Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (271 page)

Miss Tesman.
[Laughing to herself.]
Yes, of course I do. You are quite right there.
[Changing the subject.]
But we were talking about your journey. It must have cost a great deal of money, George?

Tesman.

Well, you see — my handsome travelling-scholarship went a good way.

Miss Tesman.
But I can’t understand how you can have made it go far enough for two.

Tesman.
No, that’s not easy to understand — eh?

Miss Tesman.
And especially travelling with a lady — they tell me that makes it ever so much more expensive.

Tesman.
Yes, of course — it makes it a little more expensive. But Hedda had to have this trip, Auntie! She really had to. Nothing else would have done.

Miss Tesman.
No no, I suppose not. A wedding-tour seems to be quite indispensable nowadays. — But tell me now — have you gone thoroughly over the house yet?

Tesman.
Yes, you may be sure I have. I have been afoot ever since daylight.

Miss Tesman.
And what do you think of it all?

Tesman.
I’m delighted! Quite delighted! Only I can’t think what we are to do with the two empty rooms between this inner parlour and Hedda’s bedroom.

Miss Tesman.
[Laughing.]
Oh my dear George, I daresay you may find some use for them — in the course of time.

Tesman.
Why of course you are quite right, Aunt Julia! You mean as my library increases — eh?

Miss Tesman.
Yes, quite so, my dear boy. It was your library I was thinking of.

Tesman.
I am specially pleased on Hedda’s account. Often and often, before we were engaged, she said that she would never care to live anywhere but in Secretary Falk’s villa.

Miss Tesman.
Yes, it was lucky that this very house should come into the market, just after you had started.

Tesman.
Yes, Aunt Julia, the luck was on our side, wasn’t it — eh?

Miss Tesman.
But the expense, my dear George! You will find it very expensive, all this.

Tesman.
[Looks at her, a little cast down.]
Yes, I suppose I shall, Aunt!

Miss Tesman.
Oh, frightfully!

Tesman.
How much do you think? In round numbers? — Eh?

Miss Tesman.
Oh, I can’t even guess until all the accounts come in.

Tesman.
Well, fortunately, Judge Brack has secured the most favourable terms for me, so he said in a letter to Hedda.

Miss Tesman.
Yes, don’t be uneasy, my dear boy. — Besides, I have given security for the furniture and all the carpets.

Tesman.
Security? You? My dear Aunt Julia — what sort of security could you give?

Miss Tesman.
I have given a mortgage on our annuity.

Tesman.
[Jumps up.]
What! On your — and Aunt Rina’s annuity!

Miss Tesman.
Yes, I knew of no other plan, you see.

Tesman.
[Placing himself before her.]
Have you gone out of your senses, Auntie? Your annuity — it’s all that you and Aunt Rina have to live upon.

Miss Tesman.
Well well — don’t get so excited about it. It’s only a matter of form you know — Judge Brack assured me of that. It was he that was kind enough to arrange the whole affair for me. A mere matter of form, he said.

Tesman.
Yes, that may be all very well. But nevertheless —

Miss Tesman.
You will have your own salary to depend upon now. And, good heavens, even if we did have to pay up a little — ! To eke things out a bit at the start — ! Why, it would be nothing but a pleasure to us.

Tesman.
Oh Auntie — will you never be tired of making sacrifices for me!

Miss Tesman.
[Rises and lays her hand on his shoulders.]
Have I any other happiness in this world except to smooth your way for you, my dear boy. You, who have had neither father nor mother to depend on. And now we have reached the goal, George! Things have looked black enough for us, sometimes; but, thank heaven, now you have nothing to fear.

Tesman.
Yes, it is really marvellous how every thing has turned out for the best.

Miss Tesman.
And the people who opposed you — who wanted to bar the way for you — now you have them at your feet. They have fallen, George. Your most dangerous rival — his fall was the worst. — And now he has to lie on the bed he has made for himself — poor misguided creature.

Tesman.
Have you heard anything of Eilert? Since I went away, I mean.

Miss Tesman.
Only that he is said to have published a new book.

Tesman.
What! Eilert Lovborg! Recently — eh?

Miss Tesman.
Yes, so they say. Heaven knows whether it can be worth anything! Ah, when your new book appears — that will be another story, George! What is it to be about?

Tesman.
It will deal with the domestic industries of Brabant during the Middle Ages.

Miss Tesman.
Fancy — to be able to write on such a subject as that!

Tesman.
However, it may be some time before the book is ready. I have all these collections to arrange first, you see.

Miss Tesman.
Yes, collecting and arranging — no one can beat you at that. There you are my poor brother’s own son.

Tesman.
I am looking forward eagerly to setting to work at it; especially now that I have my own delightful home to work in.

