Hedda Gabler
BERTA.
[Beside the table, at a loss what to do with the bouquet in her hand.]
I declare there isn't a bit of room left. I think I'll put it down here,
Miss. [She places it on the piano.
MISS TESMAN.
So you've got a new mistress now, my dear Berta. Heaven knows it was a
wrench to me to part with you.
BERTA.
[On the point of weeping.] And do you think it wasn't hard for me, too,
Miss? After all the blessed years I've been with you and Miss Rina.(1)
MISS TESMAN.
We must make the best of it, Berta. There was nothing else to be done.
George can't do without you, you see-he absolutely can't. He has had you
to look after him ever since he was a little boy.
BERTA.
Ah but, Miss Julia, I can't help thinking of Miss Rina lying helpless
at home there, poor thing. And with only that new girl too! She'll never
learn to take proper care of an invalid.
MISS TESMAN.
Oh, I shall manage to train her. And of course, you know, I shall take
most of it upon myself. You needn't be uneasy about my poor sister, my
dear Berta.
BERTA.
Well, but there's another thing, Miss. I'm so mortally afraid I shan't
be able to suit the young mistress.
MISS TESMAN.
Oh well--just at first there may be one or two things--
BERTA.
Most like she'll be terrible grand in her ways.
MISS TESMAN.
Well, you can't wonder at that--General Gabler's daughter! Think of
the sort of life she was accustomed to in her father's time. Don't you
remember how we used to see her riding down the road along with the
General? In that long black habit--and with feathers in her hat?
BERTA.
Yes, indeed--I remember well enough!--But, good Lord, I should never
have dreamt in those days that she and Master George would make a match
of it.
MISS TESMAN.
Nor I.--But by-the-bye, Berta--while I think of it: in future you
mustn't say Master George. You must say Dr. Tesman.
BERTA.
Yes, the young mistress spoke of that too--last night--the moment they
set foot in the house. Is it true then, Miss?
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, indeed it is. Only think, Berta--some foreign university has made
him a doctor--while he has been abroad, you understand. I hadn't heard a
word about it, until he told me himself upon the pier.
BERTA.
Well well, he's clever enough for anything, he is. But I didn't think
he'd have gone in for doctoring people.
MISS TESMAN.
No no, it's not that sort of doctor he is. [Nods significantly.] But
let me tell you, we may have to call him something still grander before
long.
BERTA.
You don't say so! What can that be, Miss?
MISS TESMAN.
[Smiling.] H'm--wouldn't you like to know! [With emotion.] Ah, dear
dear--if my poor brother could only look up from his grave now, and
see what his little boy has grown into! [Looks around.] But bless me,
Berta--why have you done this? Taken the chintz covers off all the
furniture.
BERTA.
The mistress told me to. She can't abide covers on the chairs, she says.
MISS TESMAN.
Are they going to make this their everyday sitting-room then?
BERTA.
Yes, that's what I understood--from the mistress. Master George--the
doctor--he said nothing.
GEORGE TESMAN comes from the right into the inner room,
humming to himself, and carrying an unstrapped empty
portmanteau. He is a middle-sized, young-looking man of
thirty-three, rather stout, with a round, open, cheerful
face, fair hair and beard. He wears spectacles, and is
somewhat carelessly dressed in comfortable indoor clothes.
MISS TESMAN.
Good morning, good morning, George.
TESMAN.
[In the doorway between the rooms.] Aunt Julia! Dear Aunt Julia! [Goes
up to her and shakes hands warmly.] Come all this way--so early! Eh?
MISS TESMAN.
Why, of course I had to come and see how you were getting on.
TESMAN.
In spite of your having had no proper night's rest?
MISS TESMAN.
Oh, that makes no difference to me.
TESMAN.
Well, I suppose you got home all right from the pier? Eh?
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, quite safely, thank goodness. Judge Brack was good enough to see me
right to my door.
TESMAN.
We were so sorry we couldn't give you a seat in the carriage. But you
saw what a pile of boxes Hedda had to bring with her.
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, she had certainly plenty of boxes.
BERTA.
[To TESMAN.] Shall I go in and see if there's anything I can do for the
mistress?
TESMAN.
No thank you, Berta--you needn't. She said she would ring if she wanted
anything.
BERTA.
[Going towards the right.] Very well.
TESMAN.
But look here--take this portmanteau with you.
BERTA.
[Taking it.] I'll put it in the attic.
[She goes out by the hall door.
TESMAN.
Fancy, Auntie--I had the whole of that portmanteau chock full of copies
of the documents. You wouldn't believe how much I have picked up from
all the archives I have been examining--curious old details that no one
has had any idea of--
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, you don't seem to have wasted your time on your wedding trip,
George.
TESMAN.
No, that I haven't. But do take off your bonnet, Auntie. Look here! Let
me untie the strings--eh?
MISS TESMAN.
[While he does so.] Well well--this is just as if you were still at home
with us.
TESMAN.
[With the bonnet in his hand, looks at it from all sides.] Why, what a
gorgeous bonnet you've been investing in!
MISS TESMAN.
I bought it on Hedda's account.
TESMAN.
On Hedda's account? Eh?
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, so that Hedda needn't be ashamed of me if we happened to go out
together.
TESMAN.
[Patting her cheek.] You always think of everything, Aunt Julia. [Lays
the bonnet on a chair beside the table.] And now, look here--suppose we
sit comfortably on the sofa and have a little chat, till Hedda comes.
[They seat themselves. She places her parasol in the corner
of the sofa.
