Part 9
[_In a clear voice._] At last a deed worth doing!
TESMAN.
[_Terrified._] Good heavens, Hedda! what are you saying?
HEDDA.
I say there is beauty in this.
BRACK.
H’m, Mrs. Tesman——
TESMAN.
Beauty! Fancy that!
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh, Hedda, how can you talk of beauty in such an act!
HEDDA.
Eilert Lövborg has himself made up his account with life. He has had the courage to do—the one right thing.
MRS. ELVSTED.
No, you must never think _that_ was how it happened! It must have been in delirium that he did it.
TESMAN.
In despair!
HEDDA.
That he did not. I am certain of that.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes, yes! In delirium! Just as when he tore up our manuscript.
BRACK.
[_Starting._] The manuscript? Has he torn that up?
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes, last night.
TESMAN.
[_Whispers softly._] Oh, Hedda, we shall never get over this.
BRACK.
H’m, very extraordinary.
TESMAN.
[_Moving about the room._] To think of Eilert going out of the world in this way! And not leaving behind him the book that would have immortalised his name——
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh, if only it could be put together again!
TESMAN.
Yes, if it only could! I don’t know what I would not give——
MRS. ELVSTED.
Perhaps it can, Mr. Tesman.
TESMAN.
What do you mean?
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Searches in the pocket of her dress._] Look here. I have kept all the loose notes he used to dictate from.
HEDDA.
[_A step forward._] Ah——!
TESMAN.
You have kept them, Mrs. Elvsted! Eh?
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes, I have them here. I put them in my pocket when I left home. Here they still are——
TESMAN.
Oh, do let me see them!
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Hands him a bundle of papers._] But they are in such disorder—all mixed up.
TESMAN.
Fancy, if we could make something out of them, after all! Perhaps if we two put our heads together——
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh yes, at least let us try——
TESMAN.
We _will_ manage it! We _must_! I will dedicate my life to this task
HEDDA.
You, George? Your life?
TESMAN.
Yes, or rather all the time I can spare. My own collections must wait in the meantime. Hedda—you understand, eh? I owe this to Eilert’s memory.
HEDDA.
Perhaps.
TESMAN.
And so, my dear Mrs. Elvsted, we will give our whole minds to it. There is no use in brooding over what can’t be undone—eh? We must try to control our grief as much as possible, and——
MRS. ELVSTED.
Yes, yes, Mr. Tesman, I will do the best I can.
TESMAN.
Well then, come here. I can’t rest until we have looked through the notes. Where shall we sit? Here? No, in there, in the back room. Excuse me, my dear Judge. Come with me, Mrs. Elvsted.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh, if only it were possible!
[TESMAN _and_ MRS. ELVSTED _go into the back room. She takes off her hat and cloak. They both sit at the table under the hanging lamp, and are soon deep in an eager examination of the papers._ HEDDA _crosses to the stove and sits in the arm-chair. Presently BRACK goes up to her._
HEDDA.
[_In a low voice._] Oh, what a sense of freedom it gives one, this act of Eilert Lövborg’s.
BRACK.
Freedom, Mrs. Hedda? Well, of course, it is a release for him——
HEDDA.
I mean for me. It gives me a sense of freedom to know that a deed of deliberate courage is still possible in this world,—a deed of spontaneous beauty.
BRACK.
[_Smiling._] H’m—my dear Mrs. Hedda——
HEDDA.
Oh, I know what you are going to say. For you are a kind of specialist too, like—you know!
BRACK.
[_Looking hard at her._] Eilert Lövborg was more to you than perhaps you are willing to admit to yourself. Am I wrong?
HEDDA.
I don’t answer such questions. I only know that Eilert Lövborg has had the courage to live his life after his own fashion. And then—the last great act, with its beauty! Ah! that he should have the will and the strength to turn away from the banquet of life—so early.
BRACK.
I am sorry, Mrs. Hedda,—but I fear I must dispel an amiable illusion.
HEDDA.
Illusion?
BRACK.
Which could not have lasted long in any case.
HEDDA.
What do you mean?
BRACK.
