It may be a fine wine. But of course you know the vintages differ; it all depends on how much sunshine the grapes have had.

  GINA

  Why, you know everything, Ekdal.

  EKDAL

  And did they dispute that?

  HIALMAR

  They tried to; but they were requested to observe that it was just the same with Chamberlains—that with them, too, different batches were of different qualities.

  GINA

  What things you do think of!

  EKDAL

  Hee-hee! So they got that in their pipes too?

  HIALMAR

  Right in their teeth.

  EKDAL

  Do you hear that, Gina? He said it right in the very teeth of all the Chamberlains.

  GINA

  Fancy——! Right in their teeth!

  HIALMAR

  Yes, but I don’t want it talked about. One doesn’t speak of such things. The whole affair passed off quite amicably of course. They were nice, genial fellows; I didn’t want to wound them—not I!

  EKDAL

  Right in their teeth, though——!

  HEDVIG [Caressingly.]

  How nice it is to see you in a dress-coat! It suits you so well, father.

  HIALMAR

  Yes, don’t you think so? And this one really sits to perfection. It fits almost as if it had been made for me;—a little tight in the arm-holes perhaps;—help me, Hedvig.

  [Takes off the coat.]

  I think I’ll put on my jacket. Where is my jacket, Gina?

  GINA

  Here it is.

  [Brings the jacket and helps him.]

  HIALMAR

  That’s it! Don’t forget to send the coat back to Molvik first thing to-morrow morning.

  GINA [Laying it away.]

  I’ll be sure and see to it.

  HIALMAR [Stretching himself.]

  After all, there’s a more homely feeling about this. A free-and-easy indoor costume suits my whole personality better. Don’t you think so, Hedvig?

  HEDVIG

  Yes, father.

  HIALMAR

  When I loosen my necktie into a pair of flowing ends—like this—eh?

  HEDVIG

  Yes, that goes so well with your moustache and the sweep of your curls.

  HIALMAR

  I should not call them curls exactly; I should rather say locks.

  HEDVIG

  Yes, they are too big for curls.

  HIALMAR

  Locks describes them better.

  HEDVIG [After a pause, twitching his jacket.]

  Father.

  HIALMAR

  Well, what is it?

  HEDVIG

  Oh, you know very well.

  HIALMAR

  No, really I don’t——

  HEDVIG [Half laughing, half whimpering.]

  Oh yes, father; now don’t tease me any longer!

  HIALMAR

  Why, what do you mean?

  HEDVIG [Shaking him.]

  Oh what nonsense; come, where are they, father? All the good things you promised me, you know?

  HIALMAR

  Oh—if I haven’t forgotten all about them!

  HEDVIG

  Now you’re only teasing me, father! Oh, it’s too bad of you! Where have you put them?

  HIALMAR

  No, I positively forgot to get anything. But wait a little! I have something else for you, Hedvig. [Goes and searches in the pockets of the coat.]

  HEDVIG [Skipping and clapping her hands.]

  Oh mother, mother!

  GINA

  There, you see; if you only give him time——

  HIALMAR [With a paper.]

  Look, here it is.

  HEDVIG

  That? Why, that’s only a paper.

  HIALMAR

  That is the bill of fare, my dear; the whole bill of fare. Here you see: “Menu”—that means bill of fare.

  HEDVIG

  Haven’t you anything else?

  HIALMAR

  I forgot the other things, I tell you. But you may take my word for it, these dainties are very unsatisfying. Sit down at the table and read the bill of fare, and then I’ll describe to you how the dishes taste. Here you are, Hedvig.

  HEDVIG [Gulping down her tears.]

  Thank you.

  [She seats herself, but does not read; GINA makes signs to her; HIALMAR notices it.]

  HIALMAR [Pacing up and down the room.]

  It’s monstrous what absurd things the father of a family is expected to think of; and if he forgets the smallest trifle, he is treated to sour faces at once. Well, well, one gets used to that too.

  [Stops near the stove, by the old man’s chair.]

  Have you peeped in there this evening, father?

  EKDAL

  Yes, to be sure I have. She’s gone into the basket.

  HIALMAR

  Ah, she has gone into the basket. Then she’s beginning to get used to it.

  EKDAL

  Yes; just as I prophesied. But you know there are still a few little things——

  HIALMAR

  A few improvements, yes.

  EKDAL

  They’ve got to be made, you know.

  HIALMAR

  Yes, let us have a talk about the improvements, father. Come, let us sit on the sofa.

  EKDAL

  All right. H’m—think I’ll just fill my pipe first. Must clean it out, too. H’m.

  [He goes into his room.]

  GINA [Smiling to HIALMAR.]

  His pipe!

  HIALMAR

  Oh yes yes, Gina; let him alone—the poor shipwrecked old man.—Yes, these improvements—we had better get them out of hand to-morrow.

