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ACT SECOND

Scene —The cheerful dark drawing-room. It is afternoon. Hedda stands loading a revolver in the back drawing-room.

Hedda

[Looking out and shouting.] How do you do, Judge? [Aims at him.] Mind yourself!

[She fires

Brack

[Entering.] What the devil! Do you usually take pot-shots at casual visitors?

[Annoyed

Hedda

Invariably, when they come by the back-garden. It is my unconventional way of intimating that I am at home. One does do these things in realistic dramas, you know. And I was only aiming at the blue sky.

Brack

Which accounts for the condition of my hat. [Exhibiting it.] Look here —riddled!

Hedda

Couldn't help myself. I am so horribly bored with Tesman. Everlastingly to be with a professional person!

Brack

[Sympathetically.] Our excellent Tesman is certainly a bit of a bore. [Looks searchingly at her.] What on earth made you marry him?

Hedda

Tired of dancing, my dear, that's all. And then I used Tesman to take me home from parties; and we saw this villa; and I said I liked it, and so did he; and so we found some common ground, and here we are, do you see! And I loathe Tesman, and I don't even like the villa now; and I do feel the want of an entertaining companion so!

Brack

Try me. Just the kind of three-cornered arrangement that I like. Let me be the third person in the compartment – [confidentially] – the tried friend, and, generally speaking, cock of the walk!

Hedda

[Audibly drawing in her breath.] I cannot resist your polished way of putting things. We will conclude a triple alliance. But hush! – here comes Tesman.

[Enter George with a number of books under his arm

George

Puff! I am hot, Hedda. I've been looking into Lövborg's new book. Wonderfully thoughtful – confound him! But I must go and dress for your party, Judge.

[He goes out

Hedda

I wish I could get Tesman to take to politics, Judge. Couldn't he be a Cabinet Minister, or something?

Brack

H'm!

[A short pause; both look at one another, without speaking. Enter George, in evening dress with gloves.

George

It is afternoon, and your party is at half-past seven – but I like to dress early. Fancy that! And I am expecting Lövborg.

Ejlert Lövborg comes in from the hall; he is worn and pale, with red patches on his cheek-bones, and wears an elegant perfectly new visiting-suit and black gloves.

George

Welcome! [Introduces him to Brack.] Listen – I have got your new book, but I haven't read it through yet.

Lövborg

You needn't – it's rubbish. [Takes a packet of MSS. out.] This isn't. It's in three parts; the first about the civilising forces of the future, the second about the future of the civilising forces, and the third about the forces of the future civilisation. I thought I'd read you a little of it this evening?

Brack and George

[Hastily.] Awfully nice of you – but there's a little party this evening – so sorry we can't stop! Won't you come too?

Hedda

No, he must stop and read it to me and Mrs. Elvsted instead.

George

It would never have occurred to me to think of such clever things! Are you going to oppose me for the professorship, eh?

Lövborg

[Modestly.] No; I shall only triumph over you in the popular judgment – that's all!

George

Oh, is that all? Fancy! Let us go into the back drawing-room and drink cold punch.

Lövborg

Thanks – but I am a reformed character, and have renounced cold punch – it is poison.

[George and Brack go into the back-room and drink punch, whilst Hedda shows Lövborg a photograph album in the front.

Lövborg

[Slowly, in a low tone.] Hedda Gabler! how could you throw yourself away like this! – Oh, is that the Ortler Group? Beautiful! – Have you forgotten how we used to sit on the settee together behind an illustrated paper, and – yes, very picturesque peaks – I told you all about how I had been on the loose?

Hedda

Now, none of that here! These are the Dolomites. – Yes, I remember; it was a beautiful fascinating Norwegian intimacy – but it's over now. See, we spent a night in that little mountain village, Tesman and I.

Lövborg

Did you, indeed? Do you remember that delicious moment when you threatened to shoot me down? [Tenderly.] I do!

Hedda

[Carelessly.] Did I! I have done that to so many people. But now all that is past, and you have found the loveliest consolation in dear, good, little Mrs. Elvsted – ah, here she is! [Enter Mrs. Elvsted.] Now, Thea, sit down and drink up a good glass of cold punch. Mr. Lövborg is going to have some. If you don't, Mr. Lövborg, George and the Judge will think you are afraid of taking too much if you once begin.

