diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/73dram10.txt | 13138 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/73dram10.zip | bin | 0 -> 181331 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/83dram10.txt | 13138 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/83dram10.zip | bin | 0 -> 181388 bytes |
4 files changed, 26276 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/73dram10.txt b/old/73dram10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..daa573e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/73dram10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13138 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Three Dramas, by Bjornstjerne M. Bjornson + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Three Dramas + +Author: Bjornstjerne M. Bjornson + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7844] +[This file was first posted on May 22, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THREE DRAMAS *** + + + + +Nicole Apostola + + + +THREE DRAMAS + +THE EDITOR--THE BANKRUPT--THE KING + +BY BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON + + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +The three plays here presented were the outcome of a period when +Bjornson's views on many topics were undergoing a drastic revision +and he was abandoning much of his previous orthodoxy in many +directions. Two of them were written during, and one immediately +after, a three years' absence from Norway--years spent almost +entirely in southern Europe. [Note: Further details respecting +Bjornson's life will be found in the Introduction to Three Comedies +by Bjornson, published in Everyman's Library in 1912.] For nearly +ten years previous to this voluntary exile, Bjornson had been +immersed in theatrical management and political propagandism. His +political activities (guided by a more or less pronounced +republican tendency) centred in an agitation for a truer equality +between the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, his point of view being +that Norway had come to be regarded too much as a mere appanage of +Sweden. Between that and his manifold and distracting cares as +theatrical director, he had let imaginative work slide for the time +being; but his years abroad had a recuperative effect, and, in +addition, broadened his mental outlook in a remarkable manner. +Foreign travel, a wider acquaintance with differing types of +humanity, and, above all, a newly-won acquaintance with the +contemporary literature of other countries, made a deep impression +upon Bjornson's vigorously receptive mind. He browsed voraciously +upon the works of foreign writers. Herbert Spencer, Darwin, John +Stuart Mill, Taine, Max-Mueller, formed a portion of his mental +pabulum at this time--and the result was a significant alteration +of mental attitude on a number of questions, and a determination to +make the attempt to embody his theories in dramatic form. He had +gained all at once, as he wrote to Georg Brandes, the eminent +Danish critic, "eyes that saw and ears that heard." Up to this time +the poet in him had been predominant; now it was to be the social +philosopher that held the reins. Just as Ibsen did, so Bjornson +abandoned historical drama and artificial comedy for an attempt at +prose drama which should have at all events a serious thesis. In +this he anticipated Ibsen; for (unless we include the satirical +political comedy, _The League of Youth_, which was published in +1869, among Ibsen's "social dramas") Ibsen did not enter the field +with _Pillars of Society_ [Note: Published in _The Pretenders and +Two Other Plays_, in Everyman's Library, 1913.] until 1877, +whereas Bjornson's _The Editor_, _The Bankrupt_, and _The King_ +were all published between 1874 and 1877. Intellectual and literary +life in Denmark had been a good deal stirred and quickened in the +early seventies, and the influence of that awakening was inevitably +felt by the more eager spirits in the other Scandinavian countries. +It is amusing to note, as one Norwegian writer has pointed out, +that this intellectual upheaval (which, in its turn, was a +reflection of that taking place in outer Europe) came at a time +when the bulk of the Scandinavian folk "were congratulating +themselves that the doubt and ferment of unrest which were +undermining the foundations of the great communities abroad had not +had the power to ruffle the placid surface of our good, +old-fashioned, Scandinavian orthodoxy." Bjornson makes several sly +hits in these plays (as does Ibsen in _Pillars of Society_) at this +distrust of the opinions and manners of the larger communities +outside of Scandinavia, notably America, with which the +Scandinavian countries were more particularly in touch through +emigration. + +Brandes characterises the impelling motive of these three plays as +a passionate appeal for a higher standard of truth--in journalism, +in finance, in monarchy: an appeal for less casuistry and more +honesty. Such a motive was characteristic of the vehement honesty +of Bjornson's own character; he must always, as he says in one of +his letters, go over to the side of any one whom he believed to +"hold the truth in his hands." + +_The Editor_ (_Redaktoeren_) was written while Bjornson was in +Florence, and was published at Copenhagen in 1874. It was at first +not accepted for performance at Christiania or Copenhagen, though +an unauthorised performance of it was given at one of the lesser +Christiania theatres in 1875, Meanwhile a Swedish version of it had +been produced, authoritatively, at Stockholm in February of that +year. The play eventually made its way on the Norwegian and Danish +stage; but, before that, it had been seen in German dress at Munich +and Hamburg. As an inevitable result of his recent activities as a +political speaker and pamphleteer, Bjornson had come in for a good +deal of vituperation in the press, a fact which no doubt added some +gall to the ink with which he drew the portrait of the journalist +in this play. The Stockholm critics, indeed, had condemned _The +Editor_ as merely a pamphleteering attack on the editor of a +well-known journal. In answer to this criticism Bjornson wrote from +Rome in March, 1875: "It is said that my play is a pamphleteering +attack on a certain individual. That is a deliberate lie. I have +studied the journalist type, which is here represented, in many +other countries besides my own. The chief characteristic of this +type is to be actuated by an inordinate egotism that is perpetually +being inflamed by passion; that makes use of bogeys to frighten +people, and does this in such a way that, while it makes all its +honest contemporaries afraid of any freedom of thought, it also +produces the same result on every single individual by means +of reckless persecution. As I wished to portray that type, I +naturally took a good deal of the portrait from the representative +of the type that I knew best; but, like every artist who wishes to +produce a complete creation, I had to build it up from separate +revelations of itself. There can, therefore, be no question of any +individual being represented in my play except in so far as he may +partially agree with the type." + +However much Bjornson may have written _The Editor_ with a +"purpose," his vivid dramatic sense kept him from becoming merely +didactic. The little tragedy that takes place amongst this homely +group of people makes quite a moving play, thanks to the skill with +which the types are depicted--the bourgeois father and mother, with +their mixture of timidity and self-interest; the manly, +straightforward young politician, resolute to carry on the work +that has sapped his brother's life; the warped, de-humanised nature +of the journalist; the sturdy common-sense of the yeoman farmer; +and the doctor, the "family friend," as a sort of mocking chorus. +Besides its plea for a higher regard for truth, the play also +attacks the precept, preached by worldly wisdom, that we ought to +harden our natures to make ourselves invulnerable; a proposition +which was hateful to one of Bjornson's persistently impressionable +and ingenuous nature. The fact remains, as Brandes grimly admits, +that "nowadays we have only a very qualified sympathy with public +characters who succumb to the persecution of the press." Brandes +sees in the play, besides its obvious motive, an allegory. Halvdan +Rejn, the weary and dying politician, is (he says) meant for Henrik +Wergeland, a Norwegian poet-politician who had similar struggles, +sank under the weight of similar at tacks, died after a long +illness, and was far higher reputed after his death than during his +life. In Harald Rejn, with his honest enthusiasm and misjudged +political endeavours Brandes sees Bjornson himself; while the +yeoman brother, Haakon, seems to him to typify the Norwegian +people. + +_The Bankrupt_ (_En Fallit_: literally _A Bankruptcy_) was partly +written in Rome, partly in Tyrol, and published at Copenhagen in +1875. It was a thing entirely new to the Scandinavian stage for a +dramatist to deal seriously with the tragi-comedy of money, and, +while making a forcible plea for honesty, to contrive to produce a +stirring and entertaining play on what might seem so prosaic a +foundation as business finance. Some of the play's earliest critics +dismissed it as "dry," "prosaic," "trivial," because of the nature +of its subject; but it made a speedy success on the boards, and +very soon became a popular item in the repertories of the +Christiania, Bergen and Copenhagen theatres. It was actually first +performed, in a Swedish translation, at Stockholm, a few days +before it was produced at Christiania. Very soon, too, the play +reached Berlin, Munich, Vienna, and other German and Austrian +theatres. It was played in Paris, at the Theatre Libre in 1894. The +character of Berent, the lawyer, which became a favourite one with +the famous Swedish actor Ernst Possart, was admittedly more or less +of a portrait of a well-known Norwegian lawyer, by name Dunker. +When Bjornson was writing the play, he went to stay for some days +with Dunker, who was to instruct him as to the legal aspect of +bankruptcy. Bjornson took the opportunity of studying the lawyer as +well as the law. + +_The King_ (_Kongen_) was written at Aulestad, the Norwegian home +in which Bjornson settled after his return from abroad, and was +published at Copenhagen in 1877. It is perhaps not surprising that +the play, with its curious blend of poetry and social philosophy, +and its somewhat exuberant (though always interesting) wordiness, +was not at first a conspicuous success on the stage; but the +interest aroused by the published book was enormous. It was widely +read and vigorously discussed, both in Scandinavia and abroad; and +while, on the one hand, it brought upon Bjornson the most +scurrilous abuse and the harshest criticism from his political +opponents, on the other hand a prominent compatriot of his (whose +opinion was worth having) gave it as his verdict, at a political +meeting held soon after the play's publication, that "the most +notable thing that has happened in Norway of late--or at any rate, +one of the most notable--in my opinion is this last book of +Bjornson's--_The King_." + +The idea of a "democratic monarchy"--a kind of reformed +constitutional monarchy, that should be a half-way house on the +road to republicanism--was not entirely new; Bjornson's success was +in presenting the problem as seen from the _inside_--that is to +say, from the king's point of view. His opponents, of course, +branded him as a red-hot republican, which he was not. In a preface +he wrote for a later edition of the play, he says that he did not +intend the play mainly as an argument in favour of republicanism, +but "to extend the boundaries of free discussion"; but that, at +the same time, he believed the republic to be the ultimate form of +government, and all European states to be proceeding at varying +rates of speed towards it. + +_The King_ is composed of curiously incongruous elements. The +railway meeting in the first act is pure comedy of a kind to +compare with the meeting in Ibsen's _An Enemy of Society_; the last +act is melodrama with a large admixture of remarkably interesting +social philosophy; the intervening acts betray the poet that always +underlay the dramatist in Bjornson. The crudity, again, of the +melodramatic appearance of the wraith of Clara's father in the +third act, contrasts strangely with the mature thoughtfulness of +much of the last act and with the tender charm of what has gone +before: And--strangest incongruity of all in a play so essentially +"actual"--there is in the original, between each act, a mysterious +"mellemspil," or "interlude," in verse, consisting of somewhat +cryptic dialogues between Genii and Unseen Choirs in the clouds, +between an "Old Grey Man" and a "Chorus of Tyrants" in a desolate +scene of snow and ice, between Choruses of Men, Women, and Children +in a sylvan landscape, and so forth--their utterances being of the +nature of the obscurest choruses in the Greek dramatists, but for +the most part with a less obvious relevance to the play itself. +Such a device leads the present-day reader's thoughts inevitably to +the use made of the "unseen chorus," in a similar way, by Thomas +Hardy in _The Dynasts_; but Hardy's interludes are closely relevant +to his drama and help it on its way, which Bjornson's do not. They +have been entirely omitted in the present translation, on the +ground of their complete superfluity as well as from the extreme +difficulty of retaining their "atmosphere" in translation. + +None of the three plays in the present volume have previously been +translated into English. German, French, and Swedish versions of +_The Editor_ are extant; German, Swedish, Finnish, French, and +Hungarian of _The Bankrupt_; French and Spanish of _The King_. + +R. FARQUHARSON SHARP. + +The following is a list of the works of Bjornstjerne Bjornson:-- + +DRAMATIC AND POETIC WORKS.--Mellem Slagene (Between the Battles), +1857. Halte-Hulda (Lame Hulda), 1858. Kong Sverre (King Sverre), +1861. Sigurd Slembe (Sigurd the Bastard), 1862; translated by +W. M. Payne, 1888. Maria Stuart i Skotland, 1864. De Nygifte (The +Newly-Married Couple), 1865; translated by T. Soelfeldt, 1868; by +S. and E. Hjerleid, 1870; as A Lesson in Marriage, by G. I. +Colbron, 1911. Sigurd Jorsalfar (Sigurd the Crusader), 1872. +Redaktoeren (The Editor), 1874. En Fallit (A Bankruptcy), 1874. +Kongen (The King), 1877. Leonarda, 1879. Det ny System (The New +System), 1879. En Hanske, 1883; translated as A Gauntlet, by +H. L. Braekstad 1890; by Osman Edwards 1894. Over AEvne (Beyond our +Strength), Part I., 1883; translated as Pastor Sang, by W. Wilson, +1893; Part II., 1895. Geografi og Kaerlighed (Geography and Love), +1885; Paul Lange og Tora Parsberg, 1898; translated by H. L. +Braekstad, 1899. Laboremus, 1901; translation published by +Chapman and Hall, 1901. Paa Storhove (At Storhove), 1904; +Daglannet, 1904; Naar den ny Vin blomstrer (When the Vineyards +are in Blossom), 1909; The Newly-Married Couple, Leonarda, and A +Gauntlet, translated by R. Farquharson Sharp (Everyman's Library), +1912. + +Digte og Sange (Poems and Songs), 1870; Arnljot Gelline, 1870. + + +FICTION.--Synnoeve Solbakken 1857; translated as Trust and Trial, +by Mary Howitt, 1858; as Love and Life in Norway, by Hon. Augusta +Bethell and A. Plesner, 1870; as The Betrothal, in H. and +A. Zimmern's Half-hours with Foreign Novelists, 1880; also +translated by Julie Sutter, 1881; by R. B. Anderson, 1881. Arne, +1858; translated by T. Krag, 1861; by A. Plesner and S. Rugeley- +Powers, 1866; by R. B. Anderson, 1881; by W. Low (Bohn's Library), +1890. Smaastykker (Sketches), 1860. En glad Gut, 1860; translated +as Ovind, by S. and E. Hjerleid 1869; as The Happy Boy, by R. B. +Anderson, 1881; as The Happy Lad (published by Blackie), 1882. +Fiskerjenten, 1868 translated as The Fisher Maiden, by M. E. Niles, +1869; as The Fishing Girl, by A. Plesner and F. Richardson, 1870; +as The Fishing Girl, by S. and E. Hjerleid, 1871; as The Fisher +Maiden, by R. B. Anderson, 1882. Brude-Slaatten, 1873; translated +as The Bridal March, by R. B. Anderson, 1882; by J. E. Williams, +1893. Fortaellinger (Tales), 1872. Magnhild, 1877; translated by +R. B. Anderson, 1883. Kaptejn Mansana, 1879; translated as Captain +Mansana by R. B. Anderson, 1882. Det flager i Byen og paa Havnen +(Flags are Flying in Town and Port), 1884; translated as The +Heritage of the Kurts, by C Fairfax 1892. Paa Guds Veje, 1889; +translated as In God's Way, by E. Carmichael, 1890. Nye Fortaellinger +(New Tales), 1894; To Fortaelinger (Two Tales), 1901; Mary, 1906. +Collected edition of the Novels, translated into English, edited by +E. Gosse, 13 vols., 1895-1909. + +[See Life of Bjornson by W. M. Payne, 1910; E. Gosse's Study of +the Writings of Bjornson, in edition of Novels, 1895; H. H. +Boyesen's Essays on Scandinavian Literature, 1895; G. Brandes' +Critical Studies of Ibsen and Bjornson, 1899.] + + + +CONTENTS + +THE EDITOR +THE BANKRUPT +THE KING + + + +THE EDITOR + +A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + +EVJE, a prosperous distiller. +MRS. EVJE. +GERTRUD, their daughter, engaged to HARALD REJN. +The DOCTOR. +The EDITOR. +HAAKON REJN, a yeoman farmer. +HALVDAN REJN and HARALD REJN, his brothers. +The DOCTOR'S ASSISTANT. +INGEBORG, maid to the Evjes. +JOHN, coachman to the Evjes. +HALVDAN REJN's HOUSEKEEPER. +HALVDAN REJN's MAID. +A Lamplighter. + +The action takes place in a town in Norway. + +THE EDITOR + + +ACT I + +(SCENE.--The breakfast-room at the EVJES' house. A glass-cupboard, +in two partitions, stands against the left-hand wall, well forward. +On the top of it stand a variety of objects. Beyond it, a stove. At +the back of the room, a sideboard. In the middle of the room a +small round folding table, laid for four persons. There is an +armchair by the stove; a sofa on the right; chairs, etc. A door at +the back of the room, and another in the left-hand wall. There are +paintings on the walls, and the general impression of the room is +one of snug comfort. EVJE, MRS. EVJE, and GERTRUD are seated at the +table. INGEBORG is standing by the sideboard. Breakfast is +proceeding in silence as the curtain rises. INGEBORG takes away +EVJE'S cup and re-fills it. As she brings it back to him, a ring is +heard at the bell. GERTRUD gets up.) + +Evje. Sit still; John will go to the door. (GERTRUD sits down +again. Directly afterwards, another ring is heard.) + +Mrs. Evje. What can John be doing? + +Ingeborg. I will go. (Goes out. She comes back, showing in HARALD +REJN, who hangs up his hat and coat in the hall before coming +in.) + +Harald. Good morning! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. Good morning! (HARALD shakes hands with them.) + +Harald (to GERTRUD, who is sitting on the right). Good morning, +Gertrud! Am I a bit late to-day? (GERTRUD, who has taken his hand, +looks lovingly at him but says nothing.) + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, I suppose you have been for a long constitutional, +although the weather is none of the best. + +Harald. It is not; I expect we shall have a thick fog by the +afternoon. + +Evje. Did you have breakfast before you went out? + +Harald. I did, thanks. (To INGEBORG, who has come forward with a +cup of coffee.) No, thank you. I will sit down here while you are +finishing. (Sits down on the sofa behind GERTRUD.) + +Mrs. Evje. How is your brother Halvdan? + +Harald. A little better to-day, thanks--but of course we cannot +build on that. + +Evje. Is your eldest brother coming to see him? + +Harald. Yes, we expect him every day. Probably his wife has +come with him, and that has been the reason of the delay; she +finds it difficult to get away. + +Mrs. Evje. Halvdan so often talks of her. + +Harald. Yes, I believe she is the best friend he has. + +Evje. No wonder, then, that she wants to come and say good-bye +to him. By the way, have you seen how the paper bids him +good-bye to-day? + +Harald. Yes, I have seen it. + +Mrs. Evje (hurriedly). I hope Halvdan has not seen it? + +Harald (smiling). No, it is a long time now since Halvdan read a +newspaper. (A pause.) + +Evje. Then I suppose you have read what they say about you too? + +Harald. Naturally. + +Mrs. Evje. It is worse than anything they have said about you +before. + +Harald. Well--of course, you know, my election meeting comes on +this evening. + +Evje. I can tell you it has upset _us_. + +Mrs. Evje. Day after day we wake up to find our house invaded by +these abominations. That is a nice thought to begin your day's +work with! + +Harald. Is it so indispensable, then, to educated people to begin +their day by reading such things? + +Mrs. Evje. Well--one must have a paper. + +Evje. And most people read it. Besides, one can't deny that a lot +of what is in it is true, although its general tendency is to run +everyone down. + +Harald (getting up). Quite so, yes. (Leans over GERTRUD'S +shoulder.) Gertrud, have you read it? + +Gertrud (does not look at him, and hesitates for a moment; then +says gently): Yes. + +Harald (under his breath). So that is it! (Walks away from her.) + +Evje. We have had a little bit of a scene here, I must tell you. + +Harald (walking up and down). Yes, I can understand that. + +Evje. I will repeat what I have said already: they write about +_you_, and _we_ have to suffer for it. + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, and Gertrud especially. + +Gertrud. No--I don't want anyone to consider me in the matter at +all. Besides, it is not what they say of you in the paper that +hurts me--. (Stops abruptly.) + +Harald (who has come up to her). But what your parents are +feeling about it? Is that it? (GERTRUD does not answer.) + +Evje (pushing back his plate). There, I have finished! (They rise +from the table. MRS. EVJE helps INGEBORG to clear away the +things, which INGEBORG carries out of the room.) + +Mrs. Evje. Couldn't you wash your hands of politics, Harald? +(GERTRUD goes out to the left.) + +Evje (who has followed GERTRUD with his eyes). We cannot deny that +it pains us considerably that in our old age our peaceful home +should be invaded by all this squabbling and abomination. + +Mrs. Evje (who rung for INGEBORG to move the table). You have no +need to do it, either, Harald! You are a grown man, and your own +master. (INGEBORG comes in. HARALD helps her to move the table.) + +Evje (to his wife). Don't let Ingeborg hear. Come along, we will go +into my room. + +Mrs. Evje. You forget, all the windows are open there. I have had +the fire lit here, so that we could stay here. + +Evje. Very well--then we will sit here. (Sits down by the fire.) +Will you have a cigar? + +Harald. No, thanks. (INGEBORG goes out.) + +Evje (taking a cigar and lighting it). As my wife said just now-- +couldn't you wash your hands of politics, Harald? You, who have +both talent and means, need not be at a loss for a vocation in +life. + +Harald (sitting down on the sofa). If I have any talent, it is for +politics--and so I intend to devote my means to that. + +Evje. What do you propose to gain by it? + +Harald. What any one who believes in a cause hopes to gain--that +is to say, to help it on. + +Evje. And to become a cabinet minister? + +Harald. I certainly can't do that any other way; well, I admit-- +that _is_ my idea. + +Evje. You will not be elected now. + +Harald. That we shall see. + +Evje. But suppose you are not re-elected to-morrow? + +Harald. Then I must find some other way. + +Evje. Always with the same object? + +Harald. Always with the same object. (EVJE sighs.) + +Mrs. Evje (who has taken her sewing and sat down by the fire). +Oh, these politics! + +Harald. At any rate, they are the most prominent factors in +life just now. + +Evje. We do not suppose we can exercise any influence over you. But +at any rate it is possible that you yourself have not considered +the position into which you have put the whole of us. (Both he and +his wife avoid looking at HARALD during this discussion.) + +Mrs. Evje. Say what you really mean, dear--that he is making us +all thoroughly unhappy, and that is the truth! + +Harald (getting up, and walking up and down). Well, look here--I +have a proposal to make. It is, that you should abandon all +opposition to Gertrud's marrying me at once. To-day again my +brother has expressed the wish that we should be married by his +bedside; so that he should be able to take part in it. I scarcely +need add how happy it would make me. + +Evje. But whether she is here at home or married to you, you know, +her parents' distress would be just as great every time their child +was persecuted. + +Mrs. Evje. Surely you can appreciate that! + +Harald. But what answer am I to give to my brother's request?-- +most likely the last he will ever--. (Stops.) + +Evje (after a pause). He is very kind to wish it, as he always is. +Nothing would make us happier; but we who are her parents do not +consider that you could make our daughter happy as long as you +remain in politics and on the lines on which you are now +travelling. + +Harald (after a pause, during which he has stood still). That is to +say, you contemplate breaking off our engagement? + +Evje (looking at him quickly). Far from it! + +Mrs. Evje (at the same time). How can you say such a thing? + +Evje (turning towards the fire again). We have spoken about it +to Gertrud to-day--as to whether it would not be possible to +induce you to choose some other career. + +Mrs. Evje. You understand now, why you found Gertrud upset. You +must listen to us now, as she did, in all friendliness. + +Evje (getting up and standing with his back to the fire). The first +thing I do in the morning is to read my paper. You know what +was in it to-day--the same as is in it now every day. + +Mrs. Evje. No; I am sure it has never been as bad as to-day. + +Harald (walking up and down again). The election is just at +hand! + +Evje. Well--it is just as painful to us, her father and mother, +whether it is before or after the election. We are not accustomed +to associate with any one who has not first-class credentials--and +now we have to endure seeing doubt cast upon our own son-in-law's. +Do not misunderstand me; to my mind, for credentials to be +first-class they must not only actually be so, but must also be +considered to be so by people in general. (HARALD begins to walk +up and down again.) The second thing I do in the morning is to +open my letters. Amongst to-day's were several from friends we +had invited to a party we thought of giving--if, that is to say, +your brother's illness took no sudden turn for the worse. No fewer +than ten of them refuse our invitation--most of them making some +excuse, and a few with a little more show of a real reason; but one +of them speaks straight out, and I have his letter here. (Takes it +from his pocket.) I have kept it for you. It is from my father's +old friend, the bishop. I haven't my spectacles--and for me to have +mislaid my spectacles will show you what a state of mind I am in. I +don't think I have done such a thing for--. Here, read it yourself! +Read it aloud! + +Harald (taking the letter). "My dear Mr. Evje. As you are my poor +dear friend's son, you must listen to the truth from me. I cannot +willingly come to your house while I might meet there a certain +person who, certainly, is one of you, but nevertheless is a person +whom I cannot hold in entire respect." + +Mrs. Evje. Well, Harald, what do you think our feelings must be +when we read things like that? + +Evje. Do not imagine that, in spite of that, _we_ do not hold you +in entire respect. We only ask you to ensure our daughter's +happiness. You can do that with a word. + +Mrs. Evje. We know what you are, whatever people say--even if they +are bishops. But, in return, you ought to have confidence in our +judgment; and our advice to you is, have done with it! Marry +Gertrud at once, and go away for your honeymoon; by the time you +come back, people will have got something else to talk about--and +you will have found something else to occupy you as well. + +Evje. You must not misunderstand us. We mean no coercion. We are +not insisting on this alternative. If you wish to be married, you +shall--without feeling yourself obliged to change your vocation for +_our_ sakes. We only want to make it clear that it would pain us-- +pain us very deeply. + +Mrs. Evje. If you want to take time to think it over, or want to +talk it over with Gertrud or with your brother, do! (GERTRUD +comes in and goes about the room looking for something.) + +Evje. What are you looking for, dear? + +Gertrud. Oh, for the--. + +Mrs. Evje. I expect it is the newspaper; your grandfather has been +asking for it. + +Evje. Surely there is no need for _him_ to read it? + +Mrs. Evje. He asked me for it, too. He knows quite well what has +made us all unhappy. + +Evje. Can't you tell him? No, that wouldn't do. + +Mrs. Evje (to GERTRUD). I suppose you have had to confess to him +what is the matter? + +Gertrud (trying to conceal an emotion that is almost too much for +her). Yes. (Finds the paper, and goes out.) + +Mrs. Evje (when GERTRUD has gone). Poor child! + +Evje. Does not what she is carrying to him, with all that it says +about you and about your brother, seem to you like an omen? I will +tell you how it strikes me. Your brother is a very much more gifted +man than I am; and although it is true, as that paper says, that +nothing of all that he has worked for has ever come to anything, +still perhaps he may nevertheless have accomplished more than +either you or me, although we have done a good deal between us to +increase the prosperity of our town. I feel that to be so, although +I cannot express what I mean precisely. But consider the reputation +he will leave behind him. All educated people will say just what +that paper says to-day--and to-morrow he will be forgotten. He will +scarcely find a place in history, for history only concerns itself +with the great leaders of men. What does it all come to, then? +Neither present nor posthumous fame; but death--death all the time. +He is dying by inches now, dying of the most horrible persecution; +and the emotion that his end will cause among a few individuals +cannot be called posthumous fame. (HARALD begins to speak, but +checks himself.) Can _you_ hope to make a better fight of it? You +think you are stronger? Very well; perhaps you may have the +strength to endure it until other times come and other opinions +with them. But there will be one by your side who will not have the +strength to endure it. Gertrud is not strong--she could never stand +it; indeed now--already--. (Is stopped by his emotion.) + +Mrs. Evje. She hides it from you, but she cannot hide it from us. +Besides, a friend of ours--our dear doctor--said only yesterday--. +(Breaks off in tears.) + +Evje. We never told you, but he warned us some time ago; we had no +idea it was so serious, or that it had anything to do with this. +But yesterday he frightened us; he said she--. Well, you can ask +him yourself. He will be here directly. (HARALD fills a glass of +water and raises it to his lips, but sets it down again untasted.) + +Mrs. Evje (going to him). I am so sorry for you, Harald! To have +this come on you just now--when your splendid brother is at the +point of death, and you yourself are being persecuted! (A ring is +heard at the bell.) + +Evje. But it should be a warning to you! Sometimes a single +movement will change the course of a whole life. + +Mrs. Evje. And do have a little confidence in us! (A ring is heard +again.) + +Evje. What on earth has become of John to-day? That is the second +time the bell has rung. + +Mrs. Evje. One of the maids is opening the door, I can hear. + +Evje. I expect it is the doctor. + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, it is he--I know his ring. (A knock is heard at the +door.) + +Evje. Come in! (The DOCTOR comes in.) + +The Doctor. Good morning! (Lays down his hat and stick.) Well, so I +hear John has been up to his pranks again? The rascal is in bed. + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. In bed? + +The Doctor. Came home at four o'clock in the morning, drunk. Ill +to-day, naturally. Ingeborg asked me to go in and see him. + +Evje. Well!--I am determined to put an end to it! + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, I have never been able to understand why you were +so lenient with John. + +Evje. He has been with us five years; and, besides, it makes people +talk so, if you have to send your servants away. + +Mrs. Evje. But surely this sort of thing makes them talk much +worse! + +Evje. Well--he shall leave this very day. + +The Doctor (to HARALD). How are you, Rejn?