Part 8

GINA. But about grandfather? What’s to become of him, poor old fellow?

HJALMAR. I know my duty; the helpless old man goes with me. I will go into the town and make arrangements---- H’m (_hesitatingly_). Has anyone found my hat on the stairs?

GINA. No. Have you lost it?

HJALMAR. Of course I had it when I came home last night; there’s no doubt about that; but I can’t find it this morning.

GINA. Good Lord! Where _did_ you go with those two ragamuffins?

HJALMAR. Ah! don’t question me on trivial matters. Do you think I am in the mood to remember details?

GINA. So long as you’ve not taken cold, Ekdal----

_She goes into the kitchen._

HJALMAR (_speaking to himself in a low bitter voice whilst he empties the drawer_). You’re a scamp, Relling! A rogue! Ah! shameless tempter! If only I could get some one to kill you!

_He lays on one side a number of old letters, comes upon the torn paper of the day before, takes it up and looks at the pieces. He puts them down hurriedly when_ GINA _comes in_.

GINA (_putting a breakfast tray on the table_). Here’s some hot coffee, if you should want it. And there’s some bread and butter too, and some salt meat.

HJALMAR (_glancing at the tray_). Salt meat! Never beneath this roof! It is true I’ve partaken of no solid food for four and twenty hours, but no matter. My memoranda! The notes of my autobiography. Where’s my diary and my important papers? (_He opens the door of the sitting-room, but draws back._) She is there too!

GINA. Well, good Lord, the child must be somewhere.

HJALMAR. Go out.

_He stands aside._ HEDVIG _frightened comes into the studio_.

HJALMAR (_with his hand on the door handle to_ GINA). During the last moments I am spending in what was once my home I wished to be spared from interlopers.

_He goes into the room._

HEDVIG (_springing to her mother says in a low trembling voice_). Does he mean me?

GINA. Stop in the kitchen, Hedvig; or no, you’d better go to your own room. (_Speaking to_ HJALMAR _as she goes in to him_.) Wait a moment, Ekdal, don’t upset those drawers, I know where all the things are.

HEDVIG (_stands still for a moment, frightened and irresolute, biting her lips to keep back her tears, then she clenches her hands convulsively and says in a low voice_). The wild duck!

_She steals to the book-case, and takes the pistol from the shelf, just opens the door of the loft, slips in and closes the door behind her._ HJALMAR _and_ GINA _begin discussing within the sitting-room_.

HJALMAR (_comes in with several note books and loose papers, which he puts down on the table_). Ah! what’s the good of the portmanteau! There are a thousand things I’ve must drag about with me.

GINA (_following him with a portmanteau_). Why don’t you leave the rest for a while, and take a shirt and a pair of drawers with you.

HJALMAR. Phew!--these wearisome preparations!

_He takes off his overcoat and throws it on the sofa._

GINA. And the coffee’s getting cold, too.

HJALMAR. H’m. (_Takes a mouthful--abstractedly, and then another._)

GINA (_dusting the backs of the chairs_). The most difficult thing will be to find such a large loft for the rabbits.

HJALMAR. What! Must I drag all the rabbits about with me, too?

GINA. Yes, grandfather can’t do without the rabbits, I’m sure.

HJALMAR. He will have to get used to that. I have to renounce higher things in life than rabbits.

GINA (_dusting the book-case_). Shall I put the flute into the portmanteau for you?

HJALMAR. No. No flute for me. But give me the pistol.

GINA. Do you want to take the pigstol?

HJALMAR. Yes. My loaded pistol.

GINA (_looking for it_). It’s gone. He must have taken it in there with him.

HJALMAR. Is he in the loft.

GINA. Of course he’s in the loft.

HJALMAR. H’m--the lonely old man.

_He takes a piece of bread and butter, eats it, and drinks the cup of coffee._

GINA. If only we’d not let that room, you might have moved in there.

HJALMAR. I should remain under the same roof as----! Never, never!

GINA. But couldn’t you stop for a day or two in the sitting-room? You’d have it all to yourself.

HJALMAR. Never within these walls!

GINA. Well, then, down stairs at Relling and Molvik’s?

HJALMAR. Don’t mention those creatures’ names. The mere thought of them takes away my appetite. Ah, no! I must go from house to house seeking shelter for father and myself.

