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FARQUHARSON SHARP + + + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + +John Rosmer, of Rosmersholm, an ex-clergyman. +Rebecca West, one of his household, originally engaged as +companion to the late Mrs. Rosmer. +Kroll, headmaster of the local grammar school, Rosmer's brother- +in-law. +Ulrik Brendel. +Peter Mortensgaard. +Mrs. Helseth, Rosmer's housekeeper. + +(The action takes place at Rosmersholm, an old manor-house in the +neighbourhood of a small town on a fjord in western Norway.) + + + + +ACT 1 + +(SCENE--The sitting-room at Rosmersholm; a spacious room, +comfortably furnished in old-fashioned style. In the foreground, +against the right-hand wall, is a stove decorated with sprigs of +fresh birch and wild flowers. Farther back, a door. In the back +wall folding doors leading into the entrance hall. In the left- +hand wall a window, in front of which is a stand filled with +flowers and plants. Near the stove stand a table, a couch and an +easy-chair. The walls are hung round with portraits, dating from +various periods, of clergymen, military officers and other +officials in uniform. The window is open, and so are the doors +into the lobby and the outer door. Through the latter is seen an +avenue of old trees leading to a courtyard. It is a summer +evening, after sunset. REBECCA WEST is sitting by the window +crocheting a large white woollen shawl, which is nearly +completed. From time to time she peeps out of window through the +flowers. MRS. HELSETH comes in from the right.) + +Mrs. Helseth. Hadn't I better begin and lay the table for supper, +miss? + +Rebecca. Yes, do. Mr. Rosmer ought to be in directly. + +Mrs. Helseth. Isn't there a draught where you are sitting, miss? + +Rebecca. There is a little. Will you shut up, please? (MRS. +HELSETH goes to the hall door and shuts it. Then she goes to the +window, to shut it, and looks out.) + +Mrs. Helseth. Isn't that Mr. Rosmer coming there? + +Rebecca. Where? (Gets up.) Yes, it is he. (Stands behind the +window-curtain.) Stand on one side. Don't let him catch sight of +us. + +Mrs. Helseth (stepping back). Look, miss--he is beginning to use +the mill path again. + +Rebecca. He came by the mill path the day before yesterday too. +(Peeps out between the curtain and the window-frame). Now we +shall see whether-- + +Mrs. Helseth. Is he going over the wooden bridge? + +Rebecca. That is just what I want to see. (After a moment.) No. +He has turned aside. He is coming the other way round to-day too. +(Comes away from the window.) It is a long way round. + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, of course. One can well understand his +shrinking from going over that bridge. The spot where such a +thing has happened is-- + +Rebecca (folding up her work). They cling to their dead a long +time at Rosmersholm. + +Mrs. Helseth. If you ask me, miss, I should say it is the dead +that cling to Rosmersholm a long time. + +Rebecca (looking at her). The dead? + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, one might almost say that they don't seem to +be able to tear themselves away from those they have left behind. + +Rebecca. What puts that idea into your head? + +Mrs. Helseth. Well, otherwise I know the White Horses would not +be seen here. + +Rebecca. Tell me, Mrs. Helseth--what is this superstition about +the White Horses? + +Mrs. Helseth. Oh, it is not worth talking about. I am sure you +don't believe in such things, either. + +Rebecca. Do you believe in them? + +Mrs. Helseth (goes to the window and shuts it). Oh, I am not +going to give you a chance of laughing at me, miss. (Looks out.) +See--is that not Mr. Rosmer out on the mill path again? + +Rebecca (looking out). That man out there? (Goes to the window.) +Why, that is Mr. Kroll, of course! + +Mrs. Helseth. So it is, to be sure. + +Rebecca. That is delightful, because he is certain to be coming +here. + +Mrs. Helseth. He actually comes straight over the wooden bridge, +he does for all that she was his own sister. Well, I will go in +and get the supper laid, miss. (Goes out to the right. REBECCA +stands still for a moment, then waves her hand out of the window, +nodding and smiling. Darkness is beginning to fall.) + +Rebecca (going to the door on the right and calling through it). +Mrs. Helseth, I am sure you won't mind preparing something extra +nice for supper? You know what dishes Mr. Kroll is especially +fond of. + +Mrs. Helseth. Certainly, miss. I will. + +Rebecca (opening the door into the lobby). At last, Mr. Kroll! I +am so glad to see you! + +Kroll (coming into the lobby and putting down his stick). Thank +you. Are you sure I am not disturbing you? + +Rebecca. You? How can you say such a thing? + +Kroll (coming into the room). You are always so kind. (Looks +round the room.) Is John up in his room? + +Rebecca. No, he has gone out for a walk. He is later than usual +of coming in, but he is sure to be back directly. (Points to the +sofa.) Do sit down and wait for him. + +Kroll (putting down his hat). Thank you. (Sits down and looks +about him.) How charmingly pretty you have made the old room +look! Flowers everywhere! + +Rebecca. Mr. Rosmer is so fond of having fresh flowers about him. + +Kroll. And so are you, I should say. + +Rebecca. Yes, I am. I think their scent has such a delicious +effect on one--and till lately we had to deny ourselves that +pleasure, you know. + +Kroll (nodding slowly). Poor Beata could not stand the scent of +them. + +Rebecca. Nor their colours either. They made her feel dazed. + +Kroll. Yes, I remember. (Continues in a more cheerful tone of +voice). Well, and how are things going here? + +Rebecca. Oh, everything goes on in the same quiet, placid way. +One day is exactly like another. And how are things with you? Is +your wife--? + +Kroll. Oh, my dear Miss West, don't let us talk about my affairs. +In a family there is always something or other going awry-- +especially in such times as we live in now. + +Rebecca (after a short pause, sitting down in an easy-chair near +the sofa). Why have you never once been near us during the whole +of your holidays? + +Kroll. Oh, it doesn't do to be importunate, you know. + +Rebecca. If you only knew how we have missed you. + +Kroll. And, besides, I have been away, you know. + +Rebecca. Yes, for a fortnight or so. I suppose you have been +going the round of the public meetings? + +Kroll (nods). Yes, what do you say to that? Would you ever have +thought I would become a political agitator in my old age--eh? + +Rebecca (smilingly). You have always been a little bit of an +agitator, Mr. Kroll. + +Kroll. Oh, yes; just for my own amusement. But for the future it +is going to be in real earnest. Do you ever read the Radical +newspapers? + +Rebecca. Yes, I won't deny that! + +Kroll. My dear Miss West, there is no objection to that--not as +far as you are concerned. + +Rebecca. No, that is just what I think. I must follow the course +of events--keep up with what is happening. + +Kroll. Well, under any circumstances, I should never expect you, +as a woman, to side actively with either party in the civic +dispute--indeed one might more properly call it the civil war--that +is raging here. I dare say you have read, then, the abuse these +"nature's gentlemen" are pleased to shower upon me, and the +scandalous coarseness they consider they are entitled to make use +of? + +Rebecca. Yes, but I think you have held your own pretty forcibly. + +Kroll. That I have--though I say it. I have tasted blood now, and +I will make them realise that I am not the sort of man to take it +lying down--. (Checks himself.) No, no, do not let us get upon +that sad and distressing topic this evening. + +Rebecca. No, my dear Mr. Kroll, certainly not. + +Kroll. Tell me, instead, how you find you get on at Rosmersholm, +now that you are alone here--I mean, since our poor Beata-- + +Rebecca. Oh, thanks--I get on very well here. Her death has made a +great gap in the house in many ways, of course--and one misses her +and grieves for her, naturally. But in other respects-- + +Kroll. Do you think you will remain here?--permanently, I mean? + +Rebecca. Dear Mr. Kroll, I really never think about it at all. +The fact is that I have become so thoroughly domesticated here +that I almost feel as if I belonged to the place too. + +Kroll. You? I should think you did! + +Rebecca. And as long as Mr. Rosmer finds I can be any comfort or +any use to him, I will gladly remain here, undoubtedly. + +Kroll (looking at her, with some emotion). You know, there is +something splendid about a woman's sacrificing the whole of her +youth for others. + +Rebecca. What else have I had to live for? + +Kroll. At first when you came here there was your perpetual worry +with that unreasonable cripple of a foster-father of yours-- + +Rebecca. You mustn't think that Dr. West was as unreasonable as +that when we lived in Finmark. It was the trying journeys by sea +that broke him up. But it is quite true that after we had moved +here there were one or two hard years before his sufferings were +over. + +Kroll. Were not the years that followed even harder for you? + +Rebecca. No; how can you say such a thing! I, who was so +genuinely fond of Beata--! And she, poor soul was so sadly in need +of care and sympathetic companionship. + +Kroll. You deserve to be thanked and rewarded for the forbearance +with which you speak of her. + +Rebecca (moving a little nearer to him). Dear Mr. Kroll, you say +that so kindly and so sincerely that I feel sure you really bear +me no ill-will. + +Kroll. Ill-will? What do you mean? + +Rebecca. Well, it would not be so very surprising if it were +rather painful for you to see me, a stranger, doing just as I +like here at Rosmersholm. + +Kroll. How in the world could you think--! + +Rebecca. Then it is not so? (Holds out her hand to, him.) Thank +you, Mr. Kroll; thank you for that. + +Kroll. But what on earth could make you take such an idea into +your head? + +Rebecca. I began to be afraid it might be so, as you have so +seldom been out here to see us lately. + +Kroll. I can assure you, you have been on the wrong scent +entirely, Miss West. And, in any case, the situation of affairs +is unchanged in any essential point; because during the last sad +years of poor Beata's life it was you and you alone, even then, +that looked after everything here. + +Rebecca. But it was more like a kind of regency in the wife's +name. + +Kroll. Whatever it was, I--. I will tell you what, Miss West; as +far as I am concerned I should have nothing whatever to say +against it if you. But it doesn't do to say such things. + +Rebecca. What things? + +Kroll. Well, if it so happened that you were to step into the +empty place-- + +Rebecca. I have the place I want, already, Mr. Kroll. + +Kroll. Yes, as far as material benefits go; but not-- + +Rebecca (interrupting him, in a serious voice). For shame, Mr. +Kroll! How can you sit there and jest about such things! + +Kroll. Oh, well, I dare say our good John Rosmer thinks he has +had more than enough of married life. But, all the same-- + +Rebecca. Really, you almost make me feel inclined to laugh at +you. + +Kroll. All the same--Tell me, Miss West, if I may be allowed the +question, how old are you? + +Rebecca. I am ashamed to say I was twenty-nine on my last +birthday, Mr. Kroll. I am nearly thirty. + +Kroll. Quite so. And Rosmer--how old is he? Let me see. He is five +years younger than me, so he must be just about forty-three. It +seems to me it would be very suitable. + +Rebecca. No doubt, no doubt. It would be remarkably suitable--Will +you stop and have supper with us? + +Kroll. Thank you. I had meant to pay you a good long visit, +because there is a matter I want to talk over with our excellent +friend--Well, then, Miss West, to prevent your taking foolish +ideas into your head again, I will come out here again from time +to time, as in the old days. + +Rebecca. Yes, please do. (Holds out her hand to, him.) Thank you, +thank you! You are really uncommonly good-natured. + +Kroll (with a little grumble). Am I? I can tell you that is more +than they say at home. (ROSMER comes in by the door on the +right.) + +Rebecca. Mr. Rosmer, do you see who is sitting here? + +Rosmer. Mrs. Helseth told me. (KROLL gets up.) I am so glad to +see you here again, my dear fellow. (Puts his hands on KROLL'S +shoulders and looks him in the face.) Dear old friend! I knew +that one day we should be on our old footing again. + +Kroll. My dear fellow, have you that insane idea in your head +too, that any thing could come between us? + +Rebecca (to ROSMER). Isn't it delightful to think it was all our +imagination! + +Rosmer. Is that really true, Kroll? But why have you kept so +obstinately away from us? + +Kroll (seriously, and in, a subdued voice). Because I did not +want to come here like a living reminder of the unhappy time that +is past--and of her who met her death in the mill-race. + +Rosmer. It was a very kind thought on your part. You are always +so considerate. But it was altogether unnecessary to keep away +from us on that account. Come along, let us sit down on the sofa. +(They sit down.) I can assure you it is not in the least painful +for me to think about Beata. We talk about her every day. She +seems to us to have a part in the house still. + +Kroll. Does she really? + +Rebecca (lighting the lamp). Yes, it is really quite true. + +Rosmer. She really does. We both think so affectionately of her. +And both Rebecca--both Miss West and I know in our hearts that we +did all that lay in our power for the poor afflicted creature. We +have nothing to reproach ourselves with. That is why I feel there +is something sweet and peaceful in the way we can think of Beata +now. + +Kroll. You dear good people! In future I am coming out to see you +every day. + +Rebecca (sitting down in an arm-chair). Yes, let us see that you +keep your word. + +Rosmer (with a slight hesitation). I assure you, my dear fellow, +my dearest wish would be that our intimacy should never suffer in +any way. You know, you have seemed to be my natural adviser as +long as we have known one another, even from my student days. + +Kroll. I know, and I am very proud of the privilege. Is there by +any chance anything in particular just now--? + +Rosmer. There are a great many things that I want very much to +talk over with you frankly--things that lie very near my heart. + +Rebecca. I feel that is so, too, Mr. Rosmer. It seems to me it +would be such a good thing if you two old friends-- + +Kroll. Well, I can assure you I have even more to talk over with +you--because I have become an active politician, as I dare say you +know. + +Rosmer. Yes, I know you have. How did that come about? + +Kroll. I had to, you see, whether I liked it or not. It became +impossible for me to remain an idle spectator any longer. Now +that the Radicals have become so distressingly powerful, it was +high time. And that is also why I have induced our little circle +of friends in the town to bind themselves more definitely +together. It was high time, I can tell you! + +Rebecca (with a slight smile). As a matter of fact, isn't it +really rather late now? + +Kroll. There is no denying it would have been more fortunate if +we had succeeded in checking the stream at an earlier point. But +who could really foresee what was coming? I am sure I could not. +(Gets up and walks up and down.) Anyway, my eyes are completely +opened now; for the spirit of revolt has spread even into my +school. + +Rosmer. Into the school? Surely not into your school? + +Kroll. Indeed it has. Into my own school. What do you think of +this? I have got wind of the fact that the boys in the top class-- +or rather, a part of the boys in it--have formed themselves into a +secret society and have been taking in Mortensgaard's paper! + +Rebecca. Ah, the "Searchlight". + +Kroll. Yes, don't you think that is a nice sort of intellectual +pabulum for future public servants? But the saddest part of it is +that it is all the most promising boys in the class that have +conspired together and hatched this plot against me. It is only +the duffers and dunces that have held aloof from it. + +Rebecca. Do you take it so much to heart, Mr. Kroll? + +Kroll. Do I take it to heart, to find myself so hampered and +thwarted in my life's work? (Speaking more gently.) I might find +it in my heart to say that I could even take that for what it is +worth; but I have not told you the worst of it yet. (Looks round +the room.) I suppose nobody is likely to be listening at the +doors? + +Rebecca. Oh, certainly not. + +Kroll. Then let me tell you that the revolt and dissension has +spread into my own home--into my own peaceful home--and has +disturbed the peace of my family life. + +Rosmer (getting up). Do you mean it? In your own home? + +Rebecca (going up to Kroll). Dear Mr. Kroll, what has happened? + +Kroll. Would you believe it that my own children--. To make a long +story short, my boy Laurits is the moving spirit of the +conspiracy at the school. And Hilda has embroidered a red +portfolio to keep the numbers of the "Searchlight" in. + +Rosmer. I should never have dreamed of such a thing; in your +family--in your own house! + +Kroll. No, who would ever have dreamed of such a thing? In my +house, where obedience and order have always ruled--where hitherto +there has never been anything but one unanimous will-- + +Rebecca. How does your wife take it? + +Kroll. Ah, that is the most incredible part of the whole thing. +She, who all her days--in great things and small--has concurred in +my opinions and approved of all my views, has actually not +refrained from throwing her weight on the children's side on many +points. And now she considers I am to blame for what has +happened. She says I try to coerce the young people too much. +Just as if it were not necessary to--. Well, those are the sort of +dissensions I have going on at home. But naturally I talk as +little about it as possible; it is better to be silent about such +things. (Walks across the floor.) Oh, yes.