--Oho! I understand. I +have come at an inopportune moment with my complaints of John? You +have all got something more serious on your minds? + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, we have had it out, as we agreed yesterday. + +The Doctor. You must forgive me, my dear Rejn, for having told my +old friends the whole truth yesterday. She (pointing to MRS. EVJE) +was an old playfellow of mine, and her husband and I have been +friends from boyhood; so we have no secrets from each other. And +Gertrud's condition makes me very uneasy. + +Harald. Why have you never told me that before? + +The Doctor. Goodness knows I have often enough given her parents +hints that she was not well; but they have only made up their minds +that her happiness in her engagement would quite cure her. They are +a considerate couple, these two dear people, you know; they didn't +want to seem interfering. + +Harald. Their consideration--which I appreciate and have lately had +constant reason to be grateful for--has all at once become a more +powerful weapon than open opposition. It makes a duty of what I +should otherwise have felt to be unfair coercion. But now the +situation is such that I can neither go forward nor back. After +what I have gone through, you must see that I cannot withdraw on +the very eve of the election--and after the election it will be too +late. On the other hand--(with emotion)--I cannot, I dare not, go +on with it if it is to cost me--. (Breaks off.) + +Evje (standing in front of the fire). There, there! Take time to +think it over, my dear boy; talk it over with her and with your +brother. + +The Doctor (who has sat down on a chair to the left, a little away +from the others). I have just been to see your brother. A +remarkable man! But do you know what occurred to me as I sat there? +He is dying because he _is_ a man. The only people that are fit for +political life nowadays are those whose hearts have been turned to +stone. (Picks up something from the table and gets up.) Ah, just +look here! Here is a fine specimen of petrifaction. It is a +fragment of palm leaf of some kind, found impressed in a bit of +rock from Spitzbergen. I sent it you myself, so I know it. That is +what you have to be like to withstand arctic storms!--it will take +to harm. But your brother--well, his life had been like that of the +original palm tree, with the air sighing through its branches; the +change of climate was too sudden for him. (Goes up to HARALD.) You +have still to try it. Shall you be able to kill all the humanity +that is in you? If you can make yourself as insensate a thing as +this stone, I daresay you will be able to stand the life. But are +you willing to venture upon political life at such a price? If you +are--so be it; but remember that in that case you must also kill +all humanity in Gertrud--in these two--in every one that is dear to +you. Otherwise no one will understand you or follow you. If you +cannot do that, you will never be more than a dabbler in politics-- +a quarter, an eighth part, of a politician--and all your efforts, +in what you consider your vocation, will be pitiable! + +Mrs. Evje (who has been occupied at the back of the room, but now +sits down by the fare). That is quite true! I know cases of +petrifaction like that--and God preserve anyone that I love from +it! + +Evje (coming forward towards HARALD). I don't want to say anything +to hurt your feelings--least of all just now. But I just want to +add my warning, because I believe I have discovered that there is a +danger that persecution may make you hard. + +Harald. Yes!--but do you suppose it is only politics that offer +that dangerous prospect? + +The Doctor. You are quite right! It is all the cry nowadays, +"Harden yourself!" It isn't only military men and doctors that +have to be hardened; commercial men have to be hardened, civil +servants have to be hardened, or dried up; and everybody else has +to be hardened for life, apparently. But what does it all mean? It +means that we are to drive out all warmth from our hearts, all +desire from our imaginations. There is a child's heart at the +bottom of every one of our hearts-ever young, full of laughter and +tears; and that is what we shall have killed before we are "fitted +for the battle of life," as they put it. No, no--that is what we +ought to preserve; we were given it for that! (HARALD hides his +face in his hands, and sits so for some time.) + +Mrs. Evje. Any mother or any wife knows that. + +Evje (standing with his back to the fire). You want to bring back +the age of romance, doctor! + +The Doctor (with a laugh). Not its errors--because in those days +unclean minds brought to birth a great deal that was unclean. +(Seriously.) But what is it, when all is said and done, but a +violent protest on the part of the Teutonic people against the +Romanesque spirit and school--a remarkable school, but not _ours_. +To us it seems a barren, merely intellectual school--a mere mass of +formulas which led to a precocious development of the mind. And +that was the spirit it bred--critical and barren. But these schools +of thought are now all we have, and both of them are bad for us! +They have no use for the heart or the imagination; they do not +breed faith or a longing for high achievement. Look at _our_ life! +Is our life really our own? + +Mrs. Evje. No. You have only to think of our language, our tastes, +our society, our-- + +The Doctor (interrupting her). Those are the externals of our life, +merely the externals! No, look within--look at such a view of life +as we were talking about, clamouring for "hardening"--is that ours? +Can we, for all our diligence, make as much way in it as, for +instance, a born Parisian journalist?--become like a bar of steel +with a point at each end, a pen-point and a sword-point? _We_ +can't do that; the Teutonic temperament is not fitted for it. + +Evje. Oh, we are well on the way towards it. Look at the heartless +intolerance in our politics; it will soon match what you were +describing. + +Harald. Everyone that disagrees with you is either an ambitious +scoundrel, or half mad, or a blockhead. + +The Doctor (laughing). Yes, and here in the north, in our small +communities, where a man meets all his enemies in the same barber's +shop, we feel it as keenly as if we were digging our knives into +each other! (Seriously.) We may laugh at it, but if we could add up +the sum of suffering that has been caused to families and to +individuals--if we could see the concrete total before us--we +should be tempted to believe that our liberty had been given to us +as a curse! For it _is_ a cursed thing to destroy the humanity that +is in us, and make us cruel and hard to one another. + +Harald (getting up, but standing still). But, my good friends, if +you are of the same mind about that, and I with you--what is the +next thing to do? + +The Doctor. The next thing to do? + +Harald. Naturally, to unite in making an end of it. + +Mrs. Evje (as she works). What can _we_ do? + +Evje. I am no politician and do not wish to become one. + +The Doctor (laughing, and sitting down). No, a politician is a +principle, swathed round with a printed set of directions for use. +I prefer to be allowed to be a human being. + +Harald. No one can fairly insist on your taking up any vocation +to which you do not feel you have a calling. + +The Doctor. Of course not. + +Harald. But one certainly might insist on your not helping to +maintain a condition of affairs that you detest. + +All. We? + +Harald. This newspaper, which is the ultimate reason of all this +conversation we have had--you take it in. + +Evje. Why, you take it in yourself! + +Harald. No. Every time there is anything nasty in it about me or +mine, it is sent to me anonymously. + +The Doctor (with a laugh). I don't take it in; I read my hall-porter's +copy. + +Harald. I have heard you say that before. I took an opportunity +to ask your hall-porter. He said _he_ did not read it, and did not +take it in either. + +The Doctor (as before). Then I should like to know who does pay +for it! + +Evje. A newspaper is indispensable to a business man. + +Harald. An influential business man could by himself, or at any +rate with one or two others, start a paper that would be as useful +again to him as this one is. + +Evje. That is true enough; but, after all, if we agree with its +politics? + +Harald. I will accept help from any one whose opinions on public +affairs agree with my own. Who am I that I should pretend to +judge him? But I will not give him my help in anything that is +malicious or wicked. + +The Doctor. Pshaw! + +Harald. Everyone who subscribes to, or contributes to, or gives +any information to a paper that is scurrilous, is giving his help to +what is wicked. And, moreover, every one who is on terms of +friendship with a man who is destroying public morality, is +helping him to do it. + +The Doctor (getting up). Does he still come here? (A silence.) + +Evje. He and I are old schoolfellows--and I don't like breaking with +old acquaintances. + +Mrs. Evje. He is a most amusing man, too--though I can't deny that +he is malicious. (The DOCTOR sits down again, humming to himself.) + +Harald. But that is not all. Both you and the Doctor have--with +some eloquence-- + +The Doctor (with a laugh). Thank you! + +Harald. --expressed your abhorrence of certain political tendencies +with which neither you nor I have any sympathy--which affront +our ideas of humane conduct. You do not feel called upon to +enter actively into the lists against them; but why do you try to +prevent those who do feel so called upon? You lament the +existing state of things--and yet you help to maintain it, and make +a friend of the man who is its champion! + +The Doctor (turning his head). Apparently we are on our defence, +Evje! + +Harald. No--I am. I was told a little while ago that I was in a fair +way to become hardened and callous, and that I must abandon +my career--and that I must do so for Gertrud's sake, too, because +she would never be able to share the fight with me. I was told +this at one of the bitterest moments in my life. And that made me +hesitate for a moment. But now I have turned my face forward +again, because you have enlightened me! (A short, sharp cough is +heard in the hall.) + +Mrs. Evje (getting up). That is he! (A knock is heard at the door; +the DOCTOR gets up and pushes his chair back. The EDITOR comes in.) + +The Editor. Good morning, my children! How are you? + +Mrs. Evje (sitting down). I did not hear the bell. + +The Editor. I don't suppose you did--I came in by the back door. I +took you by surprise, eh? Discussing me, too--what? (Laughs.) + +Evje. You have given us enough reason to, to-day, any way. + +The Editor. Yes, haven't I? Such a thing for a man to do to his +best friends--eh? + +Evje. That is true. + +The Editor. To his old schoolfellows--his neighbours--eh? I expect it +has disturbed your natural moderation--eh? + +Evje. I pride myself on my moderation. + +The Editor. As much as on your brandy! + +Evje. Are you going to begin your nonsense again? + +The Editor. Good-morning, Doctor! Have you been making them +a fine speech this morning?--about my paper? or about humanity?-- +romanticism? or catholicism?--eh? (Laughs.) + +The Doctor (laughing). Certainly one of us two has made a fine +speech this morning! + +The Editor. Not me; mine was made yesterday!--How is your hall-porter? + +The Doctor (laughing). Quite well, I am ashamed to say. + +The Editor. There's a faithful subscriber to my paper, if you like! +(The DOCTOR laughs.) Well, Mrs. Evje, I can give you news of your +man, Master John! + +Mrs. Evje. Can you? It is more than I can. + +The Editor. Yes--he is in bed still. That is why I came in the back +way--to enquire after his health. + +Mrs. Evje. But how--? + +The Editor. How is he after last night? + +Mrs. Evje. Really, I believe you know everything. We had no idea +he was out last night. + +The Editor. Oh, that is the very latest intelligence! He has been +figuring as a speaker--he was drunk, of course--before the +Association founded by his master's future son-in-law. And he +made a most effective speech--indeed, the speakers at that +Association always make most effective speeches! It was all +about a Sliding Scale of Taxation, Profit-Sharing for Workers, the +necessity for a Labour majority in Parliament, etc., etc., all the +usual Socialist rhodomontade. You see how infectious intellectual +ideas are! + +Evje. Well!--I shall turn him out of the house to-day! + +The Editor. But that is not in accordance with your love of +moderation, Evje! + +Evje. It is a scandal. + +The Editor (to EVJE). But not the worst. Because, if you want to +avoid that sort of thing, there are others you must turn out of the +house. (Glances towards HARALD.) + +Evje. You seem determined to quarrel to-day? + +The Editor. Yes, with your "moderation." + +Evje. You would be none the worse of a little of it. + +The Editor. "Brandy and Moderation" is your watchword--eh? + +Evje. Do stop talking such nonsense!--I know one thing, and that +is that you seem to find the brandy from my distillery remarkably +to your taste! + +The Doctor (interrupting them). When you are in these provoking +moods there is always some grievance lurking at the back of your +mind. Out with it! I am a doctor, you know; I want to get at the +cause of your complaint! + +The Editor. You were not very successful in that, you know, +when you said my maid had cholera, and she really only was--. +(Laughs.) + +The Doctor (laughing). Are you going to bring that story up +again? Every one is liable to make mistakes, you know--even you, +my boy! + +The Editor. Certainly. But before making a mistake this time-- +ahem!--I wanted first of all to enquire whether-- + +The Doctor. Ah! now it is coming! + +The Editor --whether you have any objection to my mentioning +John in my paper? + +Mrs. Evje. What has John to do with us? + +The Editor. Just as much as the Association, where he delivered +his speech, has; it--ahem!--is one of the family institutions! + +Evje. I have had no more to do with making John what he is than I +have had with making that Association what it is. + +The Editor. Your future son-in-law made the Association what it is, +and the Association has made John what he is. + +The Doctor. Or, to put it the other way round: John is Mr. Evje's +servant; John has become an active member of the Association; +therefore Mr. Evje is a patron of the Association. + +The Editor. Or this way: John, being the well-known Mr. Evje's +servant, has for that reason become an active member of the +Association which--as he expressed it--his employer's future +son-in-law "has had the honour to found!" + +Mrs. Evje. Surely you never mean to put that in the paper? + +The Editor (laughing). They are John's own words. + +Mr. Evje. Of course, he would never put a tipsy man's maunderings +into the paper. (To his wife.) Don't you understand that he is joking? + +The Editor (clearing his throat). It is already in type. + +The Doctor. Oh, nonsense! + +The Editor. The scene afforded an opportunity for an extremely +amusing sketch, without mentioning any names. + +Mr. Evje. I sincerely hope that + +The Doctor (to EVJE). Oh, he is only teasing you! You know him. + +The Editor. What do you think of this? "Those who indirectly +support so dangerous an institution will have to face exposure."--I +quite agree with it. + +Mrs. Evje (getting up). What do you mean? Do you mean that my +husband--? + +The Editor. A little fright will be a good discipline for him! + +Evje. Is what you quoted meant as an accusation against us-- +whether you are serious or whether you are joking? + +The Doctor. He is only trying to frighten you with a bogey; it is +not the first time, you know! + +Evje. Yes, but what have _I_ to be frightened of? I don't belong to +the Association. + +The Editor. But persons who do belong to it frequent your house. +A man is known by the company he keeps. + +Mrs. Evje. I really begin to think he _does_ mean it seriously. + +The Editor. It is too ugly a thing to jest about, you mean? + +Evje. Is it possible that you seriously mean to allude to John as +my servant? + +The Editor. Isn't he your servant? + +Evje. And to put that in the paper for every one to read? + +The Editor. No--only for those who read the paper. + +Evje. And you have come here to tell us that? + +The Editor. Do you suppose I would do it without telling you? + +Mrs. Evje. It is perfectly shameless! + +The Editor. It certainly is. + +Evje. Is it your intention to quarrel with me? + +The Editor. Of course! + +Evje. With your own schoolfellow?--one who has been it true friend +to you in all your ups and downs? It is abominable! + +The Editor. Perhaps it was to ensure my holding my tongue that +you have been my friend! + +Mrs. Evje. You _couldn't_ behave in such a fashion to a friend! + +The Editor (drily). To my own brother, if he stood in my way! + +Harald (to himself). This is too much! (Comes forward.) Is your +hatred for me so bitter that on my account you must persecute +even my future parents-in-law, your own old friends? + +The Editor (who, as soon as HARALD came forward, has turned away +to the DOCTOR). Have you heard how people are being beaten up to +go to the meeting of electors to-night? The last political speeches +of the campaign must be made with red fire burning at the wings! (Laughs.) + +Mrs. Evje (coming up to him). No, you are not going to get out of it +by changing the subject. Is it really your intention to put my +husband in your paper? + +The Editor. He is putting himself there. + +Evje. I, who all my life have avoided being drawn into any political +party? + +The Doctor. What has Evje to do with Harald Rein's politics? + +The Editor. He endorses them! + +Mrs. Evje. No!--a thousand times no! + +Evje. Why, only to-day + +The Doctor. I can bear witness to that! + +The Editor. It is no use protesting! + +Evje. But you must believe our protestations! + +The Editor. Bah! You will see something more to-morrow-- + +Evje. Something more? + +Mrs. Evje. Against my husband? + +The Editor. That scandal about the Stock Exchange Committee. No +less than three Letters to the Editor about it have been lying in my +pigeon-holes for some time. + +Evje (in bewilderment). Are you going to put nonsense of that sort +in your paper? The most respected men on the Exchange--? + +Mrs. Evje. Members of the Committee--? + +The Editor. They are only respected men so long as they respect +themselves. When their chairman enters into connections which +offend public opinion, the whole crew of them must be made to +feel what sort of a man it is they are associating with. + +The Doctor. So on Mr. Rejn's account you are going to expose +Evje, and on Evje's account the Stock Exchange Committee? I +suppose my turn will come soon! + +The Editor. It will come. + +The Doctor. Indeed! + +The Editor. The letters that have been sent to me are all from +highly respected men. That shows that public opinion has turned +round; and public opinion must be obeyed! (Throws out his hands.) + +Evje (in a troubled voice). It is quite true that I have noticed in +several little ways that their temper--. (Looks round him, and +checks himself. Then speaks more confidently.) But it was just at +such a time that I looked for help from you, my friend. That is +why I did not bother myself much about it. + +The Editor (to EVJE). But you know it is you that are attacking me +now! + +Evje. I? + +Mrs. Evje. He? + +The Editor. And, besides, I have no choice in the matter. You have +made your bed, and must lie on it. + +Evje (growing angry again). But do you really mean that you don't +feel yourself how shocking such behaviour in an old friend is? + +The Editor. "Old friend," "old schoolfellow," "neighhour,"--out +with the whole catalogue! + +Mrs. Evje. I am sure you don't deserve to be either one or the other! +(The EDITOR laughs.) Think what you wrote to-day about Halvdan +Rejn, who is dying. A man could only write that who--who-- + +The Editor. Well?--who? + +Mrs. Evje. Who has not an atom of heart. + +The Editor. Ha, ha! "The natural affections!"--"family considerations!" +Truth, my dear lady, has no family ties; it has no respect even for a +"dying man." + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, indeed--every decent man has some respect for +suffering, and even wicked men are silent in the presence of death! + +The Editor. "Sufferer"--"dying man"--"martyr," +I suppose! Oh, we know all that old story! + +Harald (coming forward). Let me tell you that you are a--person +with whom I will not condescend to argue. (Walks away from him.) + +The Editor (who has at once crossed the room). This theatrical +flaunting of the "dying man" before people's eyes, that a +calculating brother has permitted himself, is of course what is +really shocking in the whole affair. But I will tear the mask off him. + +The Doctor (following him). Listen to me, now; listen! +We are gentlefolk, you know! And even if Mr. Rejn +has let himself be so carried away as to mention his +dying brother on a public occasion--well, I am not going +to say that I approve of it, but surely it is excusable +and-- + +Harald (coming forward). I want none of your defence, thank you! + +The Doctor. The one of you is just as mad as the other! (To the +EDITOR.) But what has all this to do with Evje, seeing that, after all, +the whole of this affair of the Rejns'-- + +Evje (to the EDITOR, eagerly). I give you my word of honour that I +have never approved of Harald's utterances about his brother, +either. I am a man of moderation, as you know; I do not approve +of his politics. Only to-day-- + +Mrs. Evje. And what on earth have politics to do with the Stock +Exchange Committee? + +The Doctor. Or with Evje's coachman! + +Evje. You might just as well take it into your head to write about +my clerks, or my workmen, or-- + +The Doctor. His carpenters, or his brewers--or his horses! + +The Editor (stands suddenly still and says, drily): You may assure +yourselves that things are quite sufficient as they are! (Begins to +button up his coat.) + +Evje. Is it so bad as all that! + +Mrs. Evje. Good gracious!--what is it then? + +The Editor (taking up his hat). You will be able to read it +to-morrow, together with some more about the "dying man." +Good-bye! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje (together.) But before you go-- + +The Doctor. Hush, hush! Let us remember we are gentlefolk! What +will you bet that the whole thing is not just a bogey to frighten you? + +The Editor (holding out his hand towards the DOCTOR). +I hold Mr. Evje's position in the town in the hollow of my hand! + +Evje (fuming). Is your object to ruin _that_, then? + +Mrs. Evje. You will never succeed in that! + +The Doctor. Hush, hush! let us remember we are gentlefolk! + +Evje. In my own house--my old schoolfellow--that +he should have the audacity--! + +The Editor. I have told you the truth openly. And, as far as that +goes, you have stood more than that from me in your own house, +my boy. Because the misfortune is that you are a coward. + +Evje. _I_ a coward? + +The Doctor (laughing). Hush, hush! Let us remember we are +gentlefolk! + +Evje. Yes, I have been weak enough to be afraid of +scandal, especially in the newspapers, it is true; that is why I have +put up with you too long! But now you shall see that I am not a +coward. Leave my house! + +Mrs. Evje. That's right! + +The Doctor. But you must part like gentlefolk, you know. + +The Editor. Pooh! You will be sending me a message +directly, to call me back! + +Evje. You have the face to say that? + +Mrs. Evje (to EVJE). Come, dear, don't provoke him any more! + +The Editor (turning to go). You daren't do otherwise. + +The Doctor. But part like gentlefolk--! + +Evje (following the EDITOR). No, as sure as I live-- + +The Editor. You will be sending a message to call me back! Ha, ha, +ha! + +Evje. Never, never! + +Mrs. Evje. My dear--! + +The Editor. Yes, you will--directly--this very day! Ha, ha, ha! + +The Doctor. Don't part like that! Part like gentle-- + +Evje. No, I tell you! + +The Editor (laughing all the time). Yes! + +Mrs. Evje. My dear-remember you may bring on one of your +attacks! + +The Editor (at the door). You are too much of a coward! Ha! ha! +(Goes out.) + +Evje (in a rage). No! + +The Editor (sticking his head in at the door). Yes! (Goes away.) + +The Doctor. What a visit! I cannot help laughing, all the same! Ha, +ha, ha, ha! + +Evje. Do you dare to laugh at that? + +The Doctor. "Old schoolfellows"--ha, ha! "Moderation"--ha, ha! +"The same party"--ha, ha, ha! + +Mrs. Evje. Oh, my husband is ill! + +Evje (faintly). Yes--a little water! + +Mrs. Evje. Water, water, Harald! + +The Doctor. One of his attacks--that is another affair altogether. +Here (takes a bottle from his pocket)--smell this! That's it! Now, a +little water! (Gives him some.) No danger this time. Cheer up, old +boy! + +Evje. What a scandal! + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, you will never be able to bear it, dear; I told you +so. + +Evje. To think of _my_ name appearing in the papers, when all my +life I have-- + +Mrs. Evje. --done everything you could to keep clear of such +things! And you such a dear, good, upright man!--Oh, these politics +are the curse of the world! + +The Doctor (laughing). As I told you, you must go through a +special process of hardening before you can stand them. + +Evje. And think of public opinion--my position--my connections! It +is more than I can bear! + +Mrs. Evje (to the Doctor). I am sure the first time he reads +something about himself in the paper, it will make him really ill! +He won't be able to stand it, I know. + +The Doctor. Oh, he will get over it. + +Mrs. Evje. No, he won't. I am frightened at the mere thought of it. +He will never be able to bear it, never! + +Evje. When all my life I have tried to keep clear of such things--! + +Mrs. Evje. And now in your old age, though you deserve it no +more than a child does, to be dragged into it! If I could prevent +that, I would willingly take on my own shoulders whatever-- + +Evje. No, no--not you! Not you! + +The Doctor. But the thing is not necessarily done because he +threatened he would do it. + +Evje. Do you think--? + +The Doctor. He is so dreadfully hot-headed, but I am sure he will +think twice-- + +Mrs. Evje. --before he attacks a lifelong friend! Yes, that is so, isn't +it! + +Evje. Do you really think that there is any possibility then--? + +The Doctor. I really can't say! + +Mrs. Evje. Nothing in the world is impossible! + +Evje. We were both so hot-headed. + +The Doctor. Yes, it will have to be a more peaceable conversation +than that of a few minutes ago! + +Evje. I don't know how it is--there is something so provoking about +him. + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, and you have not been very well lately, either. I +have often said so to you. + +Evje. No, I haven't. It has been just one thing after another! And all +my life I have tried to keep clear of such things! + +The Doctor. I will tell you what, old friend; I am sure the best thing +to do would be-- + +Evje. What? + +The Doctor. I am sure you will not be easy in your mind until +someone has talked to him. + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, couldn't that be done? Good gracious, that is not +sending a message to him! + +Evje. But who would--? (A short silence.) + +The Doctor. I don't know who would be best. + +Mrs. Evje. All our old friends have deserted us; we shall soon have +none. + +The Doctor. Well, at all events, you have me. + +Evje. Would you really be willing to--? Do you mean it? (Grasps his +hand.) + +The Doctor. Of course I will! He can't eat me! + +Mrs. Evje. How good you are! Of course you only need tell him-- +what is quite true--that my husband would never be able to bear it! +He, who all these years-- + +Evje. --have put up with an incredible amount for his sake, both +from himself and from others! + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, that is true! And now you will go, dear friend--our +only friend!--and talk to him quite amicably and sensibly, won't +you? + +Evje. But don't delay! He is so hot-headed that we must find him +before-- + +The Doctor. Oh, I will find him; he is always about the town. + +Evje. And tell him--ask him-- + +The Doctor. Oh, I know what to say to him. + +Mrs. Evje. That is right! + +Evje. Thank you! I shall never forget how, at a moment when +everything threatened to overwhelm me, you were the only one to +stand by me! Ah, I feel as if a load had fallen off my shoulders! I +feel all at once quite happy again! + +The Doctor. That's right. You pull yourself together! I will see to +everything else. + +Evje. Thanks, thanks! But make haste! + +The Doctor. I am off! My hat? (Turns, and sees HARALD, and says to +himself.) A-ha! He looks as if he had had about enough of this. It +would have been a joke to-- + +Evje. Oh, do make haste, my friend! + +The Doctor. Yes, yes--if only I could find my hat. + +Mrs. Evje. It is on the table. + +The Doctor. So it is! + +Evje. Good luck to you! + +Mrs. Evje. And do it very tactfully! + +The Doctor (meaningly). And I hope you three will enjoy +yourselves! (Goes out.) + +Evje. What a morning! + +Mrs. Evje. We, who have always endeavoured to take everything +quietly and indulgently-- + +Evje. Yes, and to conduct our family affairs peaceably and +affectionately! (Jumps up and turns to HARALD.) The whole thing is +_your_ fault! + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, it is Harald's fault! From the day this unfortunate +engagement came about, we have scarcely had a moment's peace +here. + +Evje. No, no, that is not the case! We must be reasonable. At first, +when Mr. Rejn had a fine future before him, when people vied +with one another to catch him, then the engagement was an honour +to us as well as to our daughter. But from the moment he took up these +wretched politics--that is to say, from the time his brother fell ill-- +well, he can see for himself what the result has been to us! + +Mrs. Evje. And he certainly must admit that it is not what we +have deserved; indeed it is more than a respected and well-bred +family can put up with. + +Harald. I quite agree that it is more than a respected and +well-bred family _ought_ to put up with. + +Mrs. Evje. Oh, so _you_ feel that too? + +Harald. Certainly. And the only excuse I can see is that there are +many more in the same case. It is only in that way that such +things become possible. + +Evje. I do not understand. Many more like--?--like whom? + +Harald. Like you! + +Mrs. Evje. In what respect? + +Harald. I will explain. Most of the successful politicians +nowadays have not gained their position by means of any +greatness of their own, but by the pitiable weakness of others. +Another age will form a different estimate of them--see them in +their proper perspective, and find them to be much smaller men! + +Evje. But what has that to do with us? + +Harald. Well, just try to size up that man whom a little while ago +you turned out of your house and afterwards sent a message to-- + +Evje. We sent _no_ message to him! + +Mrs. Evje. A friend of ours has gone to talk to him. That is quite a +different thing! + +Harald. Well, take his measure by yours and yours by his! He +went away, and he will come back like a conquering hero. Will +that be thanks to his greatness, or his talent--to the loftiness of his +opinions or his feelings? No,--it will be thanks to your pitiable +weakness. + +Mrs. Evje. Upon my word! + +Evje. Well, I--! + +Harald. Do you think any one who has any pluck in his +disposition would consent to be a party to such a contemptible +state of things? Think of your own daughter, educated by that +good old man who lies in there, but an obedient child to you; +think how she must be perpetually torn between what she loves +and respects and what she sees going on here! No wonder she is +ill! But remember this--she is not ill because she sticks to me; +she is ill because of your pitiable weakness! + +Mrs. Evje. How can you dare to say such things! So you too--! + +Evje. Such an absolute want of respect! + +Harald. Listen to me, once for all. I intend, God helping me, to +take up the fight that has killed my brother, the noblest man I +know! And Gertrud is going to take up _her_ share in the fight, as I +do mine. But to come to this house as long as _he_ comes here--to go +through what I have gone through to-day--sullies my self-respect +to such an extent, and offends my better feelings so deeply, that +either he never sets foot here again, or I do not! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. But--! + +Harald (quietly). When I came here to-day, I thought we should +be able to arrange matters without my speaking out; but there is +nothing else for it, so good-bye! (Goes out. A moment's silence +follows.) + +Mrs. Evje. Is _he_ giving _us_ our dismissal? Or does he not really +mean to break with us?