Part 12
Well, Miss Wangel, your room is quite ready for you now.
HILDA.
Oh, how kind you are to me!
SOLNESS.
[_To MRS. SOLNESS._] The nursery?
MRS. SOLNESS.
Yes, the middle one. But first let us go in to supper.
SOLNESS.
[_Nods to HILDA._] Hilda shall sleep in the nursery, she shall.
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Looks at him._] Hilda?
SOLNESS.
Yes, Miss Wangel’s name is Hilda. I knew her when she was a child.
MRS. SOLNESS.
Did you really, Halvard? Well, shall we go? Supper is on the table.
[_She takes_ DR. HERDAL’S _arm and goes out with him to the right._ HILDA _has meanwhile been collecting her travelling things._
HILDA.
[_Softly and rapidly to SOLNESS._] Is it true, what you said? _Can_ I be of use to you?
SOLNESS.
[_Takes the things from her._] _You_ are the very being I have needed most.
HILDA.
[_Looks at him with happy, wondering eyes and clasps her hands._] But then, great heavens——!
SOLNESS.
[_Eagerly._] What——?
HILDA.
Then I _have_ my kingdom!
SOLNESS.
[_Involuntarily._] Hilda——!
HILDA.
[_Again with the quivering twitch of her lips._] _Almost_—I was going to say.
[_She goes out to the right,_ SOLNESS _follows her._
-----
Footnote 26:
In the original “Appelsinia,” “appelsin” meaning “orange.”
ACT SECOND.
_A prettily furnished small drawing-room in_ SOLNESS’S _house. In the back, a glass-door leading out to the verandah and garden. The right-hand corner is cut off transversely by a large bay-window, in which are flower-stands. The left-hand corner is similarly cut off by a transverse wall, in which is a small door papered like the wall. On each side, an ordinary door. In front, on the right, a console table with a large mirror over it. Well-filled stands of plants and flowers. In front, on the left, a sofa with a table and chairs. Further back, a bookcase. Well forward in the room, before the bay window, a small table and some chairs. It is early in the day._
SOLNESS _sits by the little table with_ RAGNAR BROVIK’S _portfolio open in front of him. He is turning the drawings over and closely examining some of them._ MRS. SOLNESS _moves about noiselessly with a small watering-pot, attending to her flowers. She is dressed in black as before. Her hat, cloak and parasol lie on a chair near the mirror. Unobserved by her,_ SOLNESS _now and again follows her with his eyes. Neither of them speaks._
KAIA FOSLI _enters quietly by the door on the left._
SOLNESS.
[_Turns his head, and says in an off hand tone of indifference_] Well, is that you?
KAIA.
I merely wished to let you know that I have come.
SOLNESS.
Yes, yes, that’s all right. Hasn’t Ragnar come too?
KAIA.
No, not yet. He had to wait a little while to see the doctor. But he is coming presently to hear——
SOLNESS.
How is the old man to-day?
KAIA.
Not well. He begs you to excuse him; he is obliged to keep his bed to-day.
SOLNESS.
Why, of course; by all means let him rest. But now, get to your work.
KAIA.
Yes. [_Pauses at the door._] Do you wish to speak to Ragnar when he comes?
SOLNESS.
No—I don’t know that I have anything particular to say to him.
[KAIA _goes out again to the left._ SOLNESS _remains seated, turning over the drawings._
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Over beside the plants._] I wonder if he isn’t going to die now, as well?
SOLNESS.
[_Looks up at her._] As well as who?
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Without answering._] Yes, yes—depend upon it, Halvard, old Brovik is going to die too. You’ll see that he will.
SOLNESS.
My dear Aline, ought you not to go out for a little walk?
MRS. SOLNESS.
Yes, I suppose I ought to.
[_She continues to attend to the flowers._
SOLNESS.
[_Bending over the drawings._] Is she still asleep?
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Looking at him._] Is it Miss Wangel you are sitting there thinking about?
SOLNESS.
[_Indifferently._] I just happened to recollect her.
MRS. SOLNESS.
