Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen (no david read aloud .TXT) 📕

he may. Hedda And then, you see⁠—then he will have regained control over himself. Then he will be a free man for all his days. Mrs. Elvsted Oh God!⁠—if he would only come as you see him now! Hedda He will come as I see him⁠—so, and not otherwise! Rises and approaches Thea. You may doubt him as long as you please; I believe in him. And now we will try⁠— Mrs. Elvsted You have some hidden motive in this, Hedda! Hedda Yes, I have. I want for once in my life to have power to mould a human destiny. Mrs. Elvsted Have you not the power? Hedda I have not⁠—and have never had it. Mrs. Elvsted Not your husband’s? Hedda Do you think that is worth the trouble? Oh, if you could only understand how poor I am. And fate has made you so rich! Clasps her passionately in her arms. I think I must burn your hair off after all. Mrs. Elvsted Let me go! Let me go! I am afraid of you, Hedda! Berta In the middle doorway. Tea is laid in the dining room, ma’am. Hedda Very well. We are coming Mrs. Elvsted No, no, no! I would rather go home alone! At once! Hedda Nonsense! First you shall have a cup of tea, you little stupid. And then⁠—at ten o’clock⁠—Eilert Lövborg will be here⁠—with vine leaves in his hair. She drags Mrs. Elvsted almost by force to the middle doorway. Act III

The room at the Tesmans’. The curtains are drawn over the middle doorway, and also over the glass door. The lamp, half turned down, and with a shade over it, is burning on the table. In the stove, the door of which stands open, there has been a fire, which is now nearly burnt out.

Mrs. Elvsted, wrapped in a large shawl, and with her feet upon a footrest, sits close to the stove, sunk back in the armchair. Hedda, fully dressed, lies sleeping upon the sofa, with a sofa blanket over her. Mrs. Elvsted After a pause, suddenly sits up in her chair, and listens eagerly. Then she sinks back again wearily, moaning to herself. Not yet!⁠—Oh God⁠—oh God⁠—not yet! Berta slips cautiously in by the hall door. She has a letter in her hand. Mrs. Elvsted Turns and whispers eagerly. Well⁠—has anyone come? Berta Softly. Yes, a girl has just brought this letter. Mrs. Elvsted Quickly, holding out her hand. A letter! Give it to me! Berta No, it’s for Dr. Tesman, ma’am. Mrs. Elvsted Oh, indeed. Berta It was Miss Tesman’s servant that brought it. I’ll lay it here on the table. Mrs. Elvsted Yes, do. Berta Laying down the letter. I think I had better put out the lamp. It’s smoking. Mrs. Elvsted Yes, put it out. It must soon be daylight now. Berta Putting out the lamp. It is daylight already, ma’am. Mrs. Elvsted Yes, broad day! And no one come back yet⁠—! Berta Lord bless you, ma’am⁠—I guessed how it would be. Mrs. Elvsted You guessed? Berta Yes, when I saw that a certain person had come back to town⁠—and that he went off with them. For we’ve heard enough about that gentleman before now. Mrs. Elvsted Don’t speak so loud. You will waken Mrs. Tesman. Berta Looks towards the sofa and sighs. No, no⁠—let her sleep, poor thing. Shan’t I put some wood on the fire? Mrs. Elvsted Thanks, not for me. Berta Oh, very well. She goes softly out by the hall door. Hedda Is wakened by the shutting of the door, and looks up. What’s that⁠—? Mrs. Elvsted It was only the servant. Hedda Looking about her. Oh, we’re here⁠—! Yes, now I remember. Sits erect upon the sofa, stretches herself, and rubs her eyes. What o’clock is it, Thea? Mrs. Elvsted Looks at her watch. It’s past seven. Hedda When did Tesman come home? Mrs. Elvsted He has not come. Hedda Not come home yet? Mrs. Elvsted Rising. No one has come. Hedda Think of our watching and waiting here till four in the morning⁠— Mrs. Elvsted Wringing her hands. And how I watched and waited for him! Hedda Yawns, and says with her hand before her mouth. Well well⁠—we might have spared ourselves the trouble. Mrs. Elvsted Did you get a little sleep? Hedda Oh yes; I believe I have slept pretty well. Have you not? Mrs. Elvsted Not for a moment. I couldn’t, Hedda!⁠—not to save my life. Hedda Rises and goes towards her. There there there! There’s nothing to be so alarmed about. I understand quite well what has happened. Mrs. Elvsted Well, what do you think? Won’t you tell me? Hedda Why, of course it has been a very late affair at Judge Brack’s⁠— Mrs. Elvsted Yes, yes⁠—that is clear enough. But all the same⁠— Hedda And then, you see, Tesman hasn’t cared to come home and ring us up in the middle of the night. Laughing. Perhaps he wasn’t inclined to show himself either⁠—immediately after a jollification. Mrs. Elvsted But in that case⁠—where can he have gone? Hedda Of course he has gone to his Aunts’ and slept there. They have his old room ready for him. Mrs. Elvsted No, he can’t be with them for a letter has just come for him from Miss Tesman. There it lies. Hedda Indeed? Looks at the address. Why yes, it’s addressed in Aunt Julia’s hand. Well then, he has remained at Judge Brack’s. And as for Eilert Lövborg⁠—he is sitting, with vine leaves in his hair, reading his manuscript. Mrs. Elvsted Oh, Hedda, you are just saying things you don’t believe a bit. Hedda You really are a little blockhead, Thea. Mrs. Elvsted Oh yes, I suppose I am. Hedda And how mortally tired you look. Mrs. Elvsted Yes, I am mortally tired. Hedda Well then, you must do as I tell you. You must go into my room and lie down for a little while. Mrs. Elvsted Oh no, no⁠—I shouldn’t be able to sleep. Hedda I am sure you would. Mrs. Elvsted Well, but you husband is certain to come soon now; and then I want to know at once⁠— Hedda I shall take care to let you know when he comes. Mrs. Elvsted Do you promise me, Hedda? Hedda Yes, rely upon me. Just you go in and have a sleep in the meantime. Mrs. Elvsted Thanks; then I’ll try.