Mrs. Elvsted

Oh, please, Hedda! When I've inspired Mr. Lövborg so – good gracious! don't make him drink cold punch!

Hedda

You see, Mr. Lövborg, our dear little friend can't trust you!

Lövborg

So that is my comrade's faith in me! [Gloomily.] I'll show her if I am to be trusted or not. [He drinks a glass of punch.] Now I'll go to the Judge's party. I'll have another glass first. Your health, Thea! So you came up to spy on me, eh? I'll drink the Sheriff's health —everybody's health!

[He tries to get more punch

Hedda

[Stopping him.] No more now. You are going to a party, remember.

[George and Tesman come in from back-room

Lövborg

Don't be angry, Thea. I was fallen for a moment. Now I'm up again! [Mrs. Elvsted beams with delight.] Judge, I'll come to your party, as you are so pressing, and I'll read George my manuscript all the evening. I'll do all in my power to make that party go!

George

No? fancy! that will be amusing!

Hedda

There, go away, you wild rollicking creatures! But Mr. Lövborg must be back at ten, to take dear Thea home!

Mrs. Elvsted

Oh, goodness, yes! [In concealed agony.] Mr. Lövborg, I shan't go away till you do!

[The three men go out laughing merrily; the Act-drop is lowered for a minute; when it is raised, it is 7 A.M., and Mrs. Elvsted and Hedda are discovered sitting up, with rugs around them.

Mrs. Elvsted

[Wearily.] Seven in the morning, and Mr. Lövborg not here to take me home yet! what can he be doing?

Hedda

[Yawning.] Reading to Tesman, with vine-leaves in his hair, I suppose. Perhaps he has got to the third part.

Mrs. Elvsted

Oh, do you really think so, Hedda. Oh, if I could but hope he was doing that!

Hedda

You silly little ninny! I should like to scorch your hair off. Go to bed!

[Mrs. Elvsted goes. Enter George

George

I'm a little late, eh? But we made such a night of it. Fancy! It was most amusing. Ejlert read his book to me – think of that! Astonishing book! Oh, we really had great fun! I wish I'd written it. Pity he's so irreclaimable.

Hedda

I suppose you mean he has more of the courage of life than most people?

George

Good Lord! He had the courage to get more drunk than most people. But, altogether, it was what you might almost call a Bacchanalian orgy. We finished up by going to have early coffee with some of these jolly chaps, and poor old Lövborg dropped his precious manuscript in the mud, and I picked it up – and here it is! Fancy if anything were to happen to it! He never could write it again. Wouldn't it be sad, eh? Don't tell any one about it.

[He leaves the packet of MSS. on a chair, and rushes out; Hedda hides the packet as Brack enters.

Brack

Another early call, you see! My party was such a singularly animated soirée that I haven't undressed all night. Oh, it was the liveliest affair conceivable! And, like a true Norwegian host, I tracked Lövborg home; and it is only my duty, as a friend of the house, and cock of the walk, to take the first opportunity of telling you that he finished up the evening by coming to mere loggerheads with a red-haired opera-singer, and being taken off to the police-station! You mustn't have him here any more. Remember our little triple alliance!

Hedda

[Her smile fading away.] You are certainly a dangerous person – but you must not get a hold over me!

Brack

[Ambiguously.] What an idea! But I might – I am an insinuating dog. Good morning!

[Goes out

Lövborg

[Bursting in, confused and excited.] I suppose you've heard where I've been?

Hedda

[Evasively.] I heard you had a very jolly party at Judge Brack's.

[Mrs. Elvsted comes in

Lövborg

It's all over. I don't mean to do any more work. I've no use for a companion now, Thea. Go home to your sheriff!

Mrs. Elvsted

[Agitated.] Never! I want to be with you when your book comes out!

Lövborg

It won't come out – I've torn it up! [Mrs. Elvsted rushes out, wringing her hands.] Mrs. Tesman, I told her a lie – but no matter. I haven't torn my book up – I've done worse! I've taken it about to several parties, and it's been through a police-row with me – now I've lost it. Even if I found it again, it wouldn't be the same – not to me! I am a Norwegian literary man, and peculiar. So I must make an end of it altogether!