  GINA

  You’ll hardly have time to-morrow, Ekdal.

  HEDVIG [Interposing.]

  Oh yes he will, mother!

  GINA

  ——for remember them prints that has to be retouched; they’ve sent for them time after time.

  HIALMAR

  There now! those prints again! I shall get them finished all right! Have any new orders come in?

  GINA

  No, worse luck; to-morrow I have nothing but those two sittings, you know.

  HIALMAR

  Nothing else? Oh no, if people won’t set about things with a will——

  GINA

  But what more can I do? Don’t I advertise in the papers as much as we can afford?

  HIALMAR

  Yes, the papers, the papers; you see how much good they do. And I suppose no one has been to look at the room either?

  GINA

  No, not yet.

  HIALMAR

  That was only to be expected. If people won’t keep their eyes open——. Nothing can be done without a real effort, Gina!

  HEDVIG [Going towards him.]

  Shall I fetch you the flute, father?

  HIALMAR

  No; no flute for me; I want no pleasures in this world. [Pacing about.]

  Yes, indeed I will work to-morrow; you shall see if I don’t. You may be sure I shall work as long as my strength holds out.

  GINA

  But my dear good Ekdal, I didn’t mean it in that way.

  HEDVIG

  Father, mayn’t I bring in a bottle of beer?

  HIALMAR

  No, certainly not. I require nothing, nothing——

  [Comes to a standstill.]

  Beer? Was it beer you were talking about?

  HEDVIG [Cheerfully.]

  Yes, father; beautiful fresh beer.

  HIALMAR

  Well—since you insist upon it, you may bring in a bottle.

  GINA

  Yes, do; and we’ll be nice and cosy.

  [HEDVIG runs towards the kitchen door.]

  HIALMAR [By the stove, stops her, looks at her, puts his arm round her neck and presses her to him.]

  Hedvig, Hedvig!

  HEDVIG [With tears of joy.]

  My dear, kind father!

  HIALMAR

  No, don’t call me that. Here have I been feasting at the rich man’s table,—battening at the groaning board——! And I couldn’t even——!

  GINA [Sitting at the table.]

  Oh nonsense, nonsense, Ekdal.

  HIALMAR

  It’s not nonsense! And yet you mustn’t be too hard upon me. You know that I love you for all that.

  HEDVIG [Throwing her arms round him.]

  And we love you, oh so dearly, father!

  HIALMAR

  And if I am unreasonable once in a while,—why then—you must remember that I am a man beset by a host of cares. There, there!

  [Dries his eyes.]

  No beer at such a moment as this. Give me the flute. [HEDVIG runs to the bookcase and fetches it.]

  HIALMAR

  Thanks! That’s right. With my flute in my hand and you two at my side—ah——!

  [HEDVIG seats herself at the table near GINA; HIALMAR paces backwards and forwards, pipes up vigorously, and plays a Bohemian peasant dance, but in a slow plaintive tempo, and with sentimental expression.]

  HIALMAR [Breaking off the melody, holds out his left hand to GINA, and says with emotion:]

  Our roof may be poor and humble, Gina; but it is home. And with all my heart I say here dwells my happiness.

  [He begins to play again; almost immediately after, a knocking is heard at the entrance door.]

  GINA [Rising.]

  Hush, Ekdal,—I think there’s some one at the door.

  HIALMAR [Laying the flute on the bookcase.]

  There! Again!

  [GINA goes and opens the door.]

  GREGERS WERLE [In the passage.]

  Excuse me——

  GINA [Starting back slightly.]

  Oh!

  GREGERS

  ——does not Mr. Ekdal, the photographer, live here?

  GINA

  Yes, he does.

  HIALMAR [Going towards the door.]

  Gregers! You here after all? Well, come in then.

  GREGERS [Coming in.]

  I told you I would come and look you up.

  HIALMAR

  But this evening——? Have you left the party?

  GREGERS

  I have left both the party and my father’s house.—Good evening, Mrs. Ekdal. I don’t know whether you recognise me?

  GINA

  Oh yes; it’s not difficult to know young Mr. Werle again.

  GREGERS

  No, I am like my mother; and no doubt you remember her.

  HIALMAR

  Left your father’s house, did you say?

  GREGERS

  Yes, I have gone to a hotel.

  HIALMAR

  Indeed. Well, since you’re here, take off your coat and sit down.

  GREGERS

  Thanks.

  [He takes off his overcoat. He is now dressed in a plain grey suit of a coun

  trified cut.]

  HIALMAR

  Here, on the sofa. Make yourself comfortable.

  [GREGERS seats himself on the sofa; HIALMAR takes a chair at the

  table.]

  GREGERS [Looking around him.]

  So these are your quarters, Hialmar—this is your home.