GINA. But you’ve no hat, Ekdal, you’ve lost it.

HJALMAR. Oh! those two miscreants, so rich in all vices! I must get a hat somehow. (_Takes another piece of bread and butter._) Something must be done, for I can’t afford to risk my life. (_He looks for something on the tray._)

GINA. What are you looking for.

HJALMAR. Butter.

GINA. I’ll get you some directly.

_She goes into the kitchen._

HJALMAR (_calls after her_). Oh! it doesn’t matter; dry bread will do just as well.

GINA (_bringing in a butter-dish_). Here you are; it’s quite fresh.

_She pours him out another cup of coffee, he sits down on the sofa, spreads more butter on his bread, and eats and drinks for a while in silence._

HJALMAR. Could I--without being worried by anyone--no matter whom--could I stop for a day or two in the sitting-room?

GINA. Yes, you could very well, if you would.

HJALMAR. For I can’t see any possibility of getting all father’s things away at once.

GINA. And besides you must tell him first that you won’t go on living with us.

HJALMAR (_pushing the cup of coffee from him_). That too! I shall have to go into all this complicated business--I must reflect; I must have breathing space; I can not bear all these burdens in one day.

GINA. Especially in such awful weather as it is outside.

HJALMAR (_putting away the letter from_ WERLE). I see the paper’s still lying here.

GINA. Yes, I’ve not touched it.

HJALMAR. The rag doesn’t concern me----

GINA. I’m sure _I_ don’t intend making any use of it.

HJALMAR. ----but all the same there’s no need to throw it away----in all the confusion of my moving it might so easily be----

GINA. I’ll take good care of it, Ekdal.

HJALMAR. The deed of gift belongs first and foremost to father; and it is for him to say if he intends to make use of it.

GINA (_sighing_). Yes, poor old father----

HJALMAR. For safety’s sake---- Where’s the gum?

GINA (_going to the book-case_). Here’s the gum-pot.

HJALMAR. And the brush?

GINA. Here’s the brush. (_She brings him them._)

HJALMAR (_taking up a pair of scissors_). Just a bit of paper for the back. (_Cuts and gums._) Far be it from me to lay hands upon the property of others--and least of all upon that of a penniless old man. No, nor upon that of anyone else. That’s it. Let it lie there for a while. And when it’s dry put it away. I never want to set eyes on that document again. Never!

GREGERS WERLE _comes in from the passage_.

GREGERS (_somewhat astonished_). What--are you sitting here, Hjalmar?

HJALMAR (_rising hurriedly_). I had sunk down from exhaustion.

GREGERS. You’ve had breakfast too, I see.

HJALMAR. Corporal needs make themselves felt at times.

GREGERS. What have you decided to do?

HJALMAR. For a man like me, there is but one way. I am busy just getting my most important papers together. But, of course, you know that takes time.

GINA (_somewhat impatiently_). Am I to get the room ready for you, or am I to pack the portmanteau?

HJALMAR (_with a vexed side-glance at_ GREGERS). Pack--and get the room ready!----

GINA (_taking up the portmanteau_). All right, then I’ll put in the shirt and the other things.

_She goes into the sitting-room and shuts the door after her._

GREGERS (_after a short pause_). I never thought it would end like this. Is it really necessary for you to leave house and home?

HJALMAR (_walking about uneasily_). What would you have me do? I was not made to bear unhappiness, Gregers. I must have comfort, and security, and peace about me.

GREGERS. But can’t you have that? Only try it. Now, it seems to me, there is firm ground here to build upon--and begin from the beginning. And remember you’ve the invention to live for.

HJALMAR. Don’t speak of the invention. Perhaps there’s nothing much in it.

GREGERS. How so?

HJALMAR. Why, good heavens! What do you really want me to invent? Other men have invented pretty well everything already. It is becoming more difficult every day----

GREGERS. And you, who have worked so hard at it----

HJALMAR. It was that debauchee Relling, who made me take it up.

GREGERS. Relling?

HJALMAR. Yes, it was he who first called my attention to my aptitude for making some remarkable discovery in photography.

GREGERS. Aha! it was Relling!

HJALMAR. Ah! I have been so intensely happy over this. Not so much for the invention or for myself, but because Hedvig believed in it--with all the strength and might of a child’s mind. That is to say I was fool enough to persuade myself she believed in it.