Hedda

Quite so – but look here, you must do it beautifully. I don't insist on your putting vine-leaves in your hair – but do it beautifully. [Fetches pistol.] See, here is one of General Gabler's pistols – do it with that!

Lövborg

Thanks!

[He takes the pistol, and goes out through the hall-door; as soon as he has gone, Hedda brings out the manuscript, and puts it on the fire, whispering to herself, as Curtain falls.

ACT THIRD

Scene. —The same room, but—it being evening—darker than ever. The crape curtains are drawn. A servant, with black ribbons in her cap, and red eyes, comes in and lights the gas quietly and carefully. Chords are heard on the piano in the back drawing-room. Presently Hedda comes in and looks out into the darkness. A short pause. Enter George Tesman.

George

I am so uneasy about poor Lövborg. Fancy! he is not at home. Mrs. Elvsted told me he has been here early this morning, so I suppose you gave him back his manuscript, eh?

Hedda

[Cold and immovable, supported by arm-chair.] No, I put it on the fire instead.

George

On the fire! Lövborg's wonderful new book that he read to me at Brack's party, when we had that wild revelry last night! Fancy that! But, I say, Hedda – isn't that rather– eh? Too bad, you know – really. A great work like that. How on earth did you come to think of it?

Hedda

[Suppressing an almost imperceptible smile.] Well, dear George, you gave me a tolerably strong hint.

George

Me? Well, to be sure – that is a joke! Why, I only said that I envied him for writing such a book, and it would put me entirely in the shade if it came out, and if anything was to happen to it, I should never forgive myself, as poor Lövborg couldn't write it all over again, and so we must take the greatest care of it! And then I left it on a chair and went away – that was all! And you went and burnt the book all up! Bless me, who would have expected it?

Hedda

Nobody, you dear simple old soul! But I did it for your sake – it was love, George!

George

[In an outburst between doubt and joy.] Hedda, you don't mean that! Your love takes such queer forms sometimes. Yes, but yes – [laughing in excess of joy] why, you must be fond of me! Just think of that now! Well, you are fun, Hedda! Look here, I must just run and tell the housemaid that – she will enjoy the joke so, eh?

Hedda

[Coldly, in self-command.] It is surely not necessary even for a clever Norwegian man of letters in a realistic social drama, to make quite such a fool of himself as all that.

George

No, that's true too. Perhaps we'd better keep it quiet – though I must tell Aunt Julie – it will make her so happy to hear that you burnt a manuscript on my account! And, besides, I should like to ask her whether that's a usual thing with young wives. [Looks uneasy and pensive again.] But poor old Ejlert's manuscript! Oh Lor', you know! Well, well!

[Mrs. Elvsted comes in

Mrs. Elvsted

Oh, please, I'm so uneasy about dear Mr. Lövborg. Something has happened to him, I'm sure!

[Judge Brack comes in from the hall, with a new hat in his hand

Brack

You have guessed it, first time. Something has!

Mrs. Elvsted

Oh, dear, good gracious! What is it? Something distressing, I'm certain of it!

[Shrieks aloud

Brack

[Pleasantly.] That depends on how one takes it. He has shot himself, and is in a hospital now, that's all!

George

[Sympathetically.] That's sad, eh? poor old Lövborg! Well, I am cut up to hear that. Fancy, though, eh?

Hedda

Was it through the temple, or through the breast? The breast? Well, one can do it beautifully through the breast, too. Do you know, as an advanced woman, I like an act of that sort – it's so positive to have the courage to settle the account with himself – it's beautiful, really!

Mrs. Elvsted

Oh, Hedda, what an odd way to look at it! But never mind poor dear Mr. Lövborg now. What we've got to do is to see if we can't put his wonderful manuscript, that he said he had torn to pieces, together again. [Takes a bundle of small pages out of the pocket of her mantle.] There are the loose scraps he dictated it to me from. I hid them on the chance of some such emergency. And if dear Mr. Tesman and I were to put our heads together, I do think something might come of it.

George

Fancy! I will dedicate my life – or all I can spare of it – to the task. I seem to feel I owe him some slight amends, perhaps. No use crying over spilt milk, eh, Mrs. Elvsted? We'll sit down – just you and I – in the back drawing-room, and see if you can't inspire me as you did him, eh?

