MISS TESMAN

  And then this fine long wedding-tour you have had! More than five—nearly six months——

  TESMAN

  Well, for me it has been a sort of tour of research as well. I have had to do so much grubbing among old records—and to read no end of books too, Auntie.

  MISS TESMAN

  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?

  TESMAN

  As to our journey?

  MISS TESMAN

  Yes.

  TESMAN

  No, I don’t know of anything except what I have told you in my letters. I had a doctor’s degree conferred on me—but that I told you yesterday.

  MISS TESMAN

  Yes, yes, you did. But what I mean is—haven’t you any—any—expectations——?

  TESMAN

  Expectations?

  MISS TESMAN

  Why you know, George—I’m your old auntie!

  TESMAN

  Why, of course I have expectations.

  MISS TESMAN

  Ah!

  TESMAN

  I have every expectation of being a professor one of these days.

  MISS TESMAN

  Oh yes, a professor——

  TESMAN

  Indeed, I may say I am certain of it. But my dear Auntie—you know all about that already!

  MISS TESMAN [Laughing to herself.]

  Yes, of course I do. You are quite right there.

  [Changing the subject.]

  But we were talking about your journey. It must have cost a great

  deal of money, George?

  TESMAN

  Well, you see—my handsome travelling-scholarship went a good way.

  MISS TESMAN

  But I can’t understand how you can have made it go far enough for two.

  TESMAN

  No, that’s not so easy to understand—eh?

  MISS TESMAN

  And especially travelling with a lady—they tell me that makes it ever so much more expensive.

  TESMAN

  Yes, of course—it makes it a little more expensive. But Hedda had to have this trip, Auntie! She really had to. Nothing else would have done.

  MISS TESMAN

  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?

  TESMAN

  Yes, you may be sure I have. I have been afoot ever since daylight.

  MISS TESMAN

  And what do you think of it all?

  TESMAN

  I’m delighted! Quite delighted! Only I can’t think what we are to do with the two empty rooms between this inner parlour and Hedda’s bedroom.

  MISS TESMAN [Laughing.]

  Oh my dear George, I daresay you may find some use for them—in the course of time.

  TESMAN

  Why of course you are quite right, Aunt Julia! You mean as my library increases—eh?

  MISS TESMAN

  Yes, quite so, my dear boy. It was your library I was thinking of.

  TESMAN

  I am specially pleased on Hedda’s account. Often and often, before we were engaged, she said that she would never care to live anywhere but in Secretary Falk’s villa.144

  MISS TESMAN

  Yes, it was lucky that this very house should come into the market, just after you had started.

  TESMAN

  Yes, Aunt Julia, the luck was on our side, wasn’t it—eh?

  MISS TESMAN

  But the expense, my dear George! You will find it very expensive, all this.

  TESMAN [Looks at her, a little cast down.]

  Yes, I suppose I shall, Aunt!

  MISS TESMAN

  Oh, frightfully!

  TESMAN

  How much do you think? In round numbers?—Eh?

  MISS TESMAN

  Oh, I can’t even guess until all the accounts come in.

  TESMAN

  Well, fortunately, Judge Brack has secured the most favourable terms for me,—so he said in a letter to Hedda.

  MISS TESMAN

  Yes, don’t be uneasy, my dear boy.—Besides, I have given security for the furniture and all the carpets.

  TESMAN

  Security? You? My dear Aunt Julia—what sort of security could you give?

  MISS TESMAN

  I have given a mortgage on our annuity.

  TESMAN [ Jumps up.]

  What! On your—and Aunt Rina’s annuity!

  MISS TESMAN

  Yes, I knew of no other plan, you see.

  TESMAN [Placing himself before her.]

  Have you gone out of your senses, Auntie! Your annuity—it’s all that you and Aunt Rina have to live upon.

  MISS TESMAN

  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.

  TESMAN

  Yes, that may be all very well. But nevertheless——

  MISS TESMAN

  You will have your own salary to depend upon 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.