GREGERS. Can you really believe that Hedvig would be false to you?

HJALMAR. Now I know what it all means. It is Hedvig who stands in my way. She will blot out the sun from my whole life.

GREGERS. Hedvig! Do you mean Hedvig? How could she blot it out for you?

HJALMAR (_without answering_). I have loved that child beyond all words. I was happy beyond all words whenever I returned to my poor home, and she with her sweet little short-sighted eyes flew to meet me. Confiding fool that I was! I cared for her beyond all words, and, poet-like, I lulled myself in the delusion that she also cared for me beyond all words.

GREGERS. And you say _that_ was only a delusion?

HJALMAR. How can I tell? I can’t get anything out of Gina. And besides, she lacks all sense of the ideal side of these complications. But I feel impelled to open my heart to you, Gregers. There is that terrible doubt--perhaps Hedvig has never really and truly loved me.

GREGERS. You may yet have proof of that. (_Listening._) What is that? The wild duck screaming?

HJALMAR. The wild duck’s quacking. Father’s in the loft.

GREGERS. It is he! (_His eyes brighten with pleasure._) I say again you may yet have proof that poor, misunderstood Hedvig loves you!

HJALMAR. Ah! what proof can she give me! I dare not believe in any protestations from that quarter.

GREGERS. Hedvig certainly does not know what deceit is.

HJALMAR. Ah! Gregers, that’s just what is not so certain. Who knows what Gina and that Mrs. Sorby may have sat many a time here whispering and tattling about? And Hedvig keeps her ears open, I can tell you. Perhaps, the deed of gift wasn’t so unexpected after all. I fancy I noticed something of the sort.

GREGERS. What has taken possession of you?

HJALMAR. My eyes have been opened. Watch, and you’ll see that the deed of gift is but a beginning. Mrs. Sorby has always done a great deal for Hedvig; and now it’s in her power to do what she likes for the child. They can take her from me at any time and hour they choose.

GREGERS. Not for all the world would Hedvig go away from you.

HJALMAR. Don’t be so sure of that. Suppose they stood there with their hands full, beckoning her---- Ah! I, who have loved her beyond all words! I, who would have found my greatest joy in taking her tenderly by the hand and guiding her as one guides a child frightened at the darkness, through some wild desolate space! Now I feel the gnawing certainty--the poor photographer in his attic-home has never been anything wholly and completely to her. She has only been cunning enough to keep on good terms with him until the right time should come.

GREGERS. You don’t believe this yourself, Hjalmar.

HJALMAR. That’s the terrible part of it, that I don’t know what to believe--that I never shall know. But can you really doubt that it must be as I say? Ha, ha!--You rely too much upon the claims of the ideal, my good Gregers! If only the others came, with hands overflowing and cried to the child “leave him, here with us life awaits you.”

GREGERS (_quickly_). Well, what then?

HJALMAR. If then I asked her: “Hedvig, are you willing to forego that life for me?” (_Laughs mockingly._) No, thank you--you’d soon hear the answer.

_A pistol shot is heard in the loft._

GREGERS (_loudly and gladly_). Hjalmar!

HJALMAR. There! Now he must needs go hunting.

GINA (_coming in_). Oh! Ekdal, I think grandfather’s a-firing away in the loft by himself.

HJALMAR. I’ll look in.

GREGERS (_eagerly and moved_). One moment! Do you know what that was?

HJALMAR. Of course I do.

GREGERS. No, you do not. But I know it. It was the proof!

HJALMAR. What proof?

GREGERS. It was a child’s sacrifice. She has got your father to shoot the wild duck.

HJALMAR. Shoot the wild duck!

GINA. Well, I never!

HJALMAR. But what for?

GREGERS. She wanted to sacrifice for you the best thing she had on earth; for then she thought you might learn to love her again.

HJALMAR (_softly and with emotion_). Ah! the child!

GINA. What things she does get hold of.

GREGERS. She only wanted to win back your love, Hjalmar; she felt she could not live with out it.

GINA (_struggling with her tears_). Now you see yourself, Ekdal.

HJALMAR. Gina, where is she?

GINA (_sniffling_). Poor child, I suppose she’s sitting out in the kitchen.

