Part 15
I suppose you’ve got to know it. He gave me no peace until he’d had his way.
HIALMAR.
[_Striking his hands together._] And this is the mother of my child! How could you hide this from me?
GINA.
Yes, it was wrong of me; I ought certainly to have told you long ago.
HIALMAR.
You should have told me at the very first;—then I should have known the sort of woman you were.
GINA.
But would you have married me all the same?
HIALMAR.
How can you dream that I would?
GINA.
That’s just why I didn’t dare tell you anything, then. For I'd come to care for you so much, you see; and I couldn’t go and make myself utterly miserable——
HIALMAR.
[_Walks about._] And this is my Hedvig’s mother. And to know that all I see before me—[_Kicks at a chair._]—all that I call my home—I owe to a favoured predecessor! Oh that scoundrel Werle!
GINA.
Do you repent of the fourteen—the fifteen years as we’ve lived together?
HIALMAR.
[_Placing himself in front of her._] Have you not every day, every hour, repented of the spider’s-web of deceit you have spun around me? Answer me that! How could you help writhing with penitence and remorse?
GINA.
Oh, my dear Ekdal, I've had all I could do to look after the house and get through the day’s work——
HIALMAR.
Then you never think of reviewing your past?
GINA.
No; Heaven knows I'd almost forgotten those old stories.
HIALMAR.
Oh, this dull, callous contentment! To me there is something revolting about it. Think of it—never so much as a twinge of remorse!
GINA.
But tell me, Ekdal—what would have become of you if you hadn’t had a wife like me?
HIALMAR.
Like you——!
GINA.
Yes; for you know I've always been a bit more practical and wide-awake than you. Of course I'm a year or two older.
HIALMAR.
What would have become of me!
GINA.
You’d got into all sorts of bad ways when first you met me; that you can’t deny.
HIALMAR.
“Bad ways” do you call them? Little do you know what a man goes through when he is in grief and despair—especially a man of my fiery temperament.
GINA.
Well, well, that may be so. And I've no reason to crow over you, neither; for you turned a moral of a husband, that you did, as soon as ever you had a house and home of your own.—And now we’d got everything so nice and cosy about us; and me and Hedvig was just thinking we’d soon be able to let ourselves go a bit, in the way of both food and clothes.
HIALMAR.
In the swamp of deceit, yes.
GINA.
I wish to goodness that detestable being had never set his foot inside our doors!
HIALMAR.
And I, too, thought my home such a pleasant one. That was a delusion. Where shall I now find the elasticity of spirit to bring my invention into the world of reality? Perhaps it will die with me; and then it will be your past, Gina, that will have killed it.
GINA.
[_Nearly crying._] You mustn’t say such things, Ekdal. _Me_, that has only wanted to do the best I could for you, all my days!
HIALMAR.
I ask you, what becomes of the breadwinner’s dream? When I used to lie in there on the sofa and brood over my invention, I had a clear enough presentiment that it would sap my vitality to the last drop. I felt even then that the day when I held the patent in my hand—that day—would bring my—release. And then it was my dream that you should live on after me, the dead inventor’s well-to-do widow.
GINA.
[_Drying her tears._] No, you mustn’t talk like that, Ekdal. May the Lord never let me see the day I am left a widow!
HIALMAR.
Oh, the whole dream has vanished. It is all over now. All over!
GREGERS WERLE _opens the passage door cautiously and looks in._
GREGERS.
May I come in?
HIALMAR.
Yes, come in.
GREGERS.
[_Comes forward, his face beaming with satisfaction, and holds out both his hands to them._] Well, dear friends——! [_Looks from one to the other, and whispers to HIALMAR._] Have you not done it yet?
HIALMAR.
[_Aloud._] It is done.
GREGERS.
It is?
HIALMAR.
I have passed through the bitterest moments of my life.
GREGERS.
But also, I trust, the most ennobling.
HIALMAR.
Well, at any rate, we have got through it for the present.
GINA.
God forgive you, Mr. Werle.
GREGERS.
[_In great surprise._] But I don’t understand this.
HIALMAR.
What don’t you understand?
GREGERS.
After so great a crisis—a crisis that is to be the starting-point of an entirely new life—of a communion founded on truth, and free from all taint of deception——
HIALMAR.
Yes yes, I know; I know that quite well.
GREGERS.
I confidently expected, when I entered the room, to find the light of transfiguration shining upon me from both husband and wife. And now I see nothing but dulness, oppression, gloom——
GINA.
Oh, is that it? _Takes off the lamp-shade._
GREGERS.