Miss Tesman.
And, most of all, now that you have got the wife of your heart, my dear George.

Tesman.
[Embracing her.]
Oh yes, yes, Aunt Julia! Hedda — she is the best part of it all! I believe I hear her coming — eh?

Hedda
enters from the left through the inner room. Her face and figure show refinement and distinction. Her complexion is pale and opaque. Her steel-grey eyes express a cold, unruffled repose. Her hair is of an agreeable brown, but not particularly abundant. She is dressed in a tasteful, somewhat loose-fitting morning gown.

Miss Tesman.
[Going to meet
Hedda
.]
Good morning, my dear Hedda! Good morning, and a hearty welcome!

Hedda.
[Holds out her hand.]
Good morning, dear Miss Tesman! So early a call! That is kind of you.

Miss Tesman.
[With some embarrassment.]
Well — has the bride slept well in her new home?

Hedda.
Oh yes, thanks. Passably.

Tesman.
[Laughing.]
Passably! Come, that’s good, Hedda! You were sleeping like a stone when I got up.

Hedda.
Fortunately. Of course one has always to accustom one’s self to new surroundings, Miss Tesman — little by little.
[Looking towards the left.]
Oh, there the servant has gone and opened the veranda door, and let in a whole flood of sunshine.

Miss Tesman.
[Going towards the door.]
Well, then we will shut it.

Hedda.
No no, not that! Tesman, please draw the curtains. That will give a softer light.

Tesman.
[At the door.]
All right — all right. — There now, Hedda, now you have both shade and fresh air.

Hedda.
Yes, fresh air we certainly must have, with all these stacks of flowers — . But — won’t you sit down, Miss Tesman?

Miss Tesman.
No, thank you. Now that I have seen that everything is all right here — thank heaven! — I must be getting home again. My sister is lying longing for me, poor thing.

Tesman.
Give her my very best love, Auntie; and say I shall look in and see her later in the day.

Miss Tesman.
Yes, yes, I’ll be sure to tell her. But by-the-bye, George —
[Feeling in her dress pocket]
— I had almost forgotten — I have something for you here.

Tesman.
What is it, Auntie? Eh?

Miss Tesman.
[Produces a flat parcel wrapped in newspaper and hands it to him.]
Look here, my dear boy.

Tesman.
[Opening the parcel.]
Well, I declare! — Have you really saved them for me, Aunt Julia! Hedda! isn’t this touching — eh?

Hedda.
[Beside the whatnot on the right.]
Well, what is it?

Tesman.
My old morning-shoes! My slippers.

Hedda.
Indeed. I remember you often spoke of them while we were abroad.

Tesman.
Yes, I missed them terribly.
[Goes up to her.]
Now you shall see them, Hedda!

Hedda.
[Going towards the stove.]
Thanks, I really don’t care about it.

Tesman.
[Following her.]
Only think — ill as she was, Aunt Rina embroidered these for me. Oh you can’t think how many associations cling to them.

Hedda.
[At the table.]
Scarcely for me.

Miss Tesman.
Of course not for Hedda, George.

Tesman.
Well, but now that she belongs to the family, I thought —

Hedda.
[Interrupting.]
We shall never get on with this servant, Tesman.

Miss Tesman.
Not get on with Berta?

Tesman.
Why, dear, what puts that in your head? Eh?

Hedda.
[Pointing.]
Look there! She has left her old bonnet lying about on a chair.

Tesman.
[In consternation, drops the slippers on the floor.]
Why, Hedda —

Hedda.
Just fancy, if any one should come in and see it!

Tesman.
But Hedda — that’s Aunt Julia’s bonnet.

Hedda.
Is it!

Miss Tesman.
[Taking up the bonnet.]
Yes, indeed it’s mine. And, what’s more, it’s not old, Madam Hedda.

Hedda.
I really did not look closely at it, Miss Tesman.

Miss Tesman.
[Trying on the bonnet.]
Let me tell you it’s the first time I have worn it — the very first time.

Tesman.
And a very nice bonnet it is too — quite a beauty!

Miss Tesman.
Oh, it’s no such great things, George.
[Looks around her.]
My parasol — ? Ah, here.
[Takes it.]
For this is mine too —
[mutters]
— not Berta’s.

Tesman.
A new bonnet and a new parasol! Only think, Hedda.

Hedda.
Very handsome indeed.

Tesman.
Yes, isn’t it? Eh? But Auntie, take a good look at Hedda before you go! See how handsome she is!

Miss Tesman.
Oh, my dear boy, there’s nothing new in that. Hedda was always lovely.

She nods and goes toward the right.

Tesman.
[Following.]
Yes, but have you noticed what splendid condition she is in? How she has filled out on the journey?