--Oh, yes. (Stands by +the window, with his hands behind his back, and looks out.) + +Rebecca (goes up to ROSMER, and speaks in low, hurried tones, +unheard by KROLL). Do it! + +Rosmer (in the same tone). Not to-night. + +Rebecca (as before). Yes, this night of all others. (Goes away +from him and adjusts the lamp.) + +Kroll (coming back). Yes, my dear John, so now you know the sort +of spirit of the age that has cast its shadow both over my home +life and my official work. Ought I not to oppose this appalling, +destructive, disorganising tendency with all the weapons I can +lay my hands upon? Of course it is certainly my duty--and that +both with my pen and my tongue. + +Rosmer. But have you any hope that you can produce any effect in +that way? + +Kroll. At all events I mean to take my share in the fight as a +citizen. And I consider that it is the duty of every patriotic +man, every man who is concerned about what is right, to do the +same. And, I may as well tell you, that is really the reason why +I have come here to see you to-night. + +Rosmer. My dear fellow, what do you mean? What can I--? + +Kroll. You are going to help your old friends, and do as we are +doing--take your share in it to the best of your ability. + +Rebecca. But, Mr. Kroll, you know how little taste Mr. Rosmer has +for that sort of thing. + +Kroll. Then he has got to overcome that distaste now. You do not +keep abreast of the times, John. You sit here and bury yourself +in your historical researches. Goodness knows, I have the +greatest respect for family pedigrees and all that they imply. +But this is not the time for such occupations, unhappily. You +have no conception of the state of affairs that is going on all +over the country. Every single idea is turned upside down, or +very nearly so. It will be a hard fight to get all the errors +straightened out again. + +Rosmer. I can quite believe it. But that sort of a fight is not +in my line at all. + +Rebecca. Besides, I rather fancy that Mr. Rosmer has come to look +at the affairs of life with wider opened eyes than before. + +Kroll (with a start). Wider opened eyes? + +Rebecca. Yes, or with an opener mind--with less prejudice. + +Kroll. What do you mean by that? John--surely you could never be +so weak as to allow yourself to be deluded by the accidental +circumstance that the demagogues have scored a temporary success! + +Rosmer. My dear fellow, you know very well that I am no judge of +politics; but it certainly seems to me that of late years +individual thought has become somewhat more independent. + +Kroll. Quite so--but do you consider that as a matter of course to +be a good thing? In any case you are vastly mistaken, my friend. +Just inquire a little into the opinions that are current amongst +the Radicals, both out here in the country and in town. You will +find them to be nothing else than the words of wisdom that appear +in the "Searchlight". + +Rebecca. Yes, Mortensgaard has a great deal of influence over the +people about here. + +Kroll. Yes, just think of it--a man with as dirty a record as his! +A fellow that was turned out of his place as a schoolmaster +because of his immoral conduct! This is the sort of man that +poses as a leader of the people! And successfully, too!--actually +successfully! I hear that he means to enlarge his paper now. I know, +on reliable authority, that he is looking for a competent +assistant. + +Rebecca. It seems to me surprising that you and your friends do +not start an opposition paper. + +Kroll. That is exactly what we intend to do. This very day we +have bought the "County News." There was no difficulty about the +financial side of the matter; but-- (Turns towards ROSMER) Now we +have come to the real purport of my visit. It is the Management +of it--the editorial management--that is the difficulty, you see. +Look here, Rosmer--don't you feel called upon to undertake it, for +the sake of the good cause? + +Rosmer (in a tone of consternation). I! + +Rebecca. How can you think of such a thing! + +Kroll. I can quite understand your having a horror of public +meetings and being unwilling to expose yourself to the mercies of +the rabble that frequents them. But an editor's work, which is +carried on in much greater privacy, or rather-- + +Rosmer. No, no, my dear fellow, you must not ask that of me. + +Kroll. It would give me the greatest pleasure to have a try at +work of that sort myself--only it would be quite out of the +question for me; I am already saddled with such an endless number +of duties. You, on the other hand, who are no longer hampered by +any official duties, might--. Of course the rest of us would give +you all the help in our power. + +Rosmer. I cannot do it, Kroll. I am not fitted for it. + +Kroll. Not fitted for it? That was just what you said when your +father got you your living. + +Rosmer. I was quite right; and that was why I resigned it, too. + +Kroll. Well, if you only make as good an editor as you did a +parson, we shall be quite satisfied. + +Rosmer. My dear Kroll--once for all--I cannot do it. + +Kroll. Well, then, I suppose you will give us the use of your +name, at all events? + +Rosmer. My name? + +Kroll. Yes, the mere fact of John Rosmer's name being connected +with it will be a great advantage to the paper. We others are +looked upon as pronounced partisans. I myself even have the +reputation of being a wicked fanatic, I am told. Therefore we +cannot count upon our own names to give us any particular help in +making the paper known to the misguided masses. But you, on the +contrary, have always held aloof from this kind of fighting. +Your gentle and upright disposition, your polished mind, your +unimpeachable honour, are known to and appreciated by every one +about here. And then there is the deference and respect that your +former position as a clergyman ensures for you--and, besides that, +there is the veneration in which your family, name is held! + +Rosmer. Oh, my family name. + +Kroll (pointing to the portraits). Rosmers of Rosmersholm-- +clergymen, soldiers, men who have filled high places in the +state--men of scrupulous honour, every one of them--a family that +has been rooted here, the most influential in the place, for +nearly two centuries. (Lays his hand on ROSMER'S shoulder.) John, +you owe it to yourself and to the traditions of your race to join +us in defence of all that has hitherto been held sacred in our +community. (Turning to REBECCA.) What do you say, Miss West? + +Rebecca (with a quiet little laugh). my dear Mr. Kroll--it all +sounds so absurdly ludicrous to me. + +Kroll. What! Ludicrous? + +Rebecca. Yes, because it is time you were told plainly-- + +Rosmer (hurriedly). No, no--don't! Not now! + +Kroll (looking from one to the other). But, my dear friends, what +on earth--? (Breaks off, as MRS. HELSETH comes in, by the door on +the right.) Ahem! + +Mrs. Helseth. There is a man at the kitchen door, sir. He says he +wants to see you. + +Rosmer (in a relieved voice). Is there? Well, ask him to come in. + +Mrs. Helseth. Shall I show him in here, sir? + +Rosmer. Certainly. + +Mrs. Helseth. But he doesn't look the sort of man one ought to +allow in here. + +Rebecca. What does he look like, Mrs. Helseth? + +Mrs. Helseth. Oh, he is not much to look at, Miss. + +Rosmer. Did he not give you his name? + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, I think he said it was Hekman, or something +like that. + +Rosmer. I do not know any one of that name. + +Mrs. Helseth. And he said his Christian name was Ulrik. + +Rosmer (with a start of surprise). Ulrik Hetman! Was that it? + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, sir, it was Hetman. + +Kroll. I am certain I have heard that name before. + +Rebecca. Surely it was the name that strange creature used to +write under-- + +Rosmer (to Kroll). It is Ulrik Brendel's pseudonym, you know. + +Kroll. That scamp Ulrik Brendel. You are quite right. + +Rebecca. So he is alive still. + +Rosmer. I thought he was travelling with a theatrical company. + +Kroll. The last I heard of him was that he was in the workhouse. + +Rosmer. Ask him to come in, Mrs. Helseth. + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, sir. (Goes out.) + +Kroll. Do you really mean to allow this fellow into your house? + +Rosmer. Oh, well, you know he was my tutor once. + +Kroll. I know that what he did was to stuff your head with +revolutionary ideas, and that in consequence your father turned +him out of the house with a horsewhip. + +Rosmer (a little bitterly). Yes, my father was always the +commanding officer--even at home. + +Kroll. Be grateful to his memory for that, my dear John. Ah! +(MRS. HELSETH shows ULRIK BRENDEL in at the door, then goes out +and shuts the door after her. BRENDEL is a good-looking man with +grey hair and beard; somewhat emaciated, but active and alert; he +is dressed like a common tramp, in a threadbare frock coat, shoes +with holes in them, and no visible linen at his neck or wrists. +He wears a pair of old black gloves, carries a dirty soft hat +under his arm, and has a walking-stick in his hand. He looks +puzzled at first, then goes quickly up to KROLL and holds out his +hand to him.) + +Brendel. Good-evening, John! + +Kroll. Excuse me + +Brendel. Did you ever expect to see me again? And inside these +hated walls, too? + +Kroll. Excuse me. (Points to ROSMER.) Over there. + +Brendel (turning round). Quite right. There he is. John--my boy--my +favourite pupil! + +Rosmer (shaking hands with him). My old tutor! + +Brendel. In spite of certain recollections, I could not pass by +Rosmersholm without paying you a flying visit. + +Rosmer. You are very welcome here now. Be sure of that. + +Brendel. And this charming lady--? (Bows to Rebecca.) Your wife, +of course. + +Rosmer. Miss West. + +Brendel. A near relation, I presume. And our stranger friend +here? A colleague, I can see. + +Rosmer. Mr. Kroll, master of the grammar school here. + +Brendel. Kroll? Kroll? Wait a moment. Did you take the Philology +course in your student days? + +Kroll. Certainly I did. + +Brendel. By Jove, I used to know you, then + +Kroll. Excuse me-- + +Brendel. Were you not-- + +Kroll. Excuse me-- + +Brendel. --one of those champions of all the virtues that got me +turned out of the Debating Society? + +Kroll. Very possibly. But I disclaim any other acquaintance with +you. + +Brendel. All right, all right! Nach Belieben, Mr. Kroll. I dare +say I shall get over it. Ulrik Brendel will still be himself in +spite of it. + +Rebecca. Are you on your way to the town, Mr. Brendel? + +Brendel. You have hit the nail on the head, ma'am. At certain +intervals I am obliged to do something for my living. I do not do +it willingly--but, enfin--when needs must-- + +Rosmer. My dear Mr. Brendel, will you not let me be of assistance +to you? In some way or another, I mean-- + +Brendel. Ah, what a proposal to come from you! Could you wish to +soil the tie that binds us together? Never, John--never! + +Rosmer. But what do you propose to do in the town, then? I assure +you, you won't find it so easy-- + +Brendel. Leave that to me, my boy. The die is cast. The unworthy +individual who stands before you is started on an extensive +campaign--more extensive than all his former excursions put +together. (To KROLL.) May I venture to ask you, Professor--unter +uns--are there in your esteemed town any fairly decent, +respectable and spacious assembly-rooms? + +Kroll. The most spacious is the hall belonging to the Working +Men's Association. + +Brendel. May I ask, sir, if you have any special influence with +that no doubt most useful Association? + +Kroll. I have nothing whatever to do with it. + +Rebecca (to BRENDEL). You ought to apply to Peter Mortensgaard. + +Brendel. Pardon, madame--what sort of an idiot is he? + +Rosmer. Why do you make up your mind he is an idiot? + +Brendel. Do you suppose I can't tell, from the sound of the name, +that it belongs to a plebeian? + +Kroll. I did not expect that answer. + +Brendel. But I will conquer my prejudices. There is nothing else +for it. When a man stands at a turning-point in his life--as I do-- +. That is settled. I shall, put myself into communication with +this person--commence direct negotiations. + +Rosmer. Are you in earnest when you say you are standing at a +turning-point in your life? + +Brendel. Does my own boy not know that wherever Ulrik Brendel +stands he is always in earnest about it? Look here, I mean to +become a new man now--to emerge from the cloak of reserve in which +I have hitherto shrouded myself. + +Rosmer. In what way? + +Brendel. I mean to take an active part in life--to step forward--to +look higher. The atmosphere we breathe is heavy with storms. I +want now to offer my mite upon the altar of emancipation. + +Kroll. You too? + +Brendel (to them all). Has your public here any intimate +acquaintance with my scattered writings? + +Kroll. No, I must candidly confess that-- + +Rebecca. I have read several of them. My foster-father had them. + +Brendel. My dear lady, then you have wasted your, time. They are +simply trash, allow me to tell you. + +Rebecca. Really? + +Brendel. Those you have read, yes. My really important works no +man or woman knows anything about. No one--except myself. + +Rebecca. How is that? + +Brendel. Because they are not yet written. + +Rosmer. But, my dear Mr. Brendel-- + +Brendel. You know, my dear John, that I am a bit of a sybarite--a +gourmet. I have always been so. I have a taste for solitary +enjoyment, because in that way my enjoyment is twice--ten times--as +keen. It is, like this. When I have been wrapped in a haze of +golden dreams that have descended on me--when new, intoxicating, +momentous thoughts have had their birth in my mind, and I have +been fanned by the beat of their wings as they bore me aloft--at +such moments I have transformed them into poetry, into visions, +into pictures. In general outlines, that is to say. + +Rosmer. Quite so. + +Brendel. You cannot imagine the luxury of enjoyment I have +experienced! The mysterious rapture of creation!--in, general +outlines, as I said. Applause, gratitude, eulogies, crowns of +laurel!--all these I have culled with full hands trembling with +joy. In my secret ecstasies I have steeped myself in a happiness +so, intoxicating-- + +Kroll. Ahem! + +Rosmer. But you have never written anything of it down? + +Brendel. Not a word. The thought of the dull clerk's work that it +would mean has always moved me to a nauseating sense of disgust. +Besides, why should I profane my own ideals when I could enjoy +them, in all their purity, by myself? But now they shall be +sacrificed. Honestly, I feel as a mother must do when she +entrusts her young daughter to the arms of a husband. But I am +going to, sacrifice them nevertheless--sacrifice them on the altar +of emancipation. A series of carefully thought-out lectures, to +be delivered all over the country! + +Rebecca (impetuously). That is splendid of you, Mr. Brendel! You +are giving up the most precious thing you possess. + +Rosmer. The only thing. + +Rebecca (looking meaningly at ROSMER). I wonder how many there +are who would do as much--who dare do it? + +Rosmer (returning her look). Who knows? + +Brendel. My audience is moved. That refreshes my heart and +strengthens my will--and now I shall proceed upon my task +forthwith. There is one other point, though. (To KROLL.) Can you +inform me, sir, whether there is an Abstainers' Society in the +town? A Total Abstainers' Society? I feel sure there must be. + +Kroll. There is one, at your service. I am the president. + +Brendel. I could tell that as soon as I saw you! Well, it is not +at all impossible that I may come to you and become a member for +a week. + +Kroll. Excuse me--we do not accept weekly members. + +Brendel. A la bonne heure, my good sir. Ulrik Brendel has never +been in the habit of forcing himself upon societies of that kind. +(Turns to go But I must not prolong my stay in this house, rich +as it is in memories. I must go into the town and find some +suitable lodging. I shall find a decent hotel of some kind there, +I hope? + +Rebecca. Will you not have something hot to drink before you go? + +Brendel. Of what nature, dear lady? + +Rebecca. A cup of tea, or-- + +Brendel. A thousand thanks to the most generous of hostesses!--but +I do not like trespassing on private hospitality. (Waves his +hand.) Good-bye to you all! (Goes to the door, but turns back.) +Oh, by the way--John--Mr. Rosmer--will you do your former tutor a +service for old friendship's sake? + +Rosmer. With the greatest of pleasure. + +Brendel. Good. Well, then, lend me--just for a day or two--a +starched shirt. + +Rosmer. Nothing more than that! + +Brendel. Because, you see, I am travelling on foot--on this +occasion. My trunk is being sent after me. + +Rosmer. Quite so. But, in that case, isn't there anything else? + +Brendel. Well, I will tell you what--perhaps you have an old, +worn-out summer coat that you could spare? + +Rosmer. Certainly I have. + +Brendel. And if there happened to be a pair of presentable shoes +that would go with the coat + +Rosmer. I am sure we can manage that, too. As soon as you let us +know your address, we will send the things to you. + +Brendel. Please don't think of it! No one must be put to any +inconvenience on my account! I will take the trifles with me. + +Rosmer. Very well. Will you come upstairs with me, then? + +Rebecca. Let me go. Mrs. Helseth and I will see about it. + +Brendel. I could never think of allowing this charming lady-- + +Rebecca. Nonsense! Come along, Mr. Brendel. (She goes out by the +door on the right.) + +Rosmer (holding BRENDEL back). Tell me--is there no other way I +can be of service to you? + +Brendel. I am sure I do not know of any. Yes, perdition seize +it!--now that I come to think of it--John, do you happen to have +seven or eight shillings on you? + +Rosmer. I will see. (Opens his purse.) I have two half-sovereigns +here. + +Brendel. Oh, well, never mind. I may as well take them. I can +always get change in town. Thanks, in the meantime. Remember that +it was two half-sovereigns I had. Good-night, my own dear boy! +Good-night to you, sir! (Goes out by the door on the right, +where ROSMER takes leave of him and shuts the door after him.) + +Kroll. Good heavens--and that is the Ulrik Brendel of whom people +once thought that he would do great things! + +Rosmer. At all events he has had the courage to live his life in +his own way. I do not think that is such a small thing, after +all. + +Kroll. What? A life like his? I almost believe he would have the +power, even now, to disturb all your ideas. + +Rosmer. No, indeed. I have come to a clear understanding with +myself now, upon all points. + +Kroll. I wish I could believe it, my dear Rosmer. You are so +dreadfully susceptible to impressions from without. + +Rosmer. Let us sit down. I want to have a talk with you. + +Kroll. By all means. (They sit down on the couch.) + +Rosmer (after a short pause). Don't you think everything here +looks very pleasant and comfortable? + +Kroll. Yes, it looks very pleasant and comfortable now--and +peaceful. You have made yourself a real home, Rosmer. And I have +lost mine. + +Rosmer. My dear fellow, do not say that. There may seem to be a +rift just now, but it will heal again. + +Kroll. Never, never. The sting will always remain. Things can +never be as they were before. + +Rosmer. I want to ask you something, Kroll. You and I have been +the closest of friends now for so many years--does it seem to you +conceivable that anything could destroy our friendship? + +Kroll. I cannot imagine anything that could cause a breach +between us. What has put that into your head? + +Rosmer. Well--your attaching such tremendous importance to +similarity of opinions and views. + +Kroll. Certainly I do; but then we two hold pretty similar +opinions at all events on the most essential points. + +Rosmer (gently). No. Not any longer. + +Kroll (trying to jump up from his seat). What is this? + +Rosmer (restraining him). No, you must sit still. Please, Kroll. + +Kroll. What does it all mean? I do not understand you. Tell me, +straight out! + +Rosmer. A new summer has blossomed in my heart--my eyes have +regained the clearness of youth. And, accordingly, I am now +standing where-- + +Kroll. Where? Where are you standing? + +Rosmer. Where your children are standing. + +Kroll. You? You! The thing is impossible! Where do you say you +are standing? + +Rosmer. On the same side as Laurits and Hilda. + +Kroll (letting his head drop). An apostate. John Rosmer an +apostate. + +Rosmer. What you are calling apostasy ought to have made me feel +sincerely happy and fortunate; but for all that I have suffered +keenly, because I knew quite well it would cause you bitter +sorrow. + +Kroll. Rosmer, Rosmer, I shall never get over this. (Looks at him +sadly.) To