You will not understand me, Mrs. Ekdal. Ah well, _you_, I suppose, need time to——. But you, Hialmar? Surely you feel a new consecration after the great crisis.
HIALMAR.
Yes, of course I do. That is—in a sort of way.
GREGERS.
For surely nothing in the world can compare with the joy of forgiving one who has erred, and raising her up to oneself in love.
HIALMAR.
Do you think a man can so easily throw off the effects of the bitter cup I have drained?
GREGERS.
No, not a _common_ man, perhaps. But a man like _you_——!
HIALMAR.
Good God! I know that well enough. But you must keep me up to it, Gregers. It takes time, you know.
GREGERS.
You have _much_ of the wild duck in you, Hialmar.
RELLING _has come in at the passage door._
RELLING.
Oho! is the wild duck to the fore again?
HIALMAR.
Yes; Mr. Werle’s wing-broken victim.
RELLING.
Mr. Werle’s——? So it’s _him_ you are talking about?
HIALMAR.
Him and—ourselves.
RELLING.
[_In an undertone to GREGERS._] May the devil fly away with you!
HIALMAR.
What is that you are saying?
RELLING.
Only uttering a heartfelt wish that this quack-salver would take himself off. If he stays here, he is quite equal to making an utter mess of life, for both of you.
GREGERS.
These two will not make a mess of life, Mr. Relling. Of course I won’t speak of Hialmar—him we know. But she, too, in her innermost heart, has certainly something loyal and sincere——
GINA.
[_Almost crying._] You might have let me alone for what I was, then.
RELLING.
[_To GREGERS._] Is it rude to ask what you really want in this house?
GREGERS.
To lay the foundations of a true marriage.
RELLING.
So you don’t think Ekdal’s marriage is good enough as it is?
GREGERS.
No doubt it is as good a marriage as most others, worse luck. But a _true_ marriage it has yet to become.
HIALMAR.
You have never had eyes for the claims of the ideal, Relling.
RELLING.
Rubbish, my boy!—But excuse me, Mr. Werle: how many—in round numbers—how many true marriages have you seen in the course of your life?
GREGERS.
Scarcely a single one.
RELLING.
Nor I either.
GREGERS.
But I have seen innumerable marriages of the opposite kind. And it has been my fate to see at close quarters what ruin such a marriage can work in two human souls.
HIALMAR.
A man’s whole moral basis may give away beneath his feet; _that_ is the terrible part of it.
RELLING.
Well, I can’t say I've ever been exactly married, so I don’t pretend to speak with authority. But this I know, that the _child_ enters into the marriage problem. And you must leave the child in peace.
HIALMAR.
Oh—Hedvig! my poor Hedvig!
RELLING.
Yes, you must be good enough to keep Hedvig outside of all this. You two are grown-up people; you are free, in God’s name, to make what mess and muddle you please of your life. But you must deal cautiously with Hedvig, I tell you; else you may do her a great injury.
HIALMAR.
An injury!
RELLING.
Yes, or she may do herself an injury—and perhaps others too.
GINA.
How can you know that, Relling?
HIALMAR.
Her sight is in no immediate danger, is it?
RELLING.
I am not talking about her sight. Hedvig is at a critical age. She may be getting all sorts of mischief into her head.
GINA.
That’s true—I've noticed it already! She’s taken to carrying on with the fire, out in the kitchen. She calls it playing at house-on-fire. I'm often scared for fear she really sets fire to the house.
RELLING.
You see; I thought as much.
GREGERS.
[_To RELLING._] But how do you account for that?
RELLING.
[_Sullenly._] Her constitution’s changing, sir.
HIALMAR.
So long as the child has _me_——! So long as _I_ am above ground——!
_A knock at the door._
GINA.
Hush, Ekdal; there’s some one in the passage. [_Calls out._] Come in!
[MRS. SÖRBY, _in walking dress, comes in._
MRS. SÖRBY.
Good evening.
GINA.
[_Going towards her_]. Is it really you, Bertha?
MRS. SÖRBY.
Yes, of course it is. But I'm disturbing you, I'm afraid?
HIALMAR.
No, not at all; an emissary from _that_ house——
MRS. SÖRBY.
[_To GINA._] To tell the truth, I hoped your men-folk would be out at this time. I just ran up to have a little chat with you, and to say good-bye.
GINA.
Good-bye? Are you going away, then?
MRS. SÖRBY.
Yes, to-morrow morning,—up to Höidal. Mr. Werle started this afternoon. [_Lightly to GREGERS._] He asked me to say good-bye for him.
GINA.
