps her hands behind her head, leans back in her chair and looks at him Oh, my dear judge, you cannot imagine how horribly I shall bore myself here Why should not you, too, find some sort of vocation in life, Mrs. Hedda? A vocation? That should attract me If possible, of course Heaven knows what sort of a vocation that could be I often wonder whether Breaking off But that would never do either Who can tell? Let me hear what it is Whether I might not get Testament to go into politics, I mean Brack, laughing Testament? No, really now Political life is not the thing for him Not at all in his line No, I daresay not But if I could get him into it all the same Why? What satisfaction could you find in that? If he is not fitted for that sort of thing Why should you want to drive him into it? Because I am bored, I tell you After a pause So you think it quite out of the question that Testament should ever get into the ministry Hmm, you see, my dear Mrs. Hedda To get into the ministry, he would have to be a tolerably rich man Hedda, rising impatiently Yes, there we have it It is this genteel poverty I have managed to drop into Process the room That is what makes life so pitiable, so utterly ludicrous For that's what it is Now I should say the fault lay elsewhere Where then? You have never gone through any really stimulating experience Anything serious you mean Yes, you may call it so But now you may perhaps have one in store Hedda, tossing her head Oh, you're thinking of the annoyances about this wretched professorship But that must be Testament's own affair I assure you I shall not waste a thought upon it No, no, I daresay not But suppose now, that what people call in elegant language A solemn responsibility were to come upon you Smiling A new responsibility, Mrs. Hedda Hedda, angrily Be quiet Nothing of that sort will ever happen Brach, warily We will speak of this again a year hence at the very outside Hedda, curtly I have no turn for anything of the sort, Judge Brach No responsibilities for me Are you so unlike the generality of women As to have no turn for duties which... Hedda, beside the glass door Oh, be quiet, I tell you I often think there is only one thing in the world I have any turn for Brach, drawing near to her And what is that, if I may ask? Hedda stands looking out Boring myself to death Now you know it Turns, looks towards the inner room and laughs Yes, as I thought Here comes the professor Brach, softly in a tone of warning Come, come, come, Mrs. Hedda George Tisman, dressed for the party With his gloves and hat in his hands Enters from the right through the inner room Hedda, has no message come from my love book, nay? No Then you'll see he'll be here presently Do you really think he will come? Yes, I'm almost sure of it For what you were telling us this morning Must have been a mere floating rumour You think so? At any rate, and Julia said She did not believe for a moment That he would ever stand in my way again Fancy that Well then, that's alright Tisman, placing his hat and gloves On a chair on the right Yes, but you really must let me wait For him as long as possible We have plenty of time yet None of my guests will arrive before seven or half past Then, meanwhile, we can keep Hedda company And see what happens, hey? Hedda, placing Brach's hat and overcoat Upon the corner setee And at the worst, Mr. Loveboard Can remain here with me Brach, offering to take his things Oh, allow me, Mrs. Tisman What do you mean by At the worst? If he won't go with you and Tisman Tisman, looks dubiously at her But, Hedda dear, do you think it will Quite do for him to remain here with you? Hey, remember, and Julia can't come No, but Mrs. Elfstead is coming We three can have a cup of tea together Oh yes, that will be alright Brach, smiling And that would perhaps be the safest plan for him Why so? Well, you know, Mrs. Tisman How you used to gird my little bachelor parties You declared they were adapted only For men of the strictest principles But no doubt, Mr. Loveboard's principles Are strict enough now, a converted sinner Berta appears at the hall door There's a gentleman asking if you are at home, ma'am Well, show him in Tisman, softly I'm sure it is he, fancy the hat Islet Loveboard enters from the hall He is slim and lean, of the same age as Tisman He looks older and somewhat worn out His hair and beard are of blackish brown His face long and pale But with patches of color on the cheeks He is dressed in a well-cut black visiting suit Quite new He has dark gloves and a silk hat He stops near the door and makes a rapid bow Seeming somewhat embarrassed Tisman goes up to him And shakes him warmly by the hand Well, my dear Islet, so at last we meet again Islet Loveboard speaks in a subdued voice Thanks for your letter, Tisman Approaching Hedda Will you too shake hands with me, Mrs. Tisman? Hedda, taking his hand I am glad to see you, Mr. Loveboard With a motion of her hand I don't know whether you two gentlemen Loveboard, bowing slightly Judge Brack, I think Brack, doing likewise Oh, yes, in the old days Tisman, to Loveboard With his hands on his shoulders And now you must make yourself entirely at