think that you, too, could bring yourself to +sympathise with and join in the work of disorder and ruin that is +playing havoc with our unhappy country. + +Rosmer. It is the work of emancipation that I sympathise with. + +Kroll. Oh yes, I know all about that. That is what it is called, +by both those who are leading the people astray and by their +misguided victims. But, be sure of this--you need expect no +emancipation to be the result of the spirit that relies on the +poisoning of the whole of our social life. + +Rosmer. I do not give my allegiance to the spirit that is +directing this, nor to any of those who are leading the fight. I +want to try to bring men of all shades of opinion together--as +many as I can reach--and bind them as closely together as I can. +I want to live for and devote all the strength that is in me to +one end only--to create a real public opinion in the country. + +Kroll. So you do not consider that we have sufficient public +opinion! I, for my part, consider that the whole lot of us are on +the high road to be dragged down into the mire where otherwise +only the common people would be wallowing. + +Rosmer. It is just for that reason that I have made up my mind as +to what should be the real task of public opinion. + +Kroll. What task? + +Rosmer. The task of making all our fellow-countrymen into men of +nobility. + +Kroll. All our fellow-countrymen--! + +Rosmer. As many as possible, at all events. + +Kroll. By what means? + +Rosmer. By emancipating their ideas and purifying their +aspirations, it seems to me. + +Kroll. You are a dreamer, Rosmer. Are you going to emancipate +them? Are you going to purify them? + +Rosmer. No, my dear fellow--I can only try to awake the desire for +it in them. The doing of it rests with themselves. + +Kroll. And do you think they are capable of it? + +Rosmer. Yes. + +Kroll. Of their own power? + +Rosmer. Yes, of their own power. There is no other that can do +it. + +Kroll (getting up). Is that speaking as befits a clergyman? + +Rosmer. I am a clergyman no longer. + +Kroll. Yes, but--what of the faith you were brought up in? + +Rosmer. I have it no longer. + +Kroll. You have it no longer? + +Rosmer (getting up). I have given it up. I had to give it up, +Kroll. + +Kroll (controlling his emotion). I see. Yes, yes. The one thing +implies the other. Was that the reason, then, why you left the +service of the Church? + +Rosmer. Yes. When my mind was clearly made up--when I felt the +certainty that it Was not merely a transitory temptation, but +that it was something that I would neither have the power nor +the desire to dismiss from my mind--then I took that step. + +Kroll. So it has been fermenting in your mind as long as that. +And we--your friends--have never been allowed to know anything of +it. Rosmer, Rosmer--how could you hide the sorrowful truth from +us! + +Rosmer. Because I considered it was a matter that only concerned +myself; and therefore I did not wish to cause you and my other +friends any unnecessary pain. I thought I should be able to live +my life here as I have done hitherto--peacefully and happily. I +wanted to read, and absorb myself in all the works that so far +had been sealed books to me--to familiarise myself thoroughly with +the great world of truth and freedom that has been disclosed to +me now. + +Kroll. An apostate. Every word you say bears witness to that. +But, for all that, why have you made this confession of your +secret apostasy? Or why just at the present moment? + +Rosmer. You yourself have compelled me to it, Kroll. + +Kroll. I? I have compelled you? + +Rosmer. When I heard of your violent behaviour at public +meetings--when I read the reports of all the vehement speeches you +made there of all your bitter attacks upon those that were on the +other side--your scornful censure of your opponents--oh, Kroll, to +think that you--you--could be the man to do that!--then my eyes were +opened to my imperative duty. Mankind is suffering from the +strife that is going on now, and we ought to bring peace and +happiness and a spirit of reconciliation into their souls. That +is why I step forward now and confess myself openly for what I +am--and, besides, I want to put my powers to the test, as well as +others. Could not you--from your side--go with me in that, Kroll? + +Kroll. Never, as long as I live, will I make any alliance with +the forces of disorder in the community. + +Rosmer. Well, let us at least fight with honourable weapons, +since it seems we must fight. + +Kroll. I can have nothing more to do with any one who does not +think with me on matters of vital importance, and I owe such a +man no consideration. + +Rosmer. Does that apply even to me? + +Kroll. You yourself have broken with me, Rosmer. + +Rosmer. But does this really mean a breach between us? + +Kroll. Between us! It is a breach with all those who have +hitherto stood shoulder to shoulder with you. And now you must +take the consequences. + +(REBECCA comes in from the room on the right and opens the door +wide.) + +Rebecca. Well, that is done! We have started him off on the road +to his great sacrifice, and now we can go in to supper. Will you +come in, Mr. Kroll? + +Kroll (taking his hat). Good-night, Miss West. This is no longer +any place for me. + +Rebecca (excitedly). What do you mean? (Shuts the door and comes +nearer to the two men.) Have you told him--? + +Rosmer. He knows now. + +Kroll. We shall not let you slip out of our hands, Rosmer. We +shall compel you to come back to us again. + +Rosmer. I shall never find myself there any more. + +Kroll. We shall see. You are not the man to endure standing +alone. + +Rosmer. I am not so entirely alone, even now. There are two of us +to bear the solitude together here. + +Kroll. Ah! (A suspicion appears to cross his mind.) That too! +Beata's words! + +Rosmer. Beata's? + +Kroll (dismissing the thought from his mind). No, no--that was +odious of me. Forgive me. + +Rosmer. What? What do you mean? + +Kroll. Think no more about it. I am ashamed of it. Forgive me--and +good-bye. (Goes out by the door to the hall.) + +Rosmer (following him). Kroll! We cannot end everything between +us like this. I will come and see you to-morrow. + +Kroll (turning round in the hall). You shall not set your foot in +my house. (Takes his stick and goes.) + +ROSMER stands for a while at the open door; then shuts it and +comes back into the room.) + +Rosmer. That does not matter, Rebecca. We shall be able to go +through with it, for all that--we two trusty friends--you and I. + +Rebecca. What do you suppose he meant just now when he said he +was ashamed of himself? + +Rosmer. My dear girl, don't bother your head about that. He +didn't even believe what he meant, himself. But I will go and see +him tomorrow. Goodnight! + +Rebecca. Are you going up so early to-night--after this? + +Rosmer. As early to-night as I usually do. I feel such a sense of +relief now that it is over. You see, my dear Rebecca, I am +perfectly calm--so you take it calmly, too. Good-night. + +Rebecca. Good-night, dear friend--and sleep well! (ROSMER goes out +by the door to the lobby; then his footsteps are heard as he goes +upstairs. REBECCA goes to the wall and rings a bell, which is +answered by MRS. HELSETH.) You can clear the table again, Mrs. +Helseth. Mr. Rosmer does not want anything, and Mr. Kroll has +gone home. + +Mrs. Helseth. Gone home? What was wrong with him, miss? + +Rebecca (taking up her crochet-work). He prophesied that there +was a heavy storm brewing-- + +Mrs. Helseth. That is very strange, miss, because there isn't a +scrap of cloud in the sky. + +Rebecca. Let us hope he doesn't meet the White Horse. Because I +am afraid it will not be long before we hear something of the +family ghost. + +Mrs. Helseth. God forgive you, miss--don't talk of such a dreadful +thing! + +Rebecca. Oh, come, come! + +Mrs. Helseth (lowering her voice). Do you really think, miss, +that some one here is to go soon? + +Rebecca. Not a bit of it. But there are so many sorts of white +horses in this world, Mrs. Helseth--Well, good-night. I shall go +to my room now. + +Mrs. Helseth. Good-night, miss. (Rebecca takes her work and goes +out to the right. MRS. HELSETH shakes her head, as she turns down +the lamp, and mutters to herself): Lord--Lord!--how queer Miss West +does talk sometimes! + + +ACT II + +(SCENE. ROSMER'S study. The door into it is in the left-hand +wall. At the back of the room is a doorway with a curtain drawn +back from it, leading to his bedroom. On the right, a window, in +front of which is a writing-table strewn with books and papers. +Bookshelves and cupboards on the walls. Homely furniture. On the +left, an old-fashioned sofa with a table in front of it. ROSMER, +wearing a smoking-jacket, is sitting at the writing-table on a +high-backed chair. He is cutting and turning over the leaves of a +magazine, and dipping into it here and there. A knock is heard at +the door on the left.) + +Rosmer (without turning round). Come in. + +(REBECCA comes in, wearing a morning wrapper.) + +Rebecca. Good morning. + +Rosmer (still turning over the leaves of his book). Good morning, +dear. Do you want anything? + +Rebecca. Only to ask if you have slept well? + +Rosmer. I went to sleep feeling so secure and happy. I did not +even dream. (Turns round.) And you? + +Rebecca. Thanks, I got to sleep in the early morning. + +Rosmer. I do not think I have felt so light-hearted for a long +time as I do to-day. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to +say what I did. + +Rebecca. Yes, you should not have been silent so long, John. + +Rosmer. I cannot understand how I came to be such a coward. + +Rebecca. I am sure it was not really from cowardice. + +Rosmer. Yes, indeed. I can see that at bottom there was some +cowardice about it. + +Rebecca. So much the braver of you to face it as you did. (Sits +down beside him on a chair by the writing-table.) But now I want +to confess something that I have done--something that you must not +be vexed with me about. + +Rosmer. Vexed? My dear girl, how can you think--? + +Rebecca. Yes, because I dare say it was a little presumptuous of +me, but-- + +Rosmer. Well, let me hear what it was. + +Rebecca. Last night, when that Ulrick Brendel was going, I wrote +him a line or two to take to Mortensgaard. + +Rosmer (a little doubtfully). But, my dear Rebecca--What did you +write, then? + +Rebecca. I wrote that he would be doing you a service if he +would interest himself a little in that unfortunate man, and help +him in any way he could. + +Rosmer. My dear, you should not have done that. You have only +done Brendel harm by doing so. And besides, Mortensgaard is a +man I particularly wish to have nothing to do with. You know I +have been at loggerheads once with him already. + +Rebecca. But do you not think that now it might be a very good +thing if you got on to good terms with him again? + +Rosmer. I? With Mortensgaard? For what reason, do you mean? + +Rebecca. Well, because you cannot feel altogether secure now-- +since this has come between you and your friends. + +Rosmer (looking at her and shaking his head). Is it possible that +you think either Kroll or any of the others would take a revenge +on me--that they could be capable of-- + +Rebecca. In their first heat of indignation dear. No one can be +certain of that. I think, after the way Mr. Kroll took it-- + +Rosmer. Oh, you ought to know him better than that. Kroll is an +honourable man, through and through. I will go into town this +afternoon, and have a talk with him. I will have a talk with them +all. Oh, you will see how smoothly everything will go. (MRS. +HELSETH comes in by the door on the left.) + +Rebecca (getting up). What is it, Mrs. Helseth? + +Mrs. Helseth. Mr. Kroll is downstairs in the hall, miss. + +Rosmer (getting up quickly). Kroll! + +Rebecca. Mr. Kroll! What a surprise! + +Mrs. Helseth. He asks if he may come up and speak to Mr. Rosmer. + +Rosmer (to REBECCA). What did I say! (To MRS. HELSETH). Of course +he may. (Goes to the door and calls down the stairs.) Come up, my +dear fellow! I am delighted to see you! (He stands holding the +door open. MRS. HELSETH goes out. REBECCA draws the curtain over +the doorway at the back, and then begins to tidy the room. KROLL +comes in with his hat in his hand.) + +Rosmer (quietly, and with some emotion). I knew quite well it +would not be the last time-- + +Kroll. To-day I see the matter in quite a different light from +yesterday. + +Rosmer. Of course you do, Kroll! Of course you do! You have been +thinking things over-- + +Kroll. You misunderstand me altogether. (Puts his hat down on the +table.) It is important that I should speak to you alone. + +Rosmer. Why may not Miss West--? + +Rebecca. No, no, Mr. Rosmer. I will go. + +Kroll (looking meaningly at her). And I see I ought to apologise +to you, Miss West, for coming here so early in the morning. I see +I have taken you by surprise, before you have had time to-- + +Rebecca (with a start). Why so? Do you find anything out of place +in the fact of my wearing a morning wrapper at home here? + +Kroll. By no means! Besides, I have no knowledge of what customs +may have grown up at Rosmersholm. + +Rosmer. Kroll, you are not the least like yourself to-day. + +Rebecca. I will wish you good morning, Mr. Kroll. (Goes out +to the left.) + +Kroll. If. you will allow me-- (Sits down on the couch.) + +Rosmer. Yes, my dear fellow, let us make ourselves comfortable +and have a confidential talk. (Sits down on a chair facing +KROLL.) + +Kroll. I have not been able to close an eye since yesterday. I +lay all night, thinking and thinking. + +Rosmer. And what have you got to say to-day? + +Kroll. It will take me some time, Rosmer. Let me begin with a +sort of introduction. I can give you some news of Ulrick Brendel. + +Rosmer. Has he been to see you? + +Kroll. No. He took up his quarters in a low-class tavern--in the +lowest kind of company, of course; drank, and stood drinks to +others, as long as he had any money left; and then began to abuse +the whole lot of them as a contemptible rabble--and, indeed, as +far as that goes he was quite right. But the result was, that he +got a thrashing and was thrown out into the gutter. + +Rosmer. I see he is altogether incorrigible. + +Kroll. He had pawned the coat you gave him, too, but that is +going to be redeemed for him. Can you guess by whom? + +Rosmer. By yourself, perhaps? + +Kroll. No. By our noble friend Mr. Mortensgaard. + +Rosmer. Is that so? + +Kroll. I am informed that Mr. Brendel's first visit was paid to +the "idiot" and "plebeian". + +Rosmer. Well, it was very lucky for him-- + +Kroll. Indeed it was. (Leans over the table, towards ROSMER.) Now +I am coming to a matter of which, for the sake of our old--our +former--friendship, it is my duty to warn you. + +Rosmer. My dear fellow, what is that? + +Kroll. It is this; that certain games are going on behind your +back in this house. + +Rosmer. How can you think that? Is it Rebec--is it Miss West you +are alluding to? + +Kroll. Precisely. And I can quite understand it on her part; she +has been accustomed, for such a long time now, to do as she likes +here. But nevertheless-- + +Rosmer. My dear Kroll, you are absolutely mistaken. She and I +have no secrets from one another about anything whatever. + +Kroll. Then has she confessed to you that she has been +corresponding with the editor of the "Searchlight"? + +Rosmer. Oh, you mean the couple of lines she wrote to him on +Ulrik Brendel's behalf? + +Kroll. You have found that out, then? And do you approve of her +being on terms of this sort with that scurrilous hack, who almost +every week tries to pillory me for my attitude in my school and +out of it? + +Rosmer. My dear fellow, I don't suppose that side of the question +has ever occurred to her. And in any case, of course she has +entire freedom of action, just as I have myself. + +Kroll. Indeed? Well, I suppose that is quite in accordance with +the new turn your views have taken--because I suppose Miss West +looks at things from the same standpoint as you? + +Rosmer. She does. We two have worked our way forward in complete +companionship. + +Kroll (looking at him and shaking his head slowly). Oh, you +blind, deluded man! + +Rosmer. I? What makes you say that? + +Kroll. Because I dare not--I WILL not--think the worst. No, no, let +me finish what I want to say. Am I to believe that you really +prize my friendship, Rosmer? And my respect, too? Do you? + +Rosmer. Surely I need not answer that question. + +Kroll. Well, but there are other things that require answering-- +that require full explanation on your part. Will you submit to it +if I hold a sort of inquiry--? + +Rosmer. An inquiry? + +Kroll. Yes, if I ask you questions about one or two things that +it may be painful for you to recall to mind. For instance, the +matter of your apostasy--well, your emancipation, if you choose to +call it so--is bound up with so much else for which, for your own +sake, you ought to account to me. + +Rosmer. My dear fellow, ask me about anything you please. I have +nothing to conceal. + +Kroll. Well, then, tell me this--what do you yourself believe was +the real reason of Beata's making away with herself? + +Rosmer. Can you have any doubt? Or perhaps I should rather say, +need one look for reasons for what an unhappy sick woman, who is +unaccountable for her actions, may do? + +Kroll. Are you certain that Beata was so entirely unaccountable +for her actions? The doctors, at all events, did not consider +that so absolutely certain. + +Rosmer. If the doctors had ever seen her in the state in which I +have so often seen her, both night and day, they would have had +no doubt about it. + +Kroll. I did not doubt it either, at the time. + +Rosmer. Of course not. It was impossible to doubt it, +unfortunately. You remember what I told you of her ungovernable, +wild fits of passion--which she expected me to reciprocate. She +terrified me! And think how she tortured herself with baseless +self-reproaches in the last years of her life! + +Kroll. Yes, when she knew that she would always be childless. + +Rosmer. Well, think what it meant--to be perpetually in the +clutches of such--agony of mind over a thing that she was not in +the slightest degree responsible for--! Are you going to suggest +that she was accountable for her actions? + +Kroll. Hm!--Do you remember whether at that time you had, in the +house any books dealing with the purport of marriage--according to +the advanced views of to-day? + +Rosmer. I remember Miss West's lending me a work of the kind. She +inherited Dr. West's library, you know. But, my dear Kroll, you +surely do not suppose that we were so imprudent as to let the +poor sick creature get wind of any such ideas? I can solemnly +swear that we were in no way to blame. It was the overwrought +nerves of her own brain that were responsible for these frantic +aberrations. + +Kroll. There is one thing, at any rate, that I can tell you now, +and that is that your poor tortured and overwrought Beata put an +end to her own life in order that yours might be happy--and that +you might be free to live as you pleased. + +Rosmer (starting half up from his chair). What do you mean by +that? + +Kroll. You must listen to me quietly, Rosmer--because now I can +speak of it. During the last year of her life she came twice to +see me, to tell me what she suffered from her fears and her +despair. + +Rosmer. On that point? + +Kroll. No. The first time she came she declared that you were on +the high road to apostasy--that you were going to desert the faith +that your father had taught you. + +Rosmer (eagerly). What you say is impossible, Kroll!