Only fancy——!
HIALMAR.
So Mr. Werle has gone? And now you are going after him?
MRS. SÖRBY
Yes, what do you say to _that_, Ekdal?
HIALMAR.
I say: beware!
GREGERS.
I must explain the situation. My father and Mrs. Sörby are going to be married.
HIALMAR.
Going to be married!
GINA.
Oh Bertha! So it’s come to that at last!
RELLING.
[_His voice quivering a little._] This is surely not true?
MRS. SÖRBY.
Yes, my dear Relling, it’s true enough.
RELLING.
You are going to marry again?
MRS. SÖRBY.
Yes, it looks like it. Werle has got a special licence, and we are going to be married quite quietly, up at the works.
GREGERS.
Then I must wish you all happiness, like a dutiful stepson.
MRS. SÖRBY.
Thank you very much—if you mean what you say. I certainly hope it will lead to happiness, both for Werle and for me.
RELLING.
You have every reason to hope that. Mr. Werle never gets drunk—so far as I know; and I don’t suppose he’s in the habit of thrashing his wives, like the late lamented horse-doctor.
MRS. SÖRBY.
Come now, let Sörby rest in peace. He had his good points too.
RELLING.
Mr. Werle has better ones, I have no doubt.
MRS. SÖRBY.
He hasn’t frittered away all that was good in him, at any rate. The man who does that must take the consequences.
RELLING.
I shall go out with Molvik this evening.
MRS. SÖRBY.
You musn’t do that, Relling. Don’t do it—for my sake.
RELLING.
There’s nothing else for it. [_To HIALMAR._] If you’re going with us, come along.
GINA.
No, thank you. Ekdal doesn’t go in for _that_ sort of dissertation.
HIALMAR.
[_Half aloud, in vexation._] Oh, do hold your tongue!
RELLING.
Good-bye, Mrs.—Werle.
[_Goes out through the passage door._
GREGERS.
[_To MRS. SÖRBY._] You seem to know Dr. Relling pretty intimately.
MRS. SÖRBY.
Yes, we have known each other for many years. At one time it seemed as if things might have gone further between us.
GREGERS.
It was surely lucky for you that they did not.
MRS. SÖRBY.
You may well say that. But I have always been wary of acting on impulse. A woman can’t afford absolutely to throw herself away.
GREGERS.
Are you not in the least afraid that I may let my father know about this old friendship?
MRS. SÖRBY.
Why, of course I have told him all about it myself.
GREGERS.
Indeed?
MRS. SÖRBY.
Your father knows every single thing that can, with any truth, be said about me. I have told him all; it was the first thing I did when I saw what was in his mind.
GREGERS.
Then you have been franker than most people, I think.
MRS. SÖRBY.
I have always been frank. We women find that the best policy.
HIALMAR.
What do you say to that, Gina?
GINA.
Oh, we’re not all alike, us women aren’t. Some are made one way, some another.
MRS. SÖRBY.
Well, for my part, Gina, I believe it’s wisest to do as I've done. And Werle has no secrets either, on his side. That’s really the great bond between us, you see. Now he can talk to me as openly as a child. He has never had the chance to do that before. Fancy a man like him, full of health and vigour, passing his whole youth and the best years of his life in listening to nothing but penitential sermons! And very often the sermons had for their text the most imaginary offences—at least so I understand.
GINA.
That’s true enough.
GREGERS.
If you ladies are going to follow up this topic, I had better withdraw.
MRS. SÖRBY.
You can stay so far as that’s concerned. I shan’t say a word more. But I wanted you to know that I had done nothing secretly or in an underhand way. I may seem to have come in for a great piece of luck; and so I have, in a sense. But after all, I don’t think I am getting any more than I am giving. I shall stand by him always, and I can tend and care for him as no one else can, now that he is getting helpless.
HIALMAR.
Getting helpless?
GREGERS.
[_To MRS. SÖRBY._] Hush, don’t speak of that here.
MRS. SÖRBY.
There is no disguising it any longer, however much he would like to. He is going blind.
HIALMAR.
[_Starts._] Going blind? That’s strange. He too going blind!
GINA.
Lots of people do.
MRS. SÖRBY.
And you can imagine what _that_ means to a business man. Well, I shall try as well as I can to make my eyes take the place of his. But I musn’t stay any longer; I have such heaps of things to do.—Oh, by-the-bye, Ekdal, I was to tell you that if there is anything Werle can do for you, you must just apply to Gråberg.
GREGERS.
That offer I am sure Hialmar Ekdal will decline with thanks.
MRS. SÖRBY.