Mrs. Elvsted

Oh, goodness, yes! I should like it – if it only might be possible!

[George and Mrs. Elvsted go into the back drawing-room and become absorbed in eager conversation; Hedda sits in a chair in the front room, and a little later Brack crosses over to her

Hedda

[In a low tone.] Oh, Judge, what a relief to know that everything – including Lövborg's pistol – went off so well! In the breast! Isn't there a veil of unintentional beauty in that? Such an act of voluntary courage, too!

Brack

[Smiles.] H'm! – perhaps, dear Mrs. Hedda —

Hedda

[Enthusiastically.] But wasn't it sweet of him! To have the courage to live his own life after his own fashion – to break away from the banquet of life —so early and so drunk! A beautiful act like that does appeal to a superior woman's imagination!

Brack

Sorry to shatter your poetical illusions, little Mrs. Hedda, but, as a matter of fact, our lamented friend met his end under other circumstances. The shot did not strike him in the breast– but —

[Pauses

Hedda

[Excitedly.] General Gabler's pistols! I might have known it! Did they ever shoot straight? Where was he hit, then?

Brack

[In a discreet undertone.] A little lower down!

Hedda

Oh, how disgusting! – how vulgar! – how ridiculous! – like everything else about me!

Brack

Yes, we're realistic types of human nature, and all that – but a trifle squalid, perhaps. And why did you give Lövborg your pistol, when it was certain to be traced by the police? For a charming cold-blooded woman with a clear head and no scruples, wasn't it just a leetle foolish!

Hedda

Perhaps; but I wanted him to do it beautifully, and he didn't! Oh, I've just admitted that I did give him the pistol – how annoyingly unwise of me! Now I'm in your power, I suppose?

Brack

Precisely – for some reason it's not easy to understand. But it's inevitable, and you know how you dread anything approaching scandal. All your past proceedings show that. [To George and Mrs. Elvsted who come in together from the back-room.] Well, how are you getting on with the reconstruction of poor Lövborg's great work, eh?

George

Capitally; we've made out the first two parts already. And really, Hedda, I do believe Mrs. Elvsted is inspiring me; I begin to feel it coming on. Fancy that!

Mrs. Elvsted

Yes, goodness! Hedda, won't it be lovely if I can. I mean to try so hard!

Hedda

Do, you dear little silly rabbit; and while you are trying I will go into the back drawing-room and lie down.

[She goes into the back room and draws the curtains. Short pause. Suddenly she is heard playing "The Bogie Man" within on the piano.

George

But, dearest Hedda, don't play "The Bogie Man" this evening. As one of my aunts is dead, and poor old Lövborg has shot himself, it seems just a little pointed, eh?

Hedda

[Puts her head out between the curtains.] All right. I'll be quiet after this. I'm going to practise with the late General Gabler's pistol!

[Closes the curtains again; George gets behind the stove, Judge Brack under the table, and Mrs. Elvsted under the sofa. A shot is heard within.

George

[Behind the stove.] Eh, look here, I tell you what – she's hit me! Think of that!

[His legs are visibly agitated for a short time. Another shot is heard.

Mrs. Elvsted

[Under the sofa.] Oh, please, not me! Oh, goodness, now I can't inspire anybody any more. Oh!

[Her feet, which can be seen under the valance, quiver a little and then are suddenly still.

Brack

[Vivaciously, from under the table.] I say, Mrs. Hedda, I'm coming in every evening – we will have great fun here togeth – [Another shot is heard.] Bless me! to bring down the poor old cock-of-the-walk – it's unsportsmanlike! – people don't do such things as that!

[The table-cloth is violently agitated for a minute, and presently the curtains open, and Hedda appears.

Hedda

[Clearly and firmly.] I've been trying in there to shoot myself beautifully – but with General Gabler's pistol – [She lifts the table-cloth, then looks behind the stove and under the sofa.] What! the accounts of all those everlasting bores settled? Then my suicide becomes unnecessary. Yes, I feel the courage of life once more!

[She goes into the back-room and plays "The Funeral March of a Marionette" as the Curtain falls.