  HIALMAR

  This is the studio, as you see——

  GINA

  But it’s the largest of our rooms, so we generally sit here.

  HIALMAR

  We used to live in a better place; but this flat has one great advantage: there are such capital outer rooms——

  GINA

  And we have a room on the other side of the passage that we can let.

  GREGERS [To HIALMAR.]

  Ah—so you have lodgers too?

  HIALMAR

  No, not yet. They’re not so easy to find, you see; you have to

  keep your eyes open.

  [To HEDVIG.]

  What about that beer, eh?

  [HEDVIG nods and goes out into the kitchen.]

  GREGERS

  So that is your daughter?

  HIALMAR

  Yes, that is Hedvig.

  GREGERS

  And she is your only child?

  HIALMAR

  Yes, the only one. She is the joy of our lives, and—

  [lowering his voice]

  —at the same time our deepest sorrow, Gregers.

  GREGERS

  What do you mean?

  HIALMAR

  She is in serious danger of losing her eyesight.

  GREGERS

  Becoming blind?

  HIALMAR

  Yes. Only the first symptoms have appeared as yet, and she may not feel it much for some time. But the doctor has warned us. It is coming, inexorably.

  GREGERS

  What a terrible misfortune! How do you account for it?

  HIALMAR [Sighs.]

  Hereditary, no doubt.

  GREGERS [Starting.]

  Hereditary?

  GINA

  Ekdal’s mother had weak eyes.

  HIALMAR

  Yes, so my father says; I can’t remember her.

  GREGERS

  Poor child! And how does she take it?

  HIALMAR

  Oh, you can imagine we haven’t the heart to tell her of it. She dreams of no danger. Gay and careless and chirping like a little bird, she flutters onward into a life of endless night.

  [Overcome.]

  Oh, it is cruelly hard on me, Gregers.

  [HEDVIG brings a tray with beer and glasses, which she sets upon the table.]

  HIALMAR [Stroking her hair.]

  Thanks, thanks, Hedvig.

  [HEDVIG puts her arm round his neck and whispers in his ear.]

  HIALMAR

  No, no bread and butter just now.

  [Looks up.]

  But perhaps you would like some, Gregers.

  GREGERS [With a gesture of refusal.]

  No, no thank you.

  HIALMAR [Still melancholy.]

  Well, you can bring in a little all the same. If you have a crust,

  that is all I want. And plenty of butter on it, mind.

  [HEDVIG nods gaily and goes out into the kitchen again.]

  GREGERS [Who has been following her with his eyes.]

  She seems quite strong and healthy otherwise.

  GINA

  Yes. In other ways there’s nothing amiss with her, thank goodness.

  GREGERS

  She promises to be very like you, Mrs. Ekdal. How old is she now?

  GINA

  Hedvig is close on fourteen; her birthday is the day after to-morrow.

  GREGERS

  She is pretty tall for her age, then.

  GINA

  Yes, she’s shot up wonderful this last year.

  GREGERS

  It makes one realise one’s own age to see these young people growing up.—How long is it now since you were married?

  GINA

  We’ve been married—let me see—just on fifteen years.

  GREGERS

  Is it so long as that?

  GINA [Becomes attentive; looks at him.]

  Yes, it is indeed.

  HIALMAR

  Yes, so it is. Fifteen years all but a few months.

  [Changing his tone.]

  They must have been long years for you, up at the works,

  Gregers.

  GREGERS

  They seemed long while I was living them; now they are over, I hardly know how the time has gone.

  [OLD EKDAL comes from his room without his pipe, but with his old-fashioned uniform cap on his head; his gait is somewhat unsteady.]

  EKDAL

  Come now, Hialmar, let’s sit down and have a good talk about this—h’m—what was it again?

  HIALMAR [Going towards him.]

  Father, we have a visitor here—Gregers Werle.—I don’t know if you remember him.

  EKDAL [Looking at GREGERS, who has risen.]

  Werle? Is that the son? What does he want with me?

  HIALMAR

  Nothing; it’s me he has come to see.

  EKDAL

  Oh! Then there’s nothing wrong?

  HIALMAR

  No, no, of course not.

  EKDAL [With a large gesture.]

  Not that I’m afraid, you know; but——

  GREGERS [Goes over to him.]

  I bring you a greeting from your old hunting-grounds, Lieutenant Ekdal.

  EKDAL

  Hunting-grounds?

  GREGERS

  Yes, up in Höidal, about the works, you know.

  EKDAL

  Oh, up there. Yes, I knew all those places well in the old days.

  GREGERS

  You were a great sportsman then.

  EKDAL

  So I was, I don’t deny it. You’re looking at my uniform cap. I don’t ask anybody’s leave to wear it in the house. So long as I don’t go out in the streets with it——