Indeed? I don’t think he used to be so——
GINA.
No, Bertha, Ekdal doesn’t need anything from Mr. Werle now.
HIALMAR.
[_Slowly, and with emphasis._] Will you present my compliments to your future husband, and say that I intend very shortly to call upon Mr. Gråberg——
GREGERS.
What! You don’t really mean that?
HIALMAR.
To call upon Mr. Gråberg, I say, and obtain an account of the sum I owe his principal. I will pay that debt of honour—ha ha ha! a debt of honour, let us call it! In any case, I will pay the whole, with five per cent. interest.
GINA.
But, my dear Ekdal, God knows we haven’t got the money to do it.
HIALMAR.
Be good enough to tell your future husband that I am working assiduously at my invention. Please tell him that what sustains me in this laborious task is the wish to free myself from a torturing burden of debt. That is my reason for proceeding with the invention. The entire profits shall be devoted to releasing me from my pecuniary obligations to your future husband.
MRS. SÖRBY.
Something has happened here.
HIALMAR.
Yes, you are right.
MRS. SÖRBY.
Well, good-bye. I had something else to speak to you about, Gina; but it must keep till another time. Good-bye.
[HIALMAR _and_ GREGERS _bow silently._ GINA _follows_ MRS. SÖRBY _to the door._
HIALMAR.
Not beyond the threshold, Gina!
[MRS. SÖRBY _goes;_ GINA _shuts the door after her._
HIALMAR.
There now, Gregers; I have got that burden of debt off my mind.
GREGERS.
You soon will, at all events.
HIALMAR.
I think my attitude may be called correct.
GREGERS.
You are the man I have always taken you for.
HIALMAR.
In certain cases, it is impossible to disregard the claim of the ideal. Yet, as the breadwinner of a family, I cannot but writhe and groan under it. I can tell you it is no joke for a man without capital to attempt the repayment of a long-standing obligation, over which, so to speak, the dust of oblivion had gathered. But it cannot be helped: the Man in me demands his rights.
GREGERS.
[_Laying his hand on HIALMAR’S shoulder._] My dear Hialmar—was it not a good thing I came?
HIALMAR.
Yes.
GREGERS.
Are you not glad to have had your true position made clear to you?
HIALMAR.
[_Somewhat impatiently._] Yes, of course I am. But there is one thing that is revolting to my sense of justice.
GREGERS.
And what is that?
HIALMAR.
It is that—but I don’t know whether I ought to express myself so unreservedly about your father.
GREGERS.
Say what you please, so far as I am concerned.
HIALMAR.
Well then, is it not exasperating to think that it is not I, but he, who will realise the true marriage?
GREGERS.
How can you say such a thing?
HIALMAR.
Because it is clearly the case. Isn’t the marriage between your father and Mrs. Sörby founded upon complete confidence, upon entire and unreserved candour on both sides? They hide nothing from each other, they keep no secrets in the background; their relation is based, if I may put it so, on mutual confession and absolution.
GREGERS.
Well, what then?
HIALMAR.
Well, is not that the whole thing? Did you not yourself say that this was precisely the difficulty that had to be overcome in order to found a true marriage?
GREGERS.
But this is a totally different matter, Hialmar. You surely don’t compare either yourself or your wife with those two——? Oh, you understand me well enough.
HIALMAR.
Say what you like, there is something in all this that hurts and offends my sense of justice. It really looks as if there were no just providence to rule the world.
GINA.
Oh no, Ekdal; for God’s sake don’t say such things.
GREGERS.
H'm; don’t let us get upon those questions.
HIALMAR.
And yet, after all, I cannot but recognise the guiding finger of fate. He is going blind.
GINA.
Oh, you can’t be sure of that.
HIALMAR.
There is no doubt about it. At all events there ought not to be; for in that very fact lies the righteous retribution. He has hoodwinked a confiding fellow creature in days gone by——
GREGERS.
I fear he has hoodwinked many.
HIALMAR.
And now comes inexorable, mysterious Fate, and demands Werle’s own eyes.
GINA.
Oh, how dare you say such dreadful things! You make me quite scared.
HIALMAR.
It is profitable, now and then, to plunge deep into the night side of existence.
HEDVIG, _in her hat and cloak, comes in by the passage door. She is pleasurably excited, and out of breath._
GINA.
Are you back already?
HEDVIG.
Yes, I didn’t care to go any farther. It was a good thing, too; for I've just met some one at the door.
HIALMAR.
It must have been that Mrs. Sörby.
HEDVIG.
Yes.
HIALMAR.