--My dear, what is the matter? (Goes to +her husband's side.) + +Evje (without moving). Tell me, my dear--am I a bad man? + +Mrs. Evje. You, a bad man? + +Evje. Because, if I were not a bad, wicked man, they could not +behave in such a way to me, one after the other. + +Mrs. Evje. But, my dear, you are the best and dearest and most +considerate of men! And they are shameless traitors to you, my +dear husband! + +Evje. But how on earth, then, could it come about that I, who all +my life have tried to keep clear of such things--for I have, haven't I? + +Mrs. Evje. Every one knows that, that knows anything about you. + +Evje. How could it come about that in my old age I should be +despised and forsaken by everybody? Surely it is no crime to +want to live in peace, apart from all that sort of thing? + +Mrs. Evje. No, indeed; that is what all decent people want to do. + +Evje. Yes, I thought so too. But now you see! + +Mrs. Evje. But _you_ have been dreadfully unfortunate. + +Evje. Why should I have been just the one to be dreadfully +unfortunate? Most people escape such things altogether. + +Mrs. Evje (starting). Here is Gertrud. + +Evje. Poor child! + +Mrs. Evje. What on earth are we to say to her? + +Evje. Be careful, my dear! be careful! (GERTRUD comes in quietly +and comes forward to them.) + +Gertrud. Did I see Harald go away? + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, my child, he--he went away. + +Gertrud. Without saying good-bye to me? + +Evje. That's true, he didn't say good-bye to you. + +Mrs. Evje. Were you expecting him to come into grandfather's +room to say good-bye to you? + +Gertrud. Yes. Tell me how things went here? + +Evje. Why were you not here, dear? + +Gertrud (in astonishment). I here? You said you did not want me +to be present-- + +Evje. I remember, yes; we thought it would not be advisable. + +Gertrud (still speaking quietly, but in growing alarm). +But how did things go, then? + +Evje. How did they go? Badly. + +Mrs. Evje (hurriedly). That is to say, he did not behave at all well. +You must prepare yourself for the worst, my child! + +Gertrud. Is it something very bad, then? + +Evje. You know he is a little hasty just now, when he has so much +on his hands. He lacks a proper sense of moderation--but he will +learn it, sure enough. + +Gertrud (almost inaudibly). But what does it mean? Is he never +coming back? + +Evje. Never coming back? What an extraordinary question! Of +course he will come back. He was only a little over-hasty, you +know-- + +Gertrud. And said he would never come back? + +Mrs. Evje. Come, come, my dear--you mustn't be alarmed. + +Evje. He talked such a lot, you know, that we must not attach any +particular importance to anything he said. + +Gertrud. So that is how it is! + +Mrs. Evje. We must make allowances for all that he is going +through just now-- + +Evje (suddenly). My child, you look so pale-- + +Mrs. Evje (going to her). Gertrud! + +Gertrud (with a quiet movement of protest). I must give grandfather +his drink; that was really what I came for. And that was how I +happened to see Harald through the window. I will take grandfather +his drink. (The curtain falls as she goes out of the room.) + + + +ACT II + +(SCENE.--A street in the "villa quarter" of the town. Between it +and another street running parallel with it in the background, are +two houses standing in gardens, half of the facade of one of them +projecting into the stage on the right. On the left a third street +runs at right angles to the others, to the back of the stage. The +left side of this third street opens onto a well-wooded park. +The house in the foreground on the right is in two stories. There +is a narrow strip of garden in front of it, enclosed by an iron +railing with a gate in it. The gate is standing open. The entrance +door to the house is immediately behind this gate. There is light +in a small window by the door; the ground floor windows are in +darkness; in those of the upper floor, light is visible through +heavy curtains. It is a wintry evening, and everything is swathed +in an unusually thick fog, in which the gas lamps in the streets +show dimmer and dimmer as they recede in the distance. As the +curtain goes up, a lamplighter is seen descending his ladder from a +lamp-post, where he has just lit the lamp at the corner of the +house.) + +The Lamplighter (as he reaches the ground). It's all one whether +the lamps are lit or not, in such a fog as this. (MRS. EVJE is seen +drawing back the curtain at a window on the first floor. She opens +the window and looks out.) + +Mrs. Evje. The fog is so thick, my dear, that I can't see across +the street. + +Evje (coming to the window, with fur coat and cap on). So it is!-- +Well, so much the better, my dear! (They withdraw into the room; +the window is shut and the curtains drawn. Two passers-by come +along the street from the right, talking.) + +First Passer-by. The Land of Fogs--the old idea of the land of Fogs +was that of a vision of confused and faint sensation, with the +light of the intelligence dimmed and blurred like these gas lamps +in the fog. + +Second Passer-by. It would be that, if our hearts did not often act +as guiding lights to our befogged intelligences. Look at this house +behind us--the brandy distiller's. The devilish workings of his +intelligence have befogged the whole country--befogged it with +brandy--and some such guiding light is much needed there. + +First Passer-by. Ah, well,--the old idea of the Land of Fogs was +that fogs were--. (The sound of their conversation dies away as +they pass into the park on the left. GERTRUD, closely veiled and +wrapped in furs, comes slowly out of the park. She stops at the +corner and looks down the street, then passed slowly along to the +right, looking up at the house as she goes. She is scarcely out of +sight when the house-door opens and EVJE comes out.) + +Evje. This is about the time he comes home--I daren't go to his +house and ask for him; I don't know if he would admit me. I +daren't trust to the Doctor alone.--This uncertainty is dreadful! +(He starts at seeing GERTRUD, whom he does not recognise in the +fog, walking towards him. She turns suddenly and walks back the +way she came.) Who was that? She gave me quite a fright in this +fog! Her furs seemed rather like--no, no, it couldn't be. I must +not let any one recognise me. (Puts up the high collar of his coat, +so that only his nose is visible.) Both of them called me a coward, +but they are very much mistaken. It is not cowardice for a man who +is respected and honoured to try and avoid scandal. Hm! Naturally +those who trade in scandals think otherwise!--To act without +attaching weight to the opinion of others, to disregard one's own +predilections, to put up with being laughed at--all for the sake of +preventing a scandal--that is to be strong and courageous. And it +_is_ admirable, too; for it is admirable to act fearlessly in the +interest of one's family, and of one's business, and of propriety. +(Starts as he hears his door opened. JOHN has come along the street +and gone into the house.) Is that some one coming out of my house? +No, it is a man going in. And then to think of Harald Rejn +beginning that nonsense about my being a coward, because I refused +to become a party man! Every one ought to take sides in politics-- +that is their cry. Hm! I should say it required rather more +courage nowadays to _refrain_ from taking sides. (Starts again.) Who +is that? Oh, only that woman again. She is waiting for some one +too. I expect we shall both catch bad colds. (Walks up and down.) +It is an odd sensation to be walking up and down on the watch +outside one's own house. Cowardice? Pshaw! To let one's self be +abused in a public street without stirring a finger to prevent it, +_that_ would be cowardice. I only hope he has not gone round the +other way? There is much more traffic in that street, and some one +might easily--. I think I will take a turn towards the town, and +turn back when I am a little way from here; it will look less +suspicious. I must catch him, because his paper will be going to +press. (Looks up at his house.) My poor wife, sitting up there +dreadfully alarmed on my account! (Goes out to the right. As soon +as he has gone, the house-door opens and JOHN comes warily out.) + +JOHN. So he has gone out, has he! Oh, well, he is bound to come in +again! I will wait and catch him, that I will! Tra, la, la, la, la! +I can play about here in the fog till he comes back; I have nothing +to lose! And it will be best to catch him in the street; he will +make less fuss, and can't run away from me! Tra, la, la, la, la! +(Lounges out to the right. A moment later, HARALD comes out of the +park. He is dressed much as EVJE is, but has not his coat-collar +turned up.) + +Harald. There is a light in her window! Then she is alone in her +room. What am I going to do now? Twice already I have come to look +at that light; now I have seen it--and must go away! Good-bye, my +darling! Be patient, and wait! I know your thoughts are with me +now; and I know you feel that mine are with you! (As he turns away +from the house he sees the veiled figure of GERTRUD, who, as soon +as she has come nearer, rushes to him, throws up her veil, and +falls into his arms in a glad embrace.) + +Gertrud. I was certain that, if you could not go into the house +again, you would be out here! I knew you would not go away from me, +dear! + +Harald. No--neither now nor ever. + +Gertrud. And, while I was walking up and down here in the fog, I +felt that though there might be all this gloom tend cold around us +outside, there was the brightness and warmth of certainty in our +hearts. + +Harald. Yes, our love is the one certainty for me! Fog may obscure +the goal I aim at, the road I have to I read, the very ground I +stand on; doubts may even for a while attack my faith; but my love +for you shines clear through it all! + +Gertrud. Thank you, my darling! If that is so, there is nothing +that we cannot overcome! + +Harald. Of course, you know what took place to-day? + +Gertrud. I can guess. + +Harald. Is it true that you are ill? Why did you never tell me? + +Gertrud. No, the doctor is not telling the truth; I am not ill! +Even if I were, what matter? I should go on living as long as I +could--and should have done my duty before I gave in! + +Harald. That is the way to look at it! + +Gertrud. But I am not ill! I suffer, it is true--and am likely to-- +every time you are persecuted, or my parents on my account. Because +_I_ have drawn them into all this that, they are so unfitted for, +and that is why it pains me so to see how unprepared it finds them +--most of all when, out of tenderness for me, they try to conceal +it. But I can't alter things. We are fighting for a cause that you +believe to be right, and so do I; surely that is better than never +to suffer at all in any good cause. Try me! Let me share the fight +with you! I am not weak; it is only that my heart is sore for those +I love. + +Harald. You splendid, loyal creature!--and you are mine! (Embraces +her.) + +Gertrud. You should hear what grandfather says! + +Harald. Yes, how is the dear old gentleman? + +Gertrud. Pretty well, thanks, though he never gets out now. But he +is following your work, and he says that what you are aiming at is +right, if you ask for God's guidance on your way. Harald--you will +always be the same as you are now--good and genuine--won't you, +dear? Not like the rest of them--nothing but bitterness and malice, +always talking of principles and consequences and all the rest of +it, and always attacking others? If one were obliged to be like +that, it would be a curse to be a politician. + +Harald. I will be what you make me! I think that behind every man's +public life you can see his private life--whether he has a real +home, and what it is like, or whether he only has a place he lives +in--that is to say, no real home. + +Gertrud. With God's help I shall try to make a bright, snug and +cosy home for you! And this fog is delightful, because it only +makes the thought of such a home all the cosier and snugger! It +makes us seem so alone, too; no one is out driving or walking; and +we can talk as loud as we please, because the fog deadens the sound +of our voices. Oh, I feel so happy again now! Do you know, I think +it is rather nice to be persecuted a little; it makes our meetings +so much more precious! + +Harald. But, you know dear, to meet you like this--and just now-- + +Gertrud (as they walk up and down together). Yes, of course! I had +altogether forgotten how much you have to bear just now; I have +been chattering away--. Oh, I don't know how I could feel so happy, +because I am really dreadfully distressed. But, you know, I sit the +whole play beside grandfather, thinking, without even being able to +talk. I generally read aloud to him; now and then he makes a +remark, but he really lives more in the next world than in this one +now. (They hear a cough in the distance, and give a start, because +they recognise it. The EDITOR and EVJE, walking along together, +EVJE apparently talking very earnestly, are seen, indistinctly +through the fog, in the street running parallel with the one HARALD +and GERTRUD are in. JOHN is seen following them cautiously. They +disappear into the park.) + +Harald. I hear the enemy! I am sure I caught a glimpse of him over +there through the fog, talking to another man. + +Gertrud. Is he always about the streets even in weather like this? + +Harald. Well, we won't let him disturb us. (They begin walking up +and down again in front of the house.) + +Gertrud. Do you know whom I met out here? Father! + +Harald. Really? Then it is as I thought; the other man over there +was your father! + +Gertrud. Do you think it was? Poor father! + +Harald. Yes, he is weak. + +Gertrud. But you must be good to him. He is so good himself. Think +how mother loves him; she is absolutely wrapped up in him, because +he is so good! + +Harald. He is a good man, and an able man. But, but, but-- + +Gertrud. They have lived a very tranquil life. We of the younger +generation try to undertake heavier duties and greater responsibilities +than the older generation did. But we must not be angry with them. + +Harald. I am afraid it is only too easy to feel angry with them. + +Gertrud. No, do as grandfather does! If he thinks any one is going +to be amenable to it, he talks to them quietly; if not, he only +behaves affectionately to them. Do you understand, dear?--just +affectionately. + +Harald. Well, to-day--ought I to have put up with their allowing +themselves to be treated in such an unseemly way, and their +treating me in such an unseemly way? + +Gertrud. Was it really as bad as that? + +Harald. You would not believe what it was like, I assure you! + +Gertrud (standing still). Poor father! Poor father! (Throws her +arms round HARALD'S neck.) Be good to them, Harald!--just because +of their faults, dear! We are their children, you know, and it is +God's commandment, even if we were not their children. + +Harald. If only I could take you up in my arms and carry you off +home with me now! Your love takes possession of my heart and my +will, and purifies both of them. I am at a crisis in my life now-- +and now you should be on my side! + +Gertrud. Listen!--to begin with, I will go with you to your meeting +to-night! + +Harald. Yes, yes,--I will come and fetch you! + +Gertrud. Down at the door here! + +Harald. Yes! + +Gertrud. And, in the next place, I am going to walls into the town +with you now. + +Harald. But then I shall have to see you home again. + +Gertrud. Do you object? + +Harald. No, no! And you shall teach me a lot of things on the way! + +Gertrud. Yes, you will be so wise before we get back! (They go +out to the right.) + +(The EDITOR and EVJE come out of the park. JOHN follows them, +unseen by them, and slips past them to the right when they stop for +a moment. The following conversation is carried on in hurried +tones, and every time the EDITOR raises his voice EVJE hushes him, +and speaks himself in a persistently lowered voice.) + +Evje. But what concern of yours--or of the public's--are my private +affairs? I don't want to have anything to do with politics. + +The Editor, Well, then, you ought not to have had anything to do +with _him_. + +Evje. When I first made his acquaintance he was not a politician. + +The Editor. Then you ought to have dropped him when he became one. + +Evje. Ought I to have dropped you too, when you became one? + +The Editor. Let me repeat, for the last time, that we are not +talking about me! + +Evje. Hush, hush! What a fellow you are! You get into a rage if +any one chaffs you. But you want to hit out at everybody all round! + +The Editor. Do you suppose I am myself? + +Evje. Who the devil are you, if you are not yourself? + +The Editor. I am merely the servant of the public. + +Evje. The public executioner, that is to say? + +The Editor. Well, yes, if you prefer it. But you shall pay for that +word some day. + +Evje. There--you see! Always talking of paying for things!--of +revenge! + +The Editor. You shall pay for it, I tell you! + +Evje. You are absolutely mad!--Poof! I am sweating as if it were +the dog days! (Changes his tone.) Think of the time when we used to +go to school together--when you never could go to bed without first +coming to thank me for the jolly times we were having together! + +The Editor. None of that nonsense! I am accustomed to be hated, +despised, spit upon, scourged; if any one speaks kindly to me, I +do not trust them! + +Evje. You must trust me! + +The Editor. No--and, besides, I observed very clearly to-day that +you had counted on having me in reserve if ever you got into a +scrape. + +Evje. Well, who doesn't count on his friends? Doesn't every one +take them into his reckoning? + +The Editor. I don't; I have no friends. + +Evje. Haven't you me? Do you think I would leave you in the lurch? + +The Editor. That is hypocrisy! At times when I have needed it, the +very last thing you have thought of has been to give me any help! + +Evje. Have I not helped you? + +The Editor. That is hypocrisy, too-to pretend you think I am +speaking of money. No; when I have been accused of being +dishonourable--of lying--you, the "old schoolfellow," the "old +friend," the "neighbour," have never once had the courage to +come forward on my behalf. + +Evje. I never meddle with politics. + +The Editor (with rising temper). More hypocrisy! Another of your +damned evasions! + +Evje. Hush, hush, hush! + +The Editor. You try to excuse yourself with a lie! You are doubly +a traitor!--And then you expect me to have compassion on you! + +Evje. As sure as I stand here, I have never thought of deserting +you, however bad things were. + +The Editor. And you have the face to take credit to yourself for +that? It is all calculation from beginning to end! You thought it +would be the best way of making me remember your loyalty, and +reward you for it. + +Evje. This is abominable! + +The Editor. Oh, you are cunning enough! You represent wealth of +another kind, which at first was not entirely irreproachably come +by-- + +Evje. There you go again! + +The Editor. --and want to give it the cachet of good society; so +you take care to keep friends with a newspaper that may be able +to give you a helping hand in gaining what you want. Can you +deny it? + +Evje. There may be a slight tinge of calculation even in our +highest purposes. But the misfortune about you is that you can +see nothing but the calculation, though it may be only an +infinitesimal part of the whole thing. + +The Editor. Oho--I have had experience of you! + +Evje. Then you must have had experience of your party's loyalty, +too. + +The Editor. My party's loyalty! + +Evje. Well, after all, it keeps you where you are to-day. + +The Editor. _It_ keeps me there? + +Evje. And you have friends in that party-myself amongst others-- +who certainly would rather stand outside altogether, but +nevertheless give you their advice and support when you are in +difficulties. You cannot deny that. + +The Editor. I have friends in the party? Oh yes; and if we lose a +fight these fine counsellors are the first to run away! They are +always egging me on and egging me on; but only let public opinion +once get tired of me, and they will throw me overboard without more +ado! By that sort of treachery they manage to fill the sails of the +party craft with a new breeze--and leave me to shift the best way I +can!--they, for whom I have fought with all my might and main! I +despise my opponents--they are either scoundrels and thieves, or +they are blockheads and braggarts. But my supporters are lick-spittles, +fools, cravens. I despise the whole pack of them, from first +to last! If any one would give me the assurance that if, as a +pledge that I would never use a pen again, I were to chop off my +right hand I should thereby gain the prospect of a peaceful life a +thousand miles away from here, I believe I would do it!--I despise +the whole pack of them--oh, how I despise them! + +Evje. But this is horrible! Do you find no comfort in religion? Or, +at all events, you have your paper! + +The Editor. My paper, yes--but what good do you suppose that is to +me? And do you think I give the impression of being a religious +man? + +Evje. Then what do you work for? + +The Editor. Perhaps you think I work for your sake?--or for the +sake of prosperity, or order, or whatever it is you cowards or +self-seekers like to imagine it is that you personify? No, the +whole human race is not worth the powder and shot that they are +holding at each other's heads. + +Evje. Then why do you come and almost threaten my life, if the whole +thing seems so worthless to you? + +The Editor. Do you seriously suppose that I would give in, so as to +spare you or some other shopkeeper?--so that you should be able to +say triumphantly, "You see he didn't dare! He didn't dare quarrel +with Capital!"--or, "You see he has given in--he has turned tail!" +No; what I should like to do would be to lay a mine underground, +and blow myself and the whole lot of you sky high! + +Evje. And I and all the happiness of my family life are to be +sacrificed in order that you shall not have to give in on a side +issue of no importance!--Oh, I am chilled to the bone! + +The Editor. Ha, ha! It is good to hear you speaking like yourself +again, because it reminds me that it is time to put an end to this +solemn nonsense! (Looks at his watch.) A quarter past! You must be +quick! + +Evje. Are you really in earnest? + +The Editor. I often play off jokes on you, it is true. But I don't +know how you will like this one to-morrow morning. + +Evje. Then let me tell you that I solemnly refuse! I will not break +off the engagement! Put me in your paper, if you like; I am a free +man. + +The Editor. Bah! nobody is that. Then you refuse? Good-bye! (Walks +away from EVJE.) + +Evje (going after him). No, no--where are you going? + +The Editor (stopping). Nowhere--or rather, I am going home. + +Evje. But you won't really do what you said? + +The Editor. Ha! ha! ha! (Moves away.) + +Evje (following him). No, listen! Listen to me for a minute. + +The Editor (turning back). Do you think I have time to stop at all +the stations your vanity or your fright will invent on the way? +(Moves away.) + +Evje. You mad creature--listen to me! (The EDITOR stops.) Tell me +exactly what you mean to do? + +The Editor. Fiddlesticks! (Moves on.) + +Evje (following him). Do you mean to put in the paper that I have +broken off this match? + +The Editor (stopping). Better than that--I shall spread the news in +the town; then it will get about, and all the journalists will get +a hold of it. + +Evje. Give me a day or two to think it over! + +The Editor. Oh, no--you are not going to catch me like that! It is +election time, and the other side must be made to feel that all +decent people have deserted them. + +Evje. But it is a lie, you know! + +The Editor. What is lying, and what is truth? But your resignation +from the Stock Exchange Committee and your subsequent failure to be +elected to any public position will be no lies, I can assure you! +Public opinion is not to be trifled with, you know! + +Evje. And this from you! + +The Editor. Bah! Public opinion is a very faithless friend. + +Evje. But who, after all, constitute public opinion? + +The Editor. Oh, no--you are not going to lead me into a trap again! +Besides--it would be very difficult to say exactly who does +constitute it. + +Evje. This is really--! Then you won't put that in the paper? + +The Editor. The news of a broken engagement travels quickest by +foot-post--ha, ha, ha! (Coughs; then adds seriously :) But won't +you, of your own accord, break off what are really absolutely +inadmissible relations with a man who scandalises all your +acquaintances? + +Evje. Lay the blame on me, of course! I know his credentials are no +longer first class; but my daughter--ah, you would not be able to +understand that. The circumstances are quite exceptional, and--. +Look here, shall we go up and talk it over with my wife? + +The Editor. Ha, ha!--you turned me out of the house this morning! + +Evje. Oh, forget all about that! + +The Editor (looking at his watch). Half past! Now, without any +more evasions--will you, or will you not? + +Evje (with a struggle). No! I repeat, no! (The EDITOR moves away.) +Yes, yes!--It nearly kills me to do it! + +The Editor. "The Capitalist, secure in his position, who needs pay +no regard to," etc., etc.--that is the "common form," isn't it, you +man of first-class credentials? Ha, ha! Good-bye. I am going home +to send the boy to the printers; he has waited long enough. (Moves +away.) + +Evje (following him). You are the cruellest, hardest, most reckless-- + +The Editor (who has been laughing, suddenly becomes serious). Hush! +Do you see? + +Evje (turning round). What? Where? + +The Editor. Over there! + +Evje. Those two? + +The Editor. Yes--your daughter and Mr. Harald Rejn. + +Evje. But he swore this morning that he would never set foot in +my house again! + +The Editor. But he will stay _outside_ your house, as you see! +These gentlemen of the Opposition, when they give any assurance, +always do it with a mental reservation! You can't trust the +beggars! Come round the corner. (They do so.) + +Evje. An assignation in the street in the fog! To think my daughter +would let herself be induced to do such a thing! + +The Editor. Evil communications corrupt good manners! You are a +mere bungler in delicate matters, Evje. You made a bad choice in +that quarter! + +Evje. But he seemed to be-- + +The Editor. Yes, yes, I know! A real gentleman would have guessed +what he would develop into. He has a brother, you know! (HARALD and +GERTRUD come in slowly, arm-in-arm.) + +Gertrud. While your brother has been ill you have received many +gratifying proofs of the good feeling and goodwill that there is in +this town-haven't you? + +Harald. Yes, I have. I have found no ill-will against him, nothing +but kindness on all sides--with the exception of one person, of +course. + +Gertrud. But even he has a heart! It has often seemed to me as if I +heard a cry of yearning and disappointment from it--and that just +when he spoke most bitterly. + +Harald. Yes, it needs no very sharp sight to see that he, who +makes so many unhappy, is himself the unhappiest of all. + +The Editor. What the deuce are they talking about? + +Evje. We cannot hear from here. And the fog deadens their voices. + +The Editor. Go a bit nearer, then! + +Evje. Not before they separate. You only understand _him_! + +Harald (to GERTRUD). What are you holding there? + +Gertrud (who has taken off her glove and then a ring from her +finger). The ring they gave me when I was confirmed. Give me +your hand! No, take your glove off! + +Harald. Do you want me to try your ring on? I shall not be able +to get it on. + +Gertrud. On the little finger of your left hand? Yes! + +Harald (putting it on). So I can. Well? + +Gertrud. You mustn't laugh at me. I have been beating up my courage +to do this all this time. It was really why I wanted to walk a +little farther with you first! I wanted to bring the conversation +round to it, you see! I am so convinced that your happiness, and +consequently mine, depends on your being able to be kind. You have +got this meeting before you to-night. It will be a decisive moment +for you. If you, when you are facing all this horrible persecution, +can be a kind boy, you will win all along the line! (Pulls at his +buttons in an embarrassed way.) So I wanted you to wear this ring +to remind you. The diamonds in it sparkle; they are like my tears +when you are hard and forget us two. I know it is stupid of me +(wipes her eyes hastily), but now, when it comes to the point, I +can't say what I--. But do wear it! + +Harald (kissing her). I will wear it! (Gently.) Its pure rays shall +shed a light on my life. + +Gertrud. Thank you! (Throws her arms round him and kisses him.) + +The Editor. What they are doing now is all right! Ha, ha, ha! + +Evje. I won't stand it! (The EDITOR coughs loudly.) What are you +doing? (The EDITOR goes to the neighbouring house and rings the +bell. The door is opened and he goes in, laughing as he goes.) + +Gertrud (who has started from HARALD'S arms at the sound of the +cough). That is--! + +Harald. It sounds like him! (Turns, and sees Evje.) + +Gertrud. Father! (Turns to run away, but stops.) No, it is cowardly +to run away. (Comes back, and stands at HARALD'S side. EVJE comes +forward.) + +Evje. I should not have expected my daughter, a well-brought-up +girl, to make an assignation in the street with--with-- + +Gertrud. With her fiance. + +Evje. --with a man who has made a mock of her father and mother, +and of his own doing has banished himself from our house. + +Harald. From your house, certainly; but not from my future wife. + +Evje. A nice explanation! Do you suppose we will consent to have as +our son-in-law a man who spurns her parents? + +Gertrud. Father! + +Evje. Be quiet, my child! You ought to have felt that yourself. + +Gertrud. But, father, you surely do not expect him to submit to +your being abused and himself ill-treated in our house? + +Evje. Are you going to teach your parents--? + +Gertrud (putting her arm round his neck). I don't want to teach +you anything; because you know yourself, dear, that Harald is +worth far more--and far more to us--than the man who went away +just now! (At this moment the printer's boy, who has come out of +the EDITOR'S house, runs past them towards the town.) + +Evje (seeing the boy, tries to get away). Go in now, Gertrud! I +have something I wish to talk to Mr. Rejn about. + +Gertrud. You have nothing to talk to Harald about that I cannot +hear. + +Evje. Yes, I have. + +Harald. But why may she not hear it? What you want is to break off +our engagement. + +Gertrud. Father--! (Moves away from him.) Is that true? + +Evje. Well-since it cannot be otherwise-it is true; that is to say, +for the moment. (Aside.) Good Lord, they can make it up right +enough when this is all over! + +Gertrud (who is standing as if thunderstruck). I saw you with him! +--Ah! that is how it is! (Looks at her father, bursts into tears +and rushes to the door of their house, pulls the bell and +disappears into the house.) + +Evje. What is it? What is the matter with her? + +Harald. I think I know. She realises that her life's happiness has +been bought and sold. (Bows to EVJE.) Good-bye! (Goes out to the +right.) + +Evje (after standing dumb for some moments). Bought and sold? Some +people take everything so dreadfully solemnly. It is only a +manoeuvre--to get out of this difficulty. Why is it that I cannot +get free of it! They both of them exaggerate matters so absurdly; +first of all this crazy fellow, and then Harald with his "Good-bye," +spoken as if the ground were giving way beneath his feet! I--I-- +feel as if every one had deserted me. I will go in to my wife-- +my dear, good wife; she will understand me. She is sitting up +there, full of anxiety about me. (He turns towards his house; +but, on reaching the garden gate, sees JOHN standing there.) + +John (touching his hat respectfully). Excuse me, Mr. Evje-- + +Evje. You, John! Go away! I told you never to set foot in my +house again. + +John (very respectfully). But won't you allow me to stand outside +your house either, sir? + +Evje. No! + +John (standing in EVJE'S way, but still with a show of great +respect). Not at the door here? + +Evje. What are you standing in my way for, you scoundrel? + +John. Shall I assist you to call for help, sir? (Calls out.) +Help! + +Evje. Be quiet, you drunken fool! Don't make a disturbance! What do +you want? Be quick! + +John. I want, with all respect, to ask you, sir, why you have sent +me away. + +Evje. Because you are a swine that gets drunk and then talks +nonsense. You don't know what a dilemma you have put me in.--Now go +away from here, quietly! + +John. I know all about it! I was following you and the Editor all +the time, you know! + +Evje. What? + +John. These articles, that were to go in the paper--the printing +was at a standstill, waiting for them. + +Evje. Hush, hush, John! So you overheard that, did you? You are +too clever; you ought never to have been a servant.--Now, be off +with you! Here is a shilling or two for you. Good-bye. + +John. Thank you very much, sir.--This was how it was, sir. You +see, I thought of the number of times I had run over to the +printer's with messages when that nice Editor gentleman was +spending an evening with you--and so I thought I might just as +well run over with this one. + +Evje (starting back in alarm). What? What have you done? + +John. Just to do you a good turn, sir, I ran along and told them +they might print those articles. + +Evje. What articles? + +John. The ones about you, sir. "Print away," I said--and they +printed away. By Jove, how they worked, and then off to the +post with the papers! + +Evje. You had the impudence, you--! Ah, it's not true! I saw the +printer's boy myself, running to the office to countermand the +instructions. + +John. I caught him up outside here and told him that a message +had been sent from Mr. Evje's house. And I gave him sixpence to +go to the theatre with; but he must have had to run for it, to be +in time, because I am sure it was after seven. Excuse me, sir, but +it _is_ after seven now, isn't it? + +Evje. You scoundrel! You vindictive brute! + +John. You can have a look at the paper, sir, if you like. + +Evje. Have _you_ got a copy? + +John. Yes, sir, the first copy struck off is always sent to the +Editor, so I volunteered to bring it to him. But you must be +anxious to see it, sir! (Holds it out to EVJE.) + +Evje (snatching it from him). Give it to me! Let me see--. (Moves +towards his door, but stops.) No, my wife mustn't--. Here, under +the gas-lamp! This filthy fog! I can't--. (Feels in his pocket for +his glasses, and pasts them on.) Ah, that's better! (Holds the +paper under the light.) What a mischance! The blackguard--! Where +is the article, then? Oh, here--I can't see properly, my heart is +beating so! + +John. Shall I run for the doctor, sir? + +Evje. Will you go away, you--! (Holds the paper first up, and then +down, in his attempts to see better.) Ah, here it is! "The Stock +Exchange Committee"--oh! (Lowers the paper.) + +John (mimicking him). Oh! + +Evje (trying to read). What a vile thing to do! + +John. Oh, go on! go on! + +Evje (as he reads). This beats everything I ever--Oh! + +John. Oh! We _are_ in a bad way! + +Evje (wiping his forehead). What a different thing it is to read +libellous attacks on others--and on one's self! (Goes on reading.) +Oh! Oh! What horrible, revolting rascality! What is it he says +here? I must read through it again! Oh, oh! + +John. And often of a morning, when you have been reading the +paper, I have heard you laughing till the bed shook under you! + +Evje. Yes, I who have so often laughed at others! (Reads.) No, +this is beyond belief! I can't read any more! This will ruin my +position in the town; I can hear every one laughing at me--he +knows all my weaknesses, and has managed to make it all so +hideously ludicrous! (Tries to go on reading.) Why, here is some +more! (Reads.) It begins even worse than the other! (Lowers the +paper, panting, then tries to go on reading.) No, I can't--I can't! +I must wait! Everything seems going round and round--and my heart +is beating so violently that I know I shall have one of my attacks! +What a devil it is that I have been making a friend of! What a +creature to have broken bread with!