Eilert Lövborg did not shoot himself—voluntarily.
HEDDA.
Not voluntarily?
BRACK.
No. The thing did not happen exactly as I told it.
HEDDA.
[_In suspense._] Have you concealed something? What is it?
BRACK.
For poor Mrs. Elvsted’s sake I idealised the facts a little.
HEDDA.
What _are_ the facts?
BRACK.
First, that he is already dead.
HEDDA.
At the hospital?
BRACK.
Yes—without regaining consciousness.
HEDDA.
What more have you concealed?
BRACK.
This—the event did not happen at his lodgings.
HEDDA.
Oh, that can make no difference.
BRACK.
Perhaps it may. For I must tell you—Eilert Lövborg was found shot in—in Mademoiselle Diana’s boudoir.
HEDDA.
[_Makes a motion as if to rise, but sinks back again._] That is impossible, Judge Brack! He cannot have been _there_ again to-day.
BRACK.
He was there this afternoon. He went there, he said, to demand the return of something which they had taken from him. Talked wildly about a lost child——
HEDDA.
Ah—so that was why——
BRACK.
I thought probably he meant his manuscript; but now I hear he destroyed that himself. So I suppose it must have been his pocket-book.
HEDDA.
Yes, no doubt. And there—there he was found?
BRACK.
Yes, there. With a pistol in his breast-pocket, discharged. The ball had lodged in a vital part.
HEDDA.
In the breast—yes.
BRACK.
No—in the bowels.
HEDDA.
[_Looks up at him with an expression of loathing._] That too! Oh, what curse is it that makes everything I touch turn ludicrous and mean?
BRACK.
There is one point more, Mrs. Hedda—another disagreeable feature in the affair.
HEDDA.
And what is that?
BRACK.
The pistol he carried——
HEDDA.
[_Breathless._] Well? What of it?
BRACK.
He must have stolen it.
HEDDA.
[_Leaps up._] Stolen it! That is not true! He did not steal it!
BRACK.
No other explanation is possible. He _must_ have stolen it——. Hush!
TESMAN _and_ MRS. ELVSTED _have risen from the table in the back room, and come into the drawing-room._
TESMAN.
[_With the papers in both his hands._] Hedda dear, it is almost impossible to see under that lamp. Think of that!
HEDDA.
Yes, I am thinking.
TESMAN.
Would you mind our sitting at your writing-table—eh?
HEDDA.
If you like. [_Quickly._] No, wait! Let me clear it first!
TESMAN.
Oh, you needn’t trouble, Hedda. There is plenty of room.
HEDDA.
No no, let me clear it, I say! I will take these things in and put them on the piano. There!
[_She has drawn out an object, covered with sheet music, from under the bookcase, places several other pieces of music upon it, and carries the whole into the inner room, to the left._ TESMAN _lays the scraps of paper on the writing-table, and moves the lamp there from the corner table. He and_ MRS. ELVSTED _sit down and proceed with their work._ HEDDA _returns._
HEDDA.
[_Behind_ MRS. ELVSTED’S _chair, gently ruffling her hair._] Well, my sweet Thea,—how goes it with Eilert Lövborg’s monument?
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Looks dispiritedly up at her._] Oh, it will be terribly hard to put in order.
TESMAN.
We _must_ manage it. I am determined. And arranging other people’s papers is just the work for me.
[HEDDA _goes over to the stove, and seats herself on one of the footstools._ BRACK _stands over her, leaning on the arm-chair._
HEDDA.
[_Whispers._] What did you say about the pistol?
BRACK.
[_Softly._] That he must have stolen it.
HEDDA.
Why stolen it?
BRACK.
Because every other explanation _ought_ to be impossible, Mrs. Hedda.
HEDDA.
Indeed?
BRACK.
[_Glances at her._] Of course Eilert Lövborg was here this morning. Was he not?
HEDDA.
Yes.
BRACK.
Were you alone with him?
HEDDA.
Part of the time.
BRACK.
Did you not leave the room whilst he was here?
HEDDA.
No.
BRACK.
Try to recollect. Were you not out of the room a moment?
HEDDA.