home, Islet Mustn't he, Hedda? For I hear you're going to settle in town again, eh? Yes, I am Quite right, quite right Oh, let me tell you, I've got hold of your new book But I haven't had time to read it yet You may spare yourself the trouble Why so? Because there is very little in it Just fancy, how can you say so? But it has been very much praised, I hear That was what I wanted So I put nothing into the book But what everyone would agree with Very wise of you Well, but my dear Islet For now I mean to win myself a position again To make a fresh start Tisman, a little embarrassed Ah, that is what you wish to do, eh? Loveboard, smiling, lays down his head And draws a packet wrapped in paper from his coat pocket But when this one appears, George Tisman You will have to read it For this is the real book The book I have put my true self into Indeed, and what is it? It is the continuation The continuation? Of what? Of the book Of the new book? Of course Why, my dear Islet, does it not come down to our own days? Yes, it does, and this one deals with the future With the future? But good heavens, we know nothing of the future No, but there is a thing or two to be said about it all the same Opens to pack it Look here Why, that's not your handwriting I dictated it Turning over to pages It falls into two sections The first deals with the civilizing forces of the future And here is the second Running through the pages towards the end Forecasting the probable line of development How odd, now I should never have thought of writing anything of that sort Hedda, at the glass door, drumming on the pane I dare say not Loveborg, replacing the manuscript in its paper And laying the packet on the table I brought it, thinking I might read you a little of it this evening That was very good of you, Islet, but this evening Looking back at Brack I don't see how we can manage it Well then, some other time, there is no hurry I must tell you, Mr. Loveborg There is a little gathering at my house this evening Mainly in honor of Tasman, you know Loveborg, looking for his hat Oh, then I won't detain you No, but listen, will you not do me the favor of joining us? Loveborg, curtly and decidedly No, I can't, thank you very much Oh, nonsense, do We shall be quite a select little circle And I assure you we shall have a lively time As Mrs. Tessman says I have no doubt of it, but nevertheless And then you might bring your manuscript with you And read it to Tasman at my house I could give you a room to yourselves Yes, think of that, Islet, why shouldn't you, eh? Hedda, interposing But Tasman, if Mr. Loveborg would really rather not I am sure Mr. Loveborg is much more inclined to remain here And have supper with me Loveborg, looking at her With you, Mrs. Tasman? And with Mrs. Elvsted Ah, lightly I saw her for a moment this morning Did you? Well, she is coming this evening So you see, or are almost bound to remain Mr. Loveborg Or she will have no one to see her home That's true Many thanks, Mrs. Tasman, in that case I will remain Then I have one or two orders to give the servant She goes to the hall door and drinks Berta enters Hedda talks to her in a whisper And points towards the inner room Berta nods and goes out again Tasman at the same time to Loveborg Tell me, Islet, is it this new subject, the future That you're going to lecture about? Yes They told me at the booksellers that you're going to deliver A course of lectures this autumn That is my intention I hope you won't take it ill, Tasman Oh no, not in the least, but... I can quite understand that it must be very disagreeable to you Tasman, cast down Oh, I can't expect you out of consideration for me to... But I shall wait till you have received your appointment Will you wait? Yes, but... Yes, but you're not going to compete with me Eh? No, it is only the moral victory I care for Why bless me Then Aunt Julia was right after all Oh yes, I knew it Hedda, just fancy Islet Loveborg is not going to stand in our way Hedda, curtly Our way? Pray leave me out of the question She goes up towards the inner room Where Berta is placing a tray with decanters and glasses on the table Hedda nods approval and comes forward again Berta goes out Tasman, at the same time And you, Judge Brack What do you say to this, eh? Well, I say that her moral victory May be all very fine Yes, yes, certainly But all the same Hedda, looking at Tasman with a cold smile You stand there looking as if you were thunderstruck Yes, so I am I almost think Don't you see, Mrs. Tasman A thunderstorm has just passed over Hedda, pointing towards the room Will you not take a glass of cold punch, gentlemen? Brack, looking at his watch A stirrup cup? Yes, it wouldn't come amiss A capital idea, Hedda Just the thing Now that the weight has been taken off my mind Will you not join them, Mr. Loveborg? Loveborg, with a gesture of refusal No, thank you, nothing for me Why, bless me Cold punch is surely not poison Perhaps not for everyone I will keep Mr. Loveborg company in the meantime Yes, yes, Hedda dear, do He and Brack go into the inner room Seat themselves, drink punch, smoke cigarettes And carry on a lively conversation