--an unprincipled scoundrel! +And the disgrace of it!--the disgrace! What will they say at the +Exchange? What will--? I shall not dare to go out of my house, at +least for some weeks! And then people will only say I have taken +to my bed! Oh, oh! I feel as if it were the end of everything! + +John (solicitously). Can I help you, sir? + +Evje. Will you leave me alone--! No, I will have my revenge on him +immediately! I will go and ring his bell, and go into his house and +call him a scoundrel and spit in his face--! Did I bring my stick +out with me? Where is my stick? I will send my man for it, and then +I will thrash him round and round his own room! + +John (eagerly). I will fetch it for you, sir! + +Evje (without hearing him). No, it would only make more scandal!-- +How can I take my revenge? I must do him some injury--some real +injury that will seem to poison his food for him and rob him of his +rest. Scoundrels like that don't deserve sleep! It must be +something, too, that will make his family every bit as unhappy as +mine will be when they have read this--something that will make +them hide their heads for shame--something that will make them +terrified every time their door-bell rings, out of shame for what +their servants may hear! No, no, I am getting as evil-minded as he +is, now!--What a horrible trade--for ever sowing the seeds of sin +and reaping a crop of curses! Now I understand what Harald Rejn +meant by saying that no one ought to give his help to such things! +--Heavens, hear my vow: never again will I give my help to such +things!--What am I to say to my wife--my dear, good wife, who has +no suspicion how disgraced I am! And Gertrud, our good Gertrud--ah, +at all events I can give her some pleasure at once. I cannot +conceal it from them; but I will tell them myself, so that they +shall not read it. + +John. Is there anything else I can do for you, sir? + +Evje (almost screaming at him). Once for all, can't you let me +alone! + +Mrs. Evje (leaning out of a window she has opened). The sound must +have come from the street, all the same. Are you there, my dear? + +Evje (drawing back in alarm). There she is! Shall I answer? + +Mrs. Evje. Are you there, my dear? + +Evje. Yes, dear, here I am! + +Mrs. Evje. So you are! I heard your voice, and looked all over the +house. What is the matter, dear? + +Evje. Oh, I am so unhappy! + +Mrs. Evje. Good heavens, are you, dear? Come along in--or shall I +come down to you? + +Evje. No, I will come in. Shut the window, or you will catch cold. + +Mrs. Evje. Do you know, Gertrud is sitting up here, crying? + +Evje. Good gracious, is she? I will come up--I will come up! + +John. I will help him up, ma'am! (Pretends to be doing so.) + +Mrs. Evje. Is that you, John? + +Evje (in a low voice). Will you be off! + +John. Yes, it is me, ma'am. He is so unwell. + +Mrs. Evje. Is he! Heavens, it is one of his attacks! Help him, +John! + +Evje (as before). Don't you dare! + +John (who has rung the bell loudly). I do hope you will moon be +better, sir! (Calls up to the window.) I can leave him now, ma'am! +(To EVJE, as he goes.) This has been a bit of luck, for me; but +you shall have some more of it! (Disappears into the fog as EVJE +goes into his house. The two Passers-by, that were seen at the +beginning of the scene, are now indistinctly seen returning along +the street at the back.) + +First Passer-by. Well, the land of Fogs used to be thought by the +ancients to lie in the north, where all confused ideas come from-- + +Second Passer-by (who does not seem to be able to get a word in). +But, listen to me for a moment-do you think it means--? + +[Curtain] + + + +ACT III + +(SCENE.--A room in HALVDAN REJN's house. He is lying, supported on +pillows, on a sofa on the left-hand side of the room. There is a +table in the background, and another near the sofa. A lamp is +hanging from the ceiling, and another standing on the table at the +back. HAAKON REJN, his dress proclaiming him to be a well-to-do +yeoman farmer, is sitting on a chair by the sofa.) + +Halvdan. So she couldn't come? + +Haakon. No; there are the youngsters, you know--she finds it +difficult to get away. + +Halvdan (after a moment's silence). Remember to thank her for +all her kindness to me. The happiest moments of my life have +been those Sundays and evenings that she and you and I spent +together at your house. (A pause.) + +Haakon. She wanted very much to know how you were feeling-- +whether you, who have suffered so much, are at peace now. + +Halvdan. At peace? A man who has to die with all his work +unfinished, cannot easily root out all thoughts of that from his +heart. + +Haakon. You should try to lay in God's hands all that you have +striven for. + +Halvdan. That is what I struggle daily to do. (A pause.) + +Haakon. A sister of my wife's, who was a widow and badly off, died +leaving three young children. But she was glad to die. "Their +Heavenly Father will help them better when I am out of the way," +she said. "I took up too much room," she said; "I know I have often +stood in their way." (A pause.) + +Halvdan. You tell that just as your wife would; she told me that +story once. + +Haakon. I was to tell you from her that she believes you are to die +in order that what you have worked for may come to its fullest +fruit. She thinks that when you are gone, people will appreciate +better what your aims were. + +Halvdan. There is some comfort in the thought that I may be dying +in order that what I have loved may live. I have already given up +happiness-even honour-for it; I gladly give my life for it now. (A pause.) + +Haakon. Do you bear ill-will to any of those who have opposed you +so cruelly? + +Halvdan. To no one. + +Haakon. Not even to those whose doing it is that you are lying +here? + +Halvdan. No, to no one. (A pause.) + +Haakon. Could you bear to read something hateful about +yourself to-day? + +Halvdan. I don't know. + +Haakon. Then you have not done with it all yet. + +Halvdan. No, I know I have not. It is only sometimes that the busy +world outside seems to me like a ship sailing idly before the wind. +More often, I am back in the midst of it again--planning, hoping, +praying! I am young, you know, and have had to suffer so much-- +there was so much I wanted to do. (Lifts a handkerchief to his +forehead. HAAKON helps him to wipe his face with it. A pause.) + +Haakon. But it must be a comfort to you, too, that Harald is +taking up what you are laying down. There is good stuff in him. + +Halvdan. Yes. + +Haakon. And he never says more than is necessary. The country folk +will understand him all the better for it. + +Halvdan. I hope so. As soon as he comes into my room I feel as if +the atmosphere were charged with electricity--I feel as if I _must_ +have a part in what he is doing--and so I work, and tire myself +out. Ah, it often seems very hard to have to die, and leave undone +a great work that one has failed to accomplish! + +Haakon. But you have made him what he is, you know--and many +others. + +Halvdan. I have started the fight, that is all. It is hard to have +to desert at the beginning of it!--But God is good, and will +understand; He will not be surprised at what my thoughts are full +of, when I go to Him. (A ring is heard at the bell.) + +Haakon. I expect that is Harald. + +Halvdan. No, he never rings. Besides, I expect he is taking a walk, +to think over what he is going to say to-night. + +Haakon. Yes, I suppose it will be a big meeting. (The HOUSEKEEPER +comes in.) + +The Housekeeper. Mr. Evje is here, sir, asking for Mr. Harald. I +told him we were expecting him every moment. Shall I ask him to +come in? + +Halvdan. Yes, show him in. (HAAKON gets up, as EVJE is shown in.) + +Evje (to HALVDAN). Good evening! (Sees HAAKON.) Ah, good evening! +So you have come? That is splendid. Is your wife with you? + +Haakon. No, she couldn't leave the children. + +Evje. I see. (To HALVDAN.) And how are you? About the same? Of +course, yes.--Where is your brother? + +Halvdan. He has his meeting to-night, you know. + +Evje. His momentous meeting--I know! I am going to it myself! + +Halvdan (turns his face towards him). You? + +Evje. My object in coming here was to take him home with me, so +that we could all go together to the meeting. We mean to go on to +the platform with him; I mean people to see that we are with him! + +Halvdan (turning his face away). Really! + +Evje (to HAAKON). You never answered my letter, Mr. Rejn. + +Haakon. No, I knew I was coming in to town. + +Evje. Well--will you sell? + +Haakon. No. + +Evje. But, my dear Mr. Rejn, you have not sold a single potato to +my distillery for five years! And with a farm like yours! This year +you had the best crop in the whole valley. + +Haakon. Oh, yes--it wasn't so bad. + +Evje. Not so bad! It was an extraordinary crop; and, everywhere +else round about, the crops were very middling. + +Haakon. Oh, yes--it might have been worse. + +Evje (laughing). I should think so! But then why won't you sell? +(Turns to HALVDAN.) I hope you will excuse our talking business in +a sick-room; a business man has to seize every opportunity, you +know! (To HAAKON.) You have never got higher prices elsewhere than +you have from me. + +Haakon. No, so I believe; but I have my own reasons. + +Evje. Your own reasons? What are they? + +Haakon. I had a servant once--it is about five years ago now--a +good, capable fellow. He used to take potatoes for me to the +distillery every day, and every evening came back drunk. So I spoke +to him seriously about it; and his answer was: "How do you suppose +our brandy-merchants are to grow rich, if chaps like me don't drink +pretty hard?" You know the man; he went into your service +afterwards. But from that day I have never sold a potato to a +distillery. + +Evje. But, my dear Mr. Rejn, we cannot be held responsible for the +use to which such rascals put God's gifts! + +Haakon. No--no--I suppose not; still, I am not going to have +anything more to do with it. + +Evje (to HALVDAN). Do you think your brother will not be home +before the meeting? + +Halvdan. I should think he would; there is plenty of time yet. + +Evje. There is; but I should have liked to take him home with me +first. The fact is (laughs) I have promised my wife and daughter +not to go home without him. You know what women are! Shall I just +go into his room and wait for him? There is something I want to +talk to him about, you know. + +Halvdan. I don't think there is a fire in there. + +Evje. Oh, well, never mind--I will sit here. I have got a newspaper +to read, and yon two must go on with your talk just as if I were +not here! I shall hear nothing, because I have something to read +that interests me. (He pulls a chair up to the table on the right +with its back to HALVDAN. HAAKON brings the lamp from the table at +the back.) Ah, thank you very much! Now, just talk away as if I +were not here! (Takes the paper from his pocket and sits down.) + +Haakon (sitting down again beside his brother). I should have +liked to go to the meeting, too. + +Halvdan. Of course you must go! You will hear Harald tell them +how each nation has its own appointed task in the world; that is +why it _is_ a nation. But, as long as it does not realise the fact, +its politics will be nothing but wrangling between the various +class-interests--a haphazard struggle for power. Our nation has +never got beyond that point! I have shouted myself to death over +what is a mere market. + +Evje (to himself, striking the table with his fist). The whole +commercial community is insulted in this insult to me! I will stir +them up at the meeting, and insist on our taking our revenge in +common! + +Haakon. I don't think things will be any better until we are better +Christians. Men think of nothing nowadays but themselves and their +position. + +Evje (to himself). No, no-that wouldn't do. What would people say? +They would only say I was badly hit by this. + +Halvdan (half to himself). A Christian nation, thinking of nothing +but its own interests--that is to say, power! Equality and Liberty +have no meaning for it. Haakon, it surely will be bliss for a +wounded soul to be taken into the Everlasting Love, high above all +this so-called Christianity of the world! For my soul is sorely +wounded! + +Evje (to himself ). If only I could strike him dead! + +Halvdan. But may they all be forgiven!--You asked just now whether +I could bear to read something hateful about myself to-day. I think +I could. + +Haakon. Then I can tell you the other message she gave me for you. +I have been a little shy of telling you that. It was that you +should remember that you must do more than forgive; you must pray +for them. (A pause.) + +Halvdan (with his hand over his eyes). I do. + +Evje (crumpling up the paper and throwing it on the floor). No, I +won't stand it! If the blackguard--. (Gets up in alarm, as he +realises what he has done, and is just going to pick up the paper; +but at that moment turns round facing the others, and lets it lie.) +No, I won't touch it again--never, as long as I live! (To the +others.) You must forgive me, but I was reading something that +upset me very much. Your brother will tell you all about it in the +morning, no doubt. Poof--it is very warm in here! But, of course, +that is natural in a sick-room. I don't think he can be coming now. +I think, too, that I will go on, so as not to be late for the +meeting; there is sure to be a difficulty in getting seats. I will +get him to go home with me after the meeting, instead. That will be +better, after all. + +Haakon. I was thinking of going to the meeting. Would you mind if I +went with you?--for I do not know the way myself. + +Evje. You will come with me, Mr. Rejn? (To himself.) That will be +splendid--to make my entrance in the company of one of our yeomen +farmers! (Aloud.) By all means let us go together! I feel flattered +by the opportunity, because I have always maintained that our +yeomen are the pick of the nation. Well, then--(to Halvdan) I hope +you will soon be feeling better, Mr. Rejn. God bless you! + +Halvdan (raising himself on his elbow, and looking at him with a +smile). Something must have gone amiss with you to-day. + +Evje. Why do you say that? + +Halvdan. Because as a rule you appear so composed so aloof from all +this squabbling. + +Evje (impetuously). But, do what I like, I am not allowed to keep +aloof from it! I have no greater wish in the world than to do so, I +can assure you. Oh, well, your excellent brother--my future +son-in-law, as I am proud to call him--he will tell you all about +it. Good-bye!--and--and--God bless you! + +Haakon. Shall I tell your housekeeper to come to you? + +Halvdan. Oh, no; but you might tell her to come in a little while. + +Haakon. Good-bye for the present, then! + +Halvdan. Thank you for coming! Good-bye. (Sinks back on to the +sofa. The others go out, HAAKON turning round once at the door.) + +Halvdan. It is something in the paper that has disturbed his +equanimity. What can it be? The same thing that made Harald so +gloomy to-day, I wonder? (Gets half up.) It is lying there.--No! +What interest have I in all their petty spite now? (Sinks back +again.) "Could you bear to read something hateful about yourself +to-day?" Haakon asked. Then I suppose there is something about me +in it to-day. (Puts his hand over his heart.) My heart doesn't seem +to be beating any the faster for my knowing that. (Gets half up.) +There it lies! (Sinks back again.) No, I am only trying to tempt +myself. All the same, I should like to know how many stations I +have passed on my journey to the great City of Peace! Can their +malice affect me still? Surely I have passed _that_ station?--It +would be worth trying, to see. There it lies! (Takes up a stick +that is standing by the sofa.) Surely I can get over there by +myself? (Gets up from the sofa with the help of the stick, and +smiles.) I have not much strength left. (Takes a few steps.) +Scarcely enough to get across the floor. (A few more steps.) To +think that I should have--so much vanity--my weak point--. (His +breath fails him, but he gets as far as the chair on which EVJE was +sitting, and sits down.) One ought to have done with all that +before the soul can get quite away from the dust that--. (Begins to +rake the paper towards him with his stick.) And here am I, sitting +here raking more of it towards me!--No, let the thing lie! I won't +soil my wings any more.--Poor Harald! He has to take up the burden +now! What a horrible bungle it is, that we should be brought into +the world to give each other as much pain as possible! (Decidedly.) +Well, I am going to see what legacy of unhappiness I am leaving +him! I want to have a vivid impression of the misery I am escaping +from. There is a certain comfort even in that. (Bends down and +picks up the paper, rests for a moment, and then unfolds the +paper.) But this is not to-day's paper; it is dated for to-morrow! +How can Evje have got hold of it? Yes, here is the date--Sunday. +"Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath Day!" On that day men's +souls should turn to God--and they offer Him _this_! It is after +reading _this_ that these fine ladies and gentlemen go to church! +(Pushes the paper away from him.) Suppose these "Christians" were +to be brought to judgment one day without warning?--Let us think of +ourselves and not of others! (Lets his eye rest on the paper.) Does +that mean me? (Reads.) "Not yet actually dead, but already +canonised by a calculating brother--." (Checks himself.) God +forgive them! (Reads on.) "His teachings will no doubt obtain him a +paean of praise, but this will be--or, at least, so it is to be +hoped--from within the closely locked doors of the state's prisons +and houses of correction"--(checks himself a little)--"for that is +whither he leads his followers."--Good God, to think that they can +say such things!--And yet, they said worse things of _Him_! Peace! +(Reads.) "No doubt he talks against Socialism; no doubt he coquets +with Christianity; but it is by these very means that he has become +so expert a seducer of men's opinions-which was his aim all along." +(Puts his hands before his face.) I should not have read it; +forgive me! I am too weak still!--Ah! I feel--what is it? (Puts his +hands suddenly to his heart, still unconsciously grasping the +newspaper in them.) I must get into my room--get to bed! (Gets up +with the help of his stick.) If only I can get there! Oh, I feel it +coming on!--I must--. (Tries to hurry, but when he is halfway +across the floor he stumbles, throws out his hands but finds no +support, staggers on for a few steps, and falls full length on the +threshold of his bedroom, so that half his length lies within the +door and half without. A moment later, the HOUSEKEEPER comes in.) + +The Housekeeper (not observing that he is not still on the sofa). +Won't you go to bed now, sir? You can't stand so much in one day. +(Goes to the sofa.) Where is he? Surely he has not tried to walk in +alone? (Hurries across to the bedroom door and almost falls over +his body. She starts back with a scream.) Where is--? (Catches up +the lamp, hurries back, and bends over him; then calls out, +screaming:) Help! Help! (Rings the bell wildly. A MAID appears.) +Mr. Halvdan is lying here! Heaven knows whether he is dead or +alive! Run for the Doctor! Leave the door open behind you, and beg +the first man you meet in the street to come up here at once and +help me. Tell them it is a matter of life and death! + +Maid. Yes! + +The Housekeeper. Hurry! + +Maid (going out). Yes, yes! + +The Housekeeper (coming back into the room). Is he alive or dead? I +haven't the courage to find out. And both his brothers away! +(Cries.) God grant some one comes soon!--Poor man, alone in his +death as he was in his life! But what was he doing _there_? Why did +he get up from the sofa? (Sees the paper.) Surely that can't be--? +(Puts the lamp on the floor and unfolds the paper.) Yes, it is the +paper, right enough! Who can have given it him? I can't look at it +now; but if it is like the number I read the other day (lets the +paper fall, and gets up with the lamp) then I understand everything +--and may God requite those that do such things! (The EDITOR rushes +in.) + +The Editor. Is it here? + +The Housekeeper (holds the lamp to him, then starts back). What do +_you_ want here? + +The Editor. Where am I? A girl came running down the street and +told me I must come up here and help some one that was dying. What +do you want me to do?--or is it not here? + +The Housekeeper. And it was _you_ she met? It is the hand of God! + +The Editor. What are you babbling about? If it is not here, say so +at once. + +The Housekeeper. Yes, it is here. There he lies! + +The Editor. Then oughtn't we to get him into bed? + +The Housekeeper. Yes. But do you know who it is you are helping? + +The Editor (to himself). She is not very polite. (Aloud.) No; but +what does that matter? + +The Housekeeper. This much--that it is you that have killed him. + +The Editor. I--? She is mad. + +The Housekeeper. The man lying there is Halvdan Rejn. And he had +been reading about himself in your paper.--Come, now, and carry him +in. (She goes into the bedroom with the lamp. Her voice is heard +from inside the room.) Now, take hold of him and lift him. You can +think afterwards. + +The Editor (stoops to lift the body, but gets up again). I don't +think he is dead yet. + +The Housekeeper. All the more reason to make haste. + +The Editor (stoops down again, but gets up once more.) Let me take +his head. + +The Housekeeper. Why? + +The Editor. So that--if he should open his eyes + +The Housekeeper. --he won't see you. (Comes out of the bedroom). Go +in there, then, and take his head. (He goes in.) What was that? + +The Editor (from inside the room). I slipped. There is something +wet here. + +The Housekeeper. Yes, he has had a hemorrhage. Carefully, now. +(They carry him in. The stage remains empty for a moment. Then the +EDITOR comes back, wiping his forehead. He walks backwards and +forwards, treading on the paper as he goes, but without noticing +it.) + +The Editor. What a horrible thing to happen!--Newspapers are not +meant for dying people.--It is not my fault.--Is this blood on my +hand? It is! (Wipes it with his handkerchief.) And now it is on my +handkerchief! (Throws it away.) No, it has my name on it. (Picks it +up again.) No one can say it is my fault. (Sits down, then gets up, +wiping his forehead with his handkerchief without noticing what +he is doing.) Ah, I hope I haven't put blood on my forehead? I +seem to feel it there! (Feels with his hand to see if his brow is +wet.) No. (Sits down, then gets up again.) Let me get away from +here. (Stops.) To think that I should be the one to come up! that +it should just happen to-night that I did not receive my paper, +and so went out! It almost seems more than accident. Indeed, I +often had a foreboding that it would happen. (Stands opposite the +bedroom door.) But is he dead? I think I will go and fetch the +Doctor. Oh no, of course the maid has gone for him. He hasn't +long to live, anyway; I could see that. (Walks forward, pointing +with his finger.) "There goes the man that killed Halvdan Rejn! +And his punishment was that he had to lift up his bloodstained +body himself." That is what they will say; and they will look at +me as if--. (Sits down.) No, let me get away! (Takes a few steps, +then stops suddenly.) That article in to-morrow's paper! It is +worse than the others! (Pulls out his watch.) Too late--the post +has gone! I would have given--. (Checks himself.) I have nothing +worth giving. In the morning It will be known all over the town +just as everyone is reading my fresh article. There will be a riot; +I shall be hunted like a wild beast. What shall I do? I might sneak +out of the town? Then they will gloat over me! I won't allow them +that pleasure! No, I cannot stay my hand utter a failure; only +after a victory. That is the cursed part of it-never, never to be +able to end it. Oh, for some one that could end it--end it, end it! +Oh, for one day of real peace! Shall _I_ ever get that? (Sits down.) +No, no, I must get away! (Gets up.) To-morrow must take care of +itself. (Starts.) There is the paper he was reading! (Steps over +it.) I will take it away--and burn it. (Takes it up.) I cannot burn +it here; some one might come. (Is just going to put it into his +pocket, as it is, but takes it out again to fold it better.) A +Sunday's paper, apparently! Then it is _not_ to-day's? An old number, +I suppose. Then the whole thing is a mistake! (Sighs with relief.) +Let me look again! (Opens the paper, tremblingly.) I don't deserve +it, but--. (Reads.) Sunday, the--. _To-morrow's_ paper? _Here_? How in +all the world did it get here? (Appears horrified.) Here are the +articles about Evje! How on earth did they get in? Didn't I send a +message? Didn't I write? This on the top of everything else! Are +even my printers conspiring against me? Well, even if it ruins me, +I shall go on! They shall find out what I can do. How on earth can +I be expected to help it if a weak-minded fellow dies, or if my +printers are drunk or my manager has delirium tremens! I shall +pursue my end through all chances and in spite of all their tricks, +and I shall crush them, crush them--I shall--. (Gives way to a +paroxysm of rage. At this moment the MAID comes in with the +DOCTOR'S ASSISTANT. The MAID rushes into the bedroom. The EDITOR +starts up.) Who is that? What do you want? + +The Doctor's Assistant (coldly). What do _you_ want here? + +The Editor. I? Oh, I was called up to help the sick man into his +bed. + +The Doctor's Assistant (as before). Ah!--so it was _you_! (A pause.) + +The Editor. Have you ever seen me before? + +The Doctor's Assistant. Yes. I have heard you grind your teeth +before this. (Goes into the bedroom.) + +The Editor (after standing for a moment looking after him). They +will all look at me to-morrow like that-with those cold eyes. +"Every man's hand against him, and his hand against every man;" +there can only be one end to that. To-night, the meeting--and +Harald Rejn will take them by storm. To-morrow, his brother's +death--and my new article in the paper--and, in addition to +that, those about Evje, who at present is only angry. And the +election in two days! Oh, yes, he will be elected now. So I may as +well give it all up at once. I would change places with any wolf +that has a lair to hide in. Those cold eyes of his! (Shudders.) +That is how every one will look at me to-morrow! They have pierced +through my armour! (The DOCTOR'S ASSISTANT comes back, and the +EDITOR makes an effort to resume his former confident manner.) + +The Doctor's Assistant. I don't know whether you will be glad to +hear that it is all over. + +The Editor (under his breath). You brute! + +The Doctor's Assistant. His old housekeeper does not feel equal to +coming here to tell you what his last words were. They were: +"Forgive him!" (Goes out.) + +The Editor (sitting down, then getting up again). No, I mustn't be +found here. (Walks about the room on tiptoe, as if he were afraid +of waking some one. When he comes opposite to the bedroom door, he +turns towards it, stretches out his arms and says:) Give me your +forgiveness too! + + + +ACT IV + +(SCENE.--A large and handsomely furnished sitting-room at the +EVJE'S. The room is brightly lit and the fire burning. The entrance +door is on the right, and beyond it a door leading to the dining-room. +INGEBORG is busy taking the covers off the chairs, folding them +carefully as she does so. After a little, the bell rings. She +goes to open the door, and returns, showing in the DOCTOR.) + +The Doctor. Oho! Is it to be in here to-night? + +Ingeborg (who has resumed her work of making the room ready). Yes, +sir. + +The Doctor. Where are they all? + +Ingeborg. At the meeting, sir. + +The Doctor. All of them? + +Ingeborg. Yes, all of them. Miss Gertrud went first-- + +The Doctor. Yes, I saw her well enough! + +Ingeborg. And then the master, and a farmer gentleman with him, +came in to fetch the mistress. + +The Doctor (to himself). Something has happened here, then. +(Aloud.) Tell me, Ingeborg--has _he_ been here again? You know +who I mean. (Coughs in imitation of the EDITOR'S cough.) + +Ingeborg. Oh, the Editor; no, sir. + +The Doctor (to himself). I wonder what has happened. (Aloud.) +Well, evidently there is to be a festivity here to-night; and, as I +see the chairs are getting their covers taken off, I may as well +take mine off too. (Takes off his coat and gives it to INGEBORG, +who carries it out.) I don't blame Evje for wanting to celebrate +Harald's success after a meeting like that! He is not exactly +eloquent in the ordinary sense of the word--doesn't bother about +his antitheses and climaxes and paradoxes, and all that sort of +nonsense; but he is a _man_! He goes bail for what he says, and he +says what he likes--ha, ha! And that dear Gertrud, too! Follows +him into the hall, and, as there isn't a single seat left there, +goes up on to the platform among the committee, and sits there +looking at him with those trustful blue eyes of hers, as if there +was no one else in the room! And _we_ were all looking at _her_! +She helped him more than ten good speakers would have done, I am +sure. Her faith in him bred it in others, whether they liked it or +no. She is one who would die for her faith! Yes, yes! The man +that gets her--. (INGEBORG comes back.) Well! (Rubs his hands +together.) Look here, Ingeborg. (Very politely.) Do you know +what is meant by the Rights of Man? + +Ingeborg (going on with her work). No, sir. Something we have +earned, I suppose. + +The Doctor. Yes, you earn them every day. + +Ingeborg. Our meals, perhaps? + +The Doctor (laughing). No, it isn't something to eat, +unfortunately. (Politely.) Do you ever read papers, Ingeborg? + +Ingeborg. Papers? Oh, you mean the price-lists they leave at the +kitchen door. Yes, sir; every day, before we go to market, I-- + +The Doctor. No, I don't mean papers of that sort. I mean-- + +Ingeborg. Oh, you mean the newspaper I take in to master's room +every morning. No, Sir, I don't read that. I am told there are such +horrors in it. + +The Doctor. Quite so. Don't you care to read about horrors, then? + +Ingeborg. Oh, we poor folk see enough of them in our everyday lives, +without reading about them!--But perhaps the gentry enjoy it. + +The Doctor. You are a very wise woman. Let me tell you, though, +that there is a fight going on, about--oh, well, never mind what it +is about. And the Editor and Mr. Rejn, who both come to this +house, are the two chief fighters. Don't you want to know what +they are fighting about? + +Ingeborg (going on unconcernedly with her work). Oh, so they are +fighting, are they? No, I don't care the least bit, sir! + +The Doctor (to himself). Ha, ha--the difference between Ingeborg +and me is that I am interested in the fight merely as a student of +human nature, and she is not interested in it at all. I wonder +which is farthest from any genuine belief in politics?--from our +"duty as a citizen," as they call it? (To INGEBORG.) Ingeborg, do +you know what your "duty as a citizen" means? + +Ingeborg. My "duty as a citizen"? That mean; paying fines, doesn't +it, sir? + +The Doctor. Yes; and a very heavy fine, into the bargain! + +Ingeborg. The master was fined because the pavement was not swept. +John was ill. + +The Doctor. Quite right, that was one of his duties as a citizen.