Miss Wangel was up long ago.
SOLNESS.
Oh, was she?
MRS. SOLNESS.
When I went in to see her, she was busy putting her things in order.
[_She goes in front of the mirror and slowly begins to put on her hat._
SOLNESS.
[_After a short pause._] So we have found a use for one of our nurseries after all, Aline.
MRS. SOLNESS.
Yes, we have.
SOLNESS.
That seems to me better than to have them all standing empty.
MRS. SOLNESS.
That emptiness is dreadful; you are right there.
SOLNESS.
[_Closes the portfolio, rises and approaches her._] You will find that we shall get on far better after this, Aline. Things will be more comfortable. Life will be easier—especially for _you_.
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Looks at him._] After this?
SOLNESS.
Yes, believe me, Aline——
MRS. SOLNESS.
Do you mean—because _she_ has come here?
SOLNESS.
[_Checking himself._] I mean, of course—when once we have moved into the new house.
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Takes her cloak._] Ah, do you think so, Halvard? Will it be better then?
SOLNESS.
I can’t think otherwise. And surely you think so too?
MRS. SOLNESS.
I think nothing at all about the new house.
SOLNESS.
[_Cast down._] It’s hard for me to hear you say that; for you know it is mainly for your sake that I have built it.
[_He offers to help her on with her cloak._
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Evades him._] The fact is, you do far too much for my sake.
SOLNESS.
[_With a certain vehemence._] No, no, you really mustn’t say that, Aline! I cannot bear to hear you say such things!
MRS. SOLNESS.
Very well, then I won’t say it, Halvard.
SOLNESS.
But I stick to what _I_ said. You’ll see that things will be easier for you in the new place.
MRS. SOLNESS.
Oh heavens—easier for me——
SOLNESS.
[_Eagerly._] Yes, indeed they will! You may be quite sure of that! For you see—there will be so very, very much _there_ that will remind you of your own home——
MRS. SOLNESS.
The home that used to be father’s and mother’s—and that was burnt to the ground——
SOLNESS.
[_In a low voice._] Yes, yes, my poor Aline. That was a terrible blow for you.
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Breaking out in lamentation._] You may build as much as ever you like, Halvard—you can never build up again a real home for _me_!
SOLNESS.
[_Crosses the room._] Well, in Heaven’s name, let us talk no more about it then.
MRS. SOLNESS.
We are not in the habit of talking about it. For you always put the thought away from you——
SOLNESS.
[_Stops suddenly and looks at her._] Do I? And why should I do _that_? Put the thought away from me?
MRS. SOLNESS.
Oh yes, Halvard, I understand you very well. You are so anxious to spare me—and to find excuses for me too—as much as ever you can.
SOLNESS.
[_With astonishment in his eyes._] _You!_ Is it _you_—yourself, that you are talking about Aline?
MRS. SOLNESS.
Yes, who else should it be but myself?
SOLNESS.
[Involuntarily to himself.] _That_ too!
MRS. SOLNESS.
As for the old house, I wouldn’t mind so much about that. When once misfortune was in the air—why——
SOLNESS.
Ah, you are right there. Misfortune will have its way—as the saying goes.
MRS. SOLNESS.
But it’s what came of the fire—the dreadful thing that followed——! _That_ is the thing! That, that, that!
SOLNESS.
[_Vehemently._] Don’t think about _that_, Aline!
MRS. SOLNESS.
Ah, that is exactly what I cannot help thinking about. And now, at last, I must speak about it, too; for I don’t seem able to bear it any longer. And then never to be able to forgive myself——
SOLNESS.
[_Exclaiming._] Yourself——!
MRS. SOLNESS.
Yes, for I had duties on both sides—both towards you and towards the little ones. I ought to have hardened myself—not to have let the horror take such hold upon me—nor the grief for the burning of my home. [_Wrings her hands._] Oh, Halvard, if I had only had the strength!
SOLNESS.
[_Softly, much moved, comes closer._] Aline—you must promise me never to think these thoughts any more.—Promise me that, dear!