during what follows I let Loveborg remain standing beside the stove Hedda goes to the writing table Hedda, raising her voice a little Do you care to look at some photographs, Mr. Loveborg? You know Tasman and I made a tour in the Tyrol on our way home She takes up an album and places it on the table beside the sofa In the further corner of which she seats herself I let Loveborg approaches, stops and looks at her Then he takes a chair and seats himself to her left Hedda, opening the album Do you see this range of mountains, Mr. Loveborg? It's the Ortler Group Tasman has written the name underneath, here it is The Ortler Group near Moran Loveborg, who has never taken his eyes off her Says softly and slowly Hedda, goblah Hedda, glancing hastily at him Ah, hush Loveborg, repeats softly Hedda, goblah Hedda, looking at the album That was my name in the old days When we two knew each other And I must teach myself never to say Hedda, goblah again Never as long as I live Hedda, still turning over the pages Yes, you must And I think you ought to practice in time The sooner the better I should say Loveborg, in a tone of indignation Hedda, goblah married To George Tasman Yes, so the world goes Oh, Hedda, Hedda, how could you throw yourself away? Hedda, looks sharply at him What? I can't allow this What do you mean? Tasman comes into the room and goes towards the sofa Hedda, hears him coming and says in an indifferent tone And this is a view from the Valdompetso, Mr. Loveborg Just look at those peaks Looks affectionately up at Tasman What's the name of these curious peaks, dear? Let me see. No, those are the Dolomites Yes, that's it. Those are the Dolomites, Mr. Loveborg Hedda dear, I only wanted to ask whether I shouldn't bring you a little punch after all For yourself at any rate, eh? Yes, do, please And perhaps a few biscuits No cigarettes? No Very well He goes into the inner room and out to the right Bragg sits in the inner room and keeps an eye from time to time on Hedda and Loveborg Loveborg, softly as before Answer me, Hedda, how could you go and do this? Hedda, apparently absorbed in the album If you continue to say do to me, I won't talk to you May I not say do, even when we are alone? No, you may think it, but you mustn't say it Ah, I understand, it is an offence against George Tessman whom you love Hedda glances at him and smiles Love, what an idea You don't love him then But I won't hear of any sort of unfaithfulness, remember that Hedda, answer me one thing Hush Tessman enters with a small tray from the inner room Here you are. Isn't this tempting? He puts the tray on the table Why do you bring it yourself? Tessman, filling the glasses Because I think it's such fun to wait upon you, Hedda But you have poured out two glasses Mr. Loveborg said he wouldn't have any No, but Mrs. Elfstead will soon be here, won't she? Yes, by the by, Mrs. Elfstead Had you forgotten her, eh? We were so absorbed in these photographs Shows him a picture Do you remember this little village? Oh, it's that one just below the Brenner Pass It was there we passed the night And met that lively party of tourists Yes, that was the place. Fancy If we could only have had you with us, Eilert, eh? He returns to the inner room and sits beside Brack Answer me one thing, Hedda Well? Was there no love in your friendship for me either? Not a spark? Not a tinge of love in it? I wonder if there was To me it seems as though we were two good comrades Two thoroughly intimate friends Smilingly You especially were frankness itself It was you that made me so As I look back upon it all I think there was really something beautiful Something fascinating, something daring in In that secret intimacy That comradeship which no living creature so much is dreamed of Yes, yes, Hedda, was there not? When I used to come to your fathers in the afternoon And the general sat over at the window reading his papers With his back towards us And we too on the corner sofa Always with the same illustrated paper before us For want of an album, yes Yes, Hedda, and when I made my confessions to you Told you about myself Things that at that time no one else knew There I would sit and tell you of my escapades My days and nights of devilment Oh, Hedda, what was the power in you That forced me to confess these things? Do you think it was any power in me? How else can I explain it? And all those roundabout questions you used to put to me Which you understood so particularly well How could you sit and question me like that? Question me quite frankly In roundabout terms please observe Yes, but frankly nevertheless Cross-question me about all that sort of thing And how could you answer, Mr. Loveborg? Yes, that is just what I can't understand In looking back upon it But tell me now, Hedda, was there not Love at the bottom of our friendship? On your side did you not feel As though you might purge my stains away? If I made you my confessor Was it not so? No, not quite What was your motive then? Do you think it quite incomprehensible that a young girl When it can be done without anyone knowing? Well Should be glad to have a peep now and then Into a world which Which she is