LÖVBORG

  Dared not? Of course I preferred to stop here and talk to you.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  What could be more natural, Hedda?

  HEDDA

  But the Judge could not guess that. And I saw, too, the way he smiled and glanced at Tesman when you dared not accept his invitation to this wretched little supper-party of his.

  LÖVBORG

  Dared not! Do you say I dared not?

  HEDDA

  I don’t say so. But that was how Judge Brack understood it.

  LÖVBORG

  Well, let him.

  HEDDA

  Then you are not going with them?

  LÖVBORG

  I will stay here with you and Thea.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, Hedda—how can you doubt that?

  HEDDA [Smiles and nods approvingly to LÖVBORG.]

  Firm as a rock! Faithful to your principles, now and for ever! Ah,

  that is how a man should be!

  [Turns to MRS. ELVSTED and caresses her.]

  Well now, what did I tell you, when you came to us this morning

  in such a state of distraction——

  LÖVBORG [Surprised.]

  Distraction!

  MRS. ELVSTED [Terrified.]

  Hedda—oh Hedda——!

  HEDDA

  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.

  LÖVBORG [Who has given a start.]

  Ah—what is all this, Mrs. Tesman?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh my God, Hedda! What are you saying? What are you doing?

  HEDDA

  Don’t get excited! That horrid Judge Brack is sitting watching you.

  LÖVBORG

  So she was in mortal terror! On my account!

  MRS. ELVSTED [Softly and piteously.]

  Oh, Hedda—now you have ruined everything!

  LÖVBORG [Looks fixedly at her for a moment. His face is distorted.]

  So that was my comrade’s frank confidence in me?

  MRS. ELVSTED [Imploringly.]

  Oh, my dearest friend—only let me tell you——

  LÖVBORG [Takes one of the glasses of punch, raises it to his lips, and says in a low, husky voice.]

  Your health, Thea!

  [He empties the glass, puts it down, and takes the second.]

  MRS. ELVSTED [Softly.]

  Oh, Hedda, Hedda—how could you do this?

  HEDDA

  I do it? I? Are you crazy?

  LÖVBORG

  Here’s to your health too, Mrs. Tesman. Thanks for the truth.

  Hurrah for the truth!

  [He empties the glass and is about to re-fill it.]

  HEDDA [Lays her hand on his arm.]

  Come, come—no more for the present. Remember you are going out to supper.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  No, no, no!

  HEDDA

  Hush! They are sitting watching you.

  LÖVBORG [Putting down the glass.]

  Now, Thea—tell me the truth——

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes.

  LÖVBORG

  Did your husband know that you had come after me?

  MRS. ELVSTED [Wringing her hands.]

  Oh, Hedda—do you hear what he is asking?

  LÖVBORG

  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. ELVSTED [Softly, in agony.]

  Oh, Lövborg, Lövborg—!

  LÖVBORG [Seizes a glass and is on the point of filling it.]

  Here’s a glass for the old Sheriff too!

  HEDDA

  [Preventing him.]

  No more just now. Remember, you have to read your manuscript to Tesman.

  LÖVBORG [Calmly, putting down the glass.]

  It was stupid of me all this, Thea—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, Thea.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Radiant with joy.]

  Oh, heaven be praised——!

  [BRACK has in the meantime looked at his watch. He and TESMAN rise and come into the drawing-room.]

  BRACK [Takes his hat and overcoat.]

  Well, Mrs. Tesman, our time has come.

  HEDDA

  I suppose it has.

  LÖVBORG [Rising.]

  Mine too, Judge Brack.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Softly and imploringly.]

  Oh, Lövborg, don’t do it!

  HEDDA [Pinching her arm.]

  They can hear you!

  MRS. ELVSTED [With a suppressed shriek.]

  Ow!

  LÖVBORG [To BRACK.]

  You were good enough to invite me.

  BRACK

  Well, are you coming after all?

  LÖVBORG

  Yes, many thanks.

  BRACK

  I’m delighted——

  LÖVBORG [To TESMAN, 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.

  TESMAN

  Fancy—that will be delightful. But, Hedda dear, how is Mrs. Elvsted to get home? Eh?