--absolutely +impossible! You must be wrong about that. + +Kroll. Why? + +Rosmer. Because as long as Beata lived I was still doubting and +fighting with myself. And I fought out that fight alone and in +the completest secrecy. I do not imagine that even Rebecca-- + +Kroll. Rebecca? + +Rosmer. Oh, well--Miss West. I call her Rebecca for the sake of +convenience. + +Kroll. So I have observed. + +Rosmer. That is why it is so incomprehensible to me that Beata +should have had any suspicion of it. Why did she never speak to +me about it?--for she never did, by a single word. + +Kroll. Poor soul--she begged and implored me to speak to you. + +Rosmer. Then why did you never do so? + +Kroll. Do you think I had a moment's doubt, at that time, that +her mind was unhinged? Such an accusation as that, against a man +like you! Well, she came to see me again, about a month later. +She seemed calmer then; but, as she was going away, she said: +"They may expect to see the White Horse soon at Rosmersholm." + +Rosmer. Yes, I know--the White Horse. She often used to talk about +that. + +Kroll. And then, when I tried to distract her from such unhappy +thoughts, she only answered: "I have not much time left; for +John must marry Rebecca immediately now." + +Rosmer (almost speechless). What are you saying! I marry--! + +Kroll. That was on a Thursday afternoon. On the Saturday evening +she threw herself from the footbridge into the millrace. + +Rosmer. And you never warned us! + +Kroll. Well, you know yourself how constantly she used to say +that she was sure she would die before long. + +Rosmer. Yes, I know. But, all the same, you ought to have warned +us! + +Kroll. I did think of doing so. But then it was too late. + +Rosmer. But since then, why have you not--? Why have you kept all +this to yourself? + +Kroll. What good would it have done for me to come here and add +to your pain and distress? Of course I thought the whole thing +was merely wild, empty fancy--until yesterday evening. + +Rosmer. Then you do not think so any longer? + +Kroll. Did not Beata see clearly enough, when she saw that you +were going to fall away from your childhood's faith? + +Rosmer (staring in front of him). Yes, I cannot understand that. +It is the most incomprehensible thing in the world to me. + +Kroll. Incomprehensible or not, the thing is true. And now I ask +you, Rosmer, how much truth is there in her other accusation?--the +last one, I mean. + +Rosmer. Accusation? Was that an accusation, then? + +Kroll. Perhaps you did not notice how it was worded. She said she +meant to stand out of the way. Why? Well? + +Rosmer. In order that I might marry Rebecca, apparently. + +Kroll. That was not quite how it was worded. Beata expressed +herself differently. She said "I have not much time left; for +John must marry Rebecca IMMEDIATELY now." + +Rosmer (looks at him for a moment; then gets up). Now I +understand you, Kroll. + +Kroll. And if you do? What answer have you to make? + +Rosmer (in an even voice, controlling himself). To such an +unheard-of--? The only fitting answer would be to point to the +door. + +Kroll (getting up). Very good. + +Rosmer (standing face to face with him). Listen to me. For +considerably more than a year to be precise, since Beata's death-- +Rebecca West and I have lived here alone at Rosmersholm. All that +time you have known of the charge Beata made against us; but I +have never for one moment seen you appear the least scandalised +at our living together here. + +Kroll. I never knew, till yesterday evening, that it was a case +of an apostate man and an "emancipated" woman living together. + +Rosmer. Ah! So then you do not believe in any purity of life +among apostates or emancipated folk? You do not believe that they +may have the instinct of morality ingrained in their natures? + +Kroll. I have no particular confidence in the kind of morality +that is not rooted in the Church's faith. + +Rosmer. And you mean that to apply to Rebecca and myself?--to my +relations with Rebecca? + +Kroll. I cannot make any departure, in favour of you two, from my +opinion that there is certainly no very wide gulf between free +thinking and--ahem! + +Rosmer. And what? + +Kroll. And free love, since you force me to say it. + +Rosmer (gently). And you are not ashamed to say that to me!--you, +who have known me ever since I was a boy. + +Kroll. It is just for that reason. I know how easily you allow +yourself to be influenced by those you associate with. And as for +your Rebecca--well, your Miss West, then--to tell the truth, we +know very little about her. To cut the matter short, Rosmer--I am +not going to give you up. And you, on your part, ought to try and +save yourself in time. + +Rosmer. Save myself? How--? (MRS. HELSETH looks in through the +door on the left.) What do you want? + +Mrs. Helseth. I wanted to ask Miss West to come down, sir. + +Rosmer. Miss West is not up here. + +Mrs. Helseth. Indeed, sir? (Looks round the room.) That is very +strange. (Goes out.) + +Rosmer. You were saying--? + +Kroll. Listen to me. As to what may have gone on here in secret +while Beata was alive, and as to what may be still going on here, +I have no wish to inquire more closely. You were, of course, +extremely unhappy in your marriage--and to some extent that may be +urged in your excuse-- + +Rosmer. Oh, how little you really know me! + +Kroll. Do not interrupt me. What I want to say is this. If you +definitely must continue living with Miss West, it is absolutely +necessary that you should conceal the revolution of opinion--I +mean the distressing apostasy--that she has beguiled you into. Let +me speak! Let me speak! I say that, if you are determined to go +on with this folly, for heaven's sake hold any variety of ideas +or opinions or beliefs you like--but keep your opinions to +yourself. It is a purely personal matter, and there is not the +slightest necessity to go proclaiming it all over the +countryside. + +Rosmer. It is a necessity for me to abandon a false and equivocal +position. + +Kroll. But you have a duty towards the traditions of your family, +Rosmer! Remember that! From time immemorial Rosmersholm has been +a stronghold of discipline and order, of respect and esteem for +all that the best people in our community have upheld and +sanctioned. The whole neighbourhood has taken its +tone from Rosmersholm. If the report gets about that you +yourself have broken with what I may call the Rosmer family +tradition, it will evoke an irreparable +state of unrest. + +Rosmer. My dear Kroll, I cannot see the matter in that light. It +seems to me that it is my imperative duty to bring a little light +and happiness into the place where the race of Rosmers has spread +darkness and oppression for all these long years. + +Kroll (looking severely at him). Yes, that would be a worthy +action for the man with whom the race will disappear. Let such +things alone, my friend. It is no suitable task for you. You were +meant to lead the peaceful life of a student. + +Rosmer. Yes, that may be so. But nevertheless I want to try and +play my humble part in the struggles of life. + +Kroll. The struggles of life! Do you know what that will mean for +you? It will mean war to the death with all your friends. + +Rosmer (quietly). I do not imagine they are all such fanatics as +you. + +Kroll. You are a simple-minded creature, Rosmer--an inexperienced +creature. You have no suspicion of the violence of the storm that +will burst upon you. (MRS. HELSETH slightly opens the door on the +left.) + +Mrs. Helseth. Miss West wishes me to ask you, sir + +Rosmer. What is it? + +Mrs. Helseth. There is some one downstairs that wishes to speak +to you for a minute, sir. + +Rosmer. Is it the gentleman that was here yesterday afternoon, by +any chance? + +Mrs. Helseth. No, it is that Mr. Mortensgaard. + +Rosmer. Mortensgaard? + +Kroll. Aha! So matters have got as far as that already, have +they! + +Rosmer. What does he want with me? Why did you not send him away
? + +Mrs. Helseth. Miss West told me to ask you if he might come up. + +Rosmer. Tell him I am engaged, and-- + +Kroll (to MRS. HELSETH). No; show him up, please. (MRS. HELSETH +goes out. KROLL takes up his hat.) I quit the field--temporarily. +But we have not fought the decisive action yet. + +Rosmer. As truly as I stand here, Kroll, I have absolutely +nothing to do with Mortensgaard. + +Kroll. I do not believe you any longer on any point. Under no +circumstances shall I have any faith in you after this. It is war +to the knife now. We shall try if we cannot make you powerless to +do any harm. + +Rosmer. Oh, Kroll--how you have sunk! How low you have sunk! + +Kroll. I? And a man like you has the face to say so? Remember +Beata! + +Rosmer. Are you harking back to that again! + +Kroll. No. You must solve the riddle of the millrace as your +conscience will allow you--if you have any conscience still left. +(PETER MORTENSGAARD comes in softly and quietly, by the door on +the left. He is a short, slightly built man with sparse reddish +hair and beard. KROLL gives him a look of hatred.) The +"Searchlight" too, I see. Lighted at Rosmersholm! (Buttons up his +coat.) That leaves me no doubt as to the course I should steer. + +Mortensgaard (quietly). The "Searchlight" will always be ready +burning to light Mr. Kroll home. + +Kroll. Yes, you have shown me your goodwill for a long time. To +be sure there is a Commandment that forbids us to bear false +witness against our neighbour-- + +Mortensgaard. Mr. Kroll has no need to instruct me in the +Commandments. + +Kroll. Not even in the sixth? + +Rosmer. Kroll--! + +Mortensgaard. If I needed such instruction, Mr. Rosmer is the +most suitable person to give it me. + +Kroll (with scarcely concealed scorn). Mr. Rosmer? Oh yes, the +Reverend Mr. Rosmer is undoubtedly the most suitable man for +that! I hope you will enjoy yourselves, gentlemen. (Goes out and +slams the door after him.) + +Rosmer (stands looking at the door, and says to himself). Yes, +yes--it had to be so. (Turns round.) Will you tell me, Mr. +Mortensgaard, what has brought you out here to see me? + +Mortensgaard. It was really Miss West I wanted to see. I thought +I ought to thank her for the kind letter I received from her +yesterday. + +Rosmer. I know she has written to you. Have you had a talk with +her? + +Mortensgaard. Yes, a little. (Smiles slightly.) I hear that there +has been a change of views in certain respects at Rosmersholm. + +Rosmer. My views have changed to a very considerable extent; I +might almost say entirely. + +Mortensgaard. That is what Miss West said. And that was why she +thought I ought to come up and have a little chat with you about +this. + +Rosmer. About what, Mr. Mortensgaard? + +Mortensgaard. May I have your permission to announce in the +"Searchlight" that you have altered your opinions, and are going +to devote yourself to the cause of free thought and progress? + +Rosmer. By all means. I will go so far as to ask you to make the +announcement. + +Mortensgaard. Then it shall appear to-morrow. It will be a great +and weighty piece of news that the Reverend Mr. Rosmer of +Rosmersholm has made up his mind to join the forces of light in +that direction too. + +Rosmer. I do not quite understand you. + +Mortensgaard. What I mean is that it implies the gain of strong +moral support for our party every time we win over an earnest, +Christian-minded adherent. + +Rosmer (with some astonishment). Then you don't know--? Did Miss +West not tell you that as well? + +Mortensgaard. What, Mr. Rosmer? Miss West was in a considerable +hurry. She told me to come up, and that I would hear the rest of +it from yourself. + +Rosmer. Very well, then; let me tell you that I have cut myself +free entirely--on every side. I have now, no connection of any +kind with the tenets of the Church. For the future such matters +have not the smallest signification for me. + +Mortensgaard (looking at him in perplexity). Well, if the moon +had fallen down from the sky, I could not be more--! To think that +I should ever hear you yourself renounce--! + +Rosmer. Yes, I stand now where you have stood for a long time. +You can announce that in the "Searchlight" to-morrow too. + +Mortensgaard. That, too? No, my dear Mr. Rosmer--you must excuse +me--but it is not worth touching on that side of the matter. + +Rosmer. Not touch on it? + +Mortensgaard. Not at first, I think. + +Rosmer. But I do not understand-- + +Mortensgaard. Well, it is like this, Mr. Rosmer. You are not as +familiar with all the circumstances of the case as I am, I +expect. But if you, too, have joined the forces of freedom--and if +you, as Miss West says you do, mean to take part in the movement-- +I conclude you do so with the desire to be as useful to the +movement as you possibly can, in practice as well as, in theory. + +Rosmer. Yes, that is my most sincere wish. + +Mortensgaard. Very well. But I must impress on you, Mr. Rosmer, +that if you come forward openly with this news about your +defection from the Church, you will tie your own hands +immediately. + +Rosmer. Do you think so? + +Mortensgaard. Yes, you may be certain that there is not much that +you would be able to do hereabouts. And besides, Mr. Rosmer, we +have quite enough freethinkers already--indeed, I was going to say +we have too many of those gentry. What the party needs is a +Christian element--something that every one must respect. That is +what we want badly. And for that reason it is most advisable that +you should hold your tongue about any matters that do not concern +the public. That is my opinion. + +Rosmer. I see. Then you would not risk having anything to do with +me if I were to confess my apostasy openly? + +Mortensgaard (shaking his head). I should not like to, Mr. +Rosmer. Lately I have made it a rule never to support anybody or +anything that is opposed to the interests of the Church. + +Rosmer. Have you, then, entered the fold of the Church again +lately? +Mortensgaard. That is another matter altogether. + +Rosmer. Oh, that is how it is. Yes, I understand you now. + +Mortensgaard. Mr. Rosmer--you ought to remember that I, of all +people, have not absolute freedom of action. + +Rosmer. What hampers you? + +Mortensgaard. What hampers me is that I am a marked man. + +Rosmer. Ah--of course. + +Mortensgaard. A marked man, Mr. Rosmer. And you, of all people, +ought to remember that--because you were responsible, more than +any one else, for my being branded. + +Rosmer. If I had stood then where I stand now, I should have +handled the affair more judiciously. + +Mortensgaard. I think so too. But it is too late now; you have +branded me, once for all--branded me for life. I do not suppose +you can fully realise what such a thing means. But it is possible +that you may soon feel the smart of it yourself now, Mr. Rosmer. + +Rosmer. I? + +Mortensgaard. Yes. You surely do not suppose that Mr. Kroll and +his gang will be inclined to forgive a rupture such as yours? And +the "County News" is going to be pretty bloodthirsty, I hear. It +may very well come to pass that you will be a marked man, too. + +Rosmer. On personal grounds, Mr. Mortensgaard, I feel myself to +be invulnerable. My conduct does not offer any point of attack. + +Mortensgaard (with a quiet smile). That is saying a good deal, +Mr. Rosmer. + +Rosmer. Perhaps it is. But I have the right to say as much. + +Mortensgaard. Even if you were inclined to overhaul your conduct +as thoroughly as you once overhauled mine? + +Rosmer. You say that very strangely. What are you driving at?--is +it anything definite? + +Mortensgaard. Yes, there is one definite thing--no more than a +single one. But it might be quite awkward enough if malicious +opponents got a hint of it. + +Rosmer. Will you have the kindness to tell me what on earth it +is? + +Mortensgaard. Can you not guess, Mr. Rosmer? + +Rosmer. No, not for a moment. + +Mortensgaard. All right. I must come out with it, then. I have in +my possession a remarkable letter, that was written here at +Rosmersholm. + +Rosmer. Miss West's letter, you mean? Is it so remarkable? + +Mortensgaard. No, that letter is not remarkable. But I received a +letter from this house on another occasion. + +Rosmer. From Miss West? + +Mortensgaard. No, Mr. Rosmer. + +Rosmer. Well, from whom, then? From whom? + +Mortensgaard. From your late wife. + +Rosmer. From my wife? You had a letter from my wife? + +Mortensgaard. Yes, I did. + +Rosmer. When? + +Mortensgaard. It was during the poor lady's last days. It must be +about a year and a half ago now. And that is the letter that is +so remarkable. + +Rosmer. Surely you know that my wife's mind was affected at that +time? + +Mortensgaard. I know there were a great many people who thought +so. But, in my opinion, no one would have imagined anything of +the kind from the letter. When I say the letter is a remarkable +one, I mean remarkable in quite another way. + +Rosmer. And what in the world did my poor wife find to write to +you about? + +Mortensgaard. I have the letter at home. It begins more or less +to the effect that she is living in perpetual terror and dread, +because of the fact that there are so many evilly disposed people +about her whose only desire is to do you harm and mischief. + +Rosmer. Me? + +Mortensgaard. Yes, so she says. And then follows the most +remarkable part of it all. Shall I tell you, Mr. Rosmer? + +Rosmer. Of course! Tell me everything, without any reserve. + +Mortensgaard. The poor lady begs and entreats me to be +magnanimous. She says that she knows it was you, who got me +dismissed from my post as schoolmaster, and implores me most +earnestly not to revenge myself upon you. + +Rosmer. What way did she think you could revenge yourself, then? + +Mortensgaard. The letter goes on to say that if I should hear +that anything sinful was going on at Rosmersholm, I was not to +believe a word of it; that it would be only the work of wicked +folk who were spreading the rumours on purpose to do you harm. + +Rosmer. Does the letter say that? + +Mortensgaard. You may read it at your convenience, Mr. Rosmer. + +Rosmer. But I cannot understand--? What did she imagine there +could be any wicked rumours about? + +Mortensgaard. In the first place, that you had broken away from +the faith of your childhood. Mrs. Rosmer denied that absolutely-- +at that time. And, in the next place--ahem ! + +Rosmer. In the next place? + +Mortensgaard. Well, in the next place she writes--though rather +confusedly--that she has no knowledge of any sinful relations +existing at Rosmersholm; that she has never been wronged in any +way; and that if any rumours of that sort should get about, she +entreats me not to allude to them in the "Searchlight". + +Rosmer. Does she mention any names? + +Mortensgaard. No. + +Rosmer. Who brought you the letter? + +Mortensgaard. I promised not to tell that. It was brought to me +one evening after dark. + +Rosmer. If you had made inquiries at the time, you would have +learnt that my poor unhappy wife was not fully accountable for +her actions. + +Mortensgaard. I did make inquiries, Mr. Rosmer; but I must say I +did not get exactly that impression. + +Rosmer. Not?