MRS. SOLNESS.
Oh, promise, promise! One can promise anything.
SOLNESS.
[_Clenches his hands and crosses the room._] Oh, but this is hopeless, hopeless! Never a ray of sunlight! Not so much as a gleam of brightness to light up our home!
MRS. SOLNESS.
This is no home, Halvard.
SOLNESS.
Oh no, you may well say that. [_Gloomily._] And God knows whether you are not right in saying that it will be no better for us in the new house, either.
MRS. SOLNESS.
It will never be any better. Just as empty—just as desolate—there as here.
SOLNESS.
[_Vehemently._] Why in all the world have we built it then! Can you tell me that?
MRS. SOLNESS.
No; you must answer that question for yourself.
SOLNESS.
[_Glances suspiciously at her._] What do you mean by _that_, Aline?
MRS. SOLNESS.
What do I mean?
SOLNESS.
Yes, in the devil’s name! You said it so strangely—as if you had some hidden meaning in it.
MRS. SOLNESS.
No, indeed, I assure you——
SOLNESS.
[_Comes closer._] Oh, come now—I know what I know. I have both my eyes and my ears about me, Aline—you may depend upon that!
MRS. SOLNESS.
Why, what are you talking about? What is it?
SOLNESS.
[_Places himself in front of her._] Do you mean to say you don’t find a kind of lurking, hidden meaning in the most innocent word I happen to say?
MRS. SOLNESS.
_I_, do you say? _I_ do that?
SOLNESS.
[_Laughs._] Ho-ho-ho! It’s natural enough, Aline! When you have a sick man on your hands——
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Anxiously._] _Sick?_ Are you ill, Halvard?
SOLNESS.
[_Violently._] A half-mad man then! A crazy man! Call me what you will.
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Feels blindly for a chair and sits down._] Halvard—for God’s sake——
SOLNESS.
But you are wrong, both you and the doctor. I am not in the state you imagine.
[_He walks up and down the room._ MRS. SOLNESS _follows him anxiously with her eyes. Finally he goes up to her._
SOLNESS.
[_Calmly._] In reality there is nothing whatever the matter with me.
MRS. SOLNESS.
No, there isn’t, is there? But then what is it that troubles you so?
SOLNESS.
Why _this_, that I often feel ready to sink under this terrible burden of debt——
MRS. SOLNESS.
Debt, do you say? But you owe no one anything, Halvard!
SOLNESS.
[_Softly, with emotion._] I owe a boundless debt to you—to you—to you, Aline.
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Rises slowly._] What is behind all this? You may just as well tell me at once.
SOLNESS.
But there is nothing behind it! I have never done you any wrong—not wittingly and wilfully, at any rate. And yet—and yet it seems as though a crushing debt rested upon me and weighed me down.
MRS. SOLNESS.
A debt to me?
SOLNESS.
Chiefly to you.
MRS. SOLNESS.
Then you are—ill after all, Halvard.
SOLNESS.
[_Gloomily._] I suppose I must be—or not far from it. [_Looks towards the door to the right, which is opened at this moment._] Ah! now it grows lighter.
HILDA WANGEL _comes in. She has made some alteration in her dress, and let down her skirt._
HILDA.
Good morning, Mr. Solness!
SOLNESS.
[_Nods._] Slept well?
HILDA.
Quite deliciously! Like a child in a cradle. Oh—I lay and stretched myself like—like a princess!
SOLNESS.
[_Smiles a little._] You were thoroughly comfortable then?
HILDA.
I should think so.
SOLNESS.
And no doubt you dreamed, too.
HILDA.
Yes, I did. But _that_ was horrid.
SOLNESS.
Was it?
HILDA.
Yes, for I dreamed I was falling over a frightfully high, sheer precipice. Do you never have that kind of dream?
SOLNESS.
Oh yes—now and then——
HILDA.
It’s tremendously thrilling—when you fall and fall——
SOLNESS.
It seems to make one’s blood run cold.
HILDA.