-- +Tell me, Ingeborg, are they expecting a lot of people here to-night? + +Ingeborg. No, sir, I have only laid table for quite a few. + +The Doctor. And what are they going to have? + +Ingeborg. Oh, one or two dishes and one or two sorts of wine--. + +The Doctor. Aha! (A ring is heard at the bell. INGEBORG goes to the +door.) There they are! Now we shall have a fine time! + +Ingeborg (coming back with a letter). It is a note for you, sir. + +The Doctor. Oh, bother I + +Ingeborg. The man who brought it was not sure whether you would be +at the meeting or here. + +The Doctor. How could he know--? (Putting on his glasses.) Oh, from +my assistant--that is quite another thing. Of course he wants my +help or my advice. Well, he shan't have it! I have run about quite +enough to-day. Tell the messenger that I haven't time! I have my +Duties as a Citizen to attend to! (Calls after her.) And my +Manhood's Rights too! (Opens the envelope.) No, I won't read it; if +I do, the matter will worry me all the evening. I know what I am. +(Puts the note in his pocket.) I mean to enjoy this evening! +(Suddenly.) I wonder how our friend the Editor is enjoying this +evening! Was he at the meeting, I wonder? A remarkable personality +--but malignity itself! Lion-hearted, though! He would fight till +the last drop of his blood! But what is it, really, that he is +fighting for? That question has always interested me, for I can't +make it out. (To INGEBORG, who has comeback.) Well? + +Ingeborg. The messenger has gone.--Yes, sir, I told him everything +you told me to. + +The Doctor. Of course. You would! Why the deuce does any one pay +any attention to what I say! (The bell rings.) Here they are at +last! Now we shall have a delightful evening! (EVJE and MRS. EVJE +come in.) I am first, you see! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. Were you at the meeting, too? + +The Doctor. Where else should I be? + +Evje. Did you see me? + +Mrs. Evje. There were so many people there, dear. + +Evje. But I was standing on a seat. + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, he was standing on a seat! + +The Doctor. There were plenty of people doing that. + +Evje. I wanted to be seen!--There _have_ been goings on here +to-day, my friend! + +Mrs. Evje. You will never guess what has happened! + +The Doctor. Anyway I can see that something has happened. + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. Oh--! + +The Doctor. What is it, then? + +Evje. Those articles will be in to-morrow's paper. + +The Doctor. In the paper?--Yes, I didn't find him. + +Evje. But I found him! + +The Doctor (impatiently). Well? + +Evje. I will tell you all about it another time. But I have read them-- + +Mrs. Evje. And he has told me all about them! + +The Doctor. Are they very bad? + +Evje. Oh--oh! + +Mrs. Evje. Oh--oh--oh! + +The Doctor (with a look of pleased curiosity.) As bad as all that? + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. Oh--oh--oh--oh! + +The Doctor. And _that_ was why you went to the meeting! + +Evje. Of course--tit for tat! It was my wife's idea. + +Mrs. Evje. It was the obvious thing to do, dear. + +Evje. Our whole family at the meeting!--So that all the town should +know that it was nothing but the meanest political persecution +because I had joined my son-in-law's party. + +Mrs. Evje. We are party people now, you know! + +Evje. Do you know, there is something exciting about being mixed +up with such things--something invigorating, something-- + +The Doctor (stepping back). Are _you_ bitten with it, too? + +Evje. Yes, if I can't be left in peace, I shall become a party man. + +The Doctor (enthusiastically). Did you see Gertrud? + +Evje and Mrs. Evje (with emotion). Our Gertrud! Yes, indeed we did! + +The Doctor. Did you see her coming in with him! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje (as before). Yes, we saw her coming in with him! + +The Doctor. I suppose you did not know she was going? + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. Oh, yes! + +Mrs. Evje. She had said she would go with us-- + +Evje. But when we went to fetch her, the bird had flown! + +The Doctor. How pretty she looked, too! All the men were looking +at her. And how she looked at him! + +Mrs. Evje. It made me want to cry. I had quite a job to prevent +myself. + +Evje. You need not have minded, dear! God has given us great +happiness. Her faith in him and her love shone to from her eyes +that it went to my heart. I felt quite upset! (Wipes his eyes.) + +The Doctor. And what about _him_--eh? I don't fancy any one will +think about stopping his career. We have been a pack of fools. + +Evje. That we have! + +The Doctor. He is not exactly eloquent, but-- + +Evje. That is precisely what I was saying to my wife! He is not +exactly eloquent, but he is-- + +The Doctor. --a man! + +Evje. A man! My very words, weren't they, my dear? + +Mrs. Evje. Yes.--And I say he is so strong a man that he can afford +to be tender-hearted. For he certainly has been that. + +Evje. Yes, he has been that! + +The Doctor (laughing). In spite of his strength! + +Evje. Oh, you may make the most of your--. Aha! (Loud ringing at +the bell is heard.) Here they are! + +Mrs. Evje. Let us go and meet them! + +The Doctor. No; look here--let us wait for them at the other side +of the room, so that they may make a triumphal progress up to us! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje, Yes! (They go to the opposite end of the room, +while HARALD comes in rather quickly, with GERTRUD on his arm. As +they cross the room, the others cry out: "Bravo! Bravo!" and clap +their hands.) + +Gertrud (still holding to HARALD's arm). And he is my man! My man! +(Throws her arms round his neck, crying with happiness, and kisses +him; then does the same to her mother, and then to her father, to +whom she whispers: Thank you!) + +The Doctor. Oh--me too! + +Gertrud (after a moment's hesitation). Yes--you too! + +(The DOCTOR helps her to take off her cloak, and talks to her, +whispering and laughing.) + +Harald (shaking EVJE's hand). Good evening! + +Evje. Forgive me! + +Harald. With all my heart! + +Mrs. Evje. And now everything is all right! + +Harald. For good! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. For good! + +Harald. And, thank you for coming to the meeting. + +Evje. It was no more than our duty! Look here--did you see me? + +Harald. The whole time! But, tell me, was it a delusion, or was it +my brother Haakon that was standing on the floor beside you, rather +in the shadow? + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. It _was_ he! + +Evje. I fetched him from your brother Halvdan's. + +Harald. I am so glad! It must have pleased Haakon. Gertrud and I at +first thought of going in to see Halvdan before we came on here; +but we saw all his lights were out. He must be asleep. + +Evje. I can give you news of him. He is all right. + +Harald. And Haakon? + +Evje. Very well, too. A fine fellow! I wanted him to come home with +us now; but he said he was tired after his journey. + +Mrs. Evje (to INGEBORG, who has come in from the dining room). Is +it ready? + +Ingeborg. Yes, ma'am. + +Mrs. Evje. Then come along. (INGEBORG opens the dining-room door.) + +The Doctor and Evje. Yes, come along! + +The Doctor. But we must go ceremoniously! Let us make a little +festivity of it to-night! You must head the procession, Evje--and +then the two young people Gertrud (taking HARALD's arm). Yes! + +The Doctor. And Mrs. Evje and I will bring up the rear! (Offers her +his arm.) + +Evje. Forward!(The bell rings. He stops.) Who can it be--as late as this? + +The Doctor. Probably some friends on their way back from the +meeting. + +Mrs. Evje. We must wait a moment!(To INGEBORG, who is going to open +the door.)Put a leaf in the table, and lay places for as many as +come. + +Ingeborg. Yes, ma'am. (The bell rings again, as she goes to open +the door.) + +The Doctor. They are impatient! So much the better--it shows they +are in a good humour after the meeting! (A knock is heard at the +door.) + +All. Come in!(The EDITOR comes in, with no overcoat on, but wearing +his hat, which he forgets to take of till he is well into the +room. He goes straight up to EVJE, who has crossed over to the +left-hand side of the room.) + +All (when they see him in the doorway). You! (GERTRUD clings closer +to HARALD.) + +The Editor. I wanted once more, as in the old days, not to go to +bed without--this time it is not a question of thanking you for the +happy time we have had together but without begging your pardon!(He +speaks quietly, but with suppressed emotion.)There has been some +unfortunate misunderstanding. Those articles have been printed, in +spite of my express instructions to the contrary--I do not know how. + +Evje. I have read them. + +The Editor. You have read them? + +Evje. Yes, the copy of the paper that was meant for you came into +my hands. + +The Editor. So that was it!--Forgive me, old friend! Won't you give +me your hand? + +Mrs. Evje (coming forward). That he shall never do! + +The Editor (glancing over his shoulder at her). Let no one come +between us at a moment like this! You don't know--. A hundred times +in my life I would have done what I am doing now, had I not been +afraid that people would call it affectation on my part and repulse +me. Don't _you_ do that!--least of all now! Give me your hand, +Evje! I beg you, in the sight and hearing of you all--. (EVJE seems +to vacillate.) + +Mrs. Evje. No, you shan't!--not while he has anything to do with a +newspaper. Otherwise it will all begin over again to-morrow. He +is not his own master, you know. + +The Editor. I have done with it all. + +Mrs. Evje. Oh, you have said that so often! Nobody believes it. +No; when a man can push political hatred so far as to write about +an old friend, in whose house he has been a daily guest, as if he +were a criminal--and all because he doesn't like his son-in-law, or +his servant--one doesn't shake hands with him the very day his +attacks appear in the paper. + +The Editor (who, all the tinge, has kept his back turned to MRS. +EVJE, and has not looked at her). Evje, you are a good-hearted +fellow, I know. Don't listen to what others say, now. This is a +very bitter hour for me. You would be doing a good deed! Give +me your hand--or a word! I am in such a state now that I must +have visible signs of _some one's_ forgiveness, or I shall--! + +Mrs. Evje (emphatically). Yes, a little repentance will do you +good! But it will do you no good if you obtain forgiveness easily! +You want to learn, just for once, what it is to be wounded at +heart. You are only accustomed to deal with people whom you can +flog one day and have at your feet--either from fear or from +vanity--the next. And have we--God forgive us!--ever thought +seriously the worse of you for it? No; because we never understood +what it was till we were hit by it ourselves. But that is all the +more reason why we should do our duty now! Hatred shall be met with +hatred! + +The Doctor (at the back of the room, to GERTRUD and HARALD). She is +her father's daughter, after all, when it comes to the point! + +The Editor (turns upon MRS. EVJE, with his fist clenched, but +restrains himself from answering her). Then you won't shake hands, +Evje? Not a word of forgiveness? + +Evje. I think my wife is right. + +The Editor (controlling himself with difficulty). You are a weak +man, I know-- + +Evje. What do you mean? + +The Editor. --but do not be weak this time! If you knew everything, +you would know you _must_ not refuse me what I ask. There are +others concerned--and for that reason-- + +The Doctor. Let us go! + +Mrs. Evje. No, stay! He shall not have his way again. + +The Editor. Well, of all--! It is certainly true that those who are +hardest on sinners are those who have never been tempted +themselves--and the most merciless creature in the world is an +injured woman. + +Mrs. Evje. Now he is coming out in his true colours! + +The Doctor (not without glee). Yes, that he is! + +The Editor (controlling himself once more). Evje--you, who know me, +know what it must cost me to do this--and you can form some idea of +the need I am in. I have never-- + +Evje. I believe you; but I never can feel sure what your next move +will be. You have so many. + +The Editor. My next move is to have done with it all, as sure as-- + +Mrs. Evje. Don't believe him! A man who can ask for your sympathy +one moment and abuse you the next is not fit to promise anything-- +and certainly not fit to be forgiven, either. + +The Editor (with an outburst of passion). Then may everything evil +overtake me if I ever ask you or any one else for sympathy again! +You have succeeded in teaching me that I can do without it! I can +rise above your cowardly cruelty. (To EVJE.) You are a miserable, +weak creature--and have always been, for all your apparent +good-natured shrewdness! (To MRS. EVJE.) And as for you, who have +often laughed so heartily at my so-called malice, and now all at +once have become so severely virtuous--why, you are both like +part-proprietors of my paper! You have taken all the profit you could +from me, as long as it served your purpose--I have seen that for a +long time! And all my pretended friends are like you--secret +holders of shares in me, so as to secure their own safety and the +persecution of others!--every bit as guilty as I am, only more +prudent, more timid, more cowardly--! + +Evje. Once more--leave this house, which you have outraged! + +Mrs. Evje. And how dare you set foot in here again? + +The Editor. No, I am not going until all the anger that is in my +heart has turned into fear in yours! Because now I will _not_ have +done with it all! No--it is just through _his_ death that respect +for me will revive--it will be like a rampart of bayonets round me! +"There goes one who can kill a man with a word, if he likes!" +_That_ will make them treat me respectfully! + +Harald and the Doctor. What does he mean? + +The Editor (as he hears HARALD'S voice). And you--you mountebank, +who can stand up in public and seek applause before your brother's +corpse is cold--don't come talking rant to me! You are more +contemptible than I am! I couldn't have done that; I couldn't stand +there, as you are doing now, impatient to get to your champagne and +pretty speeches!--Oh, how I despise all such lying and heartlessness! +(They all look at him and at each other with a questioning +expression.) + +Harald. Is my brother dead? + +Mrs. Evje. Is his brother dead? + +Gertrud. Good God, is Halvdan dead? + +Evje. Is he dead? Impossible! + +The Doctor. Is Rejn dead--and I--? + +Evje. I saw him only a couple of hours ago, looking quite well. + +The Editor (in a broken voice). Didn't you know? + +All (except the DOCTOR). No! + +The Doctor. Ah, that letter, that letter! (Looks in his pocket for +it and his glasses.) + +The Editor. I am the wretchedest man alive! (Sinks into a chair.) + +The Doctor. I had a letter from my assistant, but I have not read +it! + +Mrs. Evje. Read it, read it! + +The Doctor (reading). "I am writing in great haste. As I expect you +will be going to your old friends' after the meeting, and will meet +Harald Rejn there, the task will probably fall to you of telling +him--(the EDITOR gets up to go, but stands still)--that Halvdan +Rejn died about eight o'clock of a fresh attack of hemorrhage! +(HARALD leaves GERTRUD'S side and comes forward, with a cry. The +EDITOR steadies himself by holding on to the table.) No one was +with him; he was found lying across the threshold of his bedroom. A +copy of the newspaper was lying on the floor behind him." (HARALD, +with a groan, advance threateningly towards the EDITOR.) + +Gertrud. Harald, my ring!--my ring! (HARALD Stops, collects +himself, buries his face in his hands and bursts into uncontrollable +tears. GERTRUD puts her arms round him and holds him folded in them.) + +The Doctor (laying a hand on HARALD's arm). "The housekeeper told +me he had only spoken two words, and they were 'Forgive him!'" +(HARALD bursts into tears.) + +The Doctor (after waiting for a little). "Apparently chance--or +perhaps something else--decreed that the maid who ran for help, +should meet the very man, who hats caused the tragedy, and that it +should be _he_ who helped the housekeeper to lay him on his +deathbed." (All look at the EDITOR.) + +Evje. That was why he came! (A pause.) + +Gertrud. Harald! (HARALD, who has turned away from her to struggle +with his emotion, does not turn round.) If _he_ could forgive-- + +The Editor (with a gesture of refusal). No! + +Gertrud (quietly, to the EDITOR). If you want to deserve it, make +an end of all this! + +The Editor. It is all at an end! (To MRS. EVJE.) You were right. I +knew it myself, too. My armour is pierces pierced through. A child +might conquer me now--and this child has done so; for she has +begged for mercy for me, and no one has ever done that before. +(Puts his hand over his eyes, turns away, and goes out. As he is +going out the bell rings. A moment later, INGEBORG Shows in HAAKON +REJN.) + +Gertrud (who has put her arms round HARALD, whispers). Who is it? + +Harald. My brother. (Goes to meet HAAKON and throws himself into +his arms.) You had a talk with him this afternoon, then? + +Haakon. Yes. + +Mrs. Evje. Let us all go to him. + +Evje and Gertrud. Yes. + +Mrs. Evje (to INGEBORG). Bring in our cloaks and hats again, and +afterwards clear the table. (INGEBORG does so.) + +Harald (unable to control his emotion). Haakon, this is my future +wife. (Goes away from them.) + +Haakon. Well, my dear, your engagement has begun seriously; take +all the future seriously, too. + +The Doctor. You need not say that to _her_. What she needs is to +take life more lightly. + +Haakon. Oh, yes--if she lays everything in God's hands she can +always take life lightly. + +Mrs. Evje. It is our own fault, I expect, when we take it too +lightly. + +Evje. But sometimes we learn a lesson by that. + +Haakon. Oh, yes. Well, we must stand by one another, we who +take life in the same way. + +Mrs. Evje. Shall we go, children? + +Harald (to HAAKON). Will you bring Gertrud, Haakon? I would rather +go alone. (They go out. The curtain falls.) + + + +THE BANKRUPT + +A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + +HENNING TJAELDE, merchant and brewer. +MRS. TJAELDE, his wife. +VALBORG and SIGNE, their daughters. +LIEUTENANT HAMAR, engaged to Signe. +SANNAES, Tjaelde's confidential clerk. +JAKOSSEN, manager of Tjaelde's brewery. +BERENT, a lawyer. +PRAM, a custom-house official. +An Agent. +The VICAR. +LIND, a guest. +FINNE, a guest. +RING, a guest. +HOLM, a guest. +KNUTZON, a guest. +KNUDSEN, a guest. +FALBE, a guest. + + +THE BANKRUPT + +ACT I + +(SCENE.--A sitting-room in the TJAELDES' house, opening on a +verandah that is decorated with flowers. It is a hot summer's day. +There is a view of the sea beyond the verandah, and boats are +visible among the islands that fringe the coast. A good-sized +yacht, with sails spread, is lying close up under the verandah on +the right. The room is luxuriously furnished and full of flowers. +There are two French windows in the left-hand wall; two doors in +the right-hand. A table in the middle of the room; arm-chairs and +rocking-chairs scattered about. A sofa in the foreground on the +right. LIEUTENANT HAMAR is lying on the sofa, and SIGNE sitting in +a rocking-chair.) + +Hamar. What shall we do with ourselves to-day? + +Signe (rocking herself). Hm! (A pause.) + +Hamar. That was a delicious sail we had last night. (Yawns.) +But I am sleepy to-day. Shall we go for a ride? + +Signe. Hm! (A pause.) + +Hamar. I am too hot on this sofa. I think I will move. (Gets up. +SIGNE begins to hum an air as she rocks herself.) Play me +something, Signe! + +Signe (singing her words to the air she has been humming). +The piano is out of tune. + +Hamar. Read to me, then! + +Signe (as before, looking out of the window). They are swimming +the horses. They are swimming the horses. They are swimming +the horses. + +Hamar. I think I will go and have a swim too. Or perhaps I will +wait till nearer lunch-time. + +Signe (as before). So as to have a better appetite--appetite-- +appetite. + +(MRS. TJAELDE comes in from the right, walking slowly.) + +Hamar. You look very thoughtful! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, I don't know what to order. + +Signe (as before). For dinner, I suppose you mean? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes. + +Hamar. Do you expect any one? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, your father writes to me that Mr. Finne is +coming. + +Signe (speaking). The most tiresome person possible, of course. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. How would boiled salmon and roast chicken do? + +Signe. We had that the other day. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. (with a sigh). There is nothing that we didn't. There +is so little choice in the market just now. + +Signe. Then we ought to send to town. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Oh, these meals, these meals! + +Hamar (yawning). They are the best thing in life, anyway. + +Signe. To eat, yes--but not to cook; I never will cook a dinner. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (sitting down at the table). One could put up with the +cooking. It's the having always to think of something fresh! + +Hamar. Why don't you get a chef from one of the hotels, as I have +so often advised you? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Oh, we have tried that, but he was more trouble +than it was worth. + +Hamar. Yes, because he had no invention. Get a French chef! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, and have to be always beside him to interpret!-- +But I am no nearer this dinner. And lately I have been finding such +difficulty in getting about. + +Hamar. I have never in my life heard so much talk about meals +as I have in this house. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You see, you have never been in a prosperous +business-man's house before. Our friends are mostly business-men, +of course--and most of them have no greater pleasures than those of +the table. + +Signe. That's true. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Are you wearing _that_ dress to-day? + +Signe. Yes. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You have worn a different one every day. + +Signe. Well, if Hamar is tired of both the blue one and the grey +one, what can I do? + +Hamar. And I don't like this one any better than the others. + +Signe. Indeed!--Then I really think you had better order me one +yourself. + +Hamar. Come to town with me, and I will! + +Signe. Yes, mother--Hamar and I have made up our minds that +we must go back to town. [Note: There would be nothing contrary to +Norwegian ideas of propriety in Signe's proposal. In Norway an +engaged couple could travel alone; and the fiancee would go to stay +in the house of her future husband's relations.] + +Mrs. Tjaelde. But you were there only a fortnight ago! + +Hamar. And it is exactly a fortnight too long since we were there! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. (thoughtfully). Now, what _can_ I order for dinner? + +(VALBORG comes into sight on the verandah.) + +Signe (turning round and seeing VALBORG). Enter Her Highness! + +Hamar (turning round). Carrying a bouquet! Oho! I have seen it +before! + +Signe. Have you? Did _you_ give it her? + +Hamar. No; I was coming through the garden--and saw it on the table +in Valborg's summerhouse. Is it your birthday, Valborg? + +Valborg. No. + +Hamar. I thought not. Perhaps there is some other festivity to-day? + +Valborg. No. (SIGNE suddenly bursts out laughing.) + +Hamar. Why do you laugh? + +Signe. Because I understand! Ha, ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. What do you understand? + +Signe. Whose hands it is that have decked the altar! Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. I suppose you think they were mine? + +Signe. No, they were redder hands than yours! Ha, ha, ha, ha! +(VALBORG throws the bouquet down.) Oh, dear me, it doesn't do to +laugh so much in this heat. But it is delightful! To think he +should have hit upon that idea! Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar (laughing). Do you mean--? + +Signe (laughing). Yes! You must know that Valborg-- + +Valborg. Signe! + +Signe.--who has sent so many distinguished suitors about their +business, cannot escape from the attentions of a certain red pair +of hands--ha, ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. Do you mean Sannaes? + +Signe. Yes! (Points out of the window.) There is the culprit! He is +waiting, Valborg, for you to come, in maiden meditation, with the +bouquet in your hands--as you came just now-- + +Mrs. Tjaelde. (getting up). No, it is your father he is waiting +for. Ah, he sees him now. (Goes out by the verandah.) + +Signe. Yes, it really is father--riding a bay horse! + +Hamar (getting up). On a bay horse! Let us go and say "how do +you do" to the bay horse! + +Signe. N--o, no! + +Hamar. You won't come and say "how do you do" to the bay horse? A +cavalry officer's wife must love horses next best to her husband. + +Signe. And he his wife next best to his horses. + +Hamar. What? Are you jealous of a horse? + +Signe. Oh, I know very well you have never been so fond of me +as you are of horses. + +Hamar. Come along! (Pulls her up out of her chair.) + +Signe. But I don't feel the least interested in the bay horse. + +Hamar. Very well, then, I will go alone! + +Signe. No, I will come. + +Hamar (to VALBORG). Won't you come and welcome the bay horse too? + +Valborg. No, but I will go and welcome my father! + +Signe (looking back, as she goes). Yes, of course--father as well. +(She and HAMAR go out.) + +(VALBORG goes to the farthest window and stands looking out of it. +Her dress is the same colour as the long curtain, and a piece of +statuary and some flowers conceal her from any one entering the +room. SANNAES comes in, carrying a small saddle-bag and a cloak, +which he puts down on a chair behind the door. As he turns round +he sees the bouquet on the door.) + +Sannaes. There it is! Has she dropped it by accident, or did she +throw it down? Never mind--she has had it in her hands. (Picks it +up, kisses it, and is going to take it away.) + +Valborg (coming forward). Leave it alone! + +Sannaes (dropping the bouquet). You here, Miss Valborg--? I +didn't see you-- + +Valborg. But I can see what you are after. How dare you presume +to think of persecuting me with your flowers and your--your red +hands? (He puts his hands behind his back.) How dare you make +me a laughing-stock to every one in the house, and I suppose to +every one in the town? + +Sannaes. I--I--I-- + +Valborg. And what about me? Don't you think I deserve a little +consideration? You will be turned out of the house before long, if +you do not take care--! Now be quick and get away before the others +come in. (SANNAES turns away, holding his hands in front of him, +and goes out by the verandah to the right. At the same moment +TJAELDE is seen coming at the other end of the verandah, followed +by HAMAR and SIGNE.) + +Tjaelde. Yes, it is a fine horse. + +Hamar. Fine? I don't believe there is its equal in the country. + +Tjaelde. I dare say. Did you notice that he hadn't turned a hair? + +Hamar. What glorious lungs! And such a beauty, too--his head, his +legs, his neck--! I never saw such a beauty! + +Tjaelde. Yes, he is a handsome beast. (Looks out of the verandah at +the yacht.) Have you been out for a sail? + +Hamar. I was sailing among the islands last night, and came back +this morning with the fishing-boats--a delightful sail! + +Tjaelde. I wish I had time to do that. + +Hamar. But surely it is only imagination on your part, to think +that you never have time? + +Tjaelde. Oh, well, perhaps I have time but not inclination. + +Signe. And how do things stand where you have been? + +Tjaelde. Badly. + +Valborg (coming forward). Welcome home, father! + +Tjaelde. Thank you, dear! + +Hamar. Is it not possible to save anything? + +Tjaelde. Not at present; that is why I took the horse. + +Hamar. Then the bay horse is the only thing you get out of the +smash? + +Tjaelde. Do you know that I might say that horse has cost me three +or four thousand pounds? + +Hamar. Well, that is its only defect, anyway! Still, if the worst +comes to the worst, and you can afford it--the horse is priceless! +(TJAELDE turns away, puts down his hat and coat and takes off his +gloves.) + +Signe. It is beautiful to see your enthusiasm when you talk about +horses. I rather think it is the only enthusiasm you have. + +Hamar. Yes, if I were not a cavalry officer I should like to be a +horse! + +Signe. Thank you! And what should I be? + +Valborg. "Oh, were I but the saddle on thy back! Oh, were I but the +whip about thy loins!" + +Hamar. "Oh, were I but the flowers in thy--." No, "hand" doesn't +rhyme! + +Tjaelde. (coming forward, meets MRS. TJAELDE, who has come in from +the right.) Well, my dear, how are you? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Oh, I find it more and more difficult to get about. + +Tjaelde. There is always something the matter with you, my dear! +Can I have something to eat? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, it has been standing waiting for you. Here it +comes. (A maid brings in a tray which she lays on the table.) + +Tjaelde. Good! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Will you have a cup of tea? + +Tjaelde. No, thank you. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. (sitting down beside him and pouring him out a glass +of wine). And how have things gone with the Moellers? + +Tjaelde. Badly. I told you so already. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I didn't hear you. + +Valborg. I had a letter to-day from Nanna Moeller. She tells me all +about it--how none of the family knew anything about it till the +officers of the courts came. + +Tjaelde. Yes, there must have been a dreadful scene. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Did he tell you anything about it? + +Tjaelde (as he eats). I didn't speak to him. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My dear! Why, you are old friends! + +Tjaelde. Bah! Old friends! He sat looking as if he had taken leave +of his senses. Besides, I have had enough of that family. I didn't +go there to hear them talk about their troubles. + +Signe. I suppose it was all very sad? + +Tjaelde (still eating). Shocking! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What will they have to live on? + +Tjaelde. What is allowed them by their creditors, of course. + +Signe. But all the things they had? + +Tjaelde. Sold. + +Signe. All those pretty things--their furniture, their carriages, +their--? + +Tjaelde. All sold. + +Hamar. And his watch? It is the most beautiful watch I have ever +seen--next to yours. + +Tjaelde. It had to go, of course, being jewellery. Give me some +wine; I am hot and thirsty. + +Signe. Poor things! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Where are they going to live now? + +Tjaelde. In the house of one of the skippers of what was their +fleet. Two small rooms and a kitchen. + +Signe. Two small rooms and a kitchen! (A pause.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What do they intend to do? + +Tjaelde. There was a subscription started to enable Mrs. Moeller to +get the job of catering for the Club. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Is the poor woman going to have more cooking to do! + +Signe. Did they send no messages to us? + +Tjaelde. Of course they did; but I didn't pay any attention to +them. + +Hamar (who has been standing on the verandah). But Moeller--what +did he say? What did he do? + +Tjaelde. I don't know, I tell you. + +Valborg (who has been walking up and down the room during the +preceding conversation). He has said and done quite enough already. + +Tjaelde (who has at last finished eating and drinking, is struck by +her words). What do you mean by that, Valborg? + +Valborg. That if I were his daughter I would never forgive him. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My dear Valborg, don't say such things! + +Valborg. I mean it! A man who would bring such shame and misery +upon his family does not deserve any mercy from them. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. We are all in need of mercy. + +Valborg. In one sense, yes. But what I mean is that I could never +give him my respect or my affection again. He would have wronged me +too cruelly. + +Tjaelde (getting up). Wronged you? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Have you finished already, dear? + +Tjaelde. Yes. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No more wine? + +Tjaelde. I said I had finished. Wronged you? How? + +Valborg. Well, I cannot imagine how one could be more cruelly +wronged than to be allowed to assume a position that was nothing +but a lie, to live up to means that had no real existence but were +merely a sham--one's clothes a lie, one's very existence a lie! +Suppose I were the sort of girl that found a certain delight in +making use of her position as a rich man's daughter--in using it to +the fullest possible extent; well, when I discovered that all that +my father had given me was stolen-that all he had made me believe +in was a lie--I am sure that then my anger and my shame would be +beyond all bounds! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My child, you have never been tried. You don't know +how such things may happen. You don't really know what you are +saying! + +Hamar. Well it might do Moeller good if he heard what she says! + +Valborg. He has heard it. His daughter said that to him. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. His own daughter! Child, child, is that what you +write to each other about? God forgive you both! + +Valborg. Oh, He will forgive us, because we speak the truth. + +Mrs. Tialde. Child, child! + +Tjaelde. You evidently don't understand what business is--success +one day and failure the next. + +Valborg. No one will ever persuade me that business is a lottery. + +Tjaelde. No, a sound business is not. + +Valborg. Exactly. It is the unsound sort that I condemn. + +Tjaelde. Still, even the soundest have their anxious moments. + +Valborg. If the anxious moments really foreshadow a crisis, no man +of honour would keep his family o: his creditors in ignorance of +the fact. My God, how Mr. Moeller has deceived his! + +Signe. Valborg is always talking about business! + +Valborg. Yes, it has had an attraction for me ever since I was a +child. I am not ashamed of that. + +Signe. You think you know all about it, anyway. + +Valborg. Oh, no; but you can easily get to know a little about +anything you are fond of. + +Hamar. And one would need no great knowledge of business to condemn +the way Moeller went on. It was obvious to every one. And the way +his family went on, too! Who went the pace as much as the Moellers? +Think of his daughter's toilettes! + +Valborg. His daughter is my best friend. I don't want to hear her +abused. + +Hamar. Your Highness will admit that it is possible to be the +daughter of a _very_ rich man without being as proud and as vain +as--as the lady I am not allowed to mention! + +Valborg. Nanna is neither proud nor vain. She is absolutely +genuine. She had the aptitude for being exactly what she thought +she was--a rich man's daughter. + +Hamar. Has she the "aptitude" for being a bankrupt's daughter +now? + +Valborg. Certainly. She has sold all her trinkets, her dresses-- +every single thing she had. What she wears, she has either paid for +herself or obtained by promising future payment. + +Hamar. May I ask if she kept her stockings? + +Valborg. She sent everything to a sale. + +Hamar. If I had known that I would certainly have attended it! + +Valborg. Yes, I daresay there was plenty to make fun of, and +plenty of idle loafers, too, who were not ashamed to do so. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Children, children! + +Hamar. May I ask if Miss Nanna sent her own idleness to the sale +with her other effects?--because I have never known any one with a +finer supply of it! + +Valborg. She never thought she would need to work. + +Tjaelde (coming forward to VALBORG). To take up the thread of what +we were saying: you don't understand what a business-man's hope is +from one day to the other--always a renewed hope. That fact does +not make him a swindler. He may be unduly sanguine, perhaps--a +poet, if you like, who lives in a world of dreams--or he may be a +real genius, who sees land ahead when no one else suspects it. + +Valborg. I don't think I misunderstand the real state of affairs. +But perhaps you do, father. Because is not what you call hope, +poetry, genius, merely speculating with what belongs to others, +when a man knows that he owes more than he has got? + +Tjaelde. It may be very difficult to be certain even whether he +does that or not. + +Valborg. Really? I should have thought his books would tell him-- + +Tjaelde. About his assets and his liabilities, certainly. But +values are fluctuating things; and he may always have in hand some +venture which, though it cannot be specified, may alter the whole +situation. + +Valborg. If he undeniably owes more than he possesses, any venture +he undertakes must be a speculation with other people's money. + +Tjaelde. Well--perhaps that is so; but that does not mean that he +steals the money--he only uses it in trust for them. + +Valborg. Entrusted to him on the false supposition that he is +solvent. + +Tjaelde. But possibly that money may save the whole situation. + +Valborg. That does not alter the fact that he has got the use of it +by a lie. + +Tjaelde. You use very harsh terms. (MRS. TJAELDE has once or twice +been making signs to VALBORG, which the latter sees but pays no +attention to.) + +Valborg. In that case the lie consists in the concealment. + +Tjaelde. But what do you want him to do? To lay all his cards on +the table, and so ruin both himself and the others? + +Valborg. Yes, he ought to take every one concerned into his +confidence. + +Tjaelde. Bah! In that case we should see a thousand failures every +year, and fortunes lost one after the other everywhere! No, you +have a level head, Valborg, but your ideas are narrow. Look here, +where are the newspapers? (SIGNE, who has been talking confidentially +to HAMAR on the verandah, comes forward.) + +Signe. I took them down to your office. I did not know you meant to +stay in here. + +Tjaelde. Oh, bother the office! Please fetch them for me. (SIGNE +goes out, followed by Hamar.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (in an undertone to VALBORG). Why will you never +listen to your mother, Valborg? (VALBORG goes out to the verandah; +leans on the edge of it, with her head on her hands, and looks +out.) + +Tjaelde. I think I will change my coat. Oh no, I will wait till +dinner-time. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Dinner! And here I am still sitting here! + +Tjaelde. Are we expecting any one? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, have you forgotten? + +Tjaelde. Of course, yes. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (going out). What on earth am I to order? + +(TJAELDE comes forward as soon as he is alone, sits down on a chair +with a weary, harassed expression, and buries his face in his hands +with a sigh. SIGNE and HAMAR come back, she carrying some +newspapers. HAMAR is going out to the verandah again, but SIGNE +pulls him back.) + +Signe. Here you are, father. Here are-- + +Tjaelde. What? Who? + +Signe (astonished). The newspapers. + +Tjaelde. Ah, yes. Give them to me.(Opens them hurriedly. They are +mostly foreign papers, in which he scans the money articles one +after another.) + +Signe (after a whispered conversation with HAMAR). Father! + +Tjaelde (without looking up from the papers).Well? (To himself, +gloomily.) Down again, always down! + +Signe. Hamar and I want so much to go into town again to Aunt +Ulla's. + +Tjaelde. But you know you were there only a fortnight ago. I +received your bills yesterday. Have you seen them? + +Signe. No need for that, father, if _you_ have seen them! Why do +you sigh? + +Tjaelde. Oh--because I see that stocks keep falling. + +Signe. Pooh! Why should you bother about that? Now you are sighing +again. I am sure you know how horrid it is for those you love not +to have what they want. You won't be so unkind to us, father? + +Tjaelde. No, my child, it can't be done. + +Signe. Why? + +Tjaelde. Because--because--well, because now that it is summer time +so many people will be coming here whom we shall have to entertain. + +Signe. But entertaining people is the most tiresome thing I know, +and Hamar agrees with me. + +Tjaelde. Don't you think I have to do tiresome things sometimes, +my girl? + +Signe. Father dear, why are you talking so solemnly and +ceremoniously? It sounds quite funny from you! + +Tjaelde. Seriously, my child, it is by no means an unimportant +matter for a big business house like ours, with such a wide-spread +connection, that people coming here from all quarters should find +themselves hospitably received. You might do that much for me. + +Signe. Hamar and I will never have a moment alone at that rate. + +Tjaelde. I think you mostly squabble when you are alone. + +Signe. Squabble? That is a very ugly word, father. + +Tjaelde. Besides, you would be no more alone if you were in town. + +Signe. Oh, but it is quite different there! + +Tjaelde. So I should think--from the way you throw your money +about! + +Signe (laughing). Throw our money about! What else have we to do? +Isn't that what we are for? Daddy, listen--dear old dad-- + +Tjaelde. No, dear--no. + +Signe. You have never been so horrid to me before. + +Hamar (who has been making signs to her to stop, whispers). Can't +you be quiet! Don't you see he is put out about something? + +Signe (whispering). Well, you might have backed me up a little. + +Hamar (as before). No, I am a bit wiser than you. + +Signe (as before). You have been so odd lately. I am sure I don't +know what you want? + +Hamar (as before). Oh, well, it doesn't matter now--because I am +going to town alone. + +Signe (as before). What are you going to do? + +Hamar (going). I am going to town alone. I am sick of this! + +Signe (following him). Just you try! (Both go out by the verandah, +to the right. TJAELDE lets the newspapers fall out of his hands +with a heavy sigh.) + +Valborg (looking in from the verandah). Father! (TJAELDE starts.) +There goes Mr. Berent, the lawyer from Christiania. + +Tjaelde (getting up). Berent? Where? On the wharf? + +Valborg. Yes. (Comes back into the room. TJAELDE looks out of the +window.) The reason I told you was because I saw him yesterday at +the timber-yard, and a little while before that, at the brewery and +at the works. + +Tjaelde (to himself). What can that mean? (Aloud.) Oh, I know he is +very fond of making little trips to all sorts of places in the +summer. This year he has come here--and no doubt he likes to see +the chief industries of the place. There is not much else here to +see! But are you sure it is he? I think-- + +Valborg (looking out). Yes, it is he. Look now, you know his walk-- + +Tjaelde. --and his trick of crossing his feet--yes, it is he. It +looks as if he were coming here. + +Valborg. No, he has turned away. + +Tjaelde. All the better! (To himself, thoughtfully.) Could it +possibly mean--? (SANNAES comes in from the right.) + +Sannaes. Am I disturbing you, sir? + +Tjaelde. Is that you, Sannaes? (SANNAES, as he comes forward, sees +VALBORG standing by the farther window. He appears frightened and +hides his hands quickly behind his back.) What do you want? +(VALBORG looks at SANNAES, then goes on to the verandah and out to +the right.) What is it, man? What the deuce are you standing there +for? + +Sannaes (bringing his hands from behind his back as soon as VALBORG +has passed him, and looking after her.) I didn't like to ask you, +before Miss Valborg, whether you are coming down to your office +to-day or not. + +Tjaelde. Have you gone mad? Why on earth shouldn't you ask me that +before Miss Valborg? + +Sannaes. I mean that--if not--I should like to speak to you here, +if it is convenient. + +Tjaelde. Look here, Sannaes, you ought to try and get rid of your +shyness; it doesn't suit a business man. A business man should be +smart and active, and not let his wits go wool-gathering because he +finds himself in the same room with a woman. I have often noticed +it in you.--Now, what is it? Out with it! + +Sannaes. You are not coming to the office this morning, sir? + +Tjaelde. No, there is no post goes out before this evening. + +Sannaes. No. But there are some bills of exchange-- + +Tjaelde. Bills? No. + +Sannaes. Yes, sir--that fourth one of Moeller's that was protested, +and the big English one. + +Tjaelde (angrily). Have they not been met yet? What does this mean? + +Sannaes. The manager of the bank wanted to see you first, sir! + +Tjaelde. Have you gone crazy--? (Collects himself.) There must be +some misunderstanding, Sannaes. + +Sannaes. That is what I thought; so I spoke about it to the chief +clerk, and to Mr. Holst as well. + +Tjaelde. And Mr. Holst said--? + +Sannaes. The same thing. + +Tjaelde (walking up and down). I will go and see him--or rather, I +_won't_ go and see him; because this is evidently something that--. +We have some days' grace yet, haven't we? + +Sannaes. Yes, sir. + +Tjaelde. And still no telegram from Mr. Lind? + +Sannaes. No, sir. + +Tjaelde (to himself). I can't understand it. (Aloud.) We will +negotiate this matter direct with Christiania, Sannaes. That is +what we will do--and leave these little local banks alone in +future. That will do, Sannaes! (Makes a gesture of dismissal. Then +says to himself:) That damned Moeller! It has made them all +suspicious! (Turns round and sees SANNAES still there.) What are +you waiting for? + +Sannaes. It is settling day--and I have no money in the safe. + +Tjaelde. No money in the safe! A big business like this, and +nothing in the safe on settling day! What kind of management is +that, I should like to know? Must I teach you the A B C of business +over and over again? One can never take a half day off, or hand +over the control! of the tiniest part of the business--! I have no +one, absolutely no one, that I can rely on! How have you let things +get into such a state? + +Sannaes. Well, there was a third bill, which expired to-day--Holm +and Co., for L400. I had relied upon the bank, unfortunately--so +there was nothing for it but to empty the safe--here and at the +brewery as well. + +Tjaelde (walking about restlessly). Hm--hm--hm!--Now, who can have +put that into Holst's head?--Very well, that will do. (Dismisses +SANNAES, who goes out but comes back immediately.) + +Sannaes (whispering). Here is Mr. Berent! + +Tjaelde (surprised). Coming here? + +Sannaes. He is just coming up the steps! (Goes out by the further +door on the right.) + +Tjaelde. (calls after him in a whisper). Send up some wine and +cakes!--It is just as I suspected! (Catches sight of himself in a +mirror.) Good Lord, how bad I look! (Turns away painfully from the +mirror; looks in it again, forces a smile to his face, and so, +smiling, goes towards the verandah, where BERENT is seen coming in +slowly from the left.) + +Tjaelde (greeting BERENT politely but with reserve). I feel +honoured at receiving a visit from so distinguished a man. + +Berent. Mr. Tjaelde, I believe? + +Tjaelde. At your service! My eldest daughter has just been +telling me that she had seen you walking about my property. + +Berent. Yes; an extensive property--and an extensive business. + +Tjaelde. Too extensive, Mr. Berent. Too many-sided. But one thing +has led to another. Pray sit down. + +Berent. Thank you; it is very warm to-day. (A maid brings in cakes +and wine, and puts them on the table.) + +Tjaelde. Let me give you a glass of wine? + +Berent. No, thank you. + +Tjaelde. Or something to eat? + +Berent. Nothing, thank you. + +Tjaelde (taking out his cigar-case). May I offer you a cigar? I can +answer for their quality. + +Berent. I am very fond of a good cigar. But for the moment I will +not take anything, thank you! (A pause. TJAELDE takes a seat.) + +Tjaelde (in a quiet, confidential voice). Have you been long here, +Mr. Berent? + +Berent. Only a day or two. You have been away, have you not? + +Tjaelde. Yes--that unhappy affair of Mr. Moeller's. A meeting of +creditors after the sale. + +Berent. Times are hard just now. + +Tjaelde. Extraordinarily so! + +Berent. Do you think that Moeller's failure will bring down any +more firms with it-besides those we know of already, I mean? + +Tjaelde. I don't think so. His--his misfortune was an exceptional +case in every respect. + +Berent. It has made the banks a little nervous, I hear. + +Tjaelde. I dare say. + +Berent. Of course you know the state of affairs here better than +any one. + +Tjaelde. (with a smile). I am very much indebted to you for your +flattering confidence in me. + +Berent. I suppose all this might have a bad effect upon the +export trade of this part of the country? + +Tjaelde. Yes--it is really hard to tell; but the important thing +certainly is to keep every one on their legs. + +Berent. That is your opinion? + +Tjaelde. Undoubtedly. + +Berent. As a general rule a crisis of this sort shows up the +unsound elements in a commercial community. + +Tjaelde (with a smile). And for that reason this crisis should be +allowed to take its natural course, you mean? + +Berent. That is my meaning. + +Tjaelde. Hm!--In some places it is possible that the dividing line +between the sound firms and the unsound may not be very distinct. + +Berent. Can there really be any danger of such a thing here? + +Tjaelde. Well--you are expecting too much of my knowledge of +affairs; but I should be inclined to think that there may. (A +pause.) + +Berent. I have been instructed by the banks to prepare an opinion +upon the situation--a fact which I have, so far, only confided to +you. + +Tjaelde. I am much obliged. + +Berent. The smaller local banks here have combined, and are acting +in concert. + +Tjaelde. Indeed? (A pause.) I suppose you have seen Mr. Holst, +then? + +Berent. Of course. (A pause.) If we are to assist the sound firms +and leave the others to their fate, the best way will certainly be +for all alike to disclose their actual position. + +Tjaelde. Is that Mr. Holst's opinion too? + +Berent. It is. (A pause.) I have advised him for the present--at +all events till we have all the balance-sheets--to say "no" to +every request for an advance, without exception. + +Tjaelde. (with a look of relief). I understand! + +Berent. Only a temporary measure, of course-- + +Tjaelde. Quite so! + +Berent. --but one that must apply to every one impartially. + +Tjaelde. Admirable! + +Berent. Not to treat every one alike would be to run the danger of +throwing premature suspicion on individuals. + +Tjaelde. I quite agree. + +Berent. I am delighted to hear it. Then you will not misunderstand +me if I ask you also to prepare a balance-sheet which shall show +the actual position of your firm. + +Tjaelde. With the greatest pleasure, if by doing so I can assist +the general welfare. + +Berent. I assure you, you can. It is by such means that public +confidence is strengthened. + +Tjaelde. When do you want the balance-sheet? Of course, it can +only be a summary one. + +Berent. Naturally. I will give myself the pleasure of calling for +it. + +Tjaelde. By no means. I can let you have it at once, if you like. I +am in the habit of frequently drawing up summary balance-sheets of +that kind--as prices rise and fall, you know. + +Berent. Indeed? (Smiles.) You know, of course, what they say of +swindlers--that they draw up three balance-sheets everyday, and +all different! But you are teaching me, apparently-- + +Tjaelde (laughing). --that others too, may have that bad habit!-- +though I haven't actually got as far as three a day! + +Berent. Of course I was only joking. (Gets up.) + +Tjaelde (getting up). Of course. I will send it to the hotel in an +hour's time; for I suppose you are staying in our only so-called +hotel! Would you not care, for the rest of your stay, to move +your things over here and make yourself at home in a couple of +empty spare rooms that I have? + +Bercnt. Thank you, but the length of my stay is so uncertain; and +the state of my health imposes habits upon me which are +embarrassing to every one, and to myself most of all, when I am +among strangers. + +Tjaelde. But at all events I hope you will dine with us to-day? I +expect one or two friends. And perhaps a short sail afterwards; it +is very pretty among the islands here. + +Berent. Thank you, but my health won't allow me such dissipations. + +Tjaelde. Ha, ha!--Well, if I can be of any further service to you--? + +Berent. I should be glad to have a talk with you before I leave, +preferably as soon as possible. + +Tjaelde (somewhat surprised). You mean, after you have received +all the balance-sheets? + +Berent. I have already managed to get most of them quietly, through +Mr. Holst. + +Tjaelde (more surprised). Oh--so you mean to-day--? + +Berent. Would five o'clock suit you? + +Tjaelde. I am quite at your disposal! I will give myself the +pleasure of calling upon you at five. + +Berent. No, I will come here at five o'clock. (Bows, and turns to +go.) + +Tjaelde (following him). But you are the invalid--the older man-- +and a distinguished man-- + +Berent. But you are at home here. Good-bye! + +Tjaelde. Let me thank you for the honour you have done me by +calling upon me! + +Berent. Please don't bother to see me out. + +Tjaelde. Allow me to escort you? + +Berent. I can find the way quite well, thank you. + +Tjaelde. No doubt, no doubt-but I should feel it an honour! + +Berent. As you please! (As they are about to go down the verandah +steps they are met by SIGNE and HAMAR, who are coming up arm in +arm. Each couple draws aside to make room for the other.) + +Tjaelde. Let me introduce--no, I am sure Mr. Berent needs no +introduction. This is my youngest daughter--and her fiance, +Lieutenant Hamar. + +Berent. I thought your regiment was at the manoeuvres, Lieutenant? + +Hamar. I have got furlough-- + +Berent. On account of urgent business, no doubt! Good day! + +Tjaelde. Ha, ha, ha! (He and BERENT go down the steps.) + +Hamar. Insolent fellow! But he is like that to every one. + +Signe. Not to my father, as far as I could see. + +Hamar. Your father is insolent too. + +Signe. You shan't say such things of father! + +Hamar. What else do you call it, to laugh at such impertinence as +Berent's. + +Signe. I call it good spirits! (Sits down in a rocking-chair and +begins rocking herself.) + +Hamar. Oh, then, so you--. You are not very agreeable to-day. + +Signe (still rocking herself). No; do you know, sometimes I get so +bored with you. + +Hamar. Yet you won't let me go away? + +Signe. Because I should be still worse bored without you. + +Hamar. Let me tell you this, I am not going to put up much longer +with the way I am treated here! + +Signe. Very well. (Takes off her engagement ring and holds it +between her finger and her thumb, as she rocks herself and hums a +tune.) + +Hamar. Oh, I don't say anything about _you_; but look at Valborg! +Look at your father! He hasn't even as much as offered me a mount +on his new horse! + +Signe. He has had something else to think about--possibly something +even more important than that. (Goes on humming.) + +Hamar. Oh, do be nice, Signe! You must admit that my feelings are +very natural. Indeed, to speak quite candidly--because I know I can +say anything to you--it seems to me that, as I am to be his +son-in-law and am in a cavalry regiment, and as he has no sons of +his own, I might almost expect that--that he would make me a +present of the horse. + +Signe. Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. Does it seem so unreasonable to you? + +Signe. Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. Why do you laugh at what I say, Signe? It seems to me that +it would reflect very well on your family if, when my friends +admired my horse, I could say: "My father-in-law made me a present +of it." Because, you know, there isn't a finer horse in the whole +of Norway. + +Signe. And that is the reason why you should have it? Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. I won't stand it! + +Signe. The peerless lieutenant on the peerless horse! Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. Signe, be quiet! + +Signe. You are so funny! (Begins to hum again.) + +Hamar. Listen, Signe! No one has so much influence with your father +as you.--Oh, do listen! Can't you talk seriously for a moment? + +Signe. I should like to! (Goes on humming.) + +Hamar. My idea was that, if that horse were mine, I would stay here +for the summer and break it in thoroughly. (SIGNE stops rocking +herself and humming. HAMAR comes up to her chair and leans over +her.) In that case I would not go back till the autumn, and then +you could come with the horse and me into town. Wouldn't that be +delightful? + +Signe (after looking at him for a moment). Oh, yes, my dear, you +always have such delightful ideas! + +Hamar. Don't I! But the whole thing depends, of course, on whether +you can get the horse from your father. Will you try, darling? + +Signe. And then you would stay here all the summer? + +Hamar. All the summer! + +Signe. So as to break in the horse. + +Hamar. Just to break in the horse! + +Signe. And I would go with you into town in the autumn--that was +what you said, wasn't it? + +Hamar. Yes; wouldn't it be jolly? + +Signe. Shall you take the bay horse to stay with your Aunt Ulla +too? + +Hamar (laughing). What? + +Signe. Well, you have spent your furlough here simply for the sake +of that horse--I know that well enough--and you propose to stay +here, just to break it in-and then you propose that the horse and I +should go to your aunt's-- + +Hamar. But, Signe, what do you--? + +Signe (beginning to rock herself furiously). Ugh! Go away! + +Hamar. Jealous of a horse! Ha, ha, ha! + +Signe. Go away to the stables. + +Hamar. Is that meant for a punishment? Because it would be more +amusing there than it is here. + +Signe (throwing down her ring). There! Let your horse wear that! + +Hamar. Every time you throw down that ring-- + +Signe. Oh, you have said that so often! I am tired of that too! +(Turns her chair round so as to turn her back on him.) + +Hamar. You are such a spoilt child that it would be absurd to take +everything you say seriously-- + +Signe. I am sick of that too, I tell you--for the hundred and +twentieth time! Go away! + +Hamar. But can't you see how ridiculous it is of you to be jealous +of a horse? Have you ever heard of anyone else behaving like that? + +Signe (jumping up). Oh, you make me want to shout and scream! +I feel so ashamed of you! (Stamps her foot.) I despise you! + +Hamar (laughing). And all on account of the horse? + +Signe. No, on your own account--yours, yours! I feel so miserable +sometimes, I should like to throw myself down on the floor and +cry--or run away and never come back! Can't you let me alone! +Can't you go away! + +Hamar. Yes--and I have not picked up the ring this time, either! + +Signe. Oh, do go!--go, go, go! (Bursts out crying and sits down.) + +Hamar. All right!--I see the steamer in the distance; I shall go +home at once. + +Signe. Oh, you know as well as I do that that steamer goes the +other way! Oh! (Cries. The masts and funnel of a steamer come +into sight, and a trail of smoke passes over the sky. TJAELDE'S +voice is heard outside, calling: "Hurry up! Take the lieutenant's +boat; it is ready!" SIGNE jumps up.) + +Hamar. They are going to fetch some one from the steamer! +(TJAELDE'S voice is heard again: "You get the boat out! He is +coming here!" HAMAR runs to pick up the ring and comes back +hurriedly to SIGNE.) Signe! + +Signe. No, I won't! + +Hamar. Signe, dear! What does this mean? What is it that I have +done? + +Signe. I don't know, but I am wretchedly unhappy! (Bursts into +tears.) + +Hamar. But you know that in the end I always do what you want? What +more can you wish than that? + +Signe. I can't help it, I wish I were dead! It is always the same +thing! (In tears again.) + +Hamar. But, Signe--you who have told me hundreds of times that +you loved me! + +Signe. And so I do. But sometimes our engagement seems horrible!-- +No, don't come near me! + +Hamar. Signe! (TJAELDE'S voice is heard outside: "Of course, put +your best coat on!" He calls louder: "Sannaes!" An answering voice +is heard in the distance. TJAELDE continues: "Don't forget your +gloves!") Dry your eyes, Signe! Don't let him see you have been +crying. (He tries to give her the ring, but she turns away, wiping +her eyes. TJAELDE comes up the steps on to the verandah.) + +Tjaelde. Oh, there you are! That's right. Mr. Lind is arriving by +this steamer--I had a telegram from him just now. (Calls out over +the verandah.) Come along with those flags! And get this boat out +of the way and unstep her mast! She is moored up tight! (HAMAR runs +to help him.) Yes, you cast her off! (HAMAR does so, and the boat +is hauled away to the right. TJAELDE comes forward into the room.) +Signe! (Looks at her.) What? Squabbling again? + +Signe. Father! + +Tjaelde. Well, this is no time for tomfoolery of that sort! You +must all do the honours of the house to-day. Tell Valborg-- + +Signe. Tell her yourself, please! You know Valborg only does +just what she likes. + +Tjaelde. Don't talk such rubbish! This is an important moment-- +and you will all do as _I_ say! Tell Valborg that she is to make +herself look nice and come to me here. And you do the same. (She +goes.) Signe! + +Signe (stopping). Yes? + +Tjaelde. We must ask five or six more people to dinner. You must +send word to Mr. Finne that we shall dine punctually at three +o'clock, instead of four. Mr. Lind has to go away again by the +next boat, at five o'clock. Do you understand? + +Signe. But has mother enough in the house for so many? + +Tjaelde. It is not a mere question of there being enough--it must +be a very good dinner. I expect my larder to be kept thoroughly +well stocked all through the summer. How often am I to repeat that? + +Signe (trying to repress her fears). But mother is feeling so ill +to-day-- + +Tjaelde. Oh! don't begin about that everlasting "feeling ill." +There is no time to-day to feel ill. Now, be quick! (SIGNE goes out +by the farther door. TJAELDE turns to HAMAR.) Get a pen and ink and +some paper! We must draw up a list of guests, at once! + +Hamar (looking about). There is none here. + +Tjaelde (impatiently). Fetch some, then! (HAMAR goes into the next +room. TJAELDE, after a long sigh of relief, reads a telegram he has +in his hand. His hand trembles as he reads it slowly, repeating +some passages twice.) "Letter received just as starting. Before +taking charge of affairs, must have interview. Coming to-day +earliest boat, return five o'clock. Have clear statement ready. +Lind." I can hardly read it--but it is true! Yes, if I can only +work this properly all doors will be open to me! (To HAMAR, who has +come back.) Ah, there you are! It would take too long to write +invitations. We will just draw up a list of names and one of my +clerks shall run round to them all. Now then! (Dictates.) The +Vicar--Oh, by the way, what is the champagne like? + +Hamar. Do you mean the new lot? + +Tjaelde. Yes. + +Hamar. The Vicar praised it highly. + +Tjaelde. Good. Well, then-- + +Hamar (writing). The Vicar. + +Tjzlde. Mr. Ring. + +Hamar. Mr. Ring. + +Tjaelde. And--and-- + +Hamar. Mr. Holst? + +Tjaelde. No, not Holst. (HAMAR appears greatly astonished. TJAELDE +says to himself:) I can show him now that I have no need of him! +(Suddenly, to HAMAR.) Mr. Holm. (To himself.) Holst's enemy! + +Hamar. Mr. Holm. + +Tjaelde (to himself). Although Holm is a boor. Still, it will +annoy Holst. (Aloud.) The Chief Constable. + +Hamar. The Chief-- + +Tjaelde. No, strike out the Chief Constable. + +Hamar. Chief Constable struck out. + +Tjaelde. Have we got the Vicar down? + +Hamar. He is number one on the list. + +Tjaelde. Of course, yes. + +Hamar. What about the Magistrate? + +Tjaelde. No, he lives too far off. Besides, unless he is the guest +of honour and can talk shop all the time--. No! But, let me see. +Mr. Knutzon--Knutzon with a "z." + +Hamar. Knutzon with a "z." + +Tjaelde. Oh!--and--Knudsen, too! Knudsen with an "s." + +Hamar. Knudsen with an "s." + +Tjaelde. How many have we got? + +Hamar. The Vicar, Ring, Holm, the Chief--oh, no, the Chief +Constable was struck out; Knutzon with a "z," Knudsen with an +"s "--that is one, two, three, four, five, six. + +Tjaelde. And Finne, you, and I make nine. We must have twelve. + +Hamar. What about some ladies? + +Tjaelde. No; ladies are out of place at a business dinner. They +may do the honours afterwards, when we have got to the cigarette +stage. But whom shall we--? + +Hamar. That new lawyer fellow? He's a smart chap--I can't remember +his name? + +Tjaelde. No, he always wants to be speechifying wherever he goes.-- +Ah, Mr. Pram, the custom-house officer! + +Hamar. That man? He always gets drunk! + +Tjaelde. Yes, but he doesn't get noisy with it. He does no harm-- +quite the contrary! Yes, put down Pram. + +Hamar. Mr. Pram. + +Tjaelde. It is a very difficult task, in such a small town, when +you want to get a good set of people together. Ah!--Falbe! I forgot +him. He is very neat, and no opinions. + +Hamar. Neat in his dress, do you mean? + +Tjaelde. Yes, in his dress too-but I meant it more generally. Now, +for the twelfth--Morten Schultz? + +Hamar. Morten Schultz! (Gets up.) No, really, I must take the +liberty of protesting against him! Do you really know what he did +the last time he was here, when you had a lot of guests? In the +middle of dinner he took out his false teeth and began showing them +to his neighbours. He wanted to have them passed round the table! +If that is your idea of a good set of people--well! + +Tjaelde. Yes, he is rather a rough diamond. But he is the richest +man about here. + +Hamar (who has sat down again). Well in that case he really ought +to afford himself a new wig! It is far from pleasant to sit beside +him, I can assure you! + +Tjaelde. Yes, I know he is a pig; but he is wide awake, and this +would flatter him! You see, my young friend, when a man is very rich +you must make certain allowances for him. + +Hamar. I can't understand what _you_ can hope to get out of him. + +Tjaelde. Hm, hm!--No, well, perhaps we had better leave him out? + +Hamar. Certainly! + +Tjaelde (to himself). Although Lind would understand the +significance of Morten Schultz's being here-- + +Hamar. And the things he says! Ladies have to leave the room! + +Tjaelde. Yes, you are right. (Mutters to himself.) And, after all, +I don't need him any longer. (Aloud.) But what about our twelfth, +then? Let me see--. + +Hamar. Christopher Hansen? + +Tjaelde. Oh, Lord! no. We should have to talk politics. No, let me +see--. Yes, I think I might risk it! Hm, hm--yes, just the man! +Jakobsen, the brewery manager. + +Hamar. Jakobsen? + +Tjaelde. Hm, hm! Jakobsen will do very well. I know Jakobsen. + +Hamar. Oh, he is a very good fellow--we all know that, but in +polite society--! + +Tjaelde. Hm, hm, hm!