Hedda Gabler

he may. Hedda And then, you see⁠—then he will have regained control over himself. Then he will be a free man for all his days. Mrs. Elvsted Oh God!⁠—if he would only come as you see him now! Hedda He will come as I see him⁠—so, and not otherwise! Rises and approaches Thea. You may doubt him as long as you please; I believe in him. And now we will try⁠— Mrs. Elvsted You have some hidden motive in this, Hedda! Hedda Yes, I have. I want for once in my life to have power to mould a human destiny. Mrs. Elvsted Have you not the power? Hedda I have not⁠—and have never had it. Mrs. Elvsted Not your husband’s? Hedda Do you think that is worth the trouble? Oh, if you could only understand how poor I am. And fate has made you so rich! Clasps her passionately in her arms. I think I must burn your hair off after all. Mrs. Elvsted Let me go! Let me go! I am afraid of you, Hedda! Berta In the middle doorway. Tea is laid in the dining room, ma’am. Hedda Very well. We are coming Mrs. Elvsted No, no, no! I would rather go home alone! At once! Hedda Nonsense! First you shall have a cup of tea, you little stupid. And then⁠—at ten o’clock⁠—Eilert Lövborg will be here⁠—with vine leaves in his hair. She drags Mrs. Elvsted almost by force to the middle doorway.

Act III

The room at the Tesmans’. The curtains are drawn over the middle doorway, and also over the glass door. The lamp, half turned down, and with a shade over it, is burning on the table. In the stove, the door of which stands open, there has been a fire, which is now nearly burnt out.

	Mrs. Elvsted, wrapped in a large shawl, and with her feet upon a footrest, sits close to the stove, sunk back in the armchair. Hedda, fully dressed, lies sleeping upon the sofa, with a sofa blanket over her.
Mrs. Elvsted	After a pause, suddenly sits up in her chair, and listens eagerly. Then she sinks back again wearily, moaning to herself. Not yet!⁠—Oh God⁠—oh God⁠—not yet!
	Berta slips cautiously in by the hall door. She has a letter in her hand.
Mrs. Elvsted	Turns and whispers eagerly. Well⁠—has anyone come?
Berta	Softly. Yes, a girl has just brought this letter.
Mrs. Elvsted	Quickly, holding out her hand. A letter! Give it to me!
Berta	No, it’s for Dr. Tesman, ma’am.
Mrs. Elvsted	Oh, indeed.
Berta	It was Miss Tesman’s servant that brought it. I’ll lay it here on the table.
Mrs. Elvsted	Yes, do.
Berta	Laying down the letter. I think I had better put out the lamp. It’s smoking.
Mrs. Elvsted	Yes, put it out. It must soon be daylight now.
Berta	Putting out the lamp. It is daylight already, ma’am.
Mrs. Elvsted	Yes, broad day! And no one come back yet⁠—!
Berta	Lord bless you, ma’am⁠—I guessed how it would be.
Mrs. Elvsted	You guessed?
Berta	Yes, when I saw that a certain person had come back to town⁠—and that he went off with them. For we’ve heard enough about that gentleman before now.
Mrs. Elvsted	Don’t speak so loud. You will waken Mrs. Tesman.
Berta	Looks towards the sofa and sighs. No, no⁠—let her sleep, poor thing. Shan’t I put some wood on the fire?
Mrs. Elvsted	Thanks, not for me.
Berta	Oh, very well. She goes softly out by the hall door.
Hedda	Is wakened by the shutting of the door, and looks up. What’s that⁠—?
Mrs. Elvsted	It was only the servant.
Hedda	Looking about her. Oh, we’re here⁠—! Yes, now I remember. Sits erect upon the sofa, stretches herself, and rubs her eyes. What o’clock is it, Thea?
Mrs. Elvsted	Looks at her watch. It’s past seven.
Hedda	When did Tesman come home?
Mrs. Elvsted	He has not come.
Hedda	Not come home yet?
Mrs. Elvsted	Rising. No one has come.
Hedda	Think of our watching and waiting here till four in the morning⁠—
Mrs. Elvsted	Wringing her hands. And how I watched and waited for him!
Hedda	Yawns, and says with her hand before her mouth. Well well⁠—we might have spared ourselves the trouble.
Mrs. Elvsted	Did you get a little sleep?
Hedda	Oh yes; I believe I have slept pretty well. Have you not?
Mrs. Elvsted	Not for a moment. I couldn’t, Hedda!⁠—not to save my life.
Hedda	Rises and goes towards her. There there there! There’s nothing to be so alarmed about. I understand quite well what has happened.
Mrs. Elvsted	Well, what do you think? Won’t you tell me?
Hedda	Why, of course it has been a very late affair at Judge Brack’s⁠—
Mrs. Elvsted	Yes, yes⁠—that is clear enough. But all the same⁠—
Hedda	And then, you see, Tesman hasn’t cared to come home and ring us up in the middle of the night. Laughing. Perhaps he wasn’t inclined to show himself either⁠—immediately after a jollification.
Mrs. Elvsted	But in that case⁠—where can he have gone?
Hedda	Of course he has gone to his Aunts’ and slept there. They have his old room ready for him.
Mrs. Elvsted	No, he can’t be with them for a letter has just come for him from Miss Tesman. There it lies.
Hedda	Indeed? Looks at the address. Why yes, it’s addressed in Aunt Julia’s hand. Well then, he has remained at Judge Brack’s. And as for Eilert Lövborg⁠—he is sitting, with vine leaves in his hair, reading his manuscript.
Mrs. Elvsted	Oh, Hedda, you are just saying things you don’t believe a bit.
Hedda	You really are a little blockhead, Thea.
Mrs. Elvsted	Oh yes, I suppose I am.
Hedda	And how mortally tired you look.
Mrs. Elvsted	Yes, I am mortally tired.
Hedda	Well then, you must do as I tell you. You must go into my room and lie down for a little while.
Mrs. Elvsted	Oh no, no⁠—I shouldn’t be able to sleep.
Hedda	I am sure you would.
Mrs. Elvsted	Well, but you husband is certain to come soon now; and then I want to know at once⁠—
Hedda	I shall take care to let you know when he comes.
Mrs. Elvsted	Do you promise me, Hedda?
Hedda	Yes, rely upon me. Just you go in and have a sleep in the meantime.
Mrs. Elvsted	Thanks; then I’ll try.