Hedda Gabler

epub:type="z3998:stage-direction">She goes off to the inner room. Hedda goes up to the glass door and draws back the curtains. The broad daylight streams into the room. Then she takes a little hand glass from the writing table, looks at herself in it, and arranges her hair. Next she goes to the hall door and presses the bell button. Berta presently appears at the hall door. Berta Did you want anything, ma’am? Hedda Yes; you must put some more wood in the stove. I am shivering. Berta Bless me⁠—I’ll make up the fire at once. She rakes the embers together and lays a piece of wood upon them; then stops and listens. That was a ring at the front door, ma’am. Hedda Then go to the door. I will look after the fire. Berta It’ll soon burn up. She goes out by the hall door. Hedda kneels on the footrest and lays some more pieces of wood in the stove. After a short pause, George Tesman enters from the hall. He steals on tiptoe towards the middle doorway and is about to slip through the curtains. Hedda At the stove, without looking up. Good morning. Tesman Turns. Hedda! Approaching her. Good heavens⁠—are you up so early? Eh? Hedda Yes, I am up very early this morning. Tesman And I never doubted you were still sound asleep! Fancy that, Hedda! Hedda Don’t speak so loud. Mrs. Elvsted is resting in my room. Tesman Has Mrs. Elvsted been here all night? Hedda Yes, since no one came to fetch her. Tesman Ah, to be sure. Hedda Closes the door of the stove and rises. Well, did you enjoy yourselves at Judge Brack’s? Tesman Have you been anxious about me? Eh? Hedda No, I should never think of being anxious. But I asked if you had enjoyed yourself. Tesman Oh yes⁠—for once in a way. Especially the beginning of the evening; for then Eilert read me part of his book. We arrived more than an hour too early⁠—fancy that! And Brack had all sorts of arrangements to make⁠—so Eilert read to me. Hedda Seating herself by the table on the right. Well? Tell me then⁠— Tesman Sitting on a footstool near the stove. Oh, Hedda, you can’t conceive what a book that is going to be! I believe it is one of the most remarkable things that have ever been written. Fancy that! Hedda Yes yes; I don’t care about that⁠— Tesman I must make a confession to you, Hedda. When he had finished reading⁠—a horrid feeling came over me. Hedda A horrid feeling? Tesman I felt jealous of Eilert for having had it in him to write such a book. Only think, Hedda! Hedda Yes, yes, I am thinking! Tesman And then how pitiful to think that he⁠—with all his gifts⁠—should be irreclaimable, after all. Hedda I suppose you mean that he has more courage than the rest? Tesman No, not at all⁠—I mean that he is incapable of taking his pleasure in moderation. Hedda And what came of it all⁠—in the end? Tesman Well, to tell the truth, I think it might best be described as an orgy, Hedda. Hedda Had he vine leaves in his hair? Tesman Vine leaves? No, I saw nothing of the sort. But he made a long, rambling speech in honour of the woman who had inspired him in his work⁠—that was the phrase he used. Hedda Did he name her? Tesman No, he didn’t; but I can’t help thinking he meant Mrs. Elvsted. You may be sure he did. Hedda Well⁠—where did you part from him? Tesman On the way to town. We broke up⁠—the last of us at any rate⁠—all together; and Brack came with us to get a breath of fresh air. And then, you see, we agreed to take Eilert home; for he had had far more than was good for him. Hedda I daresay. Tesman But now comes the strange part of it, Hedda; or, I should rather say, the melancholy part of it. I declare I am almost ashamed⁠—on Eilert’s account⁠—to tell you⁠— Hedda Oh, go on⁠—! Tesman Well, as we were getting near town, you see, I happened to drop a little behind the others. Only for a minute or two⁠—fancy that! Hedda Yes yes yes, but⁠—? Tesman And then, as I hurried after them⁠—what do you think I found by the wayside? Eh? Hedda Oh, how should I know! Tesman You mustn’t speak of it to a soul, Hedda! Do you hear! Promise me, for Eilert’s sake. Draws a parcel, wrapped in paper, from his coat pocket. Fancy, dear⁠—I found this. Hedda Is not that the parcel he had with him yesterday? Tesman Yes, it is the whole of his precious, irreplaceable manuscript! And he had gone and lost it, and knew nothing about it. Only fancy, Hedda! So deplorably⁠— Hedda But why did you not give him back the parcel at once? Tesman I didn’t dare to⁠—in the state he was then in⁠— Hedda Did you not tell any of the others that you had found it? Tesman Oh, far from it! You can surely understand that, for Eilert’s sake, I wouldn’t do that. Hedda So no one knows that Eilert Lövborg’s manuscript is in your possession? Tesman No. And no one must know it. Hedda Then what did you say to him afterwards? Tesman I didn’t talk to him again at all; for when we got in among the streets, he and two or three of the others gave us the slip and disappeared. Fancy that! Hedda Indeed! They must have taken him home then. Tesman Yes, so it would appear. And Brack, too, left us. Hedda And what have you been doing with yourself since? Tesman Well, I and some of the others went home with one of the party, a jolly fellow, and took our morning coffee with him; or perhaps I should rather call it our night coffee⁠—eh? But now, when I have rested a little, and given Eilert, poor fellow, time to have his sleep out, I must take this back to him. Hedda Holds out her hand for the packet. No⁠—don’t give it to him! Not in such a hurry, I mean. Let me read it first. Tesman No, my