--But why have you chosen this moment to enlighten me +as to the existence of this old crazy letter? + +Mortensgaard. With the object of advising you to be extremely +cautious, Mr. Rosmer. + +Rosmer. As to my way of life, do you mean? + +Mortensgaard. Yes. You must remember that for the future you will +not be unassailable. + +Rosmer. So you persist in thinking that I have something to +conceal here? + +Mortensgaard. I do not see any reason why a man of emancipated +ideas should refrain from living his life as fully as possible. +Only, as I have already said, you should be cautious in future. +If rumours should get about of anything that offends people's +prejudices, you may be quite certain that the whole cause of +freedom of thought will suffer for it. Good-bye, Mr. Rosmer. + +Rosmer. Good-bye. + +Mortensgaard. I shall go straight to the printing-office now and +have the great piece of news inserted in the "Searchlight". + +Rosmer. Put it all in. + +Mortensgaard. I will put in as much as there is any need for the +public to know. (Bows, and goes out. ROSMER stands at the door, +while MORTENSGAARD goes downstairs. The front door is heard +shutting.) + +Rosmer (still standing in the doorway, calls softly). Rebecca! +Reb--ahem! (Calls loudly.) Mrs. Helseth--is Miss West downstairs? + +Mrs. Helseth (from below). No, sir, she is not here. + +(The curtain at the end of the room is drawn back, disclosing +REBECCA standing in the doorway.) + +Rebecca. John! + +Rosmer (turning round). What! Were you in there, in my bedroom! +My dear, what were you doing there? + +Rebecca (going up to him). I have been listening. + +Rosmer. Rebecca! Could you do a thing like that? + +Rebecca. Indeed I could. It was so horrid the way he said that-- +about my morning wrapper. + +Rosmer. Ah, so you were in there too when Kroll--? + +Rebecca. Yes. I wanted to know what was at the bottom of his +mind. + +Rosmer. You know I would have told you. + +Rebecca. I scarcely think you would have told me everything-- +certainly not in his own words. + +Rosmer. Did you hear everything, then? + +Rebecca. Most of it, I think. I had to go down for a moment when +Mortensgaard came. + +Rosmer. And then came up again? + +Rebecca. Do not take it ill of me, dear friend. + +Rosmer. Do anything that you think right and proper. You have +full freedom of action.--But what do you say to it all, Rebecca? +Ah, I do not think I have ever stood so much in need of you as I +do to-day. + +Rebecca. Surely both you and I have been prepared for what would +happen some day. + +Rosmer. No, no--not for this. + +Rebecca. Not for this? + +Rosmer. It is true that I used to think that sooner or later our +beautiful pure friendship would come to be attacked by calumny +and suspicion--not on Kroll's part, for I never would have +believed such a thing of him--but on the part of the coarse-minded +and ignoble-eyed crowd. Yes, indeed; I had good reason enough for +so jealously drawing a veil of concealment over our compact. It +was a dangerous secret. + +Rebecca. Why should we pay any heed to what all these other +people think? You and I know that we have nothing to reproach +ourselves with. + +Rosmer. I? Nothing to reproach myself with? It is true enough +that I thought so until to-day. But now, now, Rebecca-- + +Rebecca. Yes? Now? + +Rosmer. How am I to account to myself for Beata's horrible +accusation? + +Rebecca (impetuously). Oh, don't talk about Beata! Don't think +about Beata any more! She is dead, and you seemed at last to have +been able to get away from the thought of her. + +Rosmer. Since I have learnt of this, it seems just as if she had +come to life again in some uncanny fashion. + +Rebecca. Oh no--you must not say that, John! You must not! + +Rosmer. I tell you it is so. We must try and get to the bottom of +it. How can she have strayed into such a woeful misunderstanding +of me? + +Rebecca. Surely you too are not beginning to doubt that she was +very nearly insane? + +Rosmer. Well, I cannot deny it is just of that fact that I feel I +cannot be so altogether certain any longer. And besides if it +were so-- + +Rebecca. If it were so? What then? + +Rosmer. What I mean is--where are we to look for the actual cause +of her sick woman's fancies turning into insanity? + +Rebecca. What good can it possibly do for you to indulge in such +speculations! + +Rosmer. I cannot do otherwise, Rebecca. I cannot let this doubt +go on gnawing at my heart, however unwilling I may be to face +it. + +Rebecca. But it may become a real danger to you to be perpetually +dwelling on this one lugubrious topic. + +Rosmer (walking about restlessly and absorbed in the idea). I +must have betrayed myself in some way or other. She must have +noticed how happy I began to feel from the day you came to us. + +Rebecca. Yes; but dear, even if that were so-- + +Rosmer. You may be sure she did not fail to notice that we read +the same books; that we sought one another's company, and +discussed every new topic together. But I cannot understand it-- +because I was always so careful to spare her. When I look back, +it seems to me that I did everything I could to keep her apart +from our lives. Or did I not, Rebecca? + +Rebecca. Yes, yes--undoubtedly you did. + +Rosmer. And so did you, too. And notwithstanding that--! Oh, it is +horrible to think of! To think that here she was--with her +affection all distorted by illness --never saying a word--watching +us--noticing everything and--and--misconstruing everything. + +Rebecca (wringing her hands). Oh, I never ought to have come to +Rosmersholm. + +Rosmer. Just think what she must have suffered in silence! Think +of all the horrible things her poor diseased brain must have led +her to believe about us and store up in her mind about us! Did +she never speak to you of anything that could give you any kind +of clue? + +Rebecca (as if startled). To me! Do you suppose I should have +remained here a day longer, if she had? + +Rosmer. No, no--that is obvious. What a fight she must have +fought--and fought alone, Rebecca! In despair, and all alone. And +then, in the end, the poignant misery of her victory--which was +also her accusation of us--in the mill-race! (Throws himself into +a chair, rests his elbows on the table, and hides his face in his +hands.) + +Rebecca (coming quietly up behind him). Listen to me, John. If it +were in your power to call Beata back--to you--to Rosmersholm--would +you do it? + +Rosmer. How can I tell what I would do or what I would not do! I +have no thoughts for anything but the one thing which is +irrevocable. + +Rebecca. You ought to be beginning to live now, John. You were +beginning. You had freed yourself completely on all sides. You +were feeling so happy and so light--hearted + +Rosmer. I know--that is true enough. And then comes this +overwhelming blow. + +Rebecca (standing behind him, with her arms on the back of his +chair). How beautiful it was when we used to sit there downstairs +in the dusk--and helped each other to plan our lives out afresh. +You wanted to catch hold of actual life--the actual life of the +day, as you used to say. You wanted to pass from house to house +like a guest who brought emancipation with him--to win over men's +thoughts and wills to your own --to fashion noble men all around +you, in a wider and wider circle--noble men! + +Rosmer. Noble men and happy men. + +Rebecca. Yes, happy men. + +Rosmer. Because it is happiness that gives the soul nobility, +Rebecca. + +Rebecca. Do you not think suffering too? The deepest suffering? + +Rosmer. Yes, if one can win through it--conquer it--conquer it +completely. + +Rebecca. That is what you must do. + +Rosmer (shaking his head sadly). I shall never conquer this +completely. There will always be a doubt confronting me--a +question. I shall never again be able to lose myself in the +enjoyment of what makes life so wonderfully beautiful. + +Rebecca (speaking over the back of his chair, softly). What do +you mean, John? + +Rosmer (looking up at her). Calm and happy innocence. + +Rebecca (taking a step backwards). Of course. Innocence. (A short +silence.) + +Rosmer (resting his head on his hands with his elbows on the +table, and looking straight in front of him). How ingeniously--how +systematically--she must have put one thing together with another! +First of all she begins to have a suspicion as to my orthodoxy. +How on earth did she get that idea in her mind? Any way, she did; +and the idea grew into a certainty. And then--then, of course, it +was easy for her to think everything else possible. (Sits up in +his chair and, runs his hands through his hair.) The wild fancies +I am haunted with! I shall never get quit of them. I am certain +of that--certain. They will always be starting up before me to +remind me of the dead. + +Rebecca. Like the White Horse of Rosmersholm. + +Rosmer. Yes, like that. Rushing at me out of the dark--out of +the silence. + +Rebecca. And, because of this morbid fancy of yours, you are +going to give up the hold you had just gained upon real life? + +Rosmer. You are right, it seems hard--hard, Rebecca. But I have no +power of choice in the matter. How do you think I could ever get +the mastery over it? + +Rebecca (standing behind his chair). By making new ties for +yourself. + +Rosmer (starts, and looks up). New ties? + +Rebecca. Yes, new ties with the outside world. Live, work, do +something! Do not sit here musing and brooding over insoluble +conundrums. + +Rosmer (getting up). New ties! (Walks across the room, turns at +the door and comes back again.) A question occurs to my mind. Has +it not occurred to you too, Rebecca? + +Rebecca (catching her breath). Let me hear what it is. + +Rosmer. What do you suppose will become of the tie between us, +after to-day? + +Rebecca. I think surely our friendship can endure, come what may. + +Rosmer. Yes, but that is not exactly what I meant. I was thinking +of what brought us together from the first, what links us so +closely to one another--our common belief in the possibility of a +man and a woman living together in chastity. + +Rebecca. Yes, yes--what of it? + +Rosmer. What I mean is--does not such a tie as that--such a tie as +ours--seem to belong properly to a life lived in quiet, happy +peacefulness? + +Rebecca. Well? + +Rosmer. But now I see stretching before me a life of strife and +unrest and violent emotions. For I mean to live my life, Rebecca! +I am not going to let myself be beaten to the ground by the dread +of what may happen. I am not going to have my course of life +prescribed for me, either by any living soul or by another. + +Rebecca. No, no--do not! Be a free man in everything, John! + +Rosmer. Do you understand what is in my Mind, then? Do you not +know? Do you not see how I could best win my freedom from all +these harrowing memories from the whole sad past? + +Rebecca. Tell me! + +Rosmer. By setting up, in opposition to them, a new and living +reality. + +Rebecca (feeling for the back of the chair). A living--? What do +you mean? + +Rosmer (coming closer to her). Rebecca--suppose I asked you now-- +will you be my second wife? + +Rebecca (is speechless for a moment, then gives a cry of joy). +Your wife! Yours--! I! + +Rosmer. Yes--let us try what that will do. We two shall be one. +There must no longer be any empty place left by the dead in this +house. + +Rebecca. I--in Beata's place--? + +Rosmer. And then that chapter of my life will be closed-- +completely closed, never to be reopened. + +Rebecca (in a low, trembling voice). Do you think so, John? + +Rosmer. It must be so! It must! I cannot--I will not--go through +life with a dead body on my back. Help me to throw it off, +Rebecca; and then let us stifle all memories in our sense of +freedom, in joy, in passion. You shall be to me the only wife I +have ever had. + +Rebecca (controlling herself). Never speak of this, again. I will +never be your wife. + +Rosmer. What! Never? Do you think, then, that you could not learn +to love me? Is not our friendship already tinged with love? + +Rebecca (stopping her ears, as if in fear). Don't speak like +that, John! Don't say such things! + +Rosmer (catching her by the arm). It is true! There is a growing +possibility in the tie that is between us. I can see that you +feel that, as well as I--do you not, Rebecca? + +Rebecca (controlling herself completely). Listen. Let me tell you +this--if you persist in this, I shall leave Rosmersholm. + +Rosmer. Leave Rosmersholm! You! You cannot do that. It is +impossible. + +Rebecca. It is still more impossible for me to become your wife. +Never, as long as I live, can I be that. + +Rosmer (looks at her in surprise). You say "can" --and you say it +so strangely. Why can you not? + +Rebecca (taking both his hands in hers). Dear friend --for your +own sake, as well as for mine, do not ask me why. (Lets go of his +hands.) So, John. (Goes towards the door on the left.) + +Rosmer. For the future the world will hold only one question for +me--why? + +Rebecca (turns and looks at him). In that case everything is at +an end. + +Rosmer. Between you and me? + +Rebecca. Yes. + +Rosmer. Things can never be at an end between us two. You shall +never leave Rosmersholm. + +Rebecca (with her hand on the door-handle). No, I dare say I +shall not. But, all the same, if you question me again, it will +mean the end of everything. + +Rosmer. The end of everything, all the same? How--? + +Rebecca. Because then I shall go the way Beata went. Now you +know, John. + +Rosmer. Rebecca--! + +Rebecca (stops at the door and nods: slowly). Now you know. (Goes +out.) + +Rosmer (stares in bewilderment at the shut door, and says to +himself): What can it mean? + + +ACT III + +(SCENE-The sitting-room at Rosmersholm. The window and the hall- +door are open. The morning sun is seen shining outside. REBECCA, +dressed as in ACT I., is standing by the window, watering and +arranging the flowers. Her work is lying on the armchair. MRS. +HELSETH is going round the room with a feather brush, dusting the +furniture.) + +Rebecca (after a short pause). I wonder why Mr. Rosmer is so late +in coming down to-day? + +Mrs. Helseth. Oh, he is often as late as this, miss. He is sure +to be down directly. + +Rebecca. Have you seen anything of him? + +Mrs. Helseth. No, miss, except that as I took his coffee into his +study he went into his bedroom to finish dressing. + +Rebecca. The reason I ask is that he was not very well yesterday. + +Mrs. Helseth. No, he did not look well. It made me wonder whether +something had gone amiss between him and his brother-in-law. + +Rebecca. What do you suppose could go amiss between them? + +Mrs. Helseth. I can't say, miss. Perhaps it was that fellow +Mortensgaard set them at loggerheads. + +Rebecca. It is quite possible. Do you know anything of this Peter +Mortensgaard? + +Mrs. Helseth. Not I! How could you think so, miss--a man like +that! + +Rebecca. Because of that horrid paper he edits, you mean? + +Mrs. Helseth. Not only because of that, miss. I suppose you have +heard that a certain married woman, whose husband had deserted +her, had a child by him? + +Rebecca. I have heard it; but of course that was long before I +came here. + +Mrs. Helseth. Bless me, yes--he was quite a young man then. But +she might have had more sense than he had. He wanted to marry +her, too, but that could not be done; and so he had to pay +heavily for it. But since then--my word!--Mortensgaard has risen in +the world. There are lots of people who run after him now. + +Rebecca. I believe most of the poor people turn to him first when +they are in any trouble. + +Mrs. Helseth. Oh, not only the poor people, miss-- + +Rebecca (glancing at her unobserved). Indeed? + +Mrs. Helseth (standing at the sofa, dusting vigorously). People +you would least expect, sometimes, miss. + +Rebecca (arranging the flowers). Yes, but that is only an idea of +yours, Mrs. Helseth. You cannot know that for certain. + +Mrs. Helseth. You think I don't know anything about that for +certain, do you, miss? Indeed I do. Because--if I must let out the +secret at last--I carried a letter to Mortensgaard myself once. + +Rebecca (turns round). No--did you! + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, that I did. And that letter, let me tell you, +was written here--at Rosmersholm. + +Rebecca. Really, Mrs. Helseth? + +Mrs. Helseth. I give you my word it was, miss. And it was written +on good note-paper--and sealed with beautiful red sealing-wax. + +Rebecca. And you were entrusted with the delivery of it? Dear +Mrs. Helseth, it is not very difficult to guess whom it was from. + +Mrs. Helseth. Who, then? + +Rebecca. Naturally, it was something that poor Mrs. Rosmer in her +invalid state + +Mrs. Helseth. Well, you have mentioned her name, miss--not I. + +Rebecca. But what was in the letter?--No, of course, you cannot +know that. + +Mrs. Helseth. Hm!--it is just possible I may know, all the same. + +Rebecca. Did she tell you what she was writing about, then? + +Mrs. Helseth. No, she did not do that. But when Mortensgaard had +read it, he set to work and cross-questioned me, so that I got a +very good idea of what was in it. + +Rebecca. What do you think was in it, then? Oh, dear, good Mrs. +Helseth, do tell me! + +Mrs. Helseth. Certainly not, miss. Not for worlds. + +Rebecca. Oh, you can tell me. You and I are such friends, you +know. + +Mrs. Helseth. Heaven forbid I should tell you anything about +that, miss. I shall not tell you anything, except that it was +some dreadful idea that they had gone and put into my poor sick +mistress's head. + +Rebecca. Who had put it into her head? + +Mrs. Helseth. Wicked people, miss. Wicked people. + +Rebecca. Wicked--? + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, I say it again--very wicked people, they must +have been. + +Rebecca. And what do you think it could be? + +Mrs. Helseth. Oh, I know what I think--but, please Heaven, I'll +keep my mouth shut. At the same time, there is a certain lady in +the town--hm! + +Rebecca. I can see you mean Mrs. Kroll. + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, she is a queer one, she is. She has always +been very much on the high horse with me. And she has never +looked with any friendly eye on you, either, miss. + +Rebecca. Do you think Mrs. Rosmer was quite in her right mind +when she wrote that letter to Mortensgaard? + +Mrs. Helseth. It is so difficult to tell, miss. I certainly don't +think she was quite out of her mind. + +Rebecca. But you know she seemed to go quite distracted when she +learnt that she would never be able to have a child. That was +when her madness first showed itself. + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, that had a terrible effect on her, poor lady. + +Rebecca (taking up her work, and sitting down on a chair by the +window). But, in other respects, do you not think that was really +a good thing for Mr. Rosmer, Mrs. Helseth? + +Mrs. Helseth. What, miss? + +Rebecca. That there were no children? + +Mrs. Helseth. Hm!