The Best Intentions (35 page)

The Reverend Gransjö appears in the middle of Anna's well-organized tumult. He has with him a bunch of spring flowers and keeps apologizing, but his errand is important, yes, it concerns Anna just as much. He wants to speak to Anna and Henrik immediately. He won't be long. No, nothing unpleasant; on the contrary, really. No, the buggy can wait by the gate. He has borrowed it from Nordenson. Anna says that Henrik is probably fishing down by the river. She tells Petrus to go and ask him to come at once. Then she asks the minister to come in, takes him up to the first floor, offers him coffee, which he declines, takes off her big blue striped apron, and sits down.

Gransjö:
The Farg boy is still with you. Is he any trouble?

Anna:
I don't know what to say. He refuses to go back home and seems to like it here with us. He's good and obedient and attentive. He's very patient with Dag-Erik and likes playing with him.

Gransjö:
No difficulties of the kind that . . .

Anna:
He's sometimes very preoccupied. His eyes wander, and he doesn't hear what you're saying. But not all that often. He's moving into the little room above the shed for the summer. He likes it there.

Gransjö:
I suppose the problem will be solved eventually?

Anna:
Yes, yes, if only one knew how.

Gransjö:
You look well, Anna.

Anna:
Yes, I am, thank you.

Gransjö:
Liking it?

Anna:
Why shouldn't I? We've everything we could wish for. And at last the summer's coming!

Gransjö:
After an unusually rough winter.

Anna:
We'll forget that. (
Laughs
.)

Gransjö:
. . . we'll forget that. (
Smiles
.)

Anna:
I can hear Henrik coming.

She goes to the door and calls down, “We're up here. In your room. But take your boots off because the floors have all just been scrubbed. Where on earth did you find that old jersey? I thought I'd hidden it away well enough.” Henrik is wearing a long, shabby old jersey; baggy working trousers, and is in his stockinged feet. He is sunburned. The minister and his curate greet each other warmly, if somewhat formally. They all sit down.

Henrik:
Haven't you offered the minister anything?

Gransjö:
Thank you, but I won't have anything, thank you. I'm disturbing you quite enough as it is.

Henrik:
And to what do we owe this honor?

Gransjö:
I've had a letter.

He opens his rather worn black briefcase and searches among the papers, then pulls out a envelope with the Church Commission's emblem on it.

Gransjö:
Yes, I've had a letter. (
Long-winded and quite cheerful
.) It's from my old friend Pastor Primarius Anders Alopéus of the Church Commission in Stockholm. Pastor Primarius is also senior court chaplain in
the parish of the court. It is in the latter capacity that my old friend and colleague has written to me.

The minister pauses deliberately and looks at Henrik and Anna though his thick spectacles.

Henrik:
Oh, yes?

Gransjö:
I considered the contents of the letter so important that it should at once and with no unnecessary delay be brought over. (
Holds up the letter
.)

Henrik:
That was very good of you.

Gransjö:
Exactly, Pastor Bergman.

Anna:
And it concerns us?

Gransjö:
Please let me read it aloud to you. (
Adjusts his glasses
.) Well, the beginning is all personal matters, that's to say, more personal. Here! We can start here. Listen carefully now. “As you probably know, the Sophiahemmet was founded by Queen Sophia. She took a lively interest in Swedish health care and wished to found a model hospital adhering to the highest European standards. Her Majesty succeeded in setting up an institution that, by dint of her own considerable efforts, is today famous and much renowned for its great contributions to medical science. During her lifetime, she was chairman of the board, a position which on her passing was taken over by Her Majesty Queen Victoria.” Yes, well . . . and so on. But to the point now! “Her Majesty, in consultation with the board, has now decided to create a permanent part-time chaplaincy. The assignment will be to lead and organize the spiritual work within the hospital and — as time permits — to teach in the college of nursing and thus provide for the spiritual education of the pupils. It has been agreed with the Reverend Källander, the minister in Hedvig Eleonora parish in Stockholm, that the projected chaplaincy at the hospital shall be complemented and supplemented by a suitable post in the aforementioned parish, so that the stipend corresponds to conditions and circumstances of a minister. The board is also planning to build a parsonage with all modern conveniences on the grounds of Sophiahemmet.” Yes, well. Yes. Now — here comes the very nub — the nub itself — if I may put it that way. (
Pause
.) “Owing to her delicate state of health, Her Majesty the Queen lives largely abroad, and a few weeks ago paid a visit to her country on urgent family business, in which the undersigned participated in a humble capacity. At a meeting, Her Majesty happened to
mention Sophiahemmet, whose problems have always been close to her heart. Her Majesty was particularly concerned about the proposed chaplaincy and emphasized how important it was to find the right man. Our archbishop, who was present on this occasion, immediately exclaimed: ‘I think I have the right man!' On closer questioning, the archbishop named a young priest by the name of Henrik Bergman.”