Yes, perhaps just a moment—out in the hall.
BRACK.
And where was your pistol case during that time?
HEDDA.
I had it locked up in——
BRACK.
Well, Mrs. Hedda?
HEDDA.
The case stood there on the writing-table.
BRACK.
Have you looked since, to see whether both the pistols are there?
HEDDA.
No.
BRACK.
Well, you need not. I saw the pistol found in Lövborg’s pocket, and I knew it at once as the one I had seen yesterday—and before, too.
HEDDA.
Have you it with you?
BRACK.
No; the police have it.
HEDDA.
What will the police do with it?
BRACK.
Search till they find the owner.
HEDDA.
Do you think they will succeed?
BRACK.
[_Bends over her and whispers._] No, Hedda Gabler—not so long as I say nothing.
HEDDA.
[_Looks frightened at him._] And if you do not say nothing,—what then?
BRACK.
[_Shrugs his shoulders._] There is always the possibility that the pistol was stolen.
HEDDA.
[_Firmly._] Death rather than that.
BRACK.
[_Smiling._] People say such things—but they don’t do them.
HEDDA.
[_Without replying._] And supposing the pistol was not stolen, and the owner is discovered? What then?
BRACK.
Well, Hedda—then comes the scandal.
HEDDA.
The scandal!
BRACK.
Yes, the scandal—of which you are so mortally afraid. You will, of course, be brought before the court—both you and Mademoiselle Diana. She will have to explain how the thing happened—whether it was an accidental shot or murder. Did the pistol go off as he was trying to take it out of his pocket, to threaten her with? Or did she tear the pistol out of his hand, shoot him, and push it back into his pocket? That would be quite like her; for she is an able-bodied young person, this same Mademoiselle Diana.
HEDDA.
But _I_ have nothing to do with all this repulsive business.
BRACK.
No. But you will have to answer the question: Why did you give Eilert Lövborg the pistol? And what conclusions will people draw from the fact that you did give it to him?
HEDDA.
[_Lets her head sink._] That is true. I did not think of that.
BRACK.
Well, fortunately, there is no danger, so long as I say nothing.
HEDDA.
[_Looks up at him._] So I am in your power, Judge Brack. You have me at your beck and call, from this time forward.
BRACK.
[Whispers softly.] Dearest Hedda—believe me—I shall not abuse my advantage.
HEDDA.
I am in your power none the less. Subject to your will and your demands. A slave, a slave then! [_Rises impetuously._] No, I cannot endure the thought of that! Never!
BRACK.
[_Looks half-mockingly at her._] People generally get used to the inevitable.
HEDDA.
[_Returns his look._] Yes, perhaps. [_She crosses to the writing-table. Suppressing an involuntary smile, she imitates TESMAN’S intonations._] Well? Are you getting on, George? Eh?
TESMAN.
Heaven knows, dear. In any case it will be the work of months.
HEDDA.
[_As before._] Fancy that! [_Passes her hands softly through MRS. ELVSTED’S hair._] Doesn’t it seem strange to you, Thea? Here are you sitting with Tesman—just as you used to sit with Eilert Lövborg?
MRS. ELVSTED.
Ah, if I could only inspire your husband in the same way!
HEDDA.
Oh, that will come too—in time.
TESMAN.
Yes, do you know, Hedda—I really think I begin to feel something of the sort. But won’t you go and sit with Brack again?
HEDDA.
Is there nothing I can do to help you two?
TESMAN.
No, nothing in the world. [_Turning his head._] I trust to you to keep Hedda company, my dear Brack!
BRACK.
[_With a glance at HEDDA._] With the very greatest of pleasure.
HEDDA.
Thanks. But I am tired this evening. I will go in and lie down a little on the sofa.
TESMAN.
Yes, do dear—eh?
[HEDDA _goes into the back room and draws the curtains. A short pause. Suddenly she is heard playing a wild dance on the piano._
MRS. ELVSTED.
[_Starts from her chair._] Oh—what is that?
TESMAN.
[_Runs to the doorway._] Why, my dearest Hedda—don’t play dance-music to-night! Just think of Aunt Rina! And of Eilert too!
