Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (135 page)

BASTIAN.
I? With whom?

STENSGARD.
Have you really not noticed anything? Yet it’s before your very nose.

BASTIAN.
You surely don’t mean — ?

STENSGARD.
Your sister Ragna? Yes, it is she. Oh, you don’t know how I have been moved by the sight of her quiet, self-sacrificing devotion to her home —

BASTIAN.
Do you really mean to say so?

STENSGARD.
And you, with your penetrating eye, have suspected nothing?

BASTIAN.
Yes, at one time I did think — ; but now people are talking of your hanging about the Chamberlain’s —

STENSGARD.
Oh, the Chamberlain’s! Well, Monsen, I’ll tell you frankly that for a moment I did hesitate; but, thank goodness, that is over; now I see my way quite clear before me.

BASTIAN.
There’s my hand. I’ll back you up, you may be sure. And as for Ragna — why, she daren’t do anything but what I and father wish.

STENSGARD.
Yes, but your father — that’s just what I wanted to say —

BASTIAN.
Sh! There — I hear Madam Rundholmen. Now’s your chance to speak for me, if she’s not too busy; for then she’s apt to be snappish. You do your best, my dear fellow, and leave the rest to me. Do you happen to have seen Aslaksen?

STENSGARD.
He’s probably at the polling-booth.
[BASTIAN goes out by the back, as MADAM RUNDHOLMEN enters from the right.]

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Things are going as smooth as possible, Mr. Stensgard; every one is voting for you.

STENSGARD.
That’s very odd.

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Goodness knows what Monsen of Stonelee will say.

STENSGARD.
I want a word with you, Madam Rundholmen.

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Well, what is it?

STENSGARD.
Will you listen to me?

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Lord yes, that I will.

STENSGARD.
Well then: you were talking just now about being alone in the world —

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Oh, it was that horrid old Heire —

STENSGARD.
You were saying how hard it is for an unprotected widow —

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Yes, indeed; you should just try it, Mr. Stensgard!

STENSGARD.
But now if there came a fine young man —

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
A fine young man?

STENSGARD.
One who had long loved you in secret —

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Oh, come now, Mr. Stensgard, I won’t hear any more of your nonsense.

STENSGARD.
You must! A young man who, like yourself, finds it hard to be alone in the world —

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Well, what then? I don’t understand you at all.

STENSGARD.
If you could make two people happy, Madam Rundholmen — yourself and —

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
And a fine young man?

STENSGARD.
Just so; now, answer me —

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Mr. Stensgard, you can’t be in earnest?

STENSGARD.
You don’t suppose I would jest on such a subject? Should you be disposed — ?

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Yes, that I am, the Lord knows! Oh, you dear, sweet —

STENSGARD
[recoiling a step.]
What is this?

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Bother, here comes some one! RAGNA MONSEN enters hastily, and in evident disquietude, from the back.

RAGNA.
I beg your pardon — isn’t my father here?

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Your father? Yes; no; — I — I don’t know — excuse me —

RAGNA.
Where is he?

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Your father? Oh, he drove past here —

STENSGARD.
Towards Christiania.

RAGNA.
No; it’s impossible

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Yes, I know for certain he drove down the road. Oh, my dear Miss Monsen, you can’t think how happy I am! Wait a moment — I’ll just run to the cellar, and fetch up a bottle of the real thing.
[Goes out to the left.]

STENSGARD.
Tell me, Miss Monsen — is it really your father you are looking for?

RAGNA.
Yes, of course it is.

STENSGARD.
And you didn’t know that he had gone away?

RAGNA.
Oh, how should I know? They tell me nothing. But to Christiania — ? That’s impossible; they would have met him. Good-bye!

STENSGARD
[intercepts her.]
Ragna! Tell me! Why are you so changed towards me?

RAGNA.
I? Let me pass! Let me go!

STENSGARD.
No, you shall not go! I believe Providence guided you here at this moment. Oh, why do you shrink from me? You used not to.

RAGNA.
Ah, that is all over, thank God!

STENSGARD.
But why?

RAGNA.
I have learnt to know you better; it is well that I learned in time.

STENSGARD.
Oh, that is it? People have been lying about me? Perhaps I am to blame too; I have been lost in a maze of perplexities. But that is past now. Oh, the very sight of you makes a better man of me. It is you I care for, deeply and truly; it is you I love, Ragna — you and no other!

RAGNA.
Let me pass! I am afraid of you —

STENSGARD.
Oh, but to-morrow, Ragna — may I come and speak to you to-morrow?

RAGNA.
Yes, yes, if you must; only for heaven’s sake not to-day.

STENSGARD.
Only not to-day! Hurrah! I have won; now I am happy!

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN
[enters from the left with cake and wine.]
Come now, we must drink a glass for luck.

STENSGARD.
For luck in love! Here’s to love and happiness! Hurrah for to-morrow!
[He drinks.]

HELLE
[entering, from the right, to RAGNA.]
Have you found him?

RAGNA.
No, he is not here. Come, come!

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Heaven help us, what’s the matter?