Do you draw your legs up under you while you are falling?
SOLNESS.
Yes, as high as ever I can.
HILDA.
So do I.
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Takes her parasol._] I must go into town now, Halvard. [_To HILDA._] And I’ll try to get one or two things that you may require.
HILDA.
[_Making a motion to throw her arms round her neck._] Oh, you dear, sweet Mrs. Solness! You are really much too kind to me! Frightfully kind——
MRS. SOLNESS.
[_Deprecatingly, freeing herself._] Oh, not at all. It’s only my duty, so I am very glad to do it.
HILDA.
[_Offended, pouts._] But really, I think I am quite fit to be seen in the streets—now that I’ve put my dress to rights. Or do you think I am not?
MRS. SOLNESS.
To tell you the truth, I think people would stare at you a little.
HILDA.
[_Contemptuously._] Pooh! Is that all? That only amuses me.
SOLNESS.
[_With suppressed ill-humour._] Yes, but people might take it into their heads that _you_ were mad too, you see.
HILDA.
Mad? Are there so many mad people here in town, then?
SOLNESS.
[_Points to his own forehead._] Here you see _one_ at all events.
HILDA.
You—Mr. Solness!
MRS. SOLNESS.
Oh, don’t talk like that, my dear Halvard!
SOLNESS.
Have you not noticed _that_ yet?
HILDA.
No, I certainly have not. [_Reflects and laughs a little._] And yet—perhaps in one single thing.
SOLNESS.
Ah, do you hear _that_, Aline?
MRS. SOLNESS.
What is that one single thing, Miss Wangel?
HILDA.
No, I won’t say.
SOLNESS.
Oh yes, do!
HILDA.
No thank you—I am not so mad as that.
MRS. SOLNESS.
When you and Miss Wangel are alone, I daresay she will tell you, Halvard.
SOLNESS.
Ah—you think she will?
MRS. SOLNESS.
Oh yes, certainly. For you have known her so well in the past. Ever since she was a child—you tell me.
[_She goes out by the door on the left._
HILDA.
[_After a little while._] Does your wife dislike me very much?
SOLNESS.
Did you think you noticed anything of the kind?
HILDA.
Did you not notice it yourself?
SOLNESS.
[_Evasively._] Aline has become exceedingly shy with strangers of late years.
HILDA.
Has she really?
SOLNESS.
But if only you could get to know her thoroughly——! Ah, she is so good—so kind—so excellent a creature——
HILDA.
[_Impatiently._] But if she is all that—what made her say that about her duty?
SOLNESS.
Her duty?
HILDA.
She said that she would go out and buy something for me, because it was her _duty_. Oh I can’t bear that ugly, horrid word!
SOLNESS.
Why not?
HILDA.
It sounds so cold, and sharp, and stinging. Duty—duty—duty. Don’t _you_ think so, too? Doesn’t it seem to sting you?
SOLNESS.
H’m—haven’t thought much about it.
HILDA.
Yes, it does. And if she is so good—as you say she is—why should she talk in that way?
SOLNESS.
But, good Lord, what would you have had her say, then?
HILDA.
She might have said she would do it because she had taken a tremendous fancy to me. She might have said something like that—something really warm and cordial, you understand.
SOLNESS.
[_Looks at her._] Is that how you would like to have it?
HILDA.
Yes, precisely. [_She wanders about the room, stops at the bookcase and looks at the books._] What a lot of books you have.
SOLNESS.
Yes, I have got together a good many.
HILDA.
Do you read them all, too?
SOLNESS.
I used to try to. Do you read much?
HILDA.
No, never! I have given it up. For it all seems so irrelevant.
SOLNESS.
That is just my feeling.
[HILDA _wanders about a little, stops at the small table, opens the portfolio and turns over the contents._
HILDA.
Are all these drawings yours?
SOLNESS.
No, they are drawn by a young man whom I employ to help me.
HILDA.
Some one you have taught?
SOLNESS.
Oh yes, no doubt he has learnt something from _me_, too.
HILDA.