--Put him down! + +Hamar (writing). Jakobsen. There, then! (Gets up.) + +Tjaelde. Now let Skogstad go with the list! Remember, three o'clock +punctually! And be quick! (Calls after HAMAR, who is going out.) +And come back when you have given him the list! There may be +something more to do! (HAMAR goes out by the nearer door. TJAELDE +takes a letter out of his pocket.) Ah, of course! Shall I send the +balance-sheet to Berent? I am independent of the banks now. Still, +I am not out of the wood yet. And, anyway, it is a very pretty +balance-sheet! Holst would be sure to see it, and that might be +useful--and it might annoy him, too. Besides, if I don't send it, +they will think that my promising to send it had put me into a +hole, and that Lind had helped me out of it. I risk least by +sending it. (HAMAR comes back.) Look here, let him take this +letter, too. It is for Mr. Berent, at the Hotel Victoria. + +Hamar. Is this an invitation? Because, if it is, we shall be +thirteen at table. + +Tjaelde. It is not an invitation. Be quick, before he goes. (HAMAR +goes out again.) Oh, if only it succeeds! Lind is the sort of man +one can persuade--and I must, I must persuade him! (Looks at his +watch.) I have four whole hours to do it in. I have never felt so +hopeful--not for a long time. (Is lost in thought; then says +quietly:) After all, sometimes a crisis is a good thing--like a big +wave that carries one on!--They have all had their suspicions +aroused now, and are all ready to get into a panic. (Sighs.) If +only I could get safely out of my difficulties without any one's +suspecting it!--Oh, this anxious fear, night and day!--all this +mystery, these shifts, these concealments, this farce I have to +keep up! I go about my business as if I were in a dream. +(Despairingly.) This shall be the last time--my last performance +of this sort! No more of it!--I only need a helping hand now, and +I have got it! But _have_ I got it? that is the question. Oh! if +only, after this, I could know what it was to have a good night's +sleep and to wake in the morning free from anxiety!--to join them +at meals with an easy conscience!--come home in the evening and +feel that it was all done with! If only I had something to take my +stand upon that I could call my own--really and truly my own! I +hardly dare to believe that there is a chance--I have so often been +disappointed! (HAMAR comes back.) + +Hamar. There--that's done! + +Tjaelde. Good Lord, what about a salute from our cannon? We must +give him a salute! + +Hamar. We have powder. + +Tjaelde. Then send word up at once to Ole to see about it! (They +hurry out. The curtain falls.) + + +ACT II + +SCENE I + +(SCENE.--The same room. The table, which has been drawn to one +side, is covered with bottles of champagne aged dishes of fruit. +MRS. TJAELDE and SIGNE, with a man-servant and a maid, are busy +preparing it. Through the door on the right a lively conversation +can be heard, and occasional bursts of laughter.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (in a tired voice). Now I think it is all ready. + +Signe. They are talking a long time over their dinner. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (looking at her watch). Yes, they will only have half +an hour for their dessert, because Mr. Lind has to leave at five +o'clock. + +Signe. Ah, they have finished at last! Listen, they are getting up +from the table. (Amidst the loud noise of conversation the noise of +chairs being pushed back is audible.) Here they come! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes; let us retreat. (The maid goes out by the +farther door; SIGNE helps MRS. TJAELDE out after her. The +man-servant begins opening the champagne. The guests come in from +the dining-room, headed by LIND escorted by TJAELDE, whom he is +assuring that the dinner was excellent, to which TJAELDE replies +that it is impossible to do much in a small country town. Both look +at their watches, and observe that there is only half an hour left. +TJAELDE vainly endeavours to persuade LIND to stay longer. Close +behind them come HOLM and RING, engaged in an animated dispute +about timber prices, the former maintaining that they will fall +still lower, the latter that they will rise speedily owing to the +fall in the prices of coal and iron, a point of view which the +former vigorously controverts. Immediately behind them comes the +VICAR, escorted by HAMAR, who is a little tipsy. The VICAR is +assuring him that he has no objection to parishioners repudiating +the obligation to attend the services of their own priest, so long +as they are compelled to pay him for those services whether they +avail themselves of them or not; because order, which is an +essential characteristic of the Heavenly Kingdom, must be +maintained. HAMAR tries to get in a word or two about the bay +horse, but without success. At the same time KNUTZON and FALBE are +deep in a discussion about a dancer whom FALBE has seen at Hamburg. +He is maintaining that she can leap six feet into the air, which +KNUTZON ventures to doubt, but FALBE says there is no doubt about +it, and he knows because he has once sat at the same dinner-table +with her. FINNE, KNUDSEN, and JAKOBSEN follow them. JAKOBSEN is +heard challenging any one to contradict him, while the others +eagerly protest that he has entirely misunderstood their meaning. +He affirms stoutly that he doesn't care a damn what they meant, but +that his employer is the greatest business man and the finest +fellow in the world, or at all events in Norway. PRAM comes in by +himself, wrapt in tipsy contemplation. They all talk at the same +time.) + +Tjaelde (rapping on a glass). Gentlemen! (There is a sudden +silence, except for the sound of the voices of FALBE and JAKOBSEN, +who are hushed down by the others.) Gentlemen! I am sorry dinner +has occupied such a long time. + +All (unanimously). No, no! + +Tjaelde. Our distinguished guest has, unfortunately, to leave us in +half an hour, so I should like to take the opportunity of saying a +few words. Gentlemen, we have a prince among us to-day. I say a +prince, because if it is true that it is the financiers that rule +the world--and it is true, gentlemen-- + +Pram (who is standing well forward, supporting himself by the edge +of the table, says solemnly:) Yes. + +Tjaelde. --then our friend here is a prince! There is not a single +important undertaking that he has not initiated, or at any rate +backed with his name. + +Pram (lifting his glass). Mr. Lind, may I have the honour--? + +Voices. Sh! Sh! + +Tjaelde. Yes, gentlemen, his name backs every enterprise. It would +be impossible to carry one through that had not his backing. + +Pram (solemnly). His backing. + +Tjaelde. Am I not right, then, in describing him as a prince? + +Falbe (in a feeble voice). Yes. + +Tjaelde. Gentlemen, to-day his name is once more exercising its +powerful, I might say its creative, influence upon circumstances. +I may say that at this moment the country holds no truer benefactor +than he. + +Pram. Great man. + +Tjaelde. Let us drink his health! May prosperity attend him and +his, and may his name be deathless in Norway! Mr. Lind! + +All. Mr. Lind! Mr. Lind! (They all drink his health effusively.) + +Tjaelde (to HAMAR, whom he pulls forward somewhat roughly, as the +others begin to help themselves to the dessert.) What has become of +the salute? + +Hamar (in consternation).Good Lord, yes! (Rushes to the window, but +comes back.) I have no handkerchief. I must have laid it down in +the dining-room. + +Tjaelde. Here is mine!(Feels in his pocket for it.) One cannot rely +on you for the least thing. The salute will be too late now. It is +disgraceful! (HAMAR goes to the window and waves the handkerchief +madly. At last the report of a cannon is heard. The guests are +standing in a group, holding their dessert plates.) + +Holm. A little bit late! + +Knutzon. Rather behind the moment-- + +Ring. A very important moment, however! + +Holm. A very unexpected one, anyway! + +Knutzon (jestingly). Allow me, amidst the cannon's roar, to +introduce to you a man who has been led by the nose! + +Ring. Oh, Tjaelde knows what he is about! + +Tjaelde. Mr. Lind is kind enough to wish to propose a toast. (They +all compose themselves into respectful silence.) + +Lind. Our worthy host has proposed my health in most flattering +terms. I would merely add this, that wealth is entrusted to those +who have it precisely in order that they may support industry, +genius, and great undertakings. + +Pram (who has never changed his position). Nobly said. + +Lind. I am only an administrator of a trust, and too often a weak +and short-sighted one. + +Pram. Beautiful. + +Lind. But I shall not be mistaken if I say that Mr. Tjaelde's +many-sided activities, which we must all admire, rest upon a sound +foundation; and of that fact no one, at the present moment, is +better able to judge than I. (The guests look at one another in +surprise.) Therefore I have no hesitation in saying that his +activities are an honour to this town, to this district, to our +whole country, and that therefore his genius and his energy deserve +support. I propose the toast of "prosperity to the firm of +Tjaelde!" + +All. Prosperity to the firm of Tjaelde! + +(HAMAR signals again with the handkerchief, and a cannon shot is +heard.) + +Tjaelde. I thank you heartily, Mr. Lind! I am profoundly touched. + +Lind. I said no more than I am convinced of, Mr. Tjaelde!! + +Tjaelde. Thank you! (To HAMAR.) What do you mean by signalling for +a salute for the host? Blockhead! + +Hamar. You said there was to be a salute when a toast was proposed, +didn't you? + +Tjaelde. Oh, you are a--! + +Hamar (to himself). Well, if ever again I--! + +Holm. Then it is an accomplished fact, I suppose? + +Knutzon. _Fait accompli_! That toast represents twenty thousand +pounds, at least. + +Ring. Yes, Tjaelde knows what he is about! I have always said that! +(FALBE is seen drinking ceremoniously with LIND. JAKOBSEN comes +forward, talking to KNUDSEN.) + +Jakobsen (in a low voice). There isn't a word of truth in what you +say! + +Knudsen. But, my dear Jakobsen, you misunderstand me! + +Jakobsen (louder). Hang it, I know my people! + +Knudsen. Don't talk so loud! + +Jakobsen (still louder). What I say any one may hear! + +Tjaelde. (at the same moment). The Vicar wishes to say a few words. + +Knudsen (to JAKOBSEN). Hush! The Vicar wishes to say a few words. + +Jakobsen. Have I got to hush because that damned-- + +Tjaelde (in a voice of authority). The Vicar wishes to speak. + +Jakobsen. I beg your pardon! + +The Vicar (in a feeble voice). As the spiritual adviser of this +household, I have the pleasing duty of invoking a blessing on the +gifts that have been so richly showered upon our host and his +friends. May they be to their souls' present good and eternal +welfare! + +Pram. Amen. + +The Vicar. I am going to ask you to drink the health of our host's +dear children--those lovely girls whose welfare has been the object +of my prayers ever since they were confirmed--ever since that +memorable day when household and religious duties began to walk +side by side. + +Pram. Ah, yes! + +The Vicar. May they always in the future, as they have in the past, +grow in the holy fear of God and in meekness and gratitude towards +their parents! + +All. Miss Valborg, Miss Signe! + +Hamar (in a panic). Am I to signal? + +Tjaelde. Oh, go to--! + +Hamar. Well, if ever again--! + +Tjaelde. Thank you very much, Mr. Vicar. Like you, I hope that +the intimate relations between parent and child that exist here-- + +The Vicar. It has always been a pleasure to me to come into your +most hospitable house. + +Tjaelde. May I have the honour of drinking a glass of wine with +you? (They drink to each other.) + +The Vicar. Excellent champagne, my dear sir! + +Lind (to HOLM). It pains me to hear what you say. Is it possible +that this town, which owes so much to Mr. Tjaelde, repays him +with such ingratitude? + +Holm (in a low voice). One never can quite confidently rely on him. + +Lind. Really? I have heard others sing his praises so loudly, you +know. + +Holm (as before). You misunderstand me. I mean his position-- + +Lind. His position? That must be merely envy! People are often so +unjust towards those whose enterprise has lifted them above the +heads of the crowd. + +Holm. At any rate I assure you it was not from-- + +Lind (coldly). I don't doubt it. (Walks away from him.) + +Jakobsen (with whom TJAELDE has just drunk). Gentlemen! + +Knutzon (to HOLM, in passing). Is that boor really going to be +allowed to make a speech! (Going up to LIND.) May I have the honour +of drinking a glass of wine with you, Mr. Lind? (Several of the +guests begin to talk, ostentatiously indifferent to JAKOBSEN who is +trying to begin his speech.) + +Jakobsen (in a formidable voice). Gentlemen! (Silence ensues, and +he continues in his usual voice.) Permit a common man to say a +word, too, on this festive occasion. I was a poor little boy when I +entered Mr. Tjaelde's employment; but he pulled me out of the +gutter. (Laughter.) I am-what I am, gentlemen! And therefore if +any here is qualified to talk about Mr. Tjaelde, it is I; because I +know him. I know he is a fine fellow. + +Lind (to TJAELDE). Children and drunken men-- + +Tjaelde (laughing). --speak the truth! + +Jakobsen. There are lots of people that will tell you one thing or +another about him--and, of course, he may have his failings like +all of us. But as I find myself in such fine company as this I am +going to say that--that--devil take me if Mr. Tjaelde isn't too +good for the lot of you! (Laughter.) + +Tjaelde. That's enough, Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen. No, it's not enough! Because there is one toast we have +all forgotten, although we have all had such a splendid dinner. +(Laughter. FALBE claps his hands and cries: "Bravo!") Yes, and it +is nothing to laugh at; because it is the toast of Mrs. Tjaelde's +health that we have not drunk! + +Lind. Bravo! + +Jakobsen. There's a wife and mother for you! I can tell you--and +it's true--she goes about the house attending to her duties and +preparing for our entertainment when all the time she is ill, and +she takes the whole thing on her shoulders and says nothing. God +bless her, I say!--and that is all I have to say. + +Several of the Guests (raising their glasses). Mrs. Tjaelde! Mrs. +Tjaelde! + +Pram (grasping JAKOBSEN by the hand). That was fine of you, +Jakobsen! (LIND joins them; PRAM steps aside respectfully.) + +Lind. Will you drink a glass of wine with me, Jakobsen? + +Jakobsen. Thank you, very much. I am only a common man-- + +Lind. But a good-hearted one! Your health! (They drink to each +other. A boat is seen putting in to shore below the verandah. Its +crew of six men stand up and toss their oars in naval fashion. +SANNAES is standing at the helm.) + +Holm (in a whisper, to KNUTZON). Tjaelde knew what he was doing +when he invited Jakobsen! + +Knutzon (whispering). Just look at the boat! + +Ring. Tjaelde is a very clever fellow--a very clever fellow! +(VALBORG, SIGNE and MRS. TJAELDE are seen coming up the verandah +steps.) + +Tjaelde. Gentlemen, the moment of departure is at hand; I see the +ladies coming to take leave of our distinguished guest. Let us take +this last opportunity of gathering around him--round our prince-- +and thanking him for coming! Let us cheer him with three times +three! (Cheers.) + +Lind. Thank you, gentlemen! There is so little time left that I +must confine myself to merely bidding you all good-bye. (To MRS. +TJAELDE.) Good-bye, my dear madam! You should have heard how your +health was proposed and drunk just now. My warmest thanks for +your hospitality, and forgive me for the trouble I have caused you. +(To SIGNE.) Good-bye, Miss Signe. I am sorry time has not permitted +me to have the honour of becoming better acquainted with you; you +seem so full of spirit! But if, as you said, you are soon coming to +Christiania-- + +Signe. I shall then do myself the honour of calling upon your wife. + +Lind. Thank you, thank you--you will be most welcome. (To VALBORG.) +Are you not feeling well, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg. Yes. + +Lind. You look so serious. (As VALBORG does not reply, he continues +somewhat coldly:) Good-bye, Miss Valborg. (To HAMAR.) Good-bye, +Mr.--Mr.-- + +Tjaelde. Mr. Hamar. + +Lind. Ah, the young man that talked to me about a horse--your +future son-in-law! Pray forgive me for not-- + +Hamar. Don't mention it! + +Lind. Good-bye! + +Hamar. A pleasant journey, sir! + +Lind (coldly, to HOLM). Good-bye, Mr. Holm. + +Holm (imperturbably polite). I wish you a very pleasant journey, +Mr. Lind. + +Lind (to PRAM). Good-bye, Mr. Pram. + +Pram (holds his hand, and seems as if he wanted to say something +but could not. At last he finds his voice). I want to thank you +for--for--I want to thank you for--for-- + +Lind. You are an excellent fellow! + +Pram (in a relieved voice). I am so glad to hear it! Thank you. + +Lind (to KNUTZON). Good-bye, Mr.-- + +Knutzon (hastily). Knutzon. + +Pram. With a "z." + +Lind (to KNUDSEN). Good-bye, Mr.-- + +Knudsen. Knudsen, again. + +Pram. With an "s." + +Lind (to FALBE). Mr--? + +Falbe. Falbe. + +Lind. Good-bye, Mr. Falbe! (To RING.) I am delighted to see you +looking so well, Mr. Ring. + +Ring (with a low bow). The same to you, sir! + +Lind. Good-bye, Mr. Vicar! + +The Vicar (holding his hand, impressively). Let me wish you good +luck and happiness, Mr. Lind-- + +Lind. Thank you. (Tries to get away.) + +The Vicar. --in your journey over the perilous seas to foreign +lands! + +Lind. Thank you. (Tries to get away.) + +The Vicar. Let me wish you a safe return, Mr. Lind-- + +Lind. Thank you very much. (Tries to get away.) + +The Vicar. --to our dear fatherland; a land, Mr. Lind, which +possesses in you-- + +Lind. You must excuse me, Mr. Vicar, but time presses. + +The Vicar. Let me thank you for the pleasure of our meeting +to-day, Mr. Lind, for-- + +Lind. Indeed, there is no occasion! Good-bye! (To JAKOBSEN.) +Good-bye, Jakobsen, good-bye! + +Jakobsen. Good-bye, Mr. Lind! I am only a common man, I know; but +that is no reason why I shouldn't wish you a pleasant journey too, +is it? + +Lind. Certainly not, Jakobsen.--Good-bye, Mr. Finne! By the way-- +just a word! (In an undertone.) You said that Mr. Berent--. +(Takes him aside.) + +Tjaelde (to HAMAR). Now, remember the salute this time!--No, no, +no! Don't be in such a hurry! Wait till the boat puts off! You +want to make a mess of it again! + +Hamar. Well, if ever again I--! + +Tjaelde (to LIND, who holds out his hand to him). Goodbye, Mr. +Lind! (In a low voice.) No one has so much reason to thank you +for your visit as I. You are the only one that can understand--. + +Lind (a shade coldly). Don't mention it, Mr. Tjaelde! Good luck to +your business! (In warmer tones.) Good-bye everybody--and thank you +all for your kindness! (The footman, who has for some time been +holding out his hat to him, gives it him, and his coat to SANNAES. +LIND steps on board the boat.) + +All. Good-bye, Mr. Lind, good-bye! + +Tjaelde. One cheer more! (Cheers and a cannon salute are heard +together. The boat glides away. They all wave their handkerchiefs. +TJAELDE hurries into the room.) I have no handkerchief; that +blockhead has--. (Looks at VALBORG.) Why are you not waving? + +Valborg. Because I don't wish to. (TJAELDE looks at her, but says +nothing. He goes into the other room and comes back with a +table-napkin in each hand, and hurries on to the verandah.) + +Tjaelde (waving and shouting). Good-bye! Good-bye! + +Signe. Let us go out to the point and see the last of them! + +All. Yes, yes! (All but TJAELDE and VALBORG hurry off to the +right.) + +Tjaelde (coming into the room). I saw Berent coming! (VALBORG +goes out by the door on the right. TJAELDE comes forward, throws +the napkins on to a table and himself into a chair.) Oh--oh! But +this must be the last time.--I shan't need this sort of thing any +more! Never again! (Gets up wearily.) Ah, I had forgotten. Berent! + +[The Curtain falls.] + +[The interval between this scene and the next should be as short as +possible.] + + +SCENE II + +(SCENE.-TJAELDE'S private office. On the left, a desk strewn with +ledgers and papers. On the right, a stove. An easy chair by the +stove. A table in the foreground to the right; on it an inkstand +and pens. Two armchairs; one at the table facing the audience, the +other at the side of the table. Windows on either side of the desk; +a door beyond the stove. A door in the background, leading to other +offices. A bell-pull hangs down the wall. A chair on either side of +the door. Quite at the back, on the left, a staircase leading +direct to TJAELDE'S bedroom. BERENT and TJAELDE come in from the +back.) + +Tjaelde. You must excuse my receiving you here. But the other +rooms are all upside down; we have had some people to dinner. + +Berent. I heard you had guests. + +Tjaelde. Yes, Mr. Lind from Christiana. + +Berent. Quite so. + +Tjaelde. Won't you sit down? (BERENT lays down his hat and coat +on a chair by the door. He comes slowly forward, sits down at the +side of the table, and takes some papers from his breast-pocket. +TJAELDE sits down at the other chair by the table and watches him +indifferently.) + +Berent. What we now want is some fixed standard by which to make +our valuations, especially of real estate. Have you any objection +to our making your business a basis for arriving at that? + +Tjaelde. None at all. + +Berent. Then may I make my comments on your own figures, and ask +you a few questions about them? + +Tjaelde. By all means. + +Berent. Well, to begin with, let us take your properties +immediately round here; they will give us the best idea of local +values. For instance, take the Mjoelstad forest; you have put that +down, I see, at L16,500. + +Tjaelde (indifferently). Have I? + +Berent. You bought it for L10,000. + +Tjaelde. Yes, four years ago. Timber prices ruled low then. + +Berent. And since then you have cut down more than L20,000 +worth of timber there. + +Tjaelde. Who told you so? + +Berent. Mr. Holst. + +Tjaelde. Holst knows nothing about it. + +Berent. We must try to be very accurate, you know. + +Tjaelde. Well, of course, the whole valuation is not my concern; +but those whom it does concern will protest. + +Berent (taking no notice of his objection). So I think we will +reduce the L16,500 to L10,000. + +Tjaelde. To L10,000! (Laughs.) As you please. + +Berent. Calculating by the same standard, we can scarcely put +down the Stav forest at more than L4000. + +Tjaelde. Allow me to say that, if that is the way you are going to +make your valuation, everybody in the place will have to go +bankrupt! + +Berent (with a smile). We will risk that. You have put down your +wharf and its contents at L12,000. + +Tjaelde. Including two ships in course of construction-- + +Berent. --for which it would be difficult to find a purchaser, as +they are so far from completion. + +Tjaelde. Indeed? + +Berent. So I think we cannot put down the wharf and its contents +at a higher figure than L8,000--and I believe even that will turn +out to be too high. + +Tjaelde. If you can find me another wharf as well stocked, and +with the advantages that this one has, I will buy it whenever you +like for L8000; I am certain I should be more than L4000 to the +good over the bargain. + +Berent. May I go on? + +Tjaelde. If you like! I even feel a certain curiosity to view my +possessions under such an entirely new light. + +Berent. As a matter of fact the items that are too highly valued +are just those that comprise this property that you live on--its +land, its gardens, its dwelling houses, warehouses, and quays-not +to mention the brewery and the factory, which I shall come to +later. Even regarded as business premises they seem to me to be +over-valued. + +Tjaelde. Well? + +Berent, Moreover, the luxurious appointments of this house of +yours, which would very probably be superfluous for any one else, +cannot possibly be counted upon to realise their full value in a +sale. Suppose--as is indeed most likely--that it were a countryman +that bought the place? + +Tjaelde. You are reckoning me as turned out of it already, then! + +Berent. I am obliged to base all my calculations on what the +property would fetch if sold now. + +Tjaelde (getting up). What may you happen to value it at then? + +Berent. At less than half your valuation; that is to say at-- + +Tjaelde. You must really forgive me if I use an expression which +has been on the tip of my tongue for some time: this is scandalous! +You force yourself into a man's house, and then, under pretext of +asking for his opinion, you practically--on paper--rob him of his +possessions! + +Berent. I don't understand you. I am trying to arrive at a basis +for values hereabouts; and you said yourself, did you not, that it +is a matter that does not concern you alone? + +Tjaelde. Certainly; but even in jest--if I may be allowed the +expression--one does not take the statement that an honourable +man has voluntarily offered and treat it as a mendacious document. + +Berent. There are many different points of view from which +valuations can be made, obviously. I see nothing more in it than +that. + +Tjaelde. But don't you understand that this is like cutting into my +living flesh? Bit by bit, my property has been brought together +or created by my own work, and preserved by the most strenuous +exertions on my part under terribly trying conditions--it is bound +up with my family, with all that is dear to me--it has become a +part of my very life! + +Berent (with a bow). I understand that perfectly. You have put +down the Brewery at-- + +Tjaelde. No; I refuse to allow you to go on in this way. You must +find some one else's property as a basis for your calculations-- +you must consult some one else, whose idea of business corresponds +somewhat closer to your own ridiculous one. + +Berent (leaning back in his chair). That is a pity. The banks were +anxious to be acquainted with your answers to my observations. + +Tjaelde. Have you sent my statement to the banks? + +Berent. With my remarks and comments on it, and Mr. Holst's. + +Tjaelde. This has been a trap, then? I believed I had to deal with +a gentleman! + +Berent. The banks or I, what is the difference? It comes to the +same thing, as I represent them unreservedly. + +Tjaelde. Such impudent audacity is unpardonable! + +Berent. I would suggest that we avoid hard words--at all events, +for the moment--and rather consider the effect that will be +produced by the balance-sheet sent in. + +Tjaelde. That some of us will see! + +Berent. The banking house of Lind & Co., for instance? + +Tjaelde. Do you mean to say that my balance-sheet, ornamented with +marginal notes by you and Holst, is to be submitted to Mr. Lind's +firm too? + +Berent. When the cannon-salutes and noise of your festivities +enlightened me as to the situation, I took the liberty of making +some inquiries of the banks. + +Tjaelde. So you have been spying here, too? You have been trying to +undermine my business connections? + +Berent. Is your position such, then, that you are afraid? + +Tjaelde. The question is not my position, but your behaviour! + +Berent. I think we had better keep to the point. You have put +down the Brewery at-- + +Tjaelde. No; your conduct is so absolutely underhanded that, as an +honest man, I must refuse all further dealing with you. I am, as I +said before, accustomed to have to deal with gentlemen. + +Berent. I think you misunderstand the situation. Your indebtedness +to the banks is so considerable that a settlement of it may +reasonably be required of you. But to effect that you must work +with us in the matter. + +Tjaelde (after a moment's thought). Very well! But, no more +details--let me know your conclusions, briefly. + +Berent. My conclusions, briefly, are that you have estimated +your assets at L90,800. I estimate them at L40,600. + +Tjaelde (quietly). That is to say, you make me out to have a +deficit of about L30,000? + +Berent. As to that, I must point out that your estimate of your +liabilities does not agree with mine, either. + +Tjaelde (quietly). Oh, of course not! + +Berent. For instance, the dividend that Moeller's estate is to +yield to you. + +Tjaelde. No more details! What do you put my total liabilities at? + +Berent. Let me see. Your total liabilities amount, according to +your calculations, to L70,000. I estimate them at L80,000--to be +precise, at L79,372. + +Tjaelde. That puts my deficit at about-- + +Berent. At about L39,400--or, in round figures, L40,000. + +Tjaelde. Oh, by all means let us stick to round figures! + +Berent. So that the difference between your views of your +balance-sheet and mine is that, whereas you give yourself a +surplus of about L20,000, I give you a deficit of about L40,000. + +Tjaelde. Thank you very much.--Do you know my opinion of the whole +matter? (BERENT looks up at him.) That I am in this room with a +madman. + +Berent. I have had the same opinion for some time.--The stock of +timber you hold in France I have not been able to deal with; you +have forgotten to include it in your account. Perhaps it may make +a little difference. + +Tjaelde. It is of no consequence! I have often enough heard people +speak of your callousness and your heartlessness; but their account +of you has come nowhere near the truth. I don't know why I have not +turned you out of my house long before this; but you will have the +goodness to leave it now! + +Berent. We shall both leave presently. But before we do, we must +discuss the question of handing over the house to the Receiver in +Bankruptcy. + +Tjaelde. Ha, ha, ha! Allow me to inform you that at this very +moment a sum is being telegraphed to me which will be sufficient +not only to cover my present liabilities, but to set me straight in +every direction! + +Berent. The telegraph is a useful invention which is open to every +one. + +Tjaelde (after a moment's thought). What do you mean by that? + +Berent. One effect of the noise of your festivities was that I used +the telegraph also. Mr. Lind will receive, on board the boat, a +telegram from his firm--and I doubt if the money you speak of will +be forthcoming. + +Tjaelde. It is not true! You have not dared to do that! + +Berent. The facts are exactly as I state. + +Tjaelde. Give me my balance-sheet; let me look at it again. +(Stretches out his hand to take it.) + +Berent (taking it up). Excuse me! + +Tjaelde. Do you presume to keep back my own balance-sheet in +my own writing? + +Berent. Yes, and even to put it in my pocket. (Does so.) A +fraudulent balance-sheet, dated and signed, is a document of +some importance. + +Tjaelde. You are determined to ruin my private and public +reputation? + +Berent. You have been working for that yourself for a long time. I +know your position. For a month past I have been in correspondence +with all the quarters in which you have business connections, both +here any I abroad. + +Tjaelde. What underhanded deceitfulness an honest man is exposed +to! Here have I been surrounded by spies for the last month! A +plot between my business acquaintances and the banks! A snake +creeping into my house and crawling over my accounts! But I will +break up the conspiracy! And you will find out what it mean, to try +and ruin a reputable firm by underhand devices! + +Berent. This is no time for fine phrases. Do you propose to +surrender your property at once? + +Tjaelde. Ha, ha! I am to surrender it because you have made me +out a bankrupt on your bit of paper! + +Berent. You might conceal the facts for a month, I know. But for +your own sake, and especially for the sake of others, I would +urgently advise you to end the matter at once. That was the reason +of my journey here. + +Tjaelde. Ah, now the truth is out! And you came here pretending a +friendly concern that the tangle should be straightened out! We +were to distinguish between the sound and unsound firms, and you +requested me, most politely, to give you my assistance in the +matter! + +Berent. Exactly. But there is no question of anything unsound here +except your own business and what is bound up with it. + +Tjaelde (when he has controlled himself). So you came into my house +with the hidden design of ruining me? + +Berent. I must repeat that it is not I that am responsible for your +bankruptcy; it is yourself. + +Tjaelde. And I must repeat that my bankruptcy only exists in your +imagination! Much may happen in a month; and I have shown that I +can find a way out of difficulties before now! + +Berent. That is to say, by involving yourself deeper and deeper in +falsehood. + +Tjaelde. Only a man of business can understand such things. But, +if you really understand them, I would say to you: "Give me +L20,000 and I will save the situation entirely." That would be +doing something worthy of your great powers; that would give +you a reputation for penetration in discerning the real state of +affairs; because by so doing you would safeguard the welfare of +more than a thousand people, and ensure a prosperous future for +the whole district! + +Berent. I don't rise to that bait. + +Tjaelde (after a moment's reflection). Do you want me to explain to +you how L20,000 would be sufficient to set the whole complicated +situation straight? Within three months remittances would be coming +in. I can make it its clear as daylight to you-- + +Berent. --that you would be falling from one disillusionment to +another! That is what you have been doing for the last three +years, from month to month. + +Tjaelde. Because the last three years have been bad years--horrible +years! But we have reached the crisis; things must begin to improve +now! + +Berent. That is what every defaulter thinks. + +Tjaelde. Do not drive me to despair! Have you any idea what I have +gone through in these three years? Have you any idea what I am +capable of? + +Berent. Of still further falsehood. + +Tjaelde. Take care!