HELLE.
Nothing; only some visitors have arrived at Stonelee —

RAGNA.
Thanks for all your kindness, Madam Rundholmen —

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Oh, have you got visitors on your hands again?

RAGNA.
Yes, yes; excuse me; I must go home. Goodbye!

STENSGARD.
Good-bye — till to-morrow!
[RAGNA and HELLE go out by the back. DANIEL HEIRE enters from the right.]

HEIRE.
Ha-ha! It’s going like a house on fire! They’re all cackling Stensgard, Stensgard, Stensgard! They’re all plumping for you. Now you should plump for him too, Madam Rundholmen!

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
Hey, that’s an idea! Are they all voting for him?

HEIRE.
Unanimously — Mr. Stensgard enjoys the confidence of the constituency, as the saying is. Old Lundestad is going about with a face like a pickled cucumber. Oh, it’s a pleasure to see it all.

MADAM RUNDHOLMEN.
They shan’t regret having voted for him. If I can’t vote, I can stand treat.
[Goes out to the left.]

HEIRE.
Ah, you are the man for the widows, Mr. Stensgard! I’ll tell you what — if you can only get hold of her, you’re a made man, sir!

STENSGARD.
Get hold of Madam Rundholmen?

HEIRE.
Yes, why not? She’s a substantial woman in every sense of the word. She’ll be mistress of the situation as soon as the Stonelee card-castle has come to grief.

STENSGARD.
There’s nothing wrong at Stonelee, is there?

HEIRE.
Isn’t there? You have a short memory, my dear sir. Didn’t I tell you there were rumours of failure, and bankruptcy, and — ?

STENSGARD.
Well, what then?

HEIRE.
What then? That’s just what we want to know. There’s a hue and cry after Monsen; two men have come to Stonelee —

STENSGARD.
Yes, I know — a couple of visitors —

HEIRE.
Uninvited visitors, my dear young friend; there are whispers of the police and infuriated creditors — there’s something queer about the accounts, you must know! Talking of that — what paper was that Monsen gave you yesterday?

STENSGARD.
Oh, just a paper — Something queer about the accounts, you say? Look here! you know Chamberlain Bratsberg’s signature?

HEIRE.
Hee-hee! I should rather think I did.

STENSGARD
[produces the bill.]
Well, look at this.

HEIRE.
Give it here — I’m rather short-sighted, you know.
[After examining it.]
That, my dear sir? That’s not the Chamberlain’s hand.

STENSGARD.
Not? Then it is — ?

HEIRE.
And it’s drawn by Monsen?

STENSGARD.
No, by young Mr. Bratsberg.

HEIRE.
Nonsense! Let me see.
[Looks at the paper and hands it back again.]
You can light your cigar with this.

STENSGARD.
What! The drawer’s name too — ?

HEIRE.
A forgery, young man; a forgery, as sure as my name’s Daniel. You have only to look at it with the keen eye of suspicion —

STENSGARD.
But how can that be? Monsen can’t have known —

HEIRE.
Monsen? No, he knows nothing about either his own paper or other people’s. But I’m glad it has come to an end, Mr. Stensgard! — It’s a satisfaction to one’s moral sense. Ah, I have often glowed with a noble indignation, if I may say so, at having to stand by and see — I say no more! But the best of it all is that now Monsen is down he’ll drag young Bratsberg after him; and the son will bring the father down —

STENSGARD.
Yes, so Lundestad said.

HEIRE.
But of course there’s method even in bankruptcy. You’ll see; I am an old hand at prophecy. Monsen will go to prison; young Bratsberg will compound with his creditors; and the Chamberlain will be placed under trustees; that’s to say, his creditors will present him with an annuity of a couple of thousand dollars. That’s how things go, Mr. Stensgard; I know it, I know it! What says the classic? Fiat justitia, pereat mundus; which means: Fie on what’s called justice in this wicked world, sir!

STENSGARD
[pacing the room.]
One after the other! Both ways barred!

HEIRE.
What the deuce — ?

STENSGARD.
And now too! Just at this moment!

ASLAKSEN
[enters from the right.]
I congratulate you, chosen of the people!

STENSGARD.
Elected!

ASLAKSEN.
Elected by 117 votes, and Lundestad by 53. The rest all nowhere.

HEIRE.
Your first step on the path of glory, Mr. Stensgard.

ASLAKSEN.
And it shall cost you a bowl of punch —

HEIRE.
Well, it’s the first step that costs, they say.

ASLAKSEN
[goes off to the left, shouting.]
Punch, Madam Rundholmen! A bowl of punch! The chosen of the people stands treat! LUNDESTAD, and after him several ELECTORS, enter from the right.

HEIRE
[in a tone of condolence to LUNDESTAD.]
Fifty-three! That’s the grey-haired patriot’s reward!

LUNDESTAD
[whispers to STENSGARD.]
Are you firm in your resolve?

STENSGARD.
What’s the use of being firm when everything is tumbling about your ears?

LUNDESTAD.
Do you think the game is lost?

ASLAKSEN
[returning by the left.]
Madam Rundholmen stands treat herself. She says she has the best right to.

STENSGARD
[struck by an idea.]
Madam Rundholmen! — has the best right to — !