--I really do not know what to say to that. + +Rebecca. Believe me, it was best for him. Mr. Rosmer was never +meant to be surrounded by crying children. + +Mrs. Helseth. Little children do not cry at Rosmersholm, Miss +West. + +Rebecca (looking at her). Not cry? + +Mrs. Helseth. No. In this house, little children have never been +known to cry, as long as any one can remember. + +Rebecca. That is very strange. + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, isn't it, miss? But it runs in the family. And +there is another thing that is just as strange; when they grow up +they never laugh--never laugh, all their lives. + +Rebecca. But that would be extraordinary + +Mrs. Helseth. Have you ever once heard or seen Mr. Rosmer laugh, +miss? + +Rebecca. No--now that I think of it, I almost believe you are +right. But I fancy most of the folk hereabouts laugh very little. + +Mrs. Helseth. That is quite true. People say it began at +Rosmersholm, and I expect it spread like a sort of infection. + +Rebecca. You are a sagacious woman, Mrs. Helseth! + +Mrs. Helseth. Oh, you mustn't sit there and make game of me, +miss. (Listens.) Hush, hush--Mr. Rosmer is coming down. He doesn't +like to see brooms about. (Goes out by the door on the right. +ROSMER, with his stick and hat in his hand, comes in from the +lobby.) + +Rosmer. Good-morning, Rebecca. + +Rebecca. Good-morning, dear. (She goes on working for a little +while in silence.) Are you going out? + +Rosmer. Yes. + +Rebecca. It is such a lovely day. + +Rosmer. You did not come up to see me this morning. + +Rebecca. No--I didn't. Not to-day. + +Rosmer. Don't you mean to do so in future, either? Rebecca. I +cannot say yet, dear. + +Rosmer. Has anything come for me? + +Rebecca. The "County News" has come. + +Rosmer. The "County News"! + +Rebecca. There it is, on the table. + +Rosmer (putting down his hat and stick). Is there anything--? + +Rebecca. Yes. + +Rosmer. And you did not send it up to me + +Rebecca. You will read it quite soon enough. + +Rosmer. Well, let us see. (Takes up the paper and stands by the +table reading it.) What!--"cannot pronounce too emphatic a warning +against unprincipled deserters." (Looks at her.) They call me a +deserter, Rebecca. + +Rebecca. They mention no names at all. + +Rosmer. It comes to the same thing. (Goes on reading.) "Secret +traitors to the good cause."--"Judas-like creatures, who +shamelessly confess their apostasy as soon as they think the most +opportune and most profitable moment has arrived."--"A reckless +outrage on the fair fame of honoured ancestors"--"in the +expectation that those who are enjoying a brief spell of +authority will not disappoint them of a suitable reward." (Lays +the paper down on the table.) And they write that of me--these men +who have known me so long and so intimately--write a thing that +they do not even believe themselves! They know there is not a +single word of truth in it--and yet they write it. + +Rebecca. There is more of it yet. + +Rosmer (taking up the paper again). "Make some allowance for +inexperience and want of judgment"--"a pernicious influence which, +very possibly, has extended even to matters which for the present +we will refrain from publicly discussing or condemning." (Looks +at her.) What does that mean? + +Rebecca. That is a hit at me, obviously. + +Rosmer (laying down the paper). Rebecca, this is the conduct of +dishonourable men. + +Rebecca. Yes, it seems to me they have no right to talk about +Mortensgaard. + +Rosmer (walking up and down the room). They must be saved from +this sort of thing. All the good that is in men is destroyed, if +it is allowed to go on. But it shall not be so! How happy--how +happy I should feel if I could succeed in bringing a little light +into all this murky ugliness. + +Rebecca (getting up). I am sure of it. There is something great, +something splendid, for you to live for! + +Rosmer. Just think of it--if I could wake them to a real knowledge +of themselves--bring them to be angry with and ashamed of +themselves--induce them to be at one with each other in +toleration, in love, Rebecca! + +Rebecca. Yes! Give yourself up entirely to that task, and you +will see that you will succeed. + +Rosmer. I think it might be done. What happiness it would be to +live one's life, then! No more hateful strife--only emulation; +every eye fixed on the same goal; every man's will, every man's +thoughts moving forward-upward--each in its own inevitable path +Happiness for all--and through the efforts of all! (Looks out of +the window as he speaks, then gives a start and says gloomily:) +Ah! not through me. + +Rebecca. Not--not through you? + +Rosmer. Nor for me, either. + +Rebecca. Oh, John, have no such doubts. + +Rosmer. Happiness, dear Rebecca, means first and foremost the +calm, joyous sense of innocence. + +Rebecca (staring in front of her). Ah, innocence-- + +Rosmer. You need fear nothing on that score. But I-- + +Rebecca. You least of all men! + +Rosmer (pointing out of the window). The mill-race. + +Rebecca. Oh, John!--(MRS. HELSETH looks in in through the door +on the left.) + +Mrs. Helseth. Miss West! + +Rebecca. Presently, presently. Not now. + +Mrs. Helseth. Just a word, miss! (REBECCA goes to the door. MRS. +HELSETH tells her something, and they whisper together for a +moment; then MRS. HELSETH nods and goes away.) + +Rosmer (uneasily). Was it anything for me? + +Rebecca. No, only something about the housekeeping. You ought to +go out into the open air now, John dear. You should go for a good +long walk. + +Rosmer (taking up his hat). Yes, come along; we will go together. + +Rebecca. No, dear, I can't just now. You must go by yourself. But +shake off all these gloomy thoughts--promise me that! + +Rosmer. I shall never be able to shake them quite off, I am +afraid. + +Rebecca. Oh, but how can you let such groundless fancies take +such a hold on you! + +Rosmer. Unfortunately they are not so groundless as you think, +dear. I have lain, thinking them over, all night. Perhaps Beata +saw things truly after all. + +Rebecca. In what way do you mean? + +Rosmer. Saw things truly when she believed I loved you, Rebecca. + +Rebecca. Truly in THAT respect? + +Rosmer (laying his hat down on the table). This is the question I +have been wrestling with--whether we two have deluded ourselves +the whole time, when we have been calling the tie between us +merely friendship. + +Rebecca. Do you mean, then, that the right name for it would have +been--? + +Rosmer. Love. Yes, dear, that is what I mean. Even while Beata +was alive, it was you that I gave all my thoughts to. It was you +alone I yearned for. It was with you that I experienced peaceful, +joyful, passionless happiness. When we consider it rightly, +Rebecca, our life together began like the sweet, mysterious love +of two children for one another--free from desire or any thought +of anything more. Did you not feel it in that way too? Tell me. + +Rebecca (struggling with herself). Oh, I do not know what to +answer. + +Rosmer. And it was this life of intimacy, with one another and +for one another, that we took to be friendship. No, dear--the tie +between us has been a spiritual marriage--perhaps from the very +first day. That is why I am guilty. I had no right to it--no right +to it for Beata's sake. + +Rebecca. No right to a happy life? Do you believe that, John? + +Rosmer. She looked at the relations between us through the eyes +of HER love--judged them after the nature of HER love. And it was +only natural. She could not have judged them otherwise than she +did. + +Rebecca. But how can you so accuse yourself for Beata's +delusions? + +Rosmer. It was for love of me--in her own way that--she threw +herself into the mill-race. That fact is certain, Rebecca. I can +never get beyond that. + +Rebecca. Oh, do not think of anything else but the great, +splendid task that you are going to devote your life to! + +Rosmer (shaking his head). It can never be carried through. Not +by me. Not after what I know now. + +Rebecca. Why not by you? + +Rosmer. Because no cause can ever triumph which has its +beginnings in guilt. + +Rebecca (impetuously). Oh, these are nothing but prejudices you +have inherited--these doubts, these fears, these scruples! You +have a legend here that your dead return to haunt you in the form +of white horses. This seems to me to be something of that sort. + +Rosmer. Be that as it may, what difference does it make if I +cannot shake it off? Believe me, Rebecca, it is as I say--any +cause which is to win a lasting victory must be championed by a +man who is joyous and innocent. + +Rebecca. But is joy so absolutely indispensable to you, John? + +Rosmer. Joy? Yes, indeed it is. + +Rebecca. To you, who never laugh? + +Rosmer. Yes, in spite of that. Believe me, I have a great +capacity for joy. + +Rebecca. Now you really must go out, dear--for a long walk--a +really long one, do you hear? There is your hat, and there is +your stick. + +Rosmer (taking them from her). Thank you. And you won't come too? + +Rebecca. No, no, I can't come now. + +Rosmer. Very well. You are none the less always with me now. +(Goes out by the entrance hall. After a moment REBECCA peeps out +from behind the door which he has left open. Then she goes to the +door on the right, which she opens.) + +Rebecca (in a whisper). Now, Mrs. Helseth. You can let him come +in now. (Crosses to the window. A moment later, KROLL comes in +from the right. He bows to her silently and formally and keeps +his hat in his hand.) + +Kroll. Has he gone, then? + +Rebecca. Yes. + +Kroll. Does he generally stay out long? + +Rebecca. Yes. But to-day he is in a very uncertain mood--so, if +you do not want to meet him-- + +Kroll. Certainly not. It is you I wish to speak to--and quite +alone. + +Rebecca. Then we had better make the best of our time. Please sit +down. (She sits down in an easy-chair by the window. KROLL takes +a chair beside her.) + +Kroll. Miss West, you can scarcely have any idea how deeply +pained and unhappy I am over this revolution that has taken place +in John Rosmer's ideas. + +Rebecca. We were prepared for that being so--at first. + +Kroll. Only at first? + +Rosmer. Mr. Rosmer hoped confidently that sooner or later you +would take your place beside him. + +Kroll. I? + +Rebecca. You and all his other friends. + +Kroll. That should convince you how feeble his judgment is on any +matter concerning his fellow-creatures and the affairs of real +life. + +Rebecca. In any case, now that he feels the absolute necessity of +cutting himself free on all sides + +Kroll. Yes; but, let me tell you, that is exactly what I do not +believe. + +Rebecca. What do you believe, then? + +Kroll. I believe it is you that are at the bottom of the whole +thing. + +Rebecca. Your wife put that into your head, Mr. Kroll. + +Kroll. It does not matter who put it into my head. The point is +this, that I feel grave doubts--exceedingly grave doubts--when I +recall and think over the whole of your behaviour since you came +here. + +Rebecca (looking at him). I have a notion that there was a time +when you had an exceedingly strong BELIEF in me, dear Mr. Kroll--I +might almost say, a warm belief. + +Kroll (in a subdued voice). I believe you could bewitch any one-- +if you set yourself to do it. + +Rebecca. And you say I set myself to do it! + +Kroll. Yes, you did. I am no longer such a simpleton as to +suppose that sentiment entered into your little game at all. You +simply wanted to secure yourself admission to Rosmersholm--to +establish yourself here. That was what I was to help you to. I +see it now. + +Rebecca. Then you have completely forgotten that it was Beata +that begged and entreated me to come and live here. + +Kroll. Yes, because you had bewitched her too. Are you going to +pretend that friendship is the name for what she came to feel +towards you? It was idolatry--adoration. It degenerated into a-- +what shall I call, it?--a sort of desperate passion. Yes, that is +just the word for it. + +Rebecca. Have the goodness to remember the condition your sister +was in. As far as I am concerned I do not think I can be said to +be particularly emotional in any way. + +Kroll. No, you certainly are not. But that makes you all the more +dangerous to those whom you wish to get into your power. +It comes easy to you to act with deliberation and careful +calculation, just because you have a cold heart. + +Rebecca. Cold? Are you so sure of that? + +Kroll. I am certain of it now. Otherwise you could not have +pursued your object here so unswervingly, year after year. Yes, +yes--you have gained what you wanted. You have got him and +everything else here into your power. But, to carry out your +schemes, you have not scrupled to make him unhappy. + +Rebecca. That is not true. It is not I; it is you yourself that +have made him unhappy. + +Kroll. I! + +Rebecca. Yes, by leading him to imagine that he was responsible +for the terrible end that overtook Beata. + +Kroll. Did that affect him so deeply, then? + +Rebecca. Of course. A man of such gentle disposition as he-- + +Kroll. I imagined that one of your so-called "emancipated" men +would know how to overcome any scruples. But there it is! Oh, +yes--as a matter of fact it turned out just as I expected. The +descendant of the men who are looking at us from these walls need +not think he can break loose from what has been handed down as an +inviolable inheritance from generation to generation. + +Rebecca (looking thoughtfully in front of her). John Rosmer's +nature is deeply rooted in his ancestors. That is certainly very +true. + +Kroll. Yes, and you ought to have taken that into consideration, +if you had had any sympathy for him. But I dare say you were +incapable of that sort of consideration. Your starting-point is +so very widely-removed from his, you see. + +Rebecca. What do you mean by my starting-point? + +Kroll. I mean the starting-point of origin--of parentage, Miss +West. + +Rebecca. I see. Yes, it is quite true that my origin is very +humble. But nevertheless-- + +Kroll. I am not alluding to rank or position. I am thinking of +the moral aspect of your origin. + +Rebecca. Of my origin? In what respect? + +Kroll. In respect of your birth generally. + +Rebecca. What are you saying! + +Kroll. I am only saying it because it explains the whole of your +conduct. + +Rebecca. I do not understand. Be so good as to tell me exactly +what you mean. + +Kroll. I really thought you did not need telling. Otherwise it +would seem a very strange thing that you let yourself be adopted +by Dr. West. + +Rebecca (getting up). Oh, that is it! Now I understand. + +Kroll. And took his name. Your mother's name was Gamvik. + +Rebecca (crossing the room). My father's name was Gamvik, Mr. +Kroll. + +Kroll. Your mother's occupation must, of course, have brought her +continually into contact with the district physician. + +Rebecca. You are quite right. + +Kroll. And then he takes you to live with him, immediately upon +your mother's death. He treats you harshly, and yet you stay with +him. You know that he will not leave you a single penny--as a +matter of fact you only got a box of books--and yet you endure +living with him, put up with his behaviour, and nurse him to the +end. + +Rebecca (comes to the table and looks at him scornfully). And my +doing all that makes it clear to you that there was something +immoral--something criminal about my birth! + +Kroll. What you did for him, I attributed to an unconscious +filial instinct. And, as far as the rest of it goes, I consider +that the whole of your conduct has been the outcome of your +origin. + +Rebecca (hotly). But there is not a single word of truth in what +you say! And I can prove it! Dr. West had not come to Finmark +when I was born. + +Kroll. Excuse me, Miss West. He went there a year before you were +born. I have ascertained that. + +Rebecca. You are mistaken, I tell you! You are absolutely +mistaken! + +Kroll. You said here, the day before yesterday, that you were +twenty-nine--going on for thirty. + +Rebecca. Really? Did I say that? + +Kroll. Yes, you did. And from that I can calculate-- + +Rebecca. Stop! That will not help you to calculate. For, I may as +well tell you at once, I am a year older than I give myself out +to be. + +Kroll (smiling incredulously). Really? That is something new. How +is that? + +Rebecca. When I had passed my twenty-fifth birthday, I thought I +was getting altogether too old for an unmarried girl, so I +resolved to tell a lie and take a year off my age. + +Kroll. You--an emancipated woman--cherishing prejudices as to the +marriageable age! + +Rebecca. I know it was a silly thing to do--and ridiculous, too. +But every one has some prejudice or another that they cannot get +quite rid of. We are like that. + +Kroll. Maybe. But my calculation may be quite correct, all the +same; because Dr. West was up in Finmark for a flying visit the +year before he was appointed. + +Rebecca (impetuously). That is not true + +Kroll. Isn't it? + +Rebecca. No. My mother never mentioned it. + +Kroll. Didn't she, really! + +Rebecca. No, never. Nor Dr. West, either. Never a word of it. + +Kroll. Might that not be because they both had good reason to +jump over a year?