MISS TESMAN.
[Takes both his hands and looks at him.] What a delight it is to have
you again, as large as life, before my very eyes, George! My George--my
poor brother's own boy!
TESMAN.
And it's a delight for me, too, to see you again, Aunt Julia! You, who
have been father and mother in one to me.
MISS TESMAN.
Oh yes, I know you will always keep a place in your heart for your old
aunts.
TESMAN.
And what about Aunt Rina? No improvement--eh?
MISS TESMAN.
Oh, no--we can scarcely look for any improvement in her case, poor
thing. There she lies, helpless, as she has lain for all these years.
But heaven grant I may not lose her yet awhile! For if I did, I don't
know what I should make of my life, George--especially now that I
haven't you to look after any more.
TESMAN.
[Patting her back.] There there there--!
MISS TESMAN.
[Suddenly changing her tone.] And to think that here are you a married
man, George!--And that you should be the one to carry off Hedda Gabler
--the beautiful Hedda Gabler! Only think of it--she, that was so beset
with admirers!
TESMAN.
[Hums a little and smiles complacently.] Yes, I fancy I have several
good friends about town who would like to stand in my shoes--eh?
MISS TESMAN.
And then this fine long wedding-tour you have had! More than five--
nearly six months--
TESMAN.
Well, for me it has been a sort of tour of research as well. I have had
to do so much grubbing among old records--and to read no end of books
too, Auntie.
MISS TESMAN.
Oh yes, I suppose so. [More confidentially, and lowering her voice a
little.] But listen now, George,--have you nothing--nothing special to
tell me?
TESMAN.
As to our journey?
MISS TESMAN.
Yes.
TESMAN.
No, I don't know of anything except what I have told you in my letters.
I had a doctor's degree conferred on me--but that I told you yesterday.
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, yes, you did. But what I mean is--haven't you any--any--
expectations--?
TESMAN.
Expectations?
MISS TESMAN.
Why you know, George--I'm your old auntie!
TESMAN.
Why, of course I have expectations.
MISS TESMAN.
Ah!
TESMAN.
I have every expectation of being a professor one of these days.
MISS TESMAN.
Oh yes, a professor--
TESMAN.
Indeed, I may say I am certain of it. But my dear Auntie--you know all
about that already!
MISS TESMAN.
[Laughing to herself.] Yes, of course I do. You are quite right there.
[Changing the subject.] But we were talking about your journey. It must
have cost a great deal of money, George?
TESMAN.
Well, you see--my handsome travelling-scholarship went a good way.
MISS TESMAN.
But I can't understand how you can have made it go far enough for two.
TESMAN.
No, that's not easy to understand--eh?
MISS TESMAN.
And especially travelling with a lady--they tell me that makes it ever
so much more expensive.
TESMAN.
Yes, of course--it makes it a little more expensive. But Hedda had to
have this trip, Auntie! She really had to. Nothing else would have done.
MISS TESMAN.
No no, I suppose not. A wedding-tour seems to be quite indispensable
nowadays.--But tell me now--have you gone thoroughly over the house yet?
TESMAN.
Yes, you may be sure I have. I have been afoot ever since daylight.
MISS TESMAN.
And what do you think of it all?
TESMAN.
I'm delighted! Quite delighted! Only I can't think what we are to do
with the two empty rooms between this inner parlour and Hedda's bedroom.
MISS TESMAN.
[Laughing.] Oh my dear George, I daresay you may find some use for
them--in the course of time.
TESMAN.
Why of course you are quite right, Aunt Julia! You mean as my library
increases--eh?
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, quite so, my dear boy. It was your library I was thinking of.
TESMAN.
I am specially pleased on Hedda's account. Often and often, before we
were engaged, she said that she would never care to live anywhere but in
Secretary Falk's villa.(2)
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, it was lucky that this very house should come into the market, just
after you had started.
TESMAN.
Yes, Aunt Julia, the luck was on our side, wasn't it--eh?
MISS TESMAN.
But the expense, my dear George! You will find it very expensive, all
this.
TESMAN.
[Looks at her, a little cast down.] Yes, I suppose I shall, Aunt!
MISS TESMAN.
Oh, frightfully!
TESMAN.
How much do you think? In round numbers?--Eh?
MISS TESMAN.
Oh, I can't even guess until all the accounts come in.
TESMAN.
Well, fortunately, Judge Brack has secured the most favourable terms for
me, so he said in a letter to Hedda.
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, don't be uneasy, my dear boy.--Besides, I have given security for
the furniture and all the carpets.
TESMAN.
Security? You? My dear Aunt Julia--what sort of security could you give?
MISS TESMAN.
I have given a mortgage on our annuity.
TESMAN.
[Jumps up.] What! On your--and Aunt Rina's annuity!
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, I knew of no other plan, you see.
TESMAN.
[Placing himself before her.] Have you gone out of your senses, Auntie?
Your annuity--it's all that you and Aunt Rina have to live upon.
MISS TESMAN.
Well well--don't get so excited about it. It's only a matter of form you
know--Judge Brack assured me of that. It was he that was kind enough to
arrange the whole affair for me. A mere matter of form, he said.
TESMAN.
Yes, that may be all very well. But nevertheless--
MISS TESMAN.
You will have your own salary to depend upon now. And, good heavens,
even if we did have to pay up a little--! To eke things out a bit at
the start--! Why, it would be nothing but a pleasure to us.
TESMAN.
Oh Auntie--will you never be tired of making sacrifices for me!