HEDDA.
[_Puts her head out between the curtains._] And of Aunt Julia. And of all the rest of them.—After this, I will be quiet. [_Closes the curtains again._]
TESMAN.
[_At the writing-table._] It’s not good for her to see us at this distressing work. I’ll tell you what, Mrs. Elvsted,—you shall take the empty room at Aunt Julia’s, and then I will come over in the evenings, and we can sit and work _there_—eh?
HEDDA.
[_In the inner room._] I hear what you are saying, Tesman. But how am _I_ to get through the evenings out here?
TESMAN.
[_Turning over the papers._] Oh, I daresay Judge Brack will be so kind as to look in now and then, even though I am out.
BRACK.
[_In the arm-chair, calls out gaily._] Every blessëd evening, with all the pleasure in life, Mrs. Tesman! We shall get on capitally together, we two!
HEDDA.
[_Speaking loud and clear._] Yes, don’t you flatter yourself we will, Judge Brack? Now that you are the one cock in the basket——
[_A shot is heard within._ TESMAN, MRS. ELVSTED, _and_ BRACK _leap to their feet._
TESMAN.
Oh, now she is playing with those pistols again.
[_He throws back the curtains and runs in, followed by_ MRS. ELVSTED. HEDDA _lies stretched on the sofa, lifeless. Confusion and cries._ BERTA _enters in alarm from the right._
TESMAN.
[_Shrieks to BRACK._] Shot herself! Shot herself in the temple! Fancy that!
BRACK.
[_Half-fainting in the arm-chair._] Good God!—people don’t _do_ such things.
-----
Footnote 13:
Pronounce _Reena_.
Footnote 14:
In the original, ”Statsrådinde Falks villa“—showing that it had belonged to the widow of a cabinet minister.
Footnote 15:
_Du_ = thou; Tesman means, “If you could persuade yourself to _tutoyer_ her.”
Footnote 16:
See footnote, p. 27.
Footnote 17:
Pronounce _Tora_ and _Taya_.
Footnote 18:
Mrs. Elvsted here uses the formal pronoun _De_, whereupon Hedda rebukes her. In her next speech Mrs. Elvsted says _du_.
Footnote 19:
“Bagveje” means both “back ways” and “underhand courses.”
Footnote 20:
As this form of address is contrary to English usage, and as the note of familiarity would be lacking in “Mrs. Tesman,” Brack may, in stage representation, say “Miss Hedda,” thus ignoring her marriage and reverting to the form of address no doubt customary between them of old.
Footnote 21:
He uses the familiar _du_.
Footnote 22:
From this point onward Lövborg uses the formal _De_.
Footnote 23:
In this speech he once more says _du_. Hedda addresses him throughout as _De_.
Footnote 24:
”Eneste hane i kurven“—a proverbial saying.
Footnote 25:
Literally, “That you burn for me.”
THE MASTER BUILDER
(1892)
CHARACTERS
HALVARD SOLNESS, _Master Builder_. ALINE SOLNESS, _his wife_. DOCTOR HERDAL, _physician_. KNUT BROVIK, _formerly an architect, now in_ SOLNESS’S employment. RAGNAR BROVIK, _his son, draughtsman_. KAIA FOSLI, _his niece, book-keeper_. MISS HILDA WANGEL. _Some Ladies._ _A Crowd in the street._
_The action passes in and about SOLNESS’S house._
THE MASTER BUILDER.
PLAY IN THREE ACTS.
-------
ACT FIRST.