--@just as you have done yourself, Miss West? +Perhaps it is a family failing. + +Rebecca (walking about, wringing her hands). It is impossible. It +is only something you want to make me believe. Nothing in the +world will make me believe it. It cannot be true! Nothing in the +world-- + +Kroll (getting up). But, my dear Miss West, why in Heaven's name +do you take it in this way? You quite alarm me! What am I to +believe and think? + +Rebecca. Nothing. Neither believe nor think anything. + +Kroll. Then you really must give me some explanation of your +taking this matter--this possibility--so much to heart. + +Rebecca (controlling herself). It is quite obvious, I should +think, Mr. Kroll. I have no desire for people here to think me an +illegitimate child. + +Kroll. Quite so. Well, well, let us be content with your +explanation, for the present. But you see that is another point +on which you have cherished a certain prejudice. + +Rebecca. Yes, that is quite true. + +Kroll. And it seems to me that very much the same applies to most +of this "emancipation" of yours, as you call it. Your reading +has introduced you to a hotch-potch of new ideas and opinions; +you have made a certain acquaintance with researches that are +going on in various directions--researches that seem to you to +upset a good many ideas that people have hitherto considered +incontrovertible and unassailable. But all this has never gone +any further than knowledge in your case, Miss West--a mere matter +of the intellect. It has not got into your blood. + +Rebecca (thoughtfully). Perhaps you are right. + +Kroll. Yes, only test yourself, and you will see! And if it is +true in your case, it is easy to recognise how true it must be in +John Rosmer's. Of course it is madness, pure and simple. He will +be running headlong to his ruin if he persists in coming openly +forward and proclaiming himself an apostate! Just think of it--he, +with his shy disposition! Think of HIM disowned--hounded out of +the circle to which he has always belonged--exposed to the +uncompromising attacks of all the best people in the place. +Nothing would ever make him the man to endure that. + +Rebecca. He MUST endure it! It is too late now for him to draw +back. + +Kroll. Not a bit too late--not by any means too late. What has +happened can be hushed up--or at any rate can be explained away as +a purely temporary, though regrettable, aberration. But--there is +one step that it is absolutely essential he should take. + +Rebecca. And that is? + +Kroll. You must get him to legalise his position, Miss West. + +Rebecca. The position in which he stands to me? + +Kroll. Yes. You must see that you get him to do that. + +Rebecca. Then you can't rid yourself of the conviction that the +relations between us need "legalising," as you say? + +Kroll. I do not wish to go any more precisely into the question. +But I certainly have observed that the conditions under which it +always seems easiest for people to abandon all their so-called +prejudices are when--ahem! + +Rebecca. When it is a question of the relations between a man and +a woman, I suppose you mean? + +Kroll. Yes--to speak candidly--that is what I mean. + +Rebecca (walks across the room and looks out of the window). I +was on the point of saying that I wish you had been right, Mr. +Kroll. + +Kroll. What do you mean by that? You say it so strangely! + +Rebecca. Oh, nothing! Do not let us talk any more about it. Ah, +there he is! + +Kroll. Already! I will go, then. + +Rebecca (turning to him). No--stay here, and you will hear +something. + +Kroll. Not now. I do not think I could bear to see him. + +Rebecca. I beg you to stay. Please do, or you will regret it +later. It is the last time I shall ever ask you to do anything. + +Kroll (looks at her in surprise, and lays his hat down). Very +well, Miss West. It shall be as you wish. (A short pause. Then +ROSMER comes in from the hall.) + +Rosmer (stops at the door, as he sees KROLL). What! you here? + +Rebecca. He wanted to avoid meeting you, John. + +Kroll (involuntarily). "John?" + +Rebecca. Yes, Mr. Kroll. John and I call each other by our +Christian names. That is a natural consequence of the relations +between us. + +Kroll. Was that what I was to hear if I stayed? + +Rebecca. Yes, that and something else. + +Rosmer (coming into the room). What is the object of your visit +here to-day? + +Kroll. I wanted to make one more effort to stop you, and win you +back. + +Rosmer (pointing to the newspaper). After that? + +Kroll. I did not write it. + +Rosmer. Did you take any steps to prevent its appearing? + +Kroll. That would have been acting unjustifiably towards the +cause I serve. And, besides that, I had no power to prevent it. + +Rebecca (tears the newspaper into pieces, which she crumples up +and throws into the back of the stove). There! Now it is out of +sight; let it be out of mind too. Because there will be no more +of that sort of thing, John. + +Kroll. Indeed, I wish you could ensure that. + +Rebecca. Come, and let us sit down, dear--all three of us. Then I +will tell you all about it. + +Rosmer (sitting down involuntarily). What has come over you, +Rebecca? You are so unnaturally calm--What is it? + +Rebecca. The calmness of determination. (Sits down.) Please sit +down too, Mr. Kroll. (He takes a seat on the couch.) + +Rosmer. Determination, you say. Determination to do what? + +Rebecca. I want to give you back what you need in order to live +your life. You shall have your happy innocence back, dear friend. + +Rosmer. But what do you mean? + +Rebecca. I will just tell you what happened. That is all that is +necessary. + +Rosmer. Well? + +Rebecca. When I came down here from Finmark with Dr. West, it +seemed to me that a new, great, wide world was opened to me. Dr. +West had given me an erratic sort of education--had taught me all +the odds and ends that I knew about life then. (Has an evident +struggle with herself, and speaks in barely audible tones.) And +then-- + +Kroll. And then? + +Rosmer. But, Rebecca--I know all this. + +Rebecca (collecting herself). Yes--that is true enough. You know +it only too well. + +Kroll (looking fixedly at her). Perhaps it would be better if I +left you. + +Rebecca. No, stay where you are, dear Mr. Kroll. (To ROSMER.) +Well, this was how it was. I wanted to play my part in the new +day that was dawning--to have a share in all the new ideas. Mr. +Kroll told me one day that Ulrik Brendel had had a great +influence over you once, when you were a boy. I thought it might +be possible for me to resume that influence here. + +Rosmer. Did you come here with a covert design? + +Rebecca. What I wanted was that we two should go forward together +on the road towards freedom--always forward, and further forward! +But there was that gloomy, insurmountable barrier between you and +a full, complete emancipation. + +Rosmer. What barrier do you mean? + +Rebecca. I mean, John, that you could never have attained freedom +except in the full glory of the sunshine. And, instead of that, +here you were--ailing and languishing in the gloom of such a +marriage as yours. + +Rosmer. You have never spoken to me of my marriage in that way, +before to-day. + +Rebecca. No, I did not dare, for fear of frightening you. + +Kroll (nodding to ROSMER). You hear that! + +Rebecca (resuming). But I saw quite well where your salvation +lay--your only salvation. And so I acted. + +Rosmer. How do you mean--you acted? + +Kroll. Do you mean that? + +Rebecca. Yes, John. (Gets up.) No, do not get up. Nor you either, +Mr. Kroll. But we must let in. the daylight now. It was not you, +John. You are innocent. It was I that lured--that ended by luring-- +Beata into the tortuous path-- + +Rosmer (springing up). Rebecca! + +Kroll (getting up). Into the tortuous path! + +Rebecca. Into the path that--led to the mill-race. Now you know +it, both of you. + +Rosmer (as if stunned). But I do not understand--What is she +standing there saying? I do not understand a word-- + +Kroll. Yes, yes. I begin to understand. + +Rosmer. But what did you do? What did you find to tell her? +Because there was nothing--absolutely nothing! + +Rebecca. She got to know that you were determined to emancipate +yourself from all your old prejudices. + +Rosmer. Yes, but at that time I had come to no decision. + +Rebecca. I knew that you soon would come to one. + +Kroll (nodding to ROSMER). Aha! + +Rosmer. Well--and what more? I want to know everything now. + +Rebecca. Some time afterwards, I begged and implored her to let +me leave Rosmersholm. + +Rosmer. Why did you want to leave here--then? + +Rebecca. I did not want to. I wanted to remain where I was. But I +told her that it would be best for us all if I went away in time. +I let her infer that if I remained here any longer I could not +tell what-what-might happen. + +Rosmer. That is what you said and did, then? + +Rebecca. Yes, John. + +Rosmer. That is what you referred to when you said that you +"acted"? + +Rebecca (in a broken voice). Yes, that was it. + +Rosmer (after a pause). Have you confessed everything now, +Rebecca? + +Rebecca. Yes. + +Kroll. Not everything. + +Rebecca (looking at him in terror). What else can there be? + +Kroll. Did you not eventually lead Beata to believe that it was +necessary--not merely that it should be best--but that it was +necessary, both for your own sake and for John's, that you should +go away somewhere else as soon as possible?--Well? + +Rebecca (speaking low and indistinctly). Perhaps I did say +something of the sort. + +Rosmer (sinking into a chair by the window). And she, poor sick +creature, believed in this tissue of lies and deceit! Believed in +it so completely--so absolutely! (Looks up at REBECCA.) And she +never came to me about it--never said a word! Ah, Rebecca--I see it +in your face--YOU dissuaded her from doing so. + +Rebecca. You know she had taken it into her head that she, a +childless wife, had no right to be here. And so she persuaded +herself that her duty to you was to give place to another. + +Rosmer. And you--you did nothing to rid her mind of such an idea? + +Rebecca. No. + +Kroll. Perhaps you encouraged her in the idea? Answer! Did you +not do so? + +Rebecca. That was how she understood me, I believe. + +Rosmer. Yes, yes--and she bowed to your will in everything. And so +she gave place. (Springs up.) How could you--how could you go on +with this terrible tragedy! + +Rebecca. I thought there were two lives here to choose between, +John. + +Kroll (severely and with authority). You had no right to make any +such choice. + +Rebecca (impetuously). Surely you do not think I acted with cold +and calculating composure! I am a different woman now, when I am +telling you this, from what I was then. And I believe two +different kinds of will can exist at the same time in one person. +I wanted Beata away--in one way or the other; but I never thought +it would happen, all the same. At every step I ventured and +risked, I seemed to hear a voice in me crying: "No further! Not +a step further!" And yet, at the same time, I COULD not stop. I +HAD to venture a little bit further--just one step. And then +another--and always another--and at last it happened. That is how +such things go of themselves. (A short silence.) + +Rosmer (to REBECCA). And how do you think it will go with YOU in +the future?--after this? + +Rebecca. Things must go with me as they can. It is of very little +consequence. + +Kroll. Not a word suggestive of remorse! Perhaps you feel none? + +Rebecca (dismissing his remark coldly). Excuse me, Mr. Kroll, +that is a matter that is no concern of any one else's. That is an +account I must settle with myself. + +Kroll (to ROSMER). And this is the woman you have been living +under the same roof with--in relations of the completest +confidence. (Looks up at the portraits on the walls.) If only +those that are gone could look down now! + +Rosmer. Are you going into the town? + +Kroll (taking up his hat). Yes. The sooner the better. + +Rosmer (taking his hat also). Then I will go with you. + +Kroll. You will! Ah, I thought we had not quite lost you. + +Rosmer. Come, then, Kroll. Come! (They both go out into the hall +without looking at REBECCA. After a minute REBECCA goes +cautiously to the window and peeps out between the flowers.) + +Rebecca (speaking to herself, half aloud). Not over the bridge +to-day either. He is going round. Never over the millrace--never. +(Comes away from the window.) As I thought! (She goes over to the +bell, and rings it. Soon afterwards MRS. HELSETH comes in from +the right.) + +Mrs. Helseth. What is it, miss? + +Rebecca. Mrs. Helseth, will you be so good as to fetch my +travelling trunk down from the loft? + +Mrs. Helseth. Your trunk? + +Rebecca. Yes, the brown hair-trunk, you know. + +Mrs. Helseth. Certainly, miss. But, bless my soul, are you going +away on a journey, miss? + +Rebecca. Yes--I am going away on a journey, Mrs. Helseth. + +Mrs. Helseth. And immediately! + +Rebecca. As soon as I have packed. + +Mrs. Helseth. I never heard of such a thing! But you are coming +back again soon, I suppose, miss? + +Rebecca. I am never coming back again. + +Mrs. Helseth. Never! But, my goodness, what is to become of us at +Rosmersholm if Miss West is not here any longer? Just as +everything was making poor Mr. Rosmer so happy and comfortable! + +Rebecca. Yes, but to-day I have had a fright, Mrs. Helseth. + +Mrs. Helseth. A fright! Good heavens-how? + +Rebecca. I fancy I have had a glimpse of the White Horse. + +Mrs. Helseth. Of the White Horse! In broad daylight! + +Rebecca. Ah! they are out both early and late, the White Horses +of Rosmersholm. (Crosses the room.) Well--we were speaking of my +trunk, Mrs. Helseth. + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, miss. Your trunk. + +(They both go out to the right.) + + +ACT IV + +(SCENE.-The same room in the late evening. The lamp, with a shade +on it, is burning on the table. REBECCA is standing by the table, +packing some small articles in a travelling-bag. Her cloak, hat, +and the white crochetted shawl are hanging on the back of the +couch. MRS. HELSETH comes in from the right.) + +Mrs. Helseth (speaking in low tones and with a reserved manner). +Yes, all your things have been taken down, miss. They are in the +kitchen passage. + +Rebecca. Thank you. You have ordered the carriage? + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, miss. The coachman wants to know what time he +shall bring it round. + +Rebecca. I think at about eleven o'clock. The boat goes at +midnight. + +Mrs. Helseth (with a little hesitation). But what about Mr. +Rosmer? Suppose he is not back by that time? + +Rebecca. I shall start, all the same. If I should not see him, +you can tell him I will write to him--a long letter, say that. + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, I dare say it will be all right to write. But, +poor dear, I really think that you ought to try and have a talk +with him once more. + +Rebecca. Perhaps I ought--Or perhaps not, after all. + +Mrs. Helseth. Dear, dear! I never thought I should, live to see +such a thing as this! + +Rebecca. What did you think, then, Mrs. Helseth? + +Mrs. Helseth. To tell the truth, miss, I thought Mr. Rosmer was +an honester man than that. + +Rebecca. Honester? + +Mrs. Helseth. Yes, miss, that is the truth. + +Rebecca. But, my dear Mrs. Helseth, what do you mean by that? + +Mrs. Helseth. I mean what is true and right, miss. He should not +get out of it in this way--that he shouldn't. + +Rebecca (looking at her). Now look here, Mrs. Helseth. Tell me, +honestly and frankly, why you think I am going away. + +Mrs. Helseth. Good Lord, miss--because it is necessary, I suppose. +Well, well!--Still, I certainly do not think Mr. Rosmer has +behaved well. There was some excuse in Mortensgaard's case, +because the woman's husband was still alive; so that it was +impossible for them to marry, however much they wished it. But +Mr. Rosmer, he could--ahem! + +Rebecca (with a faint smile). Is it possible that you could think +such things about me and Mr. Rosmer? + +Mrs. Helseth. Not for a moment--until to-day, I mean. + +Rebecca. But why to-day? + +Mrs. Helseth. Well, after all the horrible things they tell me +one may see in the papers about Mr. Rosmer + +Rebecca. Ah! + +Mrs. Helseth. What I mean is this--if a man can go over to +Mortensgaard's religion, you may believe him capable of anything. +And that's the truth. + +Rebecca. Yes, very likely. But about me? What have you got to say +about me? + +Mrs. Helseth. Well, I am sure, miss--I do not think you are so +greatly to be blamed. It is not always so easy for a lone woman +to resist, I dare say. We are all human after all, Miss West. + +Rebecca. That is very true, Mrs. Helseth. We are all human, after +all.--What are you listening to? + +Mrs. Helseth (in a low voice). Good Lord!--I believe that is him +coming now. + +Rebecca (with a start). In spite of everything, then--! (Speaks +with determination.) Very well. So be it. (ROSMER comes in from +the hall. He sees the luggage, and turns to REBECCA.) + +Rosmer. What does this mean? + +Rebecca. I am going away. + +Rosmer. At once? + +Rebecca. Yes. (To MRS. HELSETH.) Eleven o'clock, then. + +Mrs. Helseth. Very well, miss. (Goes out to the right.) + +Rosmer (after a short pause). Where are you going, Rebecca? + +Rebecca. I am taking the boat for the north. + +Rosmer. North? What are you going there for? + +Rebecca. It is where I came from. + +Rosmer. But you have no more ties there now. + +Rebecca. I have none here, either. + +Rosmer. What do you propose to do? + +Rebecca. I do not know. I only want to make an end of it. + +Rosmer. Make an end of what? + +Rebecca. Rosmersholm has broken me. + +Rosmer (more attentively). What is that? + +Rebecca. Broken me utterly. I had a will of my own, and some +courage, when I came here. Now I am crushed under the law of +strangers. I do not think I shall have the courage to begin +anything else in the world after this. + +Rosmer. Why not? What do you mean by being crushed under a law--? + +Rebecca. Dear friend, do not let us talk about that now--Tell me +what passed between you and Mr. Kroll. + +Rosmer. We have made our peace. + +Rebecca. Quite so. So it came to that. + +Rosmer. He got together all our old circle of friends at his +house. They convinced me that the work of ennobling men's souls +was not in my line at all. Besides, it is such a hopeless task, +any way. I shall let it alone. + +Rebecca. Well, perhaps it is better so. + +Rosmer. Do you say THAT now? Is that what your opinion is now? + +Rebecca. I have come to that opinion--in the last day or two. + +Rosmer. You are lying, Rebecca. + +Rebecca. Lying--? + +Rosmer. Yes, lying. You have never believed in me. You have never +believed me to be the man to lead the cause to victory. + +Rebecca. I have believed that we two together would be equal to +it. + +Rosmer. That is not true. You have believed that you could +accomplish something big in life yourself--that you could use me +to further your plans--that I might be useful to you in the +pursuit of your object. That is what you have believed. + +Rebecca. Listen to me, John + +Rosmer (sitting down wearily on the couch). Oh, let me be! I see +the whole thing clearly now. I have been like a glove in your +hands. + +Rebecca. Listen to me, John. Let us talk this thing over. It will +be for the last time. (Sits down in a chair by the couch.) I had +intended to write to you about it all--when I had gone back north. +But it is much better that you should hear it at once. + +Rosmer. Have you something more to tell, then? + +Rebecca. The most important part of it all. + +Rosmer. What do you mean? + +Rebecca. Something that you have never suspected. Something that +puts all the rest in its true light. + +Rosmer (shaking his head). I do not understand, at all. + +Rebecca. It is quite true that at one time I did play my cards so +as to secure admission to Rosmersholm. My idea was that I should +succeed in doing well for myself here--either in one way or in +another, you understand. + +Rosmer. Well, you succeeded in carrying your scheme through, too. + +Rebecca. I believe I could have carried anything through--at that +time. For then I still had the courage of a free will. I had no +one else to consider, nothing to turn me from my path. But then +began what has broken down my will and filled the whole of my +life with dread and wretchedness. + +Rosmer. What--began? Speak so that I can understand you. + +Rebecca. There came over me--a wild, uncontrollable passion--Oh, +John--! + +Rosmer. Passion? You--! For what? + +Rebecca. For you. + +Rosmer (getting up). What does this mean! + +Rebecca (preventing him). Sit still, dear. I will tell you more +about it. + +Rosmer. And you mean to say--that you have loved me--in that way! + +Rebecca. I thought I might call it loving you--then. I thought it +was love. But it was not. It was what I have said--a wild, +uncontrollable passion. + +Rosmer (speaking with difficulty). Rebecca--is it really you-you- +who are sitting here telling me this? + +Rebecca. Yes, indeed it is, John. + +Rosmer. Then it was as the outcome of this--and under the +influence of this--that you "acted," as you called it. + +Rebecca. It swept over me like a storm over the sea--like one of +the storms we have in winter in the north. They catch you up and +rush you along with them, you know, until their fury is expended. +There is no withstanding them. + +Rosmer. So it swept poor unhappy Beata into the mill-race. + +Rebecca. Yes--it was like a fight for life between Beata and me at +that time. + +Rosmer. You proved the strongest of us all at Rosmersholm-- +stronger than both Beata and me put together. + +Rebecca. I knew you well enough to know that I could not get at +you in any way until you were set free--both in actual +circumstances and in your soul. + +Rosmer. But I do not understand you, Rebecca. You--you yourself +and your whole conduct--are an insoluble riddle to me. I am free +now--both in my soul and my circumstances. You are absolutely in +touch with the goal you set before yourself from the beginning. +And nevertheless-- + +Rebecca. I have never stood farther from my goal than I do now. + +Rosmer. And nevertheless, I say, when yesterday I asked you--urged +you--to become my wife, you