Is there anything the matter with you, Hedda? Eh?

  HEDDA

  I’m only looking at my old piano. It doesn’t go at all well with all the other things.

  TESMAN

  The first time I draw my salary, we’ll see about exchanging it.

  HEDDA

  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.

  TESMAN [A little taken aback.]

  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.

  TESMAN

  Aunt 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.” Can you guess whose card it is?

  TESMAN

  No. Whose? Eh?

  HEDDA

  The name is “Mrs. Elvsted.”

  TESMAN

  Is it really? Sheriff Elvsted’s wife? Miss Rysing that was.

  HEDDA

  Exactly. The girl with the irritating hair, that she was always showing off. An old flame of yours I’ve been told.

  TESMAN [Laughing.]

  Oh, that didn’t last long; and it was before I knew you, Hedda. But fancy her being in town!

  HEDDA

  It’s odd that she should call upon us. I have scarcely seen her since we left school.

  TESMAN

  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, Tesman—isn’t it somewhere near there that he—that—Eilert Lövborg is living?

  TESMAN

  Yes, he is somewhere in that part of the country.

  BERTA enters by the hall door.

  BERTA

  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.

  HEDDA

  Ah, is she? Well, please show her in.

  BERTA opens the door for MRS. ELVSTED, and goes out herself.—MRS. ELVSTED 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 flaxen, 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. Elvsted? It’s delightful to see you again.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Nervously, struggling for self-control.]

  Yes, it’s a very long time since we met.

  TESMAN [Gives her his hand.]

  And we too—eh?

  HEDDA

  Thanks for your lovely flowers——

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh, not at all——. I would have come straight here yesterday afternoon; but I heard that you were away——

  TESMAN

  Have you just come to town? Eh?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  I arrived yesterday, about midday. Oh, I was quite in despair when I heard that you were not at home.

  HEDDA

  In despair! How so?

  TESMAN

  Why, my dear Mrs. Rysing—I mean Mrs. Elvsted——

  HEDDA

  I hope that you are not in any trouble?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  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——

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh, I am too restless to sit down.

  HEDDA

  Oh no, you’re not. Come here.

  [She draws MRS. ELVSTED down upon the sofa and sits at her side.

  TESMAN

  Well? What is it, Mrs. Elvsted?

  HEDDA

  Has anything particular happened to you at home?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes—and no. Oh—I am so anxious you should not misunderstand me——

  HEDDA

  Then your best plan is to tell us the whole story, Mrs. Elvsted.

  TESMAN

  I suppose that’s what you have come for—eh?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, yes—of course it is. Well then, I must tell you—if you don’t already know—that Eilert Lövborg is in town, too.

  HEDDA

  Lövborg—!

  TESMAN

  What! Has Eilert Lövborg come back? Fancy that, Hedda!

  HEDDA

  Well well—I hear it.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  He has been here a week already. Just fancy—a whole week! In this terrible town, alone! With so many temptations on all sides.

  HEDDA

  But, my dear Mrs. Elvsted—how does he concern you so much?

  MRS. ELVSTED [Looks at her with a startled air, and says rapidly.]

  He was the children’s tutor.

  HEDDA

  Your children’s?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  My husband’s. I have none.

  HEDDA

  Your step-children’s, then?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes.

  TESMAN [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?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  For the last two years his conduct has been irreproachable.

  TESMAN

  Has it indeed? Fancy that, Hedda!

  HEDDA

  I hear it.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  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.

  TESMAN

  Why did he not remain where he was? With you and your husband? Eh?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  After his book was published he was too restless and unsettled to remain with us.

  TESMAN

  Yes, by-the-bye, Aunt Julia told me he had published a new book.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, a big book, dealing with the march of civilisation—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——

  TESMAN

  Has it indeed? It must be something he has had lying by since his better days.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Long ago, you mean?

  TESMAN

  Yes.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  No, he has written it all since he has been with us—within the last year.

  TESMAN

  Isn’t that good news, Hedda? Think of that.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Ah yes, if only it would last!

  HEDDA

  Have you seen him here in town?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  No, not yet. I have had the greatest difficulty in finding out his address. But this morning I discovered it at last.

  HEDDA [Looks searchingly at her.]

  Do you know, it seems to me a little odd of your husband—h’m——

  MRS. ELVSTED [Starting nervously.]

  Of my husband! What?

  HEDDA

  That he should send you to town on such an errand—that he does not come himself and look after his friend.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  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. ELVSTED [Rising quickly and uneasily.]

  And now I beg and implore you, Mr. Tesman—receive Eilert Lövborg 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.

  TESMAN

  We used to be, at any rate.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  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. Tesman—won’t you?

  TESMAN

  With the greatest of pleasure, Mrs. Rysing——

  HEDDA

  Elvsted.

  TESMAN

  I assure you I shall do all I possibly can for Eilert. You may rely upon me.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh, how very, very kind of you!

