Hedda Gabler

it must be very disagreeable to you. Tesman Cast down. Oh, I can’t expect you, out of consideration for me, to⁠— Lövborg But I shall wait till you have received your appointment. Tesman Will you wait? Yes but⁠—yes but⁠—are you not going to compete with me? Eh? Lövborg No; it is only the moral victory I care for. Tesman Why, bless me⁠—then Aunt Julia was right after all! Oh yes⁠—I knew it! Hedda! Just fancy⁠—Eilert Lövborg is not going to stand in our way! Hedda Curtly. Our way? Pray leave me out of the question. She goes up towards the inner room, where Berta is placing a tray with decanters and glasses on the table. Hedda nods approval, and comes forward again. Berta goes out. Tesman At the same time. And you, Judge Brack⁠—what do you say to this? Eh? Brack Well, I say that a moral victory⁠—h’m⁠—may be all very fine⁠— Tesman Yes, certainly. But all the same⁠— Hedda Looking at Tesman with a cold smile. You stand there looking as if you were thunderstruck⁠— Tesman Yes⁠—so I am⁠—I almost think⁠— Brack Don’t you see, Mrs. Tesman, a thunderstorm has just passed over? Hedda Pointing towards the room. Will you not take a glass of cold punch, gentlemen? Brack Looking at his watch. A stirrup cup? Yes, it wouldn’t come amiss. Tesman A capital idea, Hedda! Just the thing! Now that the weight has been taken off my mind⁠— Hedda Will you not join them, Mr. Lövborg? Lövborg With a gesture of refusal. No, thank you. Nothing for me. Brack Why bless me⁠—cold punch is surely not poison. Lövborg Perhaps not for everyone. Hedda I will keep Mr. Lövborg company in the meantime. Tesman Yes, yes, Hedda dear, do. He and Brack go into the inner room, seat themselves, drink punch, smoke cigarettes, and carry on a lively conversation during what follows. Eilert Lövborg remains standing beside the stove. Hedda goes to the writing table. Hedda Raising he voice a little. Do you care to look at some photographs, Mr. Lövborg? You know Tesman and I made a tour in the Tyrol on our way home? She takes up an album, and places it on the table beside the sofa, in the further corner of which she seats herself. Eilert Lövborg approaches, stops, and looks at her. Then he takes a chair and seats himself to her left. Hedda Opening the album. Do you see this range of mountains, Mr. Lövborg? It’s the Ortler group. Tesman has written the name underneath. Here it is: “The Ortler group near Meran.” Lövborg Who has never taken his eyes off her, says softly and slowly: Hedda⁠—Gabler! Hedda Glancing hastily at him. Ah! Hush! Lövborg Repeats softly. Hedda Gabler! Hedda Looking at the album. That was my name in the old days⁠—when we two knew each other. Lövborg And I must teach myself never to say Hedda Gabler again⁠—never, as long as I live. Hedda Still turning over the pages. Yes, you must. And I think you ought to practise in time. The sooner the better, I should say. Lövborg In a tone of indignation. Hedda Gabler married? And married to⁠—George Tesman! Hedda Yes⁠—so the world goes. Lövborg Oh, Hedda, Hedda⁠—how could you16 throw yourself away! Hedda Looks sharply at him. What? I can’t allow this! Lövborg What do you mean? Tesman comes into the room and goes towards the sofa. Hedda Hears him coming and says in an indifferent tone. And this is a view from the Val d’Ampezzo, Mr. Lövborg. Just look at these peaks! Looks affectionately up at Tesman. What’s the name of these curious peaks, dear? Tesman Let me see. Oh, those are the Dolomites. Hedda Yes, that’s it!⁠—Those are the Dolomites, Mr. Lövborg. Tesman Hedda, dear⁠—I only wanted to ask whether I shouldn’t bring you a little punch after all? For yourself at any rate⁠—eh? Hedda Yes, do, please; and perhaps a few biscuits. Tesman No cigarettes? Hedda No. Tesman Very well. He goes into the inner room and out to the right. Brack sits in the inner room, and keeps an eye from time to time on Hedda and Lövborg. Lövborg Softly, as before. Answer me, Hedda⁠—how could you go and do this? Hedda Apparently absorbed in the album. If you continue to say du to me I won’t talk to you. Lövborg May I not say du even when we are alone? Hedda No. You may think it; but you mustn’t say it. Lövborg Ah, I understand. It is an offence against George Tesman, whom you17⁠—love. Hedda Glances at him and smiles. Love? What an idea! Lövborg You don’t love him then! Hedda But I won’t hear of any sort of unfaithfulness! Remember that. Lövborg Hedda⁠—answer me one thing⁠— Hedda Hush! Tesman enters with a small tray from the inner room. Tesman Here you are! Isn’t this tempting? He puts the tray on the table. Hedda Why do you bring it yourself? Tesman Filling the glasses. Because I think it’s such fun to wait upon you, Hedda. Hedda But you have poured out two glasses. Mr. Lövborg said he wouldn’t have any⁠— Tesman No, but Mrs. Elvsted will soon be here, won’t she? Hedda Yes, by the by⁠—Mrs. Elvsted⁠— Tesman Had you forgotten her? Eh? Hedda We were so absorbed in these photographs. Shows him a picture. Do you remember this little village? Tesman Oh, it’s that one just below the Brenner Pass. It was there we passed the night⁠— Hedda —and met that lively party of tourists. Tesman Yes, that was the place. Fancy⁠—if we could only have had you with us, Eilert! Eh? He returns to the inner room and sits beside Brack. Lövborg Answer me one thing, Hedda⁠— Hedda Well? Lövborg Was there no love in your friendship for me either? Not a spark⁠—not a tinge of love in it? Hedda I wonder if there was? To me it seems as though we were two good comrades⁠—two thoroughly intimate friends. Smilingly. You especially were frankness itself. Lövborg It was you that made me so. Hedda As I look back upon it all, I think there was really something beautiful, something fascinating⁠—something