cried out that it never could be. + +Rebecca. I cried out in despair, John. + +Rosmer. Why? + +Rebecca. Because Rosmersholm has unnerved me. All the courage has +been sapped out of my will here--crushed out! The time has gone +for me to dare risk anything whatever. I have lost all power of +action, John. + +Rosmer. Tell me how that has come about. + +Rebecca. It has come about through my living with you. + +Rosmer. But how? How? + +Rebecca. When I was alone with you here--and you had really found +yourself-- + +Rosmer. Yes, yes? + +Rebecca. For you never really found yourself as long as Beata was +Alive-- + +Rosmer. Alas, you are right in that. + +Rebecca. When it came about that I was living together with you +here, in peace and solitude--when you exchanged all your thoughts +with me unreservedly--your every mood, however tender or intimate-- +then the great change happened in me. Little by little, you +understand. Almost imperceptibly--but overwhelmingly in the end, +till it reached the uttermost depths of my soul. + +Rosmer. What does this mean, Rebecca? + +Rebecca. All the other feeling--all that horrible passion that had +drowned my better self--left me entirely. All the violent emotions +that had been roused in me were quelled and silenced. A peace +stole over my soul--a quiet like that of one of our mountain +peaks up under the midnight sun. + +Rosmer. Tell me more of it--all that you can. + +Rebecca. There is not much more to tell. Only that this was how +love grew up in my heart--a great, self-denying love--content +with such a union of hearts as there has been between us two. + +Rosmer. Oh, if only I had had the slightest suspicion of all this! + +Rebecca. It is best as it is. Yesterday, when you asked me if I +would be your wife, I gave a cry of joy-- + +Rosmer. Yes, it was that, Rebecca, was it not! I thought +that was what it meant. + +Rebecca. For a moment, yes-I forgot myself for a moment. It was +my dauntless will of the old days that was struggling to be free +again. But now it has no more strength--it has lost it for ever. + +Rosmer. How do you explain what has taken place in you? + +Rebecca. It is the Rosmer attitude towards life- +or your attitude towards life, at any rate--that has infected +my will. + +Rosmer. Infected? + +Rebecca. Yes, and made it sickly--bound it captive under laws +that formerly had no meaning for me. You--my life together with +you--have ennobled my soul-- + +Rosmer. Ah, if I dared believe that to be true! + +Rebecca. You may believe it confidently. The Rosmer attitude +towards life ennobles. But-(shakes her head)-but-but-- + +Rosmer. But? Well? + +Rebecca. But it kills joy, you know. + +Rosmer. Do you say that, Rebecca? + +Rebecca. For me, at all events. + +Rosmer. Yes, but are you so sure of that? If I asked you +again now--? Implored you--? + +Rebecca. Oh, my dear--never go back to that again! It is +impossible. Yes, impossible--because I must tell you this, John. +I have a--past behind me. + +Rosmer. Something more than you have told me? + +Rebecca. Yes, something more and something different. + +Rosmer (with a faint smile). It is very strange, Rebecca, but-- +do you know--the idea of such a thing has occurred to me more +than once. + +Rebecca. It has? And yet--notwithstanding that, you--? + +Rosmer. I never believed in it. I only played with the idea- +nothing more. + +Rebecca. If you wish, I will tell you all about it at once. + +Rosmer (stopping her). No, no! I do not want to hear a word +aabout it. Whatever it is, it shall be forgotten, as far +as I am concerned. + +Rebecca. But I cannot forget it. + +Rosmer. Oh, Rebecca--! + +Rebecca. Yes, dear--that is just the dreadful part of it-that +now, when all the happiness of life is freely and fully offered +to me, all I can feel is that I am barred out from it by my past. + +Rosmer. Your past is dead, Rebecca. It has no longer any hold +on you--has nothing to do with you--as you are now. + +Rebecca. Ah, my dear, those are mere words, you know. What +about innocence, then? Where am I to get that from? + +Rosmer (gloomily). Ah, yes--innocence. + +Rebecca. Yes, innocence--which is at the root of all joy +and happiness. That was the teaching, you know, that you +wanted to see realised by all the men you were going to raise +up to nobility and happiness. + +Rosmer. Ah, do not remind me of that. It was nothing but a +half-dreamt dream, Rebecca--a rash suggestion that I have +no longer any faith in. Human nature cannot be ennobled by +outside influences, believe me. + +Rebecca (gently). Not by a tranquil love, do you think? + +Rosmer (thoughtfully). Yes, that would be a splendid thing- +almost the most glorious thing in life, I think if it were so. +(Moves restlessly.) But how am I ever to clear up the question?- +how am I to get to the bottom of it? + +Rebecca. Do you not believe in me, John? + +Rosmer. Ah, Rebecca, how can I believe you entirely--you whose +life here has been nothing but continual concealment and +secrecy!--And now you have this new tale to tell. If it is +cloaking some design of yours, tell me so--openly. Perhaps there +is something or other that you hope to gain by that means? I will +gladly do anything that I can for you. + +Rebecca (wringing her hands). Oh, this killing doubt! John, John--! + +Rosmer. Yes, I know, dear--it is horrible--but I cannot help it. I +shall never be able to free myself from it--never be able to feel +certain that your love for me is genuine and pure. + +Rebecca. But is there nothing in your own heart that bears +witness to the transformation that has taken place in me--and +taken place through your influence, and yours alone! + +Rosmer. Ah, my dear, I do not believe any longer in my power to +transform people. I have no belief in myself left at all. I do +not believe either in myself or in you. + +Rebecca (looking darkly at him). How are you going to live out +your life, then? + +Rosmer. That is just what I do not know--and cannot imagine. I do +not believe I can live it out. And, moreover, I do not know +anything in the world that would be worth living for. + +Rebecca. Life carries a perpetual rebirth with it. Let us hold +fast to it, dear. We shall be finished with it quite soon enough. + +Rosmer (getting up restlessly). Then give me my faith back +again!--my faith in you, Rebecca--my faith in your love! Give me a +proof of it! I must have some proof! + +Rebecca. Proof? How can I give you a proof--! + +Rosmer. You must! (Crosses the room.) I cannot bear this +desolate, horrible loneliness--this-this--. (A knock is heard at +the hall door.) + +Rebecca (getting up from her chair). Did you hear that? + +(The door opens, and ULRIK BRENDEL comes in. Except that he wears +a white shirt, a black coat and, a good pair of high boots, he is +dressed as in the first act. He looks troubled.) + +Rosmer. Ah, it is you, Mr. Brendel! + +Brendel. John, my boy, I have come to say good-bye to you! + +Rosmer. Where are you going, so late as this? + +Brendel. Downhill. + +Rosmer. How--? + +Brendel. I am on my way home, my beloved pupil. I am homesick for +the great Nothingness. + +Rosmer. Something has happened to you, Mr. Brendel! What is it? + +Brendel. Ah, you notice the transformation, then? Well, it is +evident enough. The last time I entered your doors I stood before +you a man of substance, slapping a well-filled pocket. + +Rosmer. Really? I don't quite understand-- + +Brendel. And now, as you see me to-night, I am a deposed monarch +standing over the ashes of my burnt-out palace. + +Rosmer. If there is any way I can help you + +Brendel. You have preserved your childlike heart, John--can you +let me have a loan? + +Rosmer. Yes, most willingly! + +Brendel. Can you spare me an ideal or two? + +Rosmer. What do you say? + +Brendel. One or two cast-off ideals? You will be doing a good +deed. I am cleaned out, my dear boy, absolutely and entirely. + +Rebecca. Did you not succeed in giving your lecture? + +Brendel. No, fair lady. What do you think?--just as I was standing +ready to pour out the contents of my horn in plenty, I made the +painful discovery that I was bankrupt. + +Rebecca. But what of all your unwritten works, then? + +Brendel. For five and twenty years I have been like a miser +sitting on his locked money-chest. And then to-day, when I opened +it to take out my treasure--there was nothing there! The mills of +time had ground it into dust. There was not a blessed thing left +of the whole lot. + +Rosmer. But are you certain of that? + +Brendel. There is no room for doubt, my dear boy. The President +has convinced me of that. + +Rosmer. The President? + +Brendel. Oh, well--His Excellency, then. Ganz nach Belieben. + +Rosmer. But whom do you mean? + +Brendel. Peter Mortensgaard, of course. + +Rosmer. What! + +Brendel (mysteriously). Hush, hush, hush! Peter Mortensgaard is +Lord and Chieftain of the Future. I have never stood in a more +august presence. Peter Mortensgaard has the power of omnipotence +in him. He can do whatever he wants. + +Rosmer. Oh, come--don't you believe that! + +Brendel. It is true, my boy--because Peter Mortensgaard never +wants to do more than he can. Peter Mortensgaard is capable of +living his life without ideals. And that, believe me, is +precisely the great secret of success in life. It sums up all the +wisdom of the world. Basta! + +Rosmer (in a low voice). Now I see that you are going away from +here poorer than you came. + +Brendel. Bien! Then take an example from your old tutor. Erase +from your mind everything that he imprinted there. Do not build +your castle upon the shifting sand. And look well ahead, and be +sure of your ground, before you build upon the charming creature +who is sweetening your life here. + +Rebecca. Do you mean me? + +Brendel. Yes, most attractive mermaid! + +Rebecca. Why am I not fit to build upon? + +Brendel (taking a step nearer to her). I understood that my +former pupil had a cause which it was his life's work to lead to +victory. + +Rebecca. And if he has--? + +Brendel. He is certain of victory--but, be it distinctly +understood, on one unalterable condition. + +Rebecca. What is that? + +Brendel (taking her gently by the wrist). That the woman who +loves him shall gladly go out into the kitchen and chop off her +dainty, pink and white little finger--here, just at the middle +joint. Furthermore, that the aforesaid loving woman shall--also +gladly--clip off her incomparably moulded left ear. (Lets her go, +and turns to ROSMER.) Good-bye, John the Victorious! + +Rosmer. Must you go now--in this dark night? + +Brendel. The dark night is best. Peace be with you! (He goes out. +Silence in the room for a short time.) + +Rebecca (breathing heavily). How close and sultry it is in here! +(Goes to the window, opens it and stands by it.) + +Rosmer (sitting down on a chair by the stove). There is nothing +else for it after all, Rebecca--I can see that. You must go away. + +Rebecca. Yes, I do not see that I have any choice. + +Rosmer. Let us make use of our last hour together. Come over here +and sit beside me. + +Rebecca (goes and sits down on the couch). What do you want, +John? + +Rosmer. In the first place I want to tell you that you need have +no anxiety about your future. + +Rebecca (with a smile). Hm! My future! + +Rosmer. I have foreseen all contingencies--long ago. Whatever may +happen, you are provided for. + +Rebecca. Have you even done that for me, dear? + +Rosmer. You might have known that I should. + +Rebecca. It is many a long day since I thought about anything of +the kind. + +Rosmer. Yes, of course. Naturally, you thought things could never +be otherwise between us than as they were. + +Rebecca. Yes, that was what I thought. + +Rosmer. So did I. But if anything were to happen to me now-- + +Rebecca. Oh, John, you will live longer than I shall. + +Rosmer. I can dispose of my miserable existence as I please, you +know. + +Rebecca. What do you mean? You surely are never thinking of--! + +Rosmer. Do you think it would be so surprising? After the +pitiful, lamentable defeat I have suffered? I, who was to have +made it my life's work to lead my cause to victory--! And here I +am, a deserter before the fight has even really begun! + +Rebecca. Take up the fight again, John! Only try--and you will +see that you will conquer. You will ennoble hundreds--thousands--of +souls. Only try! + +Rosmer. I, Rebecca, who no longer believe even in my having a +mission in life? + +Rebecca. But your mission has stood the test. You have at all +events ennobled one of your fellow-creatures for the rest of her +life--I mean myself. + +Rosmer. Yes--if I dared believe you about that. + +Rebecca (wringing her hands). But, John, do you know of nothing-- +nothing--that would make you believe that? + +Rosmer (starts, as if with fear). Don't venture on that subject! +No further, Rebecca! Not a single word more! + +Rebecca. Indeed, that is just the subject we must venture upon. +Do you know of anything that would stifle your doubts? For I know +of nothing in the world. + +Rosmer. It is best for you not to know. Best for us both. + +Rebecca. No, no, no--I have no patience with that sort of thing! +If you know of anything that would acquit me in your eyes, I +claim it as my right that you should name it. + +Rosmer (as if impelled against his will). Well, let us see. You +say that you have great love in your heart; that your soul has +been ennobled through me. Is that so? Have you counted the cost? +Shall we try and balance our accounts? Tell me. + +Rebecca. I am quite ready. + +Rosmer. Then when shall it be? + +Rebecca. Whenever you like. The sooner the better. + +Rosmer. Then let me see, Rebecca, whether you--for my sake-this +very night--. (Breaks off.) Oh, no, no! + +Rebecca. Yes, John! Yes, yes! Say it, and you shall see. + +Rosmer. Have you the courage--are you willing--gladly, as Ulrik +Brendel said--for my sake, to-night--gladly--to go the same way--that +Beata went! + +Rebecca (gets up slowly from the couch, and says almost +inaudibly): John--! + +Rosmer. Yes, dear--that is the question I shall never be able to +rid my thoughts of, when you have gone away. Every hour of the +day I shall come back to it. Ah, I seem to see you bodily before +me--standing out on the foot-bridge-right out in the middle. Now +you lean out over the railing ! You grow dizzy as you feel drawn +down towards the mill-race! No--you recoil. You dare not do--what +she dared. + +Rebecca. But if I had the courage?--and willingly and gladly? What +then? + +Rosmer. Then I would believe in you. Then I should get back my +faith in my mission in life--my faith in my power to ennoble my +fellow men--my faith in mankind's power to be ennobled. + +Rebecca (takes up her shawl slowly, throws it over her head. and +says, controlling herself): You shall have your faith back. + +Rosmer. Have you the courage and the strength of will for that, +Rebecca? + +Rebecca. Of that you must judge in the morning--or later--when they +take up my body. + +Rosmer (burying his head in his hands). There is a horrible +temptation in this--! + +Rebecca. Because I should not like to be left lying there--any +longer than need be. You must take care that they find me. + +Rosmer (springing up). But all this is madness, you know. Go +away, or stay! I will believe you on your bare word this time +too. + +Rebecca. Those are mere words, John. No more cowardice or +evasion! How can you believe me on my bare word after today? + +Rosmer. But I do not want to see your defeat, Rebecca. + +Rebecca. There will be no defeat. + +Rosmer. There will. You will never have the heart to go Beata's +way. + +Rebecca. Do you believe that? + +Rosmer. Never. You are not like Beata. You are not under the +influence of a distorted view of life. + +Rebecca. But I am under the influence of the Rosmersholm view of +Life--now. Whatever my offences are--it is right that I should +expiate them. + +Rosmer (looking at her fixedly). Have you come to that decision? + +Rebecca. Yes. + +Rosmer. Very well. Then I too am under the influence of our +unfettered view of life, Rebecca. There is no one that can judge +us. And therefore we must be our own judges. + +Rebecca (misunderstanding his meaning). That too. That too. My +leaving you will save the best that is in you. + +Rosmer. Ah, there is nothing left to save in me. + +Rebecca. There is. But I--after this I should only be like some +sea-sprite hanging on to the barque you are striving to sail +forward in, and, hampering its progress. I must go overboard. Do +you think I could go through the world bearing the burden of a +spoiled life--brooding for ever over the happiness which I have +forfeited by my past? I must throw up the game, John. + +Rosmer. If you go--then I go with you. + +Rebecca (looks at him with an almost imperceptible smile, and +says more gently): Yes, come with me, dear--and be witness-- + +Rosmer. I go with you, I said. + +Rebecca. As far as the bridge--yes. You never dare go out on to +it, you know. + +Rosmer. Have you noticed that? + +Rebecca (in sad and broken tones). Yes. That was what made my +love hopeless. + +Rosmer. Rebecca--now I lay my hand on your head. (Does as he +says.) And I take you for my true and lawful wife. + +Rebecca (taking both his hands in hers, and bowing her head on to +his breast). Thank you, John. (Lets him go.) And now I am going-- +gladly. + +Rosmer. Man and wife should go together. + +Rebecca. Only as far as the bridge, John. + +Rosmer. And out on to it, too. As far as you go--so far I go with +you. I dare do it now. + +Rebecca. Are you absolutely certain that way is the best for you? + +Rosmer. I know it is the only way. + +Rebecca. But suppose you are only deceiving yourself? Suppose it +were only a delusion--one of these White Horses of Rosmersholm? + +Rosmer. It may be so. We can never escape from them--we of my +race. + +Rebecca. Then stay, John! + +Rosmer. The man shall cleave to his wife, as the wife to her +husband. + +Rebecca. Yes, but first tell me this--is it you that go with me, +or I that go with you? + +Rosmer. We shall never get to the bottom of that. + +Rebecca. Yet I should dearly like to know. + +Rosmer. We two go with each other, Rebecca. I with you, and you +with me. + +Rebecca. I almost believe that is true. + +Rosmer. For now we two are one. + +Rebecca. Yes. We are one now. Come! We can go gladly now. (They +go out, hand in hand, through the hall, and are seen to turn to +the left. The door stands open after them. The room is empty for +a little while. Then MRS. HELSETH opens the door on the right.) + +Mrs. Helseth. The carriage, miss, is--. (Looks round the room.) +Not here? Out together at this time of night? Well, well--I must +say--! Hm! (Goes out into the hall, looks round and comes in +again.) Not sitting on the bench--ah, well! (Goes to the window +and looks out.) Good heavens! What is that white thing--! As I am +a living soul, they are both out on the foot-bridge! God forgive +the sinful creatures--if they are not in each other's arms! (Gives +a wild scream.) Ah!--they are over--both of them! Over into the +mill-race! Help! help! (Her knees tremble, she holds on shakily +to the back of a chair and can scarcely get her words out.) No. +No help here. The dead woman has taken them. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Rosmersholm, by Henrik Ibsen + diff --git a/old/rsmrh10.zip b/old/rsmrh10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..be3bc89 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rsmrh10.zip |