[_Sits down._] Then I suppose he is very clever. [_Looks at a drawing._] Isn’t he?
SOLNESS.
Oh, he might be worse. For _my_ purpose——
HILDA.
Oh yes—I’m sure he is frightfully clever.
SOLNESS.
Do you think you can see that in the drawings?
HILDA.
Pooh—these scrawlings! But if he has been learning from _you_——
SOLNESS.
Oh, so far as that goes——there are plenty of people here that have learnt from _me_, and have come to little enough for all that.
HILDA.
[_Looks at him and shakes her head._] No, I can’t for the life of me understand how you can be so stupid.
SOLNESS.
Stupid? Do you think I am so very stupid?
HILDA.
Yes, I do indeed. If you are content to go about here teaching all these people——
SOLNESS.
[_With a slight start._] Well, and why not?
HILDA.
[_Rises, half serious, half laughing._] No indeed, Mr. Solness! What can be the good of that? No one but _you_ should be allowed to build. You should stand quite alone—do it all yourself. Now you know it.
SOLNESS.
[_Involuntarily._] Hilda——!
HILDA.
Well!
SOLNESS.
How in the world did _that_ come into your head?
HILDA.
Do you think I am so very far wrong then?
SOLNESS.
No, that’s not what I mean. But now I’ll tell you something.
HILDA.
Well?
SOLNESS.
I keep on—incessantly—in silence and alone—brooding on that very thought.
HILDA.
Yes, that seems to me perfectly natural.
SOLNESS.
[_Looks somewhat searchingly at her._] Perhaps you have noticed it already?
HILDA.
No, indeed I haven’t.
SOLNESS.
But just now—when you said you thought I was—off my balance? In one thing, you said——
HILDA.
Oh, I was thinking of something quite different.
SOLNESS.
What was it?
HILDA.
I am not going to tell you.
SOLNESS.
[_Crosses the room._] Well, well—as you please. [_Stops at the bow-window._] Come here, and I will show you something.
HILDA.
[_Approaching._] What is it?
SOLNESS.
Do you see—over there in the garden——?
HILDA.
Yes?
SOLNESS.
[_Points._] Right above the great quarry——?
HILDA.
That new house, you mean?
SOLNESS.
The one that is being built, yes. Almost finished.
HILDA.
It seems to have a very high tower.
SOLNESS.
The scaffolding is still up.
HILDA.
Is that your new house?
SOLNESS.
Yes.
HILDA.
The house you are soon going to move into?
SOLNESS.
Yes.
HILDA.
[_Looks at him._] Are there nurseries in _that_ house, too?
SOLNESS.
Three, as there are here.
HILDA.
And no child.
SOLNESS.
And there never will be one.
HILDA.
[_With a half-smile._] Well, isn’t it just as I said——?
SOLNESS.
That——?
HILDA.
That you _are_ a little—a little mad after all.
SOLNESS.
Was that what you were thinking of?
HILDA.
Yes, of all the empty nurseries I slept in.
SOLNESS.
[_Lowers his voice._] We _have_ had children—Aline and I.
HILDA.
[_Looks eagerly at him._] Have you——?
SOLNESS.
Two little boys. They were of the same age.
HILDA.
Twins, then.
SOLNESS.
Yes, twins. It’s eleven or twelve years ago now.
HILDA.
[_Cautiously._] And so both of them——? You have lost both the twins, then?
SOLNESS.
[_With quiet emotion._] We kept them only about three weeks. Or scarcely so much. [_Bursts forth._] Oh, Hilda, I can’t tell you what a good thing it is for me that you have come! For now at last I have some one I can talk to!
HILDA.
Can you not talk to—_her_, too?
SOLNESS.
Not about this. Not as I want to talk and must talk. [_Gloomily._] And not about so many other things, either.
HILDA.
[_In a subdued voice._] Was that all you meant when you said you needed me?
SOLNESS.