forbidden to know anything about So that was it? Partly Partly, I almost think Comradeship in the thirst for life But why should not that at any rate have continued? The fault was yours It was you that broke with me Yes, when our friendship threatened to develop Into something more serious Shame upon you, Iloat Loveborg How could you think of wronging your Your frank comrade? Loveborg clenches his hands Why did you not carry out your threat? Why did you not shoot me down? Because I have such a dread of scandal You are a coward at heart A terrible coward Changing her tone But it was a lucky thing for you And now you have found ample consolation at the Elvesteds I know what Teya has confided to you And perhaps you have confided to her something about us Not a word She is too stupid to understand anything of that sort Stupid? She is stupid about matters of that sort And I am cowardly Ben's over towards him Without looking him in the face And says more softly But now I will confide something to you Loveborg, eagerly Well? The fact that I dared not shoot you down Yes That was not my errant cowardice That evening Loveborg, looks at her a moment Understands and whispers passionately Oh, header, header, gobbler Now I begin to see a hidden reason beneath our comradeship You and I After all then it was your craving for life Header, softly with a sharp glance Take care, believe nothing of the sort Twilight has begun to fall The hall door is opened from without by Beata Header closes the album with a bang And called smilingly Ah, at last My darling Teya, come along Mrs. Elfsted enters from the hall She is in evening dress The door is closed behind her Header, on the sofa Stretches out her arms towards her My sweet Teya You can't think how I have been longing for you Mrs. Elfsted, in passing Exchanges slight salutations With the gentleman in the inner room Then goes up to the table And gives Header her hand Either Loveborg has risen He and Mrs. Elfsted greet each other with a silent nod Aught I to go in and talk to your husband for a moment Oh, not at all Leave those two alone, they will soon be going Are they going out? Yes, to a supper party Mrs. Elfsted, quickly to Loveborg Not you No Mr. Loveborg remains with us Mrs. Elfsted takes a chair And is about to seat herself at his side Oh, how nice it is here No, thank you, my little Teya Not there You'll be good enough to come over here to me I will sit between you Yes, just as you please She goes round the table And seats herself on the sofa on Header's right Loveborg recedes himself on his chair Loveborg, after a short pause to Header Is she not lovely to look at? Header, lightly stroking her hair Only to look at Yes, for we too, she and I, we are two real comrades We have absolute faith in each other So we can sit and talk with perfect frankness Not round about, Mr. Loveborg Well Mrs. Elfsted, softly clinging close to Header Oh, how happy I am, Header For only think he says I have inspired him too Header looks at her with a smile Ah, does he say that, dear? And then she is so brave, Mrs. Tessman Good heavens, am I brave? Exceedingly, where your comrade is concerned Ah, yes, courage, if one only had that What then? What do you mean? Then life would perhaps be livable after all With a sudden change of tone But now, my dearest Teya You really must have a glass of cold punch Oh, thanks, I never take anything of that kind Well then, you, Mr. Loveborg Nor I, thank you No, he doesn't either Header looks fixedly at him But if I say you shall It would be of no use Header, laughing Then I, poor creature, have no sort of power over you Not in that respect But seriously, I think you ought to, for your own sake Why, Header How so? Or rather an account of other people Indeed Otherwise people might be apt to suspect that In your heart of hearts you did not feel quite secure Quite confident in yourself Mrs. Elfstitt, softly Oh, please, Header People may suspect what they like for the present Mrs. Elfstitt, joyfully Yes, let them I saw it plainly in Judge Brack's face a moment ago What did you see? His contemptuous smile When you dared not go with them into the inner room Dared not? Of course I preferred to stop here and talk to you What could be more natural, Header But the judge could not guess that And I say too the way he smiled and glanced at Tessman When you dared not accept his invitation To this wretched little supper party of his Dared not? Do you say I dared not? I don't say so But Judge Brack understood it Well, let him Then you are not going with them I will stay here with you and Tea Yes, Header, how can you doubt that? Header, smiles and nods approvingly to Lofborg Firm as a rock, faithful to your principles Now and forever, ah, that is how a man should be Turns to Mrs. Elfstitt and caresses her Well, now, what did I tell you To us this morning in such a state of distraction? Lofborg, surprised Distraction? Mrs. Elfstitt, terrified Header, oh, Header You can see for yourself You haven't the slightest reason to be in such mortal terror Interrupting herself There, now we can all three enjoy ourselves Lofborg, who has given a start Ah, what is all