don’t see anything absolutely ridiculous about him.—Do you?
Brack
Ridiculous? N—no—I shouldn’t exactly say so—
Hedda
Well—and his powers of research, at all events, are untiring.—I see no reason why he should not one day come to the front, after all.
Brack
Looks at her hesitatingly. I thought that you, like everyone else, expected him to attain the highest distinction.
Hedda
With an expression of fatigue. Yes, so I did.—And then, since he was bent, at all hazards, on being allowed to provide for me—I really don’t know why I should not have accepted his offer?
Brack
No—if you look at it in that light—
Hedda
It was more than my other adorers were prepared to do for me, my dear Judge.
Brack
Laughing. Well, I can’t answer for all the rest; but as for myself, you know quite well that I have always entertained a—a certain respect for the marriage tie—for marriage as an institution, Mrs. Hedda.
Hedda
Jestingly. Oh, I assure you I have never cherished any hopes with respect to you.
Brack
All I require is a pleasant and intimate interior, where I can make myself useful in every way, and am free to come and go as—as a trusted friend—
Hedda
Of the master of the house, do you mean?
Brack
Bowing. Frankly—of the mistress first of all; but of course of the master too, in the second place. Such a triangular friendship—if I may call it so—is really a great convenience for all the parties, let me tell you.
Hedda
Yes, I have many a time longed for someone to make a third on our travels. Oh—those railway carriage tête-à-têtes—!
Brack
Fortunately your wedding journey is over now.
Hedda
Shaking her head. Not by a long—long way. I have only arrived at a station on the line.
Brack
Well, then the passengers jump out and move about a little, Mrs. Hedda.
Hedda
I never jump out.
Brack
Really?
Hedda
No—because there is always someone standing by to—
Brack
Laughing. To look at your ankles, do you mean?
Hedda
Precisely.
Brack
Well but, dear me—
Hedda
With a gesture of repulsion. I won’t have it. I would rather keep my seat where I happen to be—and continue the tête-à-tête.
Brack
But suppose a third person were to jump in and join the couple.
Hedda
Ah—that is quite another matter!
Brack
A trusted, sympathetic friend—
Hedda
—with a fund of conversation on all sorts of lively topics—
Brack
—and not the least bit of a specialist!
Hedda
With an audible sigh. Yes, that would be a relief indeed.
Brack
Hears the front door open, and glances in that direction. The triangle is completed.
Hedda
Half aloud. And on goes the train.
George Tesman, in a grey walking suit, with a soft felt hat, enters from the hall. He has a number of unbound books under his arm and in his pockets.
Tesman
Goes up to the table beside the corner settee. Ouf—what a load for a warm day—all these books. Lays them on the table. I’m positively perspiring, Hedda. Hallo—are you there already, my dear Judge? Eh? Berta didn’t tell me.
Brack
Rising. I came in through the garden.
Hedda
What books have you got there?
Tesman
Stands looking them through. Some new books on my special subjects—quite indispensable to me.
Hedda
Your special subjects?
Brack
Yes, books on his special subjects, Mrs. Tesman.
Brack and Hedda exchange a confidential smile.
Hedda
Do you need still more books on your special subjects?
Tesman
Yes, my dear Hedda, one can never have too many of them. Of course one must keep up with all that is written and published.
Hedda
Yes, I suppose one must.
Tesman
Searching among his books. And look here—I have got hold of Eilert Lövborg’s new book too. Offering it to her. Perhaps you would like to glance through it, Hedda? Eh?
Hedda
No, thank you. Or rather—afterwards perhaps.
Tesman
I looked into it a little on the way home.
Brack
Well, what do you think of it—as a specialist?
Tesman
I think it shows quite remarkable soundness of judgment. He never wrote like that before. Putting the books together. Now I shall take all these into my study. I’m longing to cut the leaves—! And then I must change my clothes. To Brack. I suppose we needn’t start just yet? Eh?
Brack
Oh, dear no—there is not the slightest hurry.
Tesman
Well then, I will take my time. Is going with his books, but stops in the doorway and turns. By the by, Hedda—Aunt Julia is not coming this evening.
Hedda
Not coming? Is it that affair of the bonnet that keeps her away?
Tesman
Oh, not at all. How could you think such a thing of Aunt Julia? Just fancy—! The fact is, Aunt Rina is very ill.
Hedda
She always is.
Tesman
Yes, but today she is much worse than usual, poor dear.
Hedda
Oh, then it’s only natural that her sister should remain with her. I must bear my disappointment.
Tesman
And you can’t imagine, dear, how delighted Aunt Julia seemed to be—because you had come home looking so flourishing!
Hedda
Half aloud, rising. Oh, those everlasting Aunts!
Tesman
What?
Hedda
Going to the glass door. Nothing.
Tesman
Oh, all right. He goes through the inner room, out to the right.
Brack
What bonnet were you talking about?
Hedda
Oh, it was a little episode with Miss Tesman this morning. She had laid down her bonnet on the chair there—Looks at him and smiles.—and I pretended to think it was the servant’s.
Brack
Shaking his head. Now my dear Mrs. Hedda, how could you do such a thing? To the excellent old lady, too!
Hedda
Nervously crossing the room. Well, you see—these impulses come over me all of a sudden; and I cannot resist them. Throws herself down in the easy chair by the stove. Oh, I don’t know how to explain it.
Brack
Behind the easy chair. You are not really happy—that is at the bottom of it.
Hedda
Looking straight before her. I know of no reason why I should be—happy. Perhaps you can give me one?
Brack
Well—amongst other things, because
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