Hedda Gabler
[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 Lovborg?
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 blessed 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.
THE END
FOOTNOTES.
(1)Pronounce _Reena_.
(2)In the original "Statsradinde Falks villa"--showing that it had
belonged to the widow of a cabinet minister.
(3)_Du_ equals thou: Tesman means, "If you could persuade yourself
to _tutoyer_ her."
(4)See previous note.
(5)Pronounce _Tora_ and _Taya_.
(6)Mrs. Elvsted here uses the formal pronoun _De_, whereupon Hedda
rebukes her. In her next speech Mrs. Elvsted says _du_.
(7)"Bagveje" means both "back ways" and "underhand courses."
(8)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.
(9)He uses the familiar _du_.
(10)From this point onward Lovborg use the formal _De_.
(11)In this speech he once more says _du_. Hedda addresses him
throughout as _De_.
(12)"Enest hane i kurven"--a proverbial saying.
(13)Literally, "That you burn for me."