  TESMAN

  Oh Auntie—will you never be tired of making sacrifices for me!

  MISS TESMAN [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.

  TESMAN

  Yes, it is really marvellous how everything has turned out for the best.

  MISS TESMAN

  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.

  TESMAN

  Have you heard anything of Eilert? Since I went away, I mean.

  MISS TESMAN

  Only that he is said to have published a new book.

  TESMAN

  What! Eilert Lövborg! Recently—eh?

  MISS TESMAN

  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?

  TESMAN

  It will deal with the domestic industries of Brabant145 during the Middle Ages.

  MISS TESMAN

  Fancy—to be able to write on such a subject as that!

  TESMAN

  However, it may be some time before the book is ready. I have all these collections to arrange first, you see.

  MISS TESMAN

  Yes, collecting and arranging—no one can beat you at that. There you are my poor brother’s own son.

  TESMAN

  I am looking forward eagerly to setting to work at it; especially now that I have my own delightful home to work in.

  MISS TESMAN

  And, most of all, now that you have got the wife of your heart, my dear George.

  TESMAN [Embracing her.]

  Oh yes, yes, Aunt Julia, Hedda—she is the best part of it all! [Looks towards the doorway.] I believe I hear her coming—eh?

  HEDDA enters from the left through the inner room. She is a woman of nine-and-twenty. 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 of an agreeable medium brown, but not particularly abundant. She is dressed in a tasteful, somewhat loose-fitting morning gown.

  MISS TESMAN [Going to meet HEDDA.]

  Good morning, my dear Hedda! Good morning, and a hearty welcome!

  HEDDA [Holds out her hand.]

  Good morning, dear Miss Tesman! So early a call! That is kind of you.

  MISS TESMAN [With some embarrassment.]

  Well—has the bride slept well in her new home?

  HEDDA

  Oh yes, thanks. Passably.

  TESMAN [Laughing.]

  Passably! Come, that’s good, Hedda! You were sleeping like a stone when I got up.

  HEDDA

  Fortunately. Of course one has always to accustom one’s self to new surroundings, Miss Tesman—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 TESMAN [Going towards the door.]

  Well, then we will shut it.

  HEDDA

  No no, not that! Tesman, please draw the curtains. That will give a softer light.

  TESMAN [At the door.]

  All right—all right.—There now, Hedda, now you have both shade and fresh air.

  HEDDA

  Yes, fresh air we certainly must have, with all these stacks of flowers——. But—won’t you sit down, Miss Tesman?

  MISS TESMAN

  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.

  TESMAN

  Give her my very best love, Auntie; and say I shall look in and see her later in the day.

  MISS TESMAN

  Yes, yes, I’ll be sure to tell her. But by-the-bye, George—[Feeling in her dress pocket]

  —I had almost forgotten—I have something for you here.

  TESMAN

  What is it, Auntie? Eh?

  MISS TESMAN [Produces a flat parcel wrapped in newspaper and hands it to him.]

  Look here, my dear boy.

  TESMAN [Opening the parcel.]

  Well, I declare!—Have you really saved them for me, Aunt Julia! Hedda! isn’t this touching—eh?

  HEDDA [Beside the whatnot on the right.]

  Well, what is it?

  TESMAN

  My old morning-shoes! My slippers.

  HEDDA

  Indeed. I remember you often spoke of them while we were abroad.

  TESMAN

  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.

  TESMAN [Following her.]

  Only think—ill as she was, Aunt Rina embroidered these for me. Oh you can’t think how many associations cling to them.

  HEDDA [At the table.]

  Scarcely for me.

  MISS TESMAN

  Of course not for Hedda, George.

  TESMAN

  Well, but now that she belongs to the family, I thought——

  HEDDA [Interrupting.]

  We shall never get on with this servant, Tesman.

  MISS TESMAN

  Not get on with Berta?

  TESMAN

  Why, dear, what puts that in your head? Eh?

  HEDDA [Pointing.]

  Look there! She has left her old bonnet lying about on a chair.