HJALMAR (_goes to the kitchen door and opens it_). Hedvig--come! Come in to me! (_Looking in._) No, she’s not here.

GINA. Then she’s sitting in her little room.

HJALMAR (_outside_). No, she’s not here either. (_Coming in._) She must have gone out.

GINA. Yes, you know you wouldn’t have her about the house.

HJALMAR. Ah! if only she will return home soon--that I may really tell her---- Now all shall be well, Gregers, for I believe now we can start life afresh.

GREGERS (_quietly_). I knew it; I knew the regeneration would come through the child.

OLD EKDAL _comes in from the door of his room; he is in full uniform, and is busy buckling on his sword_.

HJALMAR (_astonished_). Father! Are you there?

GINA. Have you been shooting in your room?

EKDAL (_reproachfully, approaching_). So you go hunting by yourself, Hjalmar?

HJALMAR (_anxiously and confused_). So it wasn’t you shooting in the loft?

EKDAL. I shooting? H’m!

GREGERS (_cries out to_ HJALMAR). She has shot the wild duck herself!

HJALMAR. What is that! (_He rushes to the door of the loft, pushes it aside, looks in and cries out._) Hedvig!

GINA (_running to the door_). Good God! What is it!

HJALMAR (_going in_). She is lying on the floor!

GREGERS. Hedvig lying on the floor! (_Going in to_ HJALMAR.)

GINA (_at the same time_). Hedvig! (_Goes in to the loft._) No, no, no!

EKDAL. Ha, ha! So she’s going in for shooting too?

HJALMAR, GINA _and_ GREGERS _carry_ HEDVIG _into the studio, her right hand hangs down, holding the pistol, tightly clasped between her fingers_.

HJALMAR (_distracted_). The pistol has gone off. She has wounded herself. Call for help! Help!

GINA (_running into the passage and calling_). Relling! Relling! Doctor Relling! Hurry up here as fast as you can!

HJALMAR _and_ GREGERS _lay_ HEDVIG _on the sofa_.

EKDAL (_quietly_). The woods avenge themselves.

HJALMAR (_on his knees by her_). She’ll come round directly. She’ll come round directly; yes, yes, yes.

GINA (_who has come in again_). Where has she wounded herself? I can’t see anything----

RELLING _enters hurriedly, and immediately after him_ MOLVIK, _who is without waistcoat and collar, and has his coat open_.

RELLING. What’s the matter?

GINA. They say Hedvig has shot herself.

HJALMAR. Come here and help.

RELLING. Shot herself!

_He moves aside the table and begins to examine her._

HJALMAR (_lying on the floor looks anxiously at him_). Surely it’s not dangerous? Eh, Relling! She’s hardly bleeding at all. Surely it’s not dangerous?

RELLING. How did this happen?

HJALMAR. Ah! how should I know.

GINA. She wanted to shoot the wild duck.

RELLING. The wild duck.

HJALMAR. The pistol must have gone off.

RELLING. H’m. I see.

EKDAL. The woods avenge themselves. But I’m not afraid for all that.

_He goes into the loft, and closes it behind him._

HJALMAR. Well, Relling--why don’t you speak?

RELLING. She’s shot in the breast.

HJALMAR. Yes, but she’ll come round.

RELLING. Surely you see that Hedvig is dead.

GINA (_bursting into tears_). Oh! the child, the child!

GREGERS (_hoarsely_). In the depths of the ocean----

HJALMAR (_springing up_). No, no, she _must_ live! Ah! For God’s sake, Relling--only one moment--only till I shall have told her how I loved her beyond all words all the time.

RELLING. She’s shot through the breast. Bleeding inwardly. She must have died on the spot.

HJALMAR. And I, who drove her from me like a wild animal! And scared, she crept into the loft and died for love of me. (_Sobbing._) Never to be able to make that good again! Never to be able to tell her!---- (_Clenching his hands and crying out._) Oh! Thou who art above!--If Thou _art_ there! Why hast Thou done this to me!

GINA. Hush, hush! you must not say such wicked things. We had no right to keep her, I suppose.

MOLVIK. The child is not dead; she sleepeth.

RELLING. Bosh!

HJALMAR (_quieting down, he goes to the sofa and looks at_ HEDVIG _with folded arms_). There she lies so stiff and still.