That was mainly what I meant—at all events, yesterday. For to-day I am not so sure—[_Breaking off._] Come here and let us sit down, Hilda. Sit there on the sofa—so that you can look into the garden. [_HILDA seats herself in the corner of the sofa. SOLNESS brings a chair closer._] Should you like to hear about it?
HILDA.
Yes, I shall love to sit and listen to you.
SOLNESS.
[_Sits down._] Then I will tell you all about it.
HILDA.
Now I can see both the garden and you, Mr. Solness. So now, tell away! Begin!
SOLNESS.
[_Points towards the bow-window._] Out there on the rising ground—where you see the new house——
HILDA.
Yes?
SOLNESS.
Aline and I lived there in the first years of our married life. There was an old house up there that had belonged to her mother; and we inherited it, and the whole of the great garden with it.
HILDA.
Was there a tower on _that_ house, too?
SOLNESS.
No, nothing of the kind. From the outside it looked like a great, dark, ugly wooden box; but all the same, it was snug and comfortable enough inside.
HILDA.
Then did you pull down the ramshackle old place?
SOLNESS.
No, it was burnt down.
HILDA.
The whole of it?
SOLNESS.
Yes.
HILDA.
Was that a great misfortune for you?
SOLNESS.
That depends on how you look at it. As a builder, the fire was the making of me——
HILDA.
Well, but——?
SOLNESS.
It was just after the birth of the two little boys——
HILDA.
The poor little twins, yes.
SOLNESS.
They came healthy and bonny into the world. And they were growing too—you could see the difference from day to day.
HILDA.
Little children do grow quickly at first.
SOLNESS.
It was the prettiest sight in the world to see Aline lying with the two of them in her arms.—But then came the night of the fire——
HILDA.
[_Excitedly._] What happened? Do tell me! Was any one burnt?
SOLNESS.
No, not that. Every one got safe and sound out of the house——
HILDA.
Well, and what then——?
SOLNESS.
The fright had shaken Aline terribly. The alarm—the escape—the break-neck hurry—and then the ice-cold night air—for they had to be carried out just as they lay—both she and the little ones.
HILDA.
Was it too much for them?
SOLNESS.
Oh no, _they_ stood it well enough. But Aline fell into a fever, and it affected her milk. She would insist on nursing them herself; because it was her duty, she said. And both our little boys, they—[_Clenching his hands._]—they—oh!
HILDA.
They did not get over _that_?
SOLNESS.
No, _that_ they did not get over. _That_ was how we lost them.
HILDA.
It must have been terribly hard for you.
SOLNESS.
Hard enough for me; but ten times harder for Aline. [_Clenching his hands in suppressed fury._] Oh, that such things should be allowed to happen here in the world! [_Shortly and firmly._] From the day I lost them, I had no heart for building churches.
HILDA.
Did you not like building the church-tower in our town?
SOLNESS.
I didn’t like it. I know how free and happy I felt when that tower was finished.
HILDA.
_I_ know that, too.
SOLNESS.
And now I shall never—never build anything of that sort again! Neither churches nor church-towers.
HILDA.
[_Nods slowly._] Nothing but houses for people to live in.
SOLNESS.
Homes for human beings, Hilda.
HILDA.
But homes with high towers and pinnacles upon them.
SOLNESS.
If possible. [_Adopts a lighter tone._] But, as I said before, that fire was the making of me—as a builder, I mean.
HILDA.
Why don’t you call yourself an architect, like the others?
SOLNESS.
I have not been systematically enough taught for that. Most of what I know I have found out for myself.
HILDA.
But you succeeded all the same.
SOLNESS.
Yes, thanks to the fire. I laid out almost the whole of the garden in villa lots; and _there_ I was able to build after my own heart. So I came to the front with a rush.
HILDA.
[_Looks keenly at him._] You must surely be a very happy man, as matters stand with you.
SOLNESS.
[_Gloomily._] Happy? Do _you_ say that, too—like all the rest of them?
HILDA.
Yes, I should say you must be. If you could only cease thinking about the two little children——
SOLNESS.
[_Slowly._] The two little children—they are not so easy to forget, Hilda.
HILDA.