  HEDDA

  Oh, that can be managed somehow.

  LÖVBORG [Looking towards the ladies.]

  Mrs. Elvsted? Of course, I’ll come again and fetch her.

  [Approaching.]

  At ten or thereabouts, Mrs. Tesman? Will that do?

  HEDDA

  Certainly. That will do capitally.

  TESMAN

  Well, then, that’s all right. But you must not expect me so early, Hedda.

  HEDDA

  Oh, you may stop as long—as long as ever you please.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Trying to conceal her anxiety.]

  Well then, Mr. Lövborg—I shall remain here until you come.

  LÖVBORG [With his hat in his hand.]

  Pray do, Mrs. Elvsted.

  BRACK

  And now off goes the excursion train, gentlemen! I hope we shall have a lively time, as a certain fair lady puts it.

  HEDDA

  Ah, if only the fair lady could be present unseen——!

  BRACK

  Why unseen?

  HEDDA

  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.

  TESMAN [Also laughing.]

  Come, you’re a nice one, Hedda! Fancy that!

  BRACK

  Well, good-bye, good-bye, ladies.

  LÖVBORG [Bowing.]

  About ten o’clock, then.

  [BRACK, LÖVBORG, and TESMAN go out by the hall door. At the same time, BERTA 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. ELVSTED [Who has risen and is wandering restlessly about the room.]

  Hedda—Hedda—what will come of all this?

  HEDDA

  At ten o’clock—he will be here. I can see him already—with vine-leaves in his hair—flushed and fearless——

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh, I hope he may.

  HEDDA

  And then, you see—then he will have regained control over himself. Then he will be a free man for all his days.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh God !—if he would only come as you see him now!

  HEDDA

  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——

  MRS. ELVSTED

  You have some hidden motive in this, Hedda!

  HEDDA

  Yes, I have. I want for once in my life to have power to mould a human destiny.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Have you not the power?

  HEDDA

  I have not—and have never had it.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Not your husband’s?

  HEDDA

  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.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Let me go! Let me go! I am afraid of you, Hedda!

  BERTA [In the middle doorway.]

  Tea is laid in the dining-room, ma’am.

  HEDDA

  Very well. We are coming.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  No, no, no! I would rather go home alone! At once!

  HEDDA

  Nonsense! First you shall have a cup of tea, you little stupid. And then—at ten o’clock—Eilert Lövborg will be here—with vine-leaves in his hair. [She drags MRS. ELVSTED almost by force towards the middle doorway .]

  ACT THIRD

  The room at the TESMANS. The curtaIns are drawn over the middle doorway, and also over the glass door.The lamp, half turned down, and with a shade over it, is burning on the table. In the stove, the door of which stands open, there has been a fire, which is now nearly burnt out.

  MRS. ELVSTED, wrapped in a large shawl, and with her feet upon a foot-rest, sits close to the stove, sunk back in the arm-chair. HEDDA, fully dressed, lies sleeping upon the sofa, with a sofa-blanket over her.

  MRS. ELVSTED [After a pause, suddenly sits up in her chair, and listens eagerly.Then she sinks back again wearily, moaning to herself.]

  Not yet!—Oh God—oh God—not yet!

  BERTA slips cautiously in by the hall door. She has a letter in her hand.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Turns and whispers eagerly.]

  Well—has any one come?

  BERTA [Softly.]

  Yes, a girl has just brought this letter.

  MRS. ELVSTED [Quickly, holding out her hand.]

  A letter! Give it to me!

  BERTA

  No, it’s for Dr. Tesman, ma’am.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh, indeed.

  BERTA

  It was Miss Tesman’s servant that brought it. I’ll lay it here on the table.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, do.

  BERTA [Laying down the letter.]

  I think I had better put out the lamp. It’s smoking.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, put it out. It must soon be daylight now.

  BERTA [Putting out the lamp.]

  It is daylight already, ma’am.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, broad day! And no one come back yet——!

  BERTA

  Lord bless you, ma’am—I guessed how it would be.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  You guessed?

  BERTA

  Yes, when I saw that a certain person had come back to town—and that he went off with them. For we’ve heard enough about that gentleman before now.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Don’t speak so loud. You will waken Mrs. Tesman.

