Hedda Gabler

restless to sit down. Hedda Oh no, you’re not. Come here. She draws Mrs. Elvsted down upon the sofa and sits at her side. Tesman Well? What is it, Mrs. Elvsted⁠—? Hedda Has anything particular happened to you at home? Mrs. Elvsted Yes⁠—and no. Oh⁠—I am so anxious you should not misunderstand me⁠— Hedda Then your best plan is to tell us the whole story, Mrs. Elvsted. Tesman I suppose that’s what you have come for⁠—eh? Mrs. Elvsted Yes, yes⁠—of course it is. Well then, I must tell you⁠—if you don’t already know⁠—that Eilert Lövborg is in town, too. Hedda Lövborg⁠—! Tesman What! Has Eilert Lövborg come back? Fancy that, Hedda! Hedda Well well⁠—I hear it. Mrs. Elvsted He has been here a week already. Just fancy⁠—a whole week! In this terrible town, alone! With so many temptations on all sides. Hedda But, my dear Mrs. Elvsted⁠—how does he concern you so much? Mrs. Elvsted Looks at her with a startled air, and says rapidly. He was the children’s tutor. Hedda Your children’s? Mrs. Elvsted My husband’s. I have none. Hedda Your stepchildren’s, then? Mrs. Elvsted Yes. Tesman Somewhat hesitatingly. Then was he⁠—I don’t know how to express it⁠—was he⁠—regular enough in his habits to be fit for the post? Eh? Mrs. Elvsted For the last two years his conduct has been irreproachable. Tesman Has it indeed? Fancy that, Hedda! Hedda I hear it. Mrs. Elvsted Perfectly irreproachable, I assure you! In every respect. But all the same⁠—now that I know he is here⁠—in this great town⁠—and with a large sum of money in his hands⁠—I can’t help being in mortal fear for him. Tesman Why did he not remain where he was? With you and your husband? Eh? Mrs. Elvsted After his book was published he was too restless and unsettled to remain with us. Tesman Yes, by the by, Aunt Julia told me he had published a new book. Mrs. Elvsted Yes, a big book, dealing with the march of civilisation⁠—in broad outline, as it were. It came out about a fortnight ago. And since it has sold so well, and been so much read⁠—and made such a sensation⁠— Tesman Has it indeed? It must be something he has had lying by since his better days. Mrs. Elvsted Long ago, you mean? Tesman Yes. Mrs. Elvsted No, he has written it all since he has been with us⁠—within the last year. Tesman Isn’t that good news, Hedda? Think of that. Mrs. Elvsted Ah yes, if only it would last! Hedda Have you seen him here in town? Mrs. Elvsted No, not yet. I have had the greatest difficulty in finding out his address. But this morning I discovered it at last. Hedda Looks searchingly at her. Do you know, it seems to me a little odd of your husband⁠—h’m⁠— Mrs. Elvsted Starting nervously. Of my husband! What? Hedda That he should send you to town on such an errand⁠—that he does not come himself and look after his friend. Mrs. Elvsted Oh no, no⁠—my husband has no time. And besides, I⁠—I had some shopping to do. Hedda With a slight smile. Ah, that is a different matter. Mrs. Elvsted Rising quickly and uneasily. And now I beg and implore you, Mr. Tesman⁠—receive Eilert Lövborg kindly if he comes to you! And that he is sure to do. You see you were such great friends in the old days. And then you are interested in the same studies⁠—the same branch of science⁠—so far as I can understand. Tesman We used to be at any rate. Mrs. Elvsted That is why I beg so earnestly that you⁠—you too⁠—will keep a sharp eye upon him. Oh, you will promise me that, Mr. Tesman⁠—won’t you? Tesman With the greatest of pleasure, Mrs. Rysing⁠— Hedda Elvsted. Tesman I assure you I shall do all I possibly can for Eilert. You may rely upon me. Mrs. Elvsted Oh, how very, very kind of you! Presses his hands. Thanks, thanks, thanks! Frightened. You see, my husband is so very fond of him! Hedda Rising. You ought to write to him, Tesman. Perhaps he may not care to come to you of his own accord. Tesman Well, perhaps it would be the right thing to do, Hedda? Eh? Hedda And the sooner the better. Why not at once? Mrs. Elvsted Imploringly. Oh, if you only would! Tesman I’ll write this moment. Have you his address, Mrs.⁠—Mrs. Elvsted. Mrs. Elvsted Yes. Takes a slip of paper from her pocket, and hands it to him. Here it is. Tesman Good, good. Then I’ll go in⁠—Looks about him. By the by⁠—my slippers? Oh, here. Takes the packet and is about to go. Hedda Be sure you write him a cordial, friendly letter. And a good long one too. Tesman Yes, I will. Mrs. Elvsted But please, please don’t say a word to show that I have suggested it. Tesman No, how could you think I would? Eh? He goes out to the right, through the inner room. Hedda Goes up to Mrs. Elvsted, smiles, and says in a low voice. There! We have killed two birds with one stone. Mrs. Elvsted What do you mean? Hedda Could you not see that I wanted him to go? Mrs. Elvsted Yes, to write the letter⁠— Hedda And that I might speak to you alone. Mrs. Elvsted Confused. About the same thing? Hedda Precisely. Mrs. Elvsted Apprehensively. But there is nothing more, Mrs. Tesman! Absolutely nothing! Hedda Oh yes, but there is. There is a great deal more⁠—I can see that. Sit here⁠—and we’ll have a cosy, confidential chat. She forces Mrs. Elvsted to sit in the easy chair beside the stove, and seats herself on one of the footstools. Mrs. Elvsted Anxiously, looking at her watch. But, my dear Mrs. Tesman⁠—I was really on the point of going. Hedda Oh, you can’t be in such a hurry.⁠—Well? Now tell me something about your life at home. Mrs. Elvsted Oh, that is just what I care least to speak about. Hedda But to me, dear⁠—? Why, weren’t we schoolfellows? Mrs. Elvsted Yes, but you were in the class above me. Oh, how dreadfully afraid of you I was then! Hedda Afraid of me? Mrs. Elvsted Yes, dreadfully. For when we met on the stairs you used always to pull my hair. Hedda Did I, really? Mrs. Elvsted Yes, and once you said you would burn it off my head. Hedda Oh that was all nonsense, of course. Mrs. Elvsted Yes, but I was so silly in those days.⁠—And since then, too⁠—we have drifted