Hedda Gabler

you have got exactly the home you had set your heart on. Hedda Looks up at him and laughs. Do you too believe in that legend? Brack Is there nothing in it, then? Hedda Oh yes, there is something in it. Brack Well? Hedda There is this in it, that I made use of Tesman to see me home from evening parties last summer⁠— Brack I, unfortunately, had to go quite a different way. Hedda That’s true. I know you were going a different way last summer. Brack Laughing. Oh fie, Mrs. Hedda! Well, then⁠—you and Tesman⁠—? Hedda Well, we happened to pass here one evening; Tesman, poor fellow, was writhing in the agony of having to find conversation; so I took pity on the learned man⁠— Brack Smiles doubtfully. You took pity? H’m⁠— Hedda Yes, I really did. And so⁠—to help him out of his torment⁠—I happened to say, in pure thoughtlessness, that I should like to live in this villa. Brack No more than that? Hedda Not that evening. Brack But afterwards? Hedda Yes, my thoughtlessness had consequences, my dear Judge. Brack Unfortunately that too often happens, Mrs. Hedda. Hedda Thanks! So you see it was this enthusiasm for Secretary Falk’s villa that first constituted a bond of sympathy between George Tesman and me. From that came our engagement and our marriage, and our wedding journey, and all the rest of it. Well, well, my dear Judge⁠—as you make your bed so you must lie, I could almost say. Brack This is exquisite! And you really cared not a rap about it all the time? Hedda No, heaven knows I didn’t. Brack But now? Now that we have made it so homelike for you? Hedda Uh⁠—the rooms all seem to smell of lavender and dried rose leaves.⁠—But perhaps it’s Aunt Julia that has brought that scent with her. Brack Laughing. No, I think it must be a legacy from the late Mrs. Secretary Falk. Hedda Yes, there is an odour of mortality about it. It reminds me of a bouquet⁠—the day after the ball. Clasps her hands behind her head, leans back in her chair and looks at him. Oh, my dear Judge⁠—you cannot imagine how horribly I shall bore myself here. Brack Why should not you, too, find some sort of vocation in life, Mrs. Hedda? Hedda A vocation⁠—that should attract me? Brack If possible, of course. Hedda Heaven knows what sort of a vocation that could be. I often wonder whether⁠—Breaking off. But that would never do either. Brack Who can tell? Let me hear what it is. Hedda Whether I might not get Tesman to go into politics, I mean. Brack Laughing. Tesman? No really now, political life is not the thing for him⁠—not at all in his line. Hedda No, I daresay not.⁠—But if I could get him into it all the same? Brack Why⁠—what satisfaction could you find in that? If he is not fitted for that sort of thing, why should you want to drive him into it? Hedda Because I am bored, I tell you! After a pause. So you think it quite out of the question that Tesman should ever get into the ministry? Brack H’m⁠—you see, my dear Mrs. Hedda⁠—to get into the ministry, he would have to be a tolerably rich man. Hedda Rising impatiently. Yes, there we have it! It is this genteel poverty I have managed to drop into⁠—! Crosses the room. That is what makes life so pitiable! So utterly ludicrous!⁠—For that’s what it is. Brack Now I should say the fault lay elsewhere. Hedda Where, then? Brack You have never gone through any really stimulating experience. Hedda Anything serious, you mean? Brack Yes, you may call it so. But now you may perhaps have one in store. Hedda Tossing her head. Oh, you’re thinking of the annoyances about this wretched professorship! But that must be Tesman’s own affair. I assure you I shall not waste a thought upon it. Brack No, no, I daresay not. But suppose now that what people call⁠—in elegant language⁠—a solemn responsibility were to come upon you? Smiling. A new responsibility, Mrs. Hedda? Hedda Angrily. Be quiet! Nothing of that sort will ever happen! Brack Warily. We will speak of this again a year hence⁠—at the very outside. Hedda Curtly. I have no turn for anything of the sort, Judge Brack. No responsibilities for me! Brack Are you so unlike the generality of women as to have no turn for duties which⁠—? Hedda Beside the glass door. Oh, be quiet, I tell you!⁠—I often think there is only one thing in the world I have any turn for. Brack Drawing near to her. And what is that, if I may ask? Hedda Stands looking out. Boring myself to death. Now you know it. Turns, looks towards the inner room, and laughs. Yes, as I thought! Here comes the Professor. Brack Softly, in a tone of warning. Come, come, come, Mrs. Hedda! George Tesman, dressed for the party, with his gloves and hat in his hand, enters from the right through the inner room. Tesman Hedda, has no message come from Eilert Lövborg? Eh? Hedda No. Tesman Then you’ll see he’ll be here presently. Brack Do you really think he will come? Tesman Yes, I am almost sure of it. For what you were telling us this morning must have been a mere floating rumour. Brack You think so? Tesman At any rate, Aunt Julia said she did not believe for a moment that he would ever stand in my way again. Fancy that! Brack Well then, that’s all right. Tesman Placing his hat and gloves on a chair on the right. Yes, but you must really let me wait for him as long as possible. Brack We have plenty of time yet. None of my guests will arrive before seven or half past. Tesman Then meanwhile we can keep Hedda company, and see what happens. Eh? Hedda Placing Brack’s hat and overcoat upon the corner settee. And at the worst Mr. Lövborg can remain here with me. Brack Offering to take his things. Oh, allow me, Mrs. Tesman!⁠—What do you mean by “At the worst”? Hedda If he won’t go with you and Tesman. Tesman Looks dubiously at