  BERTA [Looks towards the sofa and sighs.]

  No, no—let her sleep, poor thing. Shan’t I put some wood on the fire?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Thanks, not for me.

  BERTA

  Oh, very well.

  [She goes softly out by the hall door.]

  HEDDA [Is wakened by the shutting of the door, and looks up.]

  What’s that——?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  It was only the servant——

  HEDDA [Looking about her.]

  Oh, we’re here——! Yes, now I remember.

  [Sits erect upon the sofa, stretches herself, and rubs her eyes.]

  What o’clock is it, Thea?

  MRS. ELVSTED [Looks at her watch.]

  It’s past seven.

  HEDDA

  When did Tesman come home?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  He has not come.

  HEDDA

  Not come home yet?

  MRS. ELVSTED [Rising.]

  No one has come.

  HEDDA

  Think of our watching and waiting here till four in the morning——

  MRS. ELVSTED [Wringing her hands.]

  And how I watched and waited for him!

  HEDDA [Yawns, and says with her hand before her mouth.]

  Well well—we might have spared ourselves the trouble.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Did you get a little sleep?

  HEDDA

  Oh yes; I believe I have slept pretty well. Have you not?

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Not for a moment. I couldn’t, Hedda!—not to save my life.

  HEDDA [Rises and goes towards her.]

  There, there, there! There’s nothing to be so alarmed about. I understand quite well what has happened.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Well, what do you think? Won’t you tell me?

  HEDDA

  Why, of course it has been a very late affair at Judge Brack’s——

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, yes—that is clear enough. But all the same——

  HEDDA

  And then, you see, Tesman hasn’t cared to come home and ring us up in the middle of the night.

  [Laughing.]

  Perhaps he wasn’t inclined to show himself either—immediately after a jollification.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  But in that case—where can he have gone?

  HEDDA

  Of course he has gone to his Aunts’ and slept there. They have his old room ready for him.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  No, he can’t be with them; for a letter has just come for him from Miss Tesman. There it lies.

  HEDDA

  Indeed?

  [Looks at the address.]

  Why yes, it’s addressed in Aunt Julia’s own hand. Well then, he has remained at Judge Brack’s. And as for Eilert Lövborg—he is sitting, with vine-leaves in his hair, reading his manuscript.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh Hedda, you are just saying things you don’t believe a bit.

  HEDDA

  You really are a little blockhead, Thea.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh yes, I suppose I am.

  HEDDA

  And how mortally tired you look.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Yes, I am mortally tired.

  HEDDA

  Well then, you must do as I tell you. You must go into my room and lie down for a little while.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Oh no, no—I shouldn’t be able to sleep.

  HEDDA

  I am sure you would.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Well, but your husband is certain to come soon now; and then I want to know at once——

  HEDDA

  I shall take care to let you know when he comes.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Do you promise me, Hedda?

  HEDDA

  Yes, rely upon me. Just you go in and have a sleep in the meantime.

  MRS. ELVSTED

  Thanks; then I’ll try to.

  [She goes off through the inner room.]

  [HEDDA goes up to the glass door and draws back the curtains.The broad daylight streams into the room.Then she takes a little hand-glass from the writing-table, looks at herself in it, and arranges her hair. Next she goes to the hall door and presses the bell-button.]

  BERTA presently appears at the hall door.

  BERTA

  Did you want anything, ma’am?

  HEDDA

  Yes; you must put some more wood in the stove. I am shivering.

  BERTA

  Bless me—I’ll make up the fire at once.

  [She rakes the embers together and lays a piece of wood upon them; then stops and listens.]

  That was a ring at the front door, ma’am.

  HEDDA

  Then go to the door. I will look after the fire.

  BERTA

  It’ll soon burn up.

  [She goes out by the hall door.]

  [HEDDA kneels on the foot-rest and lays some more pieces of wood in the

  stove.]

  After a short pause, GEORGE TESMAN enters from the hall. He looks tired and rather serious. He steals on tiptoe towards the middle doorway and is about to slip through the curtains.

  HEDDA [At the stove, without looking up.]

  Good morning.

  TESMAN [Turns.]