The Reverend Gransjö, now playing his role of dramatic reader to the hilt, pauses triumphantly, then repeats the name with feigned surprise, nodding in confirmation. “Yes, it really does say Henrik Bergman, and that must be the same person sitting opposite me with the sun in his eyes.” Anna has grasped Henrik's arm, her delight more evident than Henrik's.

Henrik:
Good gracious!

Gransjö:
To be brief, the archbishop happened to remember that Henrik Bergman was now a curate in Forsboda parish. Pastor Primarius remembered that he was an old friend and fellow student of the parish priest's and at once wrote this letter. I should perhaps point out that farther on in this eight-page missive, Pastor Primarius points out that if I consider Henrik Bergman unsuitable for this extremely distinguished assignment, then I ought to disregard this letter. After which he calls down God's blessing on me and my house.

Henrik:
Good gracious!

Anna:
It's not true. It's not true.

Gransjö:
Yes, young Mrs. Anna, it certainly is true. Since I received, read, and digested this missive, I have taken the liberty, at my own expense, of making an expensive and adventurous telephone call to my friend Pastor Primarius. He confirmed what he had written and told me, to make doubly sure, that the archbishop had met Henrik Bergman early one morning many years ago in the minister's garden in Mittsunda. They had had a conversation that had made an impression. In addition to that, the archbishop had heard the young Bergman preaching and from that had been singularly convinced.

Henrik:
I don't know what to say.

Gransjö:
You don't have to say anything. You must now think it over and discuss it with Mrs. Anna.

Henrik:
When do we have to decide by?

Gransjö:
As soon as possible. If your decision is positive, Her Majesty
has requested a meeting before she departs for her annual stay in Borgholm. In other words, you will fairly shortly have to put on your best clothes and go to Stockholm to take afternoon tea at the palace. The palace administration will pay your fares and sojourn. (
Points to the letter
.) There's a postscript here. (
Reads
.) “It is particularly emphasized that Her Majesty wishes to meet both the pastor
and
his young wife.” Well, now look at this, he's written along the side. I didn't see that. “The young wife Anna, née Åkerblom, received her training and excellent testimonials at Sophiahemmet's school of nursing in the spring of 1909.” It says that here. I hadn't noticed that.

Anna:
But I fell ill.

Gransjö:
It says nothing about illness here. It just says “excellent testimonials.” Well, that's the lot, and quite a lot it is, too, so now I'll leave you two young people in what I hope is more joy than confusion. At the same time, I would like to be the first to congratulate you, despite the fact that I myself am by no means to be congratulated, for I shall lose a young colleague whom I have come to like and a young
wife whom I also like and who makes a delightful addition to the work of our parish.

The Reverend Gransjö holds out his old hand and pats Anna on the cheek. Then he pats Henrik on the cheek, though harder.

Henrik:
I suppose it not forbidden to refuse.

Gransjö:
It is not forbidden, but almost impossible. Such distinguished offers are not made often and are of vital importance.

Henrik:
Yes. No doubt it's of vital importance.

Gransjö:
Now I must be off.