this, Mrs. Tessman? Oh, my God, Header, what are you saying? What are you doing? Don't get excited That horrid Judge Brack is sitting watching you So she was in mortal terror, on my account Mrs. Elfstitt, softly and pitchously Oh, Header, now you have ruined everything Lofborg looks fixedly at her for a moment His face is distorted So, that was my comrade's frank confidence in me Mrs. Elfstitt, imploringly Oh, my dearest friend, only let me tell you Lofborg takes one of the glasses of punch Races it to his lips and says in a low husky voice Your health, Tear He empties the glass, puts it down and takes the second Mrs. Elfstitt, softly Oh, Header Header, how could you do this? I do it, I Are you crazy? Here's to your health too, Mrs. Tessman Thanks for the truth Hurrah for the truth He empties the glass and is about to refill it Header lays her hand on his arm Come, come, no more for the present Remember, you are going out to supper No, no, no Hush, they are sitting watching you Lofborg putting down the glass Now, Tear, tell me the truth Yes Did your husband know that you had come after me? Mrs. Elfstitt, wringing her hands Oh, Header, do you hear what he is asking? Was it arranged between you and him That you were to come to town and look after me? Perhaps it was the sheriff himself that urged you to come Aha, my dear, no doubt he wanted my help in his office Or was it at the card table that he missed me? Mrs. Elfstitt, softly, in agony Oh, Lofborg, Lofborg Ceases a glass and is on the point of filling it Here's a glass for the old sheriff, too Header, preventing him No more just now Remember, you have to read your manuscript to Tessman Lofborg calmly putting down the glass It was stupid of me all this Tear, to take it in this way, I mean Don't be angry with me, my dear, dear comrade You shall see both you and the others That if I was fallen once, now I have risen again Thanks to you, Tear Mrs. Elfstitt, radiant with joy Oh, heaven be praised Brack has in the meantime looked at his watch He and Tessman rise and come into the drawing room Brack takes his hat and overcoat Well, Mrs. Tessman, our time has come I suppose it has Lofborg, rising Mine, too, Judge Brack Mrs. Elfstitt, softly and imploringly Oh, Lofborg, don't do it Header, pinching her arm They can hear you Mrs. Elfstitt, with a suppressed trick Ow! Lofborg, to Brack You were good enough to invite me Well, are you coming after all? Yes, many thanks I'm delighted Lofborg, to Tessman, putting the parcel of MS in his pocket I should like to show you one or two things Before I send it to the printers Fancy! That will be delightful But, header dear, how is Mrs. Elfstitt to get home? Oh, that can be managed somehow Lofborg, looking towards the ladies Mrs. Elfstitt, of course I'll come again in fetch her Approaching At ten or thereabouts Mrs. Tessman will that do? Certainly, that will do capitely Well then, that's all right But, you must not expect me so early, header Oh, you may stop as long, as long as ever you please Mrs. Elfstitt, trying to conceal her anxiety Well then, Mr. Lofborg, I shall remain here until you come Lofborg, with his head in his hand Pray do, Mrs. Elfstitt And now, off goes the excursion train, gentlemen I hope we shall have a lively time, as a certain fair lady puts it Ah, if only the fair lady could be present unseen Why unseen? In order to hear a little of your liveliness at first hand, Judge Brack Brack Laughing I should not advise the fair lady to try it Tessman, also laughing Come, you're a nice one, header, fancy that Well, goodbye Goodbye, ladies Lofborg Bowing About ten o'clock, then Brack, Lofborg and Tessman go out by the whole door At the same time, Bertha enters from the inner room with a lighted lamp Which she places on the drawing-room table She goes out by the way she came Mrs. Elfstitt, who has risen and is wondering restlessly about the room Header Header, what will come of all this? At ten o'clock he will be here I can see him already, with vine leaves in his hair, flushed and fearless Oh, I hope he may And then you see, then he will have regained control over himself Then he will be a free man for all his days Oh, God, if he would only come as you see him now He will come as I see him, so and not otherwise Rises and approaches Thea You may doubt him as long as you please I believe in him And now we will try You have some hidden motive in this Header Yes, I have I want for once in my life to have power to mould a human destiny Have you not the power? I have not, and have never had it Not your husband Do you think that is worth the trouble? Oh, if you could only understand how poor I am And fate has made you so rich Clasps her passionately in her arms I think I must burn your hair off after all Let me go, let me go I am afraid of you, Header Better, in the middle doorway Tea is laid in the dining room, ma'am Very well we are coming No, no, no, I would rather go home alone at once Nonsense, first you shall have a cup of tea, you little stupid And then, at ten o'clock, I, Lurt Loveborg, will be here With vine leaves in his hair She drags Mrs. Elf's that almost by force to the middle doorway End of Act Two