[_Walks up and down._] I hope you have seen her for the last time.
[_Silence._ HEDVIG, _discouraged, looks first at one and then at the other, trying to divine their frame of mind._
HEDVIG.
[_Approaching, coaxingly._] Father.
HIALMAR.
Well—what is it, Hedvig?
HEDVIG.
Mrs. Sörby had something with her for me.
HIALMAR.
[_Stops._] For you?
HEDVIG.
Yes. Something for to-morrow.
GINA.
Bertha has always given you some little thing on your birthday.
HIALMAR.
What is it?
HEDVIG.
Oh, you mustn’t see it now. Mother is to give it to me to-morrow morning before I'm up.
HIALMAR.
What is all this hocus-pocus that I am to be kept in the dark about!
HEDVIG.
[_Quickly._] Oh no, you may see it if you like. It’s a big letter.
[_Takes the letter out of her cloak pocket._
HIALMAR.
A letter too?
HEDVIG.
Yes, it is only a letter. The rest will come afterwards, I suppose. But fancy—a letter! I've never had a letter before. And there’s “Miss” written upon it. [_Reads._] “Miss Hedvig Ekdal.” Only fancy—that’s me!
HIALMAR.
Let me see that letter.
HEDVIG.
[_Hands it to him._] There it is.
HIALMAR.
That is Mr. Werle’s hand.
GINA.
Are you sure of that, Ekdal?
HIALMAR.
Look for yourself.
GINA.
Oh, what do _I_ know about such-like things?
HIALMAR.
Hedvig, may I open the letter—and read it?
HEDVIG.
Yes, of course you may, if you want to.
GINA.
No, not to-night, Ekdal; it’s to be kept till to-morrow.
HEDVIG.
[_Softly._] Oh, can’t you let him read it! It’s sure to be something good; and then father will be glad, and everything will be nice again.
HIALMAR.
I may open it then?
HEDVIG.
Yes do, father. I'm so anxious to know what it is.
HIALMAR.
Well and good. [_Opens the letter, takes out a paper, reads it through, and appears bewildered._] What is this——!
GINA.
What does it say?
HEDVIG.
Oh yes, father—tell us!
HIALMAR.
Be quiet. [_Reads it through again; he has turned_ _pale, but says with self-control_:] It is a deed of gift, Hedvig.
HEDVIG.
Is it? What sort of gift am I to have?
HIALMAR.
Read for yourself.
[HEDVIG _goes over and reads for a time by the lamp._
HIALMAR.
[_Half-aloud, clenching his hands._] The eyes! The eyes—and then that letter!
HEDVIG.
[_Leaves off reading._] Yes, but it seems to me that it’s grandfather that’s to have it.
HIALMAR.
[_Takes the letter from her._] Gina—can you understand this?
GINA.
I know nothing whatever about it; tell me what’s the matter.
HIALMAR.
Mr. Werle writes to Hedvig that her old grandfather need not trouble himself any longer with the copying, but that he can henceforth draw on the office for a hundred crowns a month——
GREGERS.
Aha!
HEDVIG.
A hundred crowns, mother! I read that.
GINA.
What a good thing for grandfather!
HIALMAR.
——a hundred crowns a month so long as he needs it—that means, of course, so long as he lives.
GINA.
Well, so he’s provided for, poor dear.
HIALMAR.
But there is more to come. You didn’t read that, Hedvig. Afterwards this gift is to pass on to you.
HEDVIG.
To me! The whole of it?
HIALMAR.
He says that the same amount is assured to you for the whole of your life. Do you hear that, Gina?
GINA.
Yes, I hear.
HEDVIG.
Fancy—all that money for me! [_Shakes him._] Father, father, aren’t you glad——?
HIALMAR.
[_Eluding her._] Glad! [_Walks about._] Oh what vistas—what perspectives open up before me! It is Hedvig, Hedvig that he showers these benefactions upon!
GINA.
Yes, because it’s Hedvig’s birthday——
HEDVIG.
And you’ll get it all the same, father! You know quite well I shall give all the money to you and mother.
HIALMAR.
To mother, yes! There we have it.
GREGERS.
Hialmar, this is a trap he is setting for you.
HIALMAR.
Do you think it’s another trap?
GREGERS.
When he was here this morning he said: Hialmar Ekdal is not the man you imagine him to be.
HIALMAR.
Not the man——!
GREGERS.
That you shall see, he said.
HIALMAR.
He meant you should see that I would let myself be bought off——!
HEDVIG.
Oh mother, what does all this mean?
GINA.
Go and take off your things.