_A plainly-furnished work-room in the house of_ HALVARD SOLNESS. _Folding doors on the left lead out to the hall. On the right is the door leading to the inner rooms of the house. At the back is an open door into the draughtsmen’s office. In front, on the left, a desk with books, papers and writing materials. Further back than the folding door, a stove. In the right-hand corner, a sofa, a table, and one or two chairs. On the table a water-bottle and glass. A smaller table, with a rocking-chair and arm-chair, in front on the right. Lighted lamps, with shades, on the table in the draughtsmen’s office, on the table in the corner, and on the desk._
_In the draughtsmen’s office sit_ KNUT BROVIK _and his son_ RAGNAR, _occupied with plans and calculations. At the desk in the outer office stands_ KAIA FOSLI, _writing in the ledger._ KNUT BROVICK _is a spare old man with white hair and beard. He wears a rather threadbare but well-brushed black coat, spectacles, and a somewhat discoloured white neckcloth._ RAGNAR BROVIK _is a well-dressed, light-haired man in his thirties, with a slight stoop._ KAIA FOSLI _is a slightly built girl, a little over twenty, carefully dressed, and delicate-looking. She has a green shade over her eyes.—All three go on working for some time in silence._
KNUT BROVIK.
[_Rises suddenly, as if in distress, from the table; breathes heavily and laboriously as he comes forward into the doorway._] No, I can’t bear it much longer!
KAIA.
[_Going up to him._] You are feeling very ill this evening, are you not, uncle?
BROVIK.
Oh, I seem to get worse every day.
RAGNAR.
[_Has risen and advances._] You ought to go home, father. Try to get a little sleep——
BROVIK.
[_Impatiently._] Go to bed, I suppose? Would you have me stifled outright?
KAIA.
Then take a little walk.
RAGNAR.
Yes, do. I will come with you.
BROVIK.
[_With warmth._] I will not go till he comes! I am determined to have it out this evening with—[_in a tone of suppressed bitterness_]—with him—with the chief.
KAIA.
[_Anxiously._] Oh no, uncle,—do wait awhile before doing _that_!
RAGNAR.
Yes, better wait, father!
BROVIK.
[_Draws his breath laboriously._] Ha—ha—! _I_ haven’t much time for waiting.
KAIA.
[_Listening._] Hush! I hear him on the stairs.
[_All three go back to their work. A short silence._
HALVARD SOLNESS _comes in through the hall door. He is a man no longer young, but healthy and vigorous, with close-cut curly hair, dark moustache and dark thick eyebrows. He wears a greyish-green buttoned jacket with an upstanding collar and broad lappels. On his head he wears a soft grey felt hat, and he has one or two light portfolios under his arm._
SOLNESS.
[_Near the door, points towards the draughtsmen’s office, and asks in a whisper_:] Are they gone?
KAIA.
[_Softly, shaking her head._] No.
[_She takes the shade off her eyes._ SOLNESS _crosses the room, throws his hat on a chair, places the portfolios on the table by the sofa, and approaches the desk again._ KAIA _goes on writing without intermission, but seems nervous and uneasy._
SOLNESS.
[_Aloud._] What is that you are entering, Miss Fosli?
KAIA.
[_Starts._] Oh, it is only something that——
SOLNESS.
Let me look at it, Miss Fosli. [_Bends over her, pretends to be looking into the ledger, and whispers_:] Kaia!
KAIA.
[_Softly, still writing._] Well?
SOLNESS.
Why do you always take that shade off when I come?
KAIA.
[_As before._] I look so ugly with it on.
SOLNESS.
[_Smiling._] Then you don’t like to look ugly, Kaia?
KAIA.
[_Half glancing up at him._] Not for all the world. Not in _your_ eyes.
SOLNESS.
[_Strokes her hair gently._] Poor, poor little Kaia——
KAIA.
[_Bending her head._] Hush—they can hear you!
[SOLNESS _strolls across the room to the right, turns and pauses at the door of the draughtsmen’s office._
SOLNESS.
Has any one been here for me?
RAGNAR.
[_Rising._] Yes, the young couple who want a villa built, out at Lövstrand.
SOLNESS.
[_Growling._] Oh, _those_ two! _They_ must wait. I am not quite clear about the plans yet.
RAGNAR.
[_Advancing, with some hesitation._] They were very anxious to have the drawings at once.
SOLNESS.
[_As before._] Yes, of course—so they all are.
BROVIK.
[_Looks up._] They say they are longing so to get into a house of their own.
SOLNESS.
Yes, yes—we know all _that_! And so they are content to take whatever is offered them. They get a—a roof over their heads—an address—but nothing to call a home. No thank you! In that case, let them apply to somebody else. Tell them _that_, the next time they call.