  [Presses his hands.]

  Thanks, thanks, thanks!

  [Frightened.]

  You see, my husband is so very fond of him!

  HEDDA [Rising.]

  You ought to write to him, Tesman. Perhaps he may not care to come to you of his own accord.

  TESMAN

  Well, perhaps it would be the right thing to do, Hedda? Eh?

  HEDDA

  And the sooner the better. Why not at once?

  MRS. ELVSTED [Imploringly.]

  Oh, if you only would!

  TESMAN

  I’ll write this moment. Have you his address, Mrs.—Mrs. Elvsted.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes.

  [Takes a slip of paper from her pocket, and hands it to him.]

  Here it is.

  TESMAN

  Good, good. Then I’ll go in——

  [Looks about him.]

  By-the-bye,—my slippers? Oh, here.

  [Takes the packet, and is about to go.]

  HEDDA

  Be sure you write him a cordial, friendly letter. And a good long one too.

  TESMAN

  Yes, I will.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  But please, please don’t say a word to show that I have suggested it.

  TESMAN

  No, how could you think I would? Eh?

  [He goes out to the right, through the inner room.]

  HEDDA [Goes up to MRS. ELVSTED, smiles, and says in a low voice.]

  There! We have killed two birds with one stone.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  What do you mean?

  HEDDA

  Could you not see that I wanted him to go?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, to write the letter——

  HEDDA

  And that I might speak to you alone.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Confused.]

  About the same thing?

  HEDDA

  Precisely.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Apprehensively.]

  But there is nothing more, Mrs. Tesman! Absolutely nothing!

  HEDDA

  Oh yes, but there is. There is a great deal more—I can see that.

  Sit here—and we’ll have a cosy, confidential chat.

  [She forces MRS. ELVSTED to sit in the easy-chair beside the stove, and

  seats herself on one of the footstools.]

  MRS. ELVSTED [Anxiously, looking at her watch.]

  But, my dear Mrs. Tesman—I was really on the point of going.

  HEDDA

  Oh, you can’t be in such a hurry.—Well? Now tell me something about your life at home.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh, that is just what I care least to speak about.

  HEDDA

  But to me, dear——? Why, weren’t we schoolfellows?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, but you were in the class above me. Oh, how dreadfully afraid of you I was then!

  HEDDA

  Afraid of me?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, dreadfully. For when we met on the stairs you used always to pull my hair.

  HEDDA

  Did I, really?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, and once you said you would burn it off my head.

  HEDDA

  Oh that was all nonsense, of course.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  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.

  HEDDA

  Well then, we must try to drift together again. Now listen! At school we said du147 to each other; and we called each other by our Christian names——

  MRS. ELVSTED

  No, I am sure you must be mistaken.

  HEDDA

  No, not at all! I can remember quite distinctly. So now we are

  going to renew our old friendship.

  [Draws the footstool closer to MRS. ELVSTED.]

  There now!

  [Kisses her cheek.]

  You must say du to me and call me Hedda.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Presses and pats her hands.]

  Oh, how good and kind you are! I am not used to such kindness.

  HEDDA

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

  MRS. ELVSTED

  My name is Thea.

  HEDDA

  Why, of course! I meant Thea.

  [Looks at her compassionately.]

  So you are not accustomed to goodness and kindness, Thea? Not

  in your own home?

  MRS. ELVSTED

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

  HEDDA [Looks at her for a moment.]

  I almost suspected as much.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Gazing helplessly before her.]

  Yes—yes—yes.

  HEDDA

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

  MRS. ELVSTED

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

  HEDDA

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

  MRS. ELVSTED [Sadly.]

  Yes, I did.

  HEDDA

  Let me see—about how long ago was that?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  My marriage?

  HEDDA

  Yes.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Five years ago.

  HEDDA

  To be sure; it must be that.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh those five years——! Or at all events the last two or three of them! Oh, if you148 could only imagine——

  HEDDA [Giving her a little slap on the hand.]

  De? Fie, Thea!

  MRS. ELVSTED

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

  HEDDA [Lightly.]

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

  MRS. ELVSTED [Looks at her doubtfully.]

  Eilert Lövborg? Yes—he has.

  HEDDA

  Had you known him before, in town here?

  MRS. ELVSTED

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

  HEDDA

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

  MRS. ELVSTED

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

  HEDDA

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

  MRS. ELVSTED

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

  HEDDA [Leaning against the arm of the chair.]

  Thea—my poor, sweet Thea—now you must tell me everything—exactly as it stands.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Well then, you must question me.

  HEDDA

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

  MRS. ELVSTED [Evasively.]

  I am sure he means well in everything.

  HEDDA

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

  MRS. ELVSTED [Irritably.]

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

  HEDDA

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

  MRS. ELVSTED

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

  HEDDA

  That is stupid of you.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Shakes her head.]