RELLING (_trying to take the pistol from her hand_). She’s holding it so tight, so tight.

GINA. No, no, Relling; don’t break her fingers, let the pigstol be.

HJALMAR. She shall take it with her.

GINA. Yes, leave it here. But the child shall not lie here to be made a show of. She shall go by herself into her own little room. Help me with her, Ekdal.

HJALMAR _and_ GINA _take up_ HEDVIG _between them_.

HJALMAR (_as they are carrying her_). Oh! Gina, Gina. Can you bear it!

GINA. One of us must help the other. For she belongs to both of us _now_, I know.

MOLVIK (_stretching out his arms and murmuring_). Praised be the Lord; to earth shalt thou return, to earth shalt thou return----

RELLING (_whispers_). Hold your row, man, you’re drunk.

HJALMAR _and_ GINA _carry out the dead body at the kitchen door_; RELLING _closes it after them_; MOLVIK _slinks out through the passage_.

RELLING (_goes up to_ GREGERS). Nothing’ll ever make me believe that shot was an accident.

GREGERS (_who has been standing horror stricken shuddering convulsively_). No one can say how this terrible thing happened.

RELLING. The powder has singed her dress. She must have put the pistol straight to her breast and fired.

GREGERS. Hedvig has not died in vain. Did you see how grief set free all that is noble in him?

RELLING. Most people are ennobled when they stand sorrowing by the dead. But how long do you suppose this fine feeling will last with him?

GREGERS. It will last and grow all his life through!

RELLING. In three-quarters of a year little Hedvig will be nothing more to him than an excellent theme for declamation.

GREGERS. And you dare to say this of Hjalmar Ekdal?

RELLING. We’ll talk about it again when the first grass has withered upon her grave. Then you’ll hear him perorating about “the father’s heart bereft too soon of it’s child,” then you’ll see him steeping himself in emotion and in self-admiration, and self-pity. Wait and see!

GREGERS. If you are right, and I am wrong, then life is not worth living.

RELLING. Ah! life might be pleasant enough all the same, if only we could be left in peace by those blessed duns who come worrying us poor folk about the claims of the ideal.

GREGERS (_looking in front of him_). At any rate I am glad that my destiny is what it is.

RELLING. I beg your pardon--what is your destiny?

GREGERS (_going_). To be the thirteenth at table.

RELLING. Devil a doubt of that!

Transcriber’s Note

• Italic text denoted by _underscores_. • Small capitals converted to ALL CAPS. • Punctuation and other obvious typographic inaccuracies were silently corrected. • Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. • Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. • Table of Contents not in the original and added for reader convenience. • Footnotes have been numbered consecutively and moved near the related content. • New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.

Corrections

• p. 5: PETERSEN _to_ PETTERSEN • p. 5: wrapped _to_ rapped • p. 6: bring _to_ bringing • p. 7: Hodjal _to_ Hojdal • p. 7: Eriksen’s _to_ Ericksen’s • p. 10: works _to_ Works • p. 12: married? _to_ married. • p. 13: works _to_ Works • p. 31: knone _to_ krone • p. 34: EKDEL _to_ EKDAL • p. 34: Hedvig _to_ Ekdal • p. 57: loose _to_ lose • p. 70: times _to_ time • p. 74: goal _to_ gaol • p. 81: Yes _to_ Yes, • p. 91: rubbish? _to_ rubbish! • p. 91: Petterson _to_ Pettersen • p. 93: Hedvik _to_ Hedvig • p. 97: think _to_ think. • p. 103: myself _to_ myself. • p. 103: me I _to_ me. I • p. 103: child He _to_ child. He • p. 105: her) _to_ her.) • p. 106: fo _to_ of • p. 112: mean _to_ mean. • p. 119: RELLING _to_ RELLING. • p. 120: Morever _to_ Moreover • p. 122: Hjalmer _to_ Hjalmar • p. 122: wild-duck _to_ wild duck • p. 124: rumaging _to_ rummaging • p. 130: you’v’e _to_ you’ve • p. 130: Dry _to_ dry • p. 131: HJALMAR _to_ HJALMAR. • p. 19, 30, 39, 53, 63, 73 (twice), 81, 98, 107, 113: musn’t _to_ mustn’t