BROVIK.
[_Pushes his glasses up on to his forehead and looks in astonishment at him._] To somebody else? Are you prepared to give up the commission?
SOLNESS.
[_Impatiently._] Yes, yes, yes, devil take it! If that is to be the way of it——. Rather that, than build away at random. [_Vehemently._] Besides, I know very little about these people as yet.
BROVIK.
The people are safe enough. Ragnar knows them. He is a friend of the family. Perfectly safe people.
SOLNESS.
Oh, safe—safe enough! That is not at all what I mean. Good lord—don’t _you_ understand me either? [_Angrily._] I won’t have anything to do with these strangers. They may apply to whom they please, so far as I am concerned.
BROVIK.
[_Rising._] Do you really mean _that_?
SOLNESS.
[_Sulkily._] Yes I do.—For once in a way.
[_He comes forward._
[BROVIK _exchanges a glance with_ RAGNAR, _who makes a warning gesture. Then_ BROVIK _comes into the front room._
BROVIK.
May I have a few words with you?
SOLNESS.
Certainly.
BROVIK.
[_To KAIA._] Just go in there for a moment, KAIA.
KAIA.
[_Uneasily._] Oh, but uncle——
BROVIK.
Do as I say, child. And shut the door after you.
[KAIA _goes reluctantly into the draughtsmen’s office, glances anxiously and imploringly at_ SOLNESS, _and shuts the door._
BROVIK.
[_Lowering his voice a little._] I don’t want the poor children to know how ill I am.
SOLNESS.
Yes, you have been looking very poorly of late.
BROVIK.
It will soon be all over with me. My strength is ebbing—from day to day.
SOLNESS.
Won’t you sit down?
BROVIK.
Thanks—may I?
SOLNESS.
[_Placing the arm-chair more conveniently._] Here—take this chair.—And now?
BROVIK.
[_Has seated himself with difficulty._] Well, you see, it’s about Ragnar. That is what weighs most upon me. What is to become of him?
SOLNESS.
Of course your son will stay with me as long as ever he likes.
BROVIK.
But that is just what he does not like. He feels that he cannot stay here any longer.
SOLNESS.
Why, I should say he was very well off here. But if he wants more money, I should not mind——
BROVIK.
No, no! It is not _that_. [_Impatiently._] But sooner or later he, too, must have a chance of doing something on his own account.
SOLNESS.
[_Without looking at him._] Do you think that Ragnar has quite talent enough to stand alone?
BROVIK.
No, that is just the heartbreaking part of it—I have begun to have my doubts about the boy. For you have never said so much as—as one encouraging word about him. And yet I cannot but think there must be something in him—he _can’t_ be without talent.
SOLNESS.
Well, but he has learnt nothing—nothing thoroughly, I mean. Except, of course, to draw.
BROVIK.
[_Looks at him with covert hatred, and says hoarsely._] _You_ had learned little enough of the business when you were in my employment. But that did not prevent you from setting to work—[_breathing with difficulty_]—and pushing your way up, and taking the wind out of my sails—mine, and so many other people’s.
SOLNESS.
Yes, you see—circumstances favoured me.
BROVIK.
You are right there. Everything favoured you. But then how can you have the heart to let me go to my grave—without having seen what Ragnar is fit for? And of course I am anxious to see them married, too—before I go.
SOLNESS.
[_Sharply._] Is it she who wishes it?
BROVIK.
Not Kaia so much as Ragnar—he talks about it everyday. [_Appealingly._] You must—you _must_ help him to get some independent work now! I _must_ see something that the lad has done. Do you hear?
SOLNESS.
[_Peevishly._] Hang it, man, you can’t expect me to drag commissions down from the moon for him!
BROVIK.
He has the chance of a capital commission at this very moment. A big bit of work.
SOLNESS.
[_Uneasily, startled._] Has he?
BROVIK.
If _you_ would give your consent.
SOLNESS.
What sort of work do you mean?
BROVIK.
[_With some hesitation._] He can have the building of that villa out at Lövstrand.
SOLNESS.