Anna:
Then we must really thank you for coming. (
Curtsies
.)

Gransjö:
Good-bye, Mrs. Anna. My regards to your son.

Henrik:
Good-bye, sir.

Gransjö:
Good-bye, Henrik Bergman, and God be with you both in your important decision.

The blossom on some of the fruit trees in the garden is out. Anna and Henrik are sitting on a white, somewhat scratched bench; Dag is slumbering on a rug. Petrus is lying on his stomach with his hands
over his ears, reading a book. Jack the dog has placed himself strategically so that with a minimum of effort he can watch over his wards. It is Saturday (the decisive day), and the chapel bell is ringing in the Sabbath. Below the grassy slope, the river flows silently along, glittering in the sun, and the rumble of the waterfall can be heard in the distance. Mild scents, mild wind, the insects industrious. Henrik is smoking his pipe, Anna crocheting a jacket for her son. The silence is peaceful, but charged with spoken questions and unspoken answers.

(
Henrik laughs silently
.)

Anna:
What are you laughing at?

Henrik:
I was thinking about great-grandfather, who was a great preacher and regarded as almost a saint. Whenever he had to make a difficult decision, he opened the Bible and always seemed to find the right answer.

Anna:
And that's what you've just done?

Henrik:
For fun. (
Leafs through a pocket Bible
.)

Anna:
Well?

Henrik:
Listen now. I landed on the Revelation of St. John the Divine, chapter three, and it says: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are already to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent!”

Anna:
I'm sure you cheated!

Henrik:
I promise I didn't.

Anna:
And what is the message?

Henrik:
I can only interpret it in one way.

Anna:
That we shall stay in Forsboda?

Henrik:
No doubt about it.

Stillness. Bees buzz, the chapel bell falls silent, a newly arrived song thrush tries out a few notes. Henrik closes the book and relights his pipe. Anna smooths out her crochet work and examines it carefully.

Anna:
You don't ask what
I
want.

Henrik:
I don't ask because I know.

Anna:
Are you sure?

Henrik:
Absolutely sure.

Stillness again. Anna puts her work aside and peers up at the sun and the swaying branch of blossom above her head. Henrik leans forward and calls to Jack, who at once comes over, sits down at his master's knee, and has his neck scratched under his collar.

Anna:
In this, my wishes are subordinate. You must follow your conscience.

Henrik:
Are you really sure?

Anna:
Yes, I'm sure, Henrik.

Henrik:
You won't regret it?

Anna:
Of course I'll regret it a thousand times, but then it'll be too late. You needn't . . .

Henrik
(
interrupts
): . . . at the moment, it's like paradise. In a few months, it'll be thirty degrees below zero and impassable and pitch dark almost all day and red noses and hacking coughs.

Anna:
. . . and the church will be empty, and there'll be trouble at the Works, and Nordenson will be going on about anarchy and strife. And ice on the water in the jug.

Henrik:
. . . and we'll forget we've got each other.

Anna:
No, we'll never forget that.

Anna takes Henrik's hand between hers. He puts down his pipe, which has gone out, and closes his eyes tightly.

Anna:
But I must admit it would have been fun to have tea at the Royal Palace with Her Majesty the Queen.

Henrik:
Most of all it would have been one in the eye for our friends in Trädgårdsgatan.

Anna:
And fun suddenly to say to each other, let's go to the Royal Theater tonight and see Anders de Wahl.

Henrik:
. . . or to a concert and listen to Beethoven.

Anna:
Or buy a silk blouse at Leja's.

Henrik:
Well, we can fantasize like that.

Anna:
Dangerous fantasies, Henrik! (
Smiles
.)

Henrik:
Dangerous? Why dangerous? (
Smiles
.)

Anna:
No, of course not. We've decided, haven't we, or rather that book has decided.

Henrik
(
lightly
): Are you perhaps being slightly ironic?

Anna:
No, not in the slightest! I'm as serious as any woman in Selma Lagerlöf's books. The decision has been made. And it's a mutual decision.