  TESMAN [In consternation, drops the slippers on the floor.]

  Why, Hedda——

  HEDDA

  Just fancy, if any one should come in and see it!

  TESMAN

  But Hedda—that’s Aunt Julia’s bonnet.

  HEDDA

  Is it!

  MISS TESMAN [Taking up the bonnet.]

  Yes, indeed it’s mine. And, what’s more, it’s not old, Madam Hedda.

  HEDDA

  I really did not look closely at it, Miss Tesman.

  MISS TESMAN [Trying on the bonnet.]

  Let me tell you it’s the first time I have worn it—the very first time.

  TESMAN

  And a very nice bonnet it is too—quite a beauty!

  MISS TESMAN

  Oh, it’s no such great things, George.

  [Looks around her.]

  My parasol——? Ah, here.

  [Takes it.]

  For this is mine too—

  [mutters]

  —not Berta’s.

  TESMAN

  A new bonnet and a new parasol! Only think, Hedda!

  HEDDA

  Very handsome indeed.

  TESMAN

  Yes, isn’t it? Eh? But Auntie, take a good look at Hedda before you go! See how handsome she is!

  MISS TESMAN

  Oh, my dear boy, there’s nothing new in that. Hedda was always

  lovely.

  [She nods and goes towards the right.]

  TESMAN [Following.]

  Yes, but have you noticed what splendid condition she is in? How she has filled out on the journey?

  HEDDA [Crossing the room.]

  Oh, do be quiet——!

  MISS TESMAN [Who has stopped and turned.]

  Filled out?

  TESMAN

  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.

  TESMAN

  It must be the mountain air in the Tyrol——

  HEDDA [Curtly, interrupting.]

  I am exactly as I was when I started.

  TESMAN

  So you insist; but I’m quite certain you are not. Don’t you agree with me, Auntie?

  MISS TESMAN [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 Tesman—for George’s sake.

  HEDDA [Gently freeing herself.]

  Oh—! Let me go.

  MISS TESMAN [In quiet emotion.]

  I shall not let a day pass without coming to see you.

  TESMAN

  No you won’t, will you, Auntie? Eh?

  MISS TESMAN

  Good-bye—good-bye!

  [She goes out by the hall door. TESMAN accompanies her.The door remains half open. TESMAN can be heard repeating his message to Aunt Rina 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 the curtains from the glass door, and stands there looking out.]

  [Presently TESMAN returns and closes the door behind him.]

  TESMAN [Picks up the slippers from the floor.]

  What are you looking at, Hedda?

  HEDDA [Once more calm and mistress of herself.]

  I am only looking at the leaves. They are so yellow—so withered.

  TESMAN [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.

  TESMAN

  Don’t you think Aunt Julia’s manner was strange, dear? Almost solemn? Can you imagine what was the matter with her? Eh?

  HEDDA

  I scarcely know her, you see. Is she not often like that?

  TESMAN

  No, not as she was to-day.

  HEDDA [Leaving the glass door.]

  Do you think she was annoyed about the bonnet?

  TESMAN

  Oh, scarcely at all. Perhaps a little, just at the moment——

  HEDDA

  But what an idea, to pitch her bonnet about in the drawing-room! No one does that sort of thing.

  TESMAN

  Well you may be sure Aunt Julia won’t do it again.

  HEDDA

  In any case, I shall manage to make my peace with her.

  TESMAN

  Yes, my dear, good Hedda, if you only would.

  HEDDA

  When you call this afternoon, you might invite her to spend the evening here.

  TESMAN

  Yes, that I will. And there’s one thing more you could do that would delight her heart.

  HEDDA

  What is it?

  TESMAN

  If you could only prevail on yourself to say du146 to her. For my sake, Hedda? Eh?

  HEDDA

  No no, Tesman—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.

  TESMAN

  Well well. Only I think now that you belong to the family, you——

  HEDDA

  H’m—I can’t in the least see why——[She goes up towards the middle doorway.]

  TESMAN [After a pause.]