--It is quite true that I am standing on the +edge of a precipice. It is true that for three years I have done +everything in mortal power to save the situation! I maintain that +there has been something heroic in the fight I have made. And that +deserves some reward. You have unrestricted powers; every one +trusts you. Realise for yourself what your mission is; do not let +it be necessary for me to teach it you! Let me tell you this, +emphatically: it will be a dreadful thing for _you_ if hundreds of +people are to be ruined unnecessarily now! + +Berent. Let us make an end of this. + +Tjaelde. No, devil take me if I give up a fight like this with a +senseless surrender! + +Berent. How do you propose to end it, then? + +Tjaelde. There is no issue to it that I have not turned over in my +thoughts--thousands of times. _I_ know what I shall do! I won't be +a mark for the jeers of this wretched little town, nor triumphed +over by those who have envied me all round the countryside! + +Berent. What will you do, then? + +Tjaelde. You shall see! (Speaking more and more excitedly.) You +won't help me under any conditions? + +Berent. No. + +Tjaelde. You insist that I shall surrender my estate, here and now? + +Berent. Yes. + +Tjaelde. Hell and damnation! You dare do that? + +Berent. Yes. + +Tjaelde (his agitation robbing him of his voice, which all at once +sinks to a hoarse whisper). You have never known what despair is!-- +You don't know what an existence I have endured!-But if the +decisive moment has come, and I have a man here in my office +who _ought_ to save me but will not, then that man shall share +what is in store for me. + +Berent (leaning back in his chair). This is beginning to be +impressive. + +Tjaelde. No more jesting; you might regret it! (Goes to all the +doors and locks them with a key which he takes out of his pocket; +then unlocks his desk, and takes a revolver out of it.) How long do +you suppose I have had this in here? + +Berent. Since you bought it, I suppose. + +Tjaelde. And why do you suppose I bought it?--Do you suppose that +after I have been master of this town and the biggest man in the +district, I would endure the disgrace of bankruptcy? + +Berent. You have been enduring it for a long time. + +Tjaelde. It is in your power now either to ruin me or to wave me. +You have behaved in such a way that you deserve no mercy--and you +shall have none! Report to the banks that they may give me the use +of L14,000 for a year--I need no more than that--and I will save +the situation for good and all. Think seriously, now! Remember my +family, remember how long my firm has been established, remember +the numbers that would be ruined if I were! And do not forget to +think of your own family! Because, if you _don't_ agree to what I +ask, neither of us shall leave this room alive! + +Berent (pointing to the revolver). Is it loaded? + +Tjaelde (putting his finger on the trigger). You will find that out +in good time. You must answer me now! + +Berent. I have a suggestion to make. Shoot yourself first and me +afterwards. + +Tjaelde (going up to him and holding the revolver to his head). I +will soon quiet your pretty wit. + +Berent (getting up, and taking out of his pocket a paper which he +unfolds). This is a formal surrender of your estate to the Receiver +in Bankruptcy. If you sign it, you will be doing your duty to your +creditors, to your family, and to yourself. Shooting yourself and +me would only be adding an acted lie to all your others. Put away +your revolver and take up your pen! + +Tjaelde. Never! I had resolved on this long ago. But you shall +keep me company, now! + +Berent. Do what you please. But you cannot threaten me into a +falsehood. + +Tjaelde (who has lowered the revolver, takes a step back, raises +the revolver and aims at BERENT). Very well! + +Berent (walking up to TJAELDE and looking him straight in the eyes, +while the latter reluctantly lowers the revolver). Do you suppose I +don't know that a man who has for so long shivered with falsehood +and terror in his inmost heart has lots of schemes but no courage? +You _dare_ not do it! + +Tjaelde (furiously). I will show you! (Steps back and raises the +revolver again.) + +Berent (following him). Shoot, and you will hear a report--that is +what you are longing for, I suppose! Or, give up your plan of +shooting, think of what you have done, confess, and afterwards +hold your tongue! + +Tjaelde. No; may the devil take both you and me-- + +Berent. And the horse? + +Tjaelde. The horse? + +Berent. I mean the magnificent charger on which you came galloping +home from the sale of Moeller's estate. You had better let some one +shoot you on horseback--on what was your last and greatest piece of +business duplicity! (Goes nearer to him and speaks more quietly.) +Or--strip yourself of the tissue of lies which enfolds you, and +your bankruptcy will bring you more blessing than your riches have +ever done. (TJAELDE lets the revolver drop out of his hand, and +sinks into a chair in an outburst of tears. There is silence for a +moment.) You have made an amazing fight of it for these last three +years. I do not believe I know any one who could have done what you +have done. But you have lost the fight this time. Do not shrink now +from a final settlement and the pain that it must cost you. Nothing +else will cleanse your soul for you. + +Tjaelde (weeping unrestrainedly, with his face buried in his +hands). Oh, oh! + +Berent. You have blamed me for my method of proceeding in the +matter. My answer to that is that I forgive you for yours. (A +pause.) Try now to look the situation in the face, and take it +like a man. + +Tjaelde (as before). Oh! + +Berent. At the bottom of your heart you must be weary of it all; +make an end of it all now! + +Tjaelde (as before). Oh! + +Berent (sitting down beside him, after a moment's pause). Wouldn't +you like to feel your conscience clear again--to be able really to +live with your wife and children? Because I am sure you have not +done that for many a day. + +Tjaelde (as before). Oh! + +Berent. I have known many speculators in my time and have received +many confessions. So I know what you have been robbed of for three +years--never a good night's rest, never a meal eaten with a light +heart. You have scarcely been conscious of what your children were +doing or saying, except when accident brought you together. And +your wife-- + +Tjaelde. My wife! + +Berent. Yes, she has slaved hard enough to prepare these banquets +that were to conceal the nakedness of the land. Indeed, she has +been the hardest worked servant in your house. + +Tjaelde. My patient, good wife! + +Berent. I feel certain you would rather be the humblest labourer +earning your daily bread than live through such suffering again. + +Tjaelde. A thousand times rather! + +Berent. Then can you hesitate to do what will give every man his +due, and bring you back to truthfulness again? Take the paper and +sign it! + +Tjaelde (falling on his knees). Mercy, mercy! You do not know what +you are asking me. My own children will curse me. I have just heard +of a child doing that to her father! And my business friends, who +will be ruined with me--numbers of them--think of their families! +Oh! What is to become of my work-people? Do you know there are more +than four hundred of them? Think of them and their families, robbed +of their livelihood!--Be merciful! I cannot, I dare not, do it! +Save me, help me! It was horrible of me to try and threaten you; +but now I implore you, for the sake of all those that deserve more +than I, but to whom I shall devote the rest of my life in loyal +work! + +Berent. I cannot save you, least of all with money that belongs to +others. What you ask me to do would be disloyalty to them. + +Tjaelde. No, no! Publish my accounts openly--put me under trustees, +if you like; but let me go on with the scheme that I believe will +succeed! Every clear-headed man will see that it must succeed! + +Berent. Come and sit down. Let us discuss it. (TJAELDE sits down.) +Isn't what you are now proposing exactly what you have been trying +to do for the last three years? You _have_ been able to borrow the +means; but what good has it done? + +Tjaelde. Times have been so bad! + +Berent (shaking his head). You have mixed up falsehood and truth +for so long that you have forgotten the simplest laws of commerce. +To speculate during bad times, on the chance of their becoming +better, is all very well for those who can afford it. Others must +leave such things alone. + +Tjaelde. But it is to the advantage of my creditors themselves, and +of the banks too, that my estate should hold together! + +Berent. It is of no advantage to sound firms to prop up unsound +ones. + +Tjaelde. But, surely, to avoid losing their capital--? + +Berent, Oh, perhaps in the Receiver's hands the estate may-- + +Tjaelde (hopefully, half rising from his chair). Yes? Well? + +Berent. But not till you have been removed from the control of it. + +Tjaelde (sinking down again). Not till I have been removed from the +control of it! + +Berent. On _its own_ resources I dare say the estate can hold out +until better times come, but not on borrowed money. + +Tjaelde. Not on borrowed money-- + +Berent. You understand the difference, of course? + +Tjaelde. Oh, yes. + +Berent. Good. Then you must understand that there is nothing left +for you to do but to sign this. + +Tjaelde. Nothing left but to sign-- + +Berent. Here is the paper. Come, now! + +Tjaelde (rousing himself). Oh, I cannot, I cannot! + +Berent. Very well. But in that case the crash will come of itself +in a short time, and everything will be worse than it is now. + +Tjaelde (falling on his knees).Mercy, mercy! I cannot let go of all +hope! Think, after a fight like mine! + +Berent. Tell the truth and say: "I haven't the courage to face the +consequences." + +Tjaelde. Yes, that is the truth. + +Berent. "I haven't the courage to begin an honest life." + +Tjaelde. Yes. + +Berent. You don't know what you are saying, man! + +Tjaelde. No, I don't. But spare me! + +Berent (getting up). This is nothing but despair! I am sorry for +you. + +Tjaelde (getting up). Yes, surely you must be? Try me! Ask me to do +anything you like! Tell me what you-- + +Berent. No, no! Before anything else, you must sign this. + +Tjaelde (sinking back into his chair). Oh!--How shall I ever dare +to look any one in the face again?--I, who, have defied everything +and deceived every one! + +Berent. The man who has enjoyed the respect which he did not +deserve must some day undergo the humiliation which he has +deserved. That is a law; and I cannot save you from that. + +Tjaelde. But they will be crueller to me than to any one else! I +deserve it, I know; but I shall not be able to endure it! + +Berent. Hm! You are remarkably tough; your fight, these last three +years, proves that. + +Tjaelde. Be merciful! Surely your ingenuity--your influence--_must_ +be able to find some way out for me? + +Berent. Yes. The way out is for you to sign this. + +Tjaelde. Won't you even take it over from me by private contract? +If you did that, everything would come right. + +Berent. Sign! Here is the paper! Every hour is precious. + +Tjaelde. Oh! (Takes up a pen; but turns to BERENT with a gesture of +supplication.) Daren't you test me, after what I have just gone +through? + +Berent. Yes, when you have signed. (TJAELDE signs the paper, and +sinks back in his chair with an expression of the keenest anguish. +BERENT takes the paper, folds it, and puts it in his pocket-book.) +Now I will go to the Bankruptcy Court with this, and afterwards to +the telegraph office. Probably the officials of the court will come +this evening to make their inventory. So you ought to warn your +family. + +Tjaelde. How shall I be able to do that? Give me a little time! Be +merciful! + +Berent. The sooner the better for you--not to speak of the +interests of all concerned. Well, I have finished for the present. + +Tjaelde. Don't desert me like this! Don't desert me! + +Berent. You would like your wife to come to you, wouldn't you? + +Tjaelde (resignedly). Yes. + +Berent (taking up the revolver). And this--I will not take it with +me. There is no danger from it now. But I will put it in the desk, +for the sake of the others. Now, if you or yours should need me, +send word to me. + +Tjaelde. Thank you. + +Berent. I shall not leave the town until the worst is over.-- +Remember, night or day, if you need me, send word to me. + +Tjaelde. Thank you. + +Berent. And now will you unlock the door for me? + +Tjaelde (getting up). Ah, of course. Excuse me! + +Berent (taking his hat and coat). Won't you call your wife now? + +Tjaelde. No. I must have a little time first. I have the worst part +of it before me now. + +Berent. I believe you have, and that is just why--. (Takes hold of +the bell-pull and rings the bell.) + +Tjaelde. What are you doing? + +Berent. I want, before I go, to be sure of your wife's coming to +you. + +Tjaelde. You should not have done that! (An office-boy comes in. +BERENT looks at TJAELDE.) Ask your mistress--ask my wife to come to +me. + +Berent. At once, please. (The boy goes out.) Good-bye! (Goes out. +TJAELDE sinks down on to a chair by the door.) + +[The Curtain falls.] + + +ACT III + +(SCENE.-The same as in the preceding act. TJAELDE is sitting alone, +on the chair by the door, in the position he was in when the +curtain fell on the last act. After sitting motionless for a +considerable time, he suddenly gets up.) + +Tjaelde. How am I to begin? After her, there are the children; +after them, all my work-people--and then all the others! If only I +could get away! But the Receiver's men will be here.--I must have +some air! (Goes to the nearest window.) What a beautiful day!--but +not for me. (Opens the window and looks out.) My horse! No, I +daren't look at it. Why is it saddled? Oh, of course I meant, after +my talk with Berent, to--. But now everything is different! (Walks +up and down once or twice, thinking; then says suddenly:) Yes, on +that horse I might reach the outer harbour before the foreign boat +sails! (Looks at his watch.) I can do it! And I shall be able to +put behind me all--. (Stops, with a start, as he hears footsteps on +the stair.) Who is there? What is it? (MRS. TJAELDE comes down the +stair into the room.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You sent for me? + +Tjaelde. Yes. (Watching her.) Were you upstairs? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, I was resting. + +Tjaelde (sympathetically). Ah, you were sleeping, and I woke you +up! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No, I was not asleep. (She has come slowly forward.) + +Tjaelde. You weren't asleep? (Apprehensively, to her.) I suppose +you didn't--? (To himself.) No, I daren't ask her. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What did you want? + +Tjaelde. I wanted--. (Sees her eyes fixed on the revolver.) You are +surprised at my having that out? I got it out because I am going +on a journey. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (supporting herself on the desk). Going on a journey? + +Tjaelde. Yes. Mr. Berent has been here, as I dare say you know. +(She does not answer.) Business, you know. I have to go abroad. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (faintly). Abroad? + +Tjaelde. Only for a few days. So I will only take my usual bag with +a change of clothes and one or two shirts; but I must have it at +once. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I don't think your bag has been unpacked since you +brought it home to-day. + +Tjaelde. So much the better. Will you get it for me? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Are you going away now--at once? + +Tjaelde. Yes, by the foreign boat--from the outer harbour. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You have no time to lose, then. + +Tjaelde. Are you not well? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Not very. + +Tiwlde. One of your attacks? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes!--but I must fetch your bag. (TJAELDE helps +her over to the staircase.) + +Tjaelde. You are not well, my dear--but you will be better some +day. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I only wish _you_ looked better. + +Tjaelde. We all have our burdens to bear. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. If only we could bear more together! + +Tjaelde. But you don't understand my affairs--and I have never +had time to talk about yours. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No--that's it. (Begins to go upstairs slowly.) + +Tjaelde. Shall I help you? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No, thank you, dear. + +Tjaelde (coming forward). Does she suspect? She is always like +that--she takes all my courage away from me. But there is no +other way! Now--about money? I surely have some gold here +somewhere. (Goes to his desk, takes some gold out of a drawer and +counts it; then lifts his head and sees MRS. TJAELDE who has sat +down on the stair half-way up.) My dear, are you sitting down? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I felt faint for a moment. I will go up now. (Gets up +and climbs the stair slowly.) + +Tjaelde. Poor thing, she is worn out. (Pulls himself together.) No-- +five, six, eight, ten--that is not enough. I must have some more. +(Searches in the desk.) And when I run short I have my watch and +chain. Twenty, twenty-four--that is all I can find. Ah, my papers! +I must on no account forget them. The ground is falling away +under me! Isn't she coming back? The bag was packed, surely?-- +Ah, how all this will make her suffer! But it will not be so bad +for her if I am away. People will be more merciful, both to her and +the children. Oh, my children! (Collects himself.) Only let me get +away, away! Thoughts will follow me there, all the same!--Ah, here +she is! (MRS. TJAELDE is seen coming down slowly, with a bag which +is evidently, heavy.) Shall I help you, dear? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Thanks, will you take hold of the bag? + +Tjaelde (takes it; she comes slowly down). It is heavier than it +was this morning. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Is it? + +Tjaelde. I have some papers to put in it. (Opens the bag.) But, my +dear, there is money in this bag. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes--some gold that you have given me at odd times. +I thought it might be useful to you now. + +Tjaelde. There is a large sum. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I don't believe you even know how much you have +given me. + +Tjaelde. She knows everything!--My dear! (Opens his arms.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Henning! (They both burst into tears and fall into +each other's arms. MRS. TJAELDE whispers to him:) Shall I call the +children? + +Tjaelde (in a whisper). No, say nothing--till later! (They embrace +again. He takes up the bag.) Go to the window, so that I can see +you when I mount. (Shuts the bag and hurries to the door, but +stops.) My dear! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes? + +Tjaelde. Forgive me! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Everything! (TJAELDE, as he is hurrying out, meets in +the doorway an office-boy who is bringing him a letter. TJAELDE +takes it, and the boy goes out.) + +Tjaelde. From Berent! (Opens the letter, stands in the doorway and +reads it; then comes back into the room, with his bag in his hand, +and reads it again.) "When I left your house, I saw a horse +standing saddled at your door. To prevent misunderstanding, let +me inform you that your house is watched by the police." + +Mrs. Tjaelde (supporting herself on the desk). You can't go? + +Tjaelde. No. (A pause. He puts down the bag and wipes his +forehead.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Henning, shall we pray together? + +Tjaelde. What do you mean? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Pray--pray to God to help us? (Bursts into tears. +TJAELDE is silent. She falls on her knees.) Come, Henning! You see +that all human ingenuity is of no avail! + +Tjaelde. I know that, only too well. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Well, try once, in this hour of our greatest need! +(TJAELDE appears to be struggling with his emotion.) You never +would! You have never confided in us, or in your God!--never +opened your heart to any one! + +Tjaelde. Be quiet! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. But what you concealed by day, you used to talk +of in the night. We mortals must talk, you know! But I have lain +awake and listened to your distress. Now you know why I am no +longer good for anything. No sleep at night, and none of your +confidence in the daytime. I have suffered even more than you. +(TJAELDE throws himself into a chair. She goes to him.) You +wanted to run away. When we are afraid of our fellow-men, we +have only Him to turn to. Do you think I should be alive now, if +it were not for Him? + +Tjaelde. I have thrown myself imploringly at His feet, but always +in vain! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Henning, Henning! + +Tjaelde. Why did He not bless my work and the fight I was making? +It is all one now. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Ah, there is more to come. + +Tjaelde (getting up). Yes, the worst is before us now-- + +Mrs. Tjaelde. --because it is in our own hearts! (A pause. VALBORG +appears coming down the stair, but stops at the sight of the +others.) What do you want, dear? + +Valborg (with suppressed emotion). From my room I can see the +police watching the house. Are the Receiver's men coming now? + +Mrs. Tjaelde (sitting down). Yes, my child. After a terrible +struggle--how terrible, his God and I alone know--your father has +just sent in his declaration of bankruptcy. (VALBORG takes a step +or two forward, then stands still. A pause.) + +Tjaelde (unable to control himself). Now I suppose you will say +to me just what Moeller's daughter said to him! + +Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up). You won't do that, Valborg!--God +alone can judge him. + +Tjaelde. Tell me how cruelly I have wronged you! Tell me that +you will never be able to forgive me--(breaking down)--that I have +lost your respect and your love for ever! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Oh, my child! + +Tjaelde. That your anger and your shame know no bounds! + +Valborg. Oh, father, father! (Goes out by the door at the back. +TJAELDE tries to cross the room, as if to follow her, but can only +stagger as far as the staircase, to which he clings for support. +MRS. TJAELDE sinks back into her chair. There is a long pause. +Suddenly JAKOBSEN cones in from the outer once, dressed as before +except that he has changed his coat. TJAELDE is not aware of his +entrance until JAKOBSEN is close to him; then he stretches out +his hands to him as if in entreaty, but JAKOBSEN goes right up to +him and speaks in a voice choked with rage.) + +Jakobsen. You scoundrel! (TJAELDE recoils.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Jakobsen! Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen (without heeding her). The Receiver's men are here. +The books and papers at the Brewery have been seized. Work is +at a standstill--and the same thing at the factory. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My God! + +Jakobsen. And I had made myself responsible for twice as much +as I possessed! (He speaks low, but his voice vibrates with anger +and emotion.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Dear Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen (turning to her). Didn't I say to him, every time he told +me to sign, "But I don't possess as much as that! It's not right!"-- +But he used to answer, "It is only a matter of form, Jakobsen." +"Yes, but not an honourable form," I used to say. "It is a matter +of form in business," he would say; "all business folk do it." +And all I knew of business, I had learnt from him; so I trusted +him. (With emotion.) And he made me do it time after time. And +now I owe more than I shall ever be able to pay, all my life. I +shall live and die a dishonoured man. What have you to say to +that, Mrs. Tjaelde? (She does not answer him. He turns angrily +upon TJAELDE.) Do you hear? Even _she_ can find nothing to say!-- +Scoundrel! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen (in a voice broken with emotion). I have nothing but the +deepest respect for you, Mrs. Tjaelde. But, you see, he has made +me swindle other people! In his name I shall have ruined numbers +of them. They trusted me, you see; just as I trusted him. I used +to tell them that he was a benefactor to the whole countryside, and +that therefore they ought to help him in these hard times. And now +there will be many an honest family robbed of house and home by our +treachery. And that is what he has brought me to! What heartless +cruelty! (To TJAELDE.) I can tell I feel inclined to--. (Takes a +threatening step towards him.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up). For my sake, Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen (restraining himself). Yes, for your sake, ma'am; because +I have the deepest respect for you. But how am I to face all those +poor creatures that I have ruined? It will do them no good to +explain to them how it has happened; that won't help them to get +their daily bread! How shall I face my own wife! (With emotion.) +She has had such faith in me, and in those I trusted. And my +children, too? It is very hard on children, because they hear so +much talk in the street. It won't be long before they hear what +sort of a father they have got; and they will hear it from the +children of the men I have ruined. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. As you feel how hard it is yourself, that should +make you willing to spare others. Be merciful! + +Jakobsen. I have the deepest respect for you; but it is hard that +in my home we should never again be able to eat a crust that we can +properly call our own--for I owe more than I can ever live to +repay! That is hard, Mrs. Tjaelde! What will become of my evenings +with my children now?--of our Sundays together? No, I mean that he +shall hear the truth from me. (Turns upon TJAELDE.) You scoundrel! +You shan't escape me! (TJAELDE shrinks back in terror and tries to +reach the office door, but at that moment the RECEIVER comes in, +followed by two of his clerks and SANNAES. TJAELDE crosses the +room, staggers to his desk, and leans upon it with his back turned +to the newcomers.) + +The Receiver (coming up behind Tjaelde). Excuse me! May I have your +books and papers? (TJAELDE gives a start, moves away to the stove, +and supports himself on it.) + +Jakobsen (in a whisper, standing over him). Scoundrel! (TJAELDE +moves away from him and sits down on a chair by the door, hiding +his face in his hands.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up and whispering to JAKOBSEN), Jakobsen! +Jakobsen! (He comes towards her.) He has never deliberately cheated +any one! He has never been what you say, and never will be! (Sits +down again.) + +Jakobsen. I have the deepest respect for _you_, Mrs. Tjaelde. But +if _he_ is not a liar and swindler, there is no truth in anything! +(Bursts into tears. MRS. TJAELDE hides her face in her hands as she +leans back in her chair. A short silence. Then a confused noise of +voices is heard without. The RECEIVER and his men stop their work +of sorting and inventorying papers, and all look up.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (apprehensively). What is that? (SANNAES and the +RECEIVER go to one window, and JAKOBSEN to another.) + +Jakobsen. It's the hands from the quay and the brewery and the +factory and the warehouse. All work is stopped until further +orders; but this is pay-day--and there is no pay for them! (The +others resume their work.) + +Tjaelde (coming forward despairingly). I had forgotten that! + +Jakobsen (going up to him). Well, go out and face them, and they +will let you know what you are! + +Tjaelde (in a low voice, as he takes up his saddle-bag). Here is +money, but it is all in gold. Go into the town and get it changed, +and pay them! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, do, Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen (in lower tones). If _you_ ask me to, ma'am, I--So there +is money in this bag? (Opens it.) And all done up in rolls. He +meant to bolt, then!--and with the money his people had lent him. +And yet you say he is not a scoundrel! (TJAELDE gives a groan. The +noise of voices without grows louder.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (in a low voice). Be quick, or we shall have them in +here. + +Jakobsen. I will go. + +The Receiver (interposing). Excuse me, but nothing must be taken +away from here until it has been examined and inventoried. + +Jakobsen. It is pay-day, and this is the money for the wages. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Jakobsen is responsible for it, and will account for +it. + +The Receiver. Oh, that alters the case. Mr. Jakobsen is a man of +integrity. (Goes back to his work.) + +Jakobsen (to MRS. TJAELDE, in a low voice full of emotion). Did you +hear that, Mrs. Tjaelde? He called me a man of integrity--and very +soon not a single soul will call me that! (Goes out past TJAELDE to +whom he whispers as he passes:) Scoundrel! I shall come back again! + +The Receiver (going up to TJAELDE). Excuse me, but I must ask you +for the keys of your private rooms and cupboards. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (answering for her husband). My housekeeper shall go +with you. Sannaes, here is the key of the cupboard. (SANNAES takes +it from her.) + +The Receiver (looking at TJAELDE'S massive watch-chain). Whatever +article of dress can be called a necessary, we have nothing to do +with; but if it happens that it comrises jewellery of any great +value--. (TJAELDE begins to take off the watch-chain.) No, no; keep +it on. But it will have to be included in the inventory. + +Tjaelde. I don't wish to keep it. + +The Receiver. As you please. (Signs to one of his clerks to take +it.) Good-day! (Meanwhile SIGNE and HAMAR have appeared at the +door of the outer office, and have seen what passed. The RECEIVER, +SANNAES, and the clerks try to open the door on the right, but find +it locked.) This door is locked. + +Tjaelde (as if waking from a dream). Ah, of course! (Goes to the +door and unlocks it.) + +Signe (rushing to MRS. TJAELDE and falling on her knees beside +her). Mother! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, dear, the day of our trial has come! And I am +afraid--afraid that it may find us all too weak. + +Signe. Mother, what is to become of us? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. We are in God's hands. + +Signe. I will go with Hamar to his aunt's. We will go at once. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. It is possible that his aunt may not be willing to +have you now. + +Signe. Aunt Ulla! What do you mean? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I mean that you have been the rich man's daughter; +and you do not know what the world is. + +Signe. Hamar, do you think Aunt Ulla would refuse to have me? + +Hamar (after a moment's thought). I don't know. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You hear that, my child. In the next few hours you +will learn more than you have learnt in all your life. + +Signe (in a horrified whisper). Do you mean that even--? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Hush! (SIGNE hides her face in her mother's lap. A +loud burst of laughter is heard outside.) + +Hamar (going to the nearest window). What is that? (SANNAES comes +in through the right-hand door and goes to the other window. +TJAELDE, SIGNE and MRS. TJAELDE get up.) The bay horse! They have +got hold of it. + +Sannaes. They have led it up the steps, and are pretending to sell +it by auction. + +Hamar. They are ill-treating it! (SANNAES runs out. HAMAR snatches +up the revolver from the desk and looks to see if it is loaded.) I +will--! + +Signe. What are you going to do? (As he starts to go out, she +clings to him and prevents him.) + +Hamar. Let me go! + +Signe. Tell me first what you are going to do! Do you mean to go +out among all those men--alone? + +Hamar. Yes. + +Signe (throwing her arms round him). You shan't go! + +Hamar. Take care, this is loaded! + +Signe. What are you going to do with it? + +Hamar (in a determined voice, as he shakes himself free of her). +Put a bullet into the poor beast! It is too good for that crew. It +shan't be put up for auction, either in joke or in earnest! (Goes +to the farther window.) I shall get a better aim from here. + +Signe (following him, with a cry). You will hit some one! + +Hamar. No, I can aim too well for that. (Takes aim.) + +Signe. Father! If they hear a shot from here now-- + +Tjaelde (starting up). The house belongs to my creditors now--and +the revolver too! + +Hamar. No, I am past taking orders from you now! (TJAELDE snatches +at the revolver, which goes off. SIGNE screams and rushes to her +mother. Outside, but this time immediately below the window, two +cries are heard: "They are shooting at us! They are shooting at +us!" Then the noise of breaking glass is heard, and stones fly in +through the windows, followed by shouts and ribald laughter. +VALBORG, who has rushed in from the outer office, stands in front +of her father to protect him, her face turned to the window. A +voice is heard: "Follow me, my lads!") + +Hamar (pointing the revolver at the window). Yes, just you try it! + +Mrs. Tjaelde and Signe. They are coming in here! + +Valborg. You shan't shoot! (Stands between him and the window.) + +Tjaelde. It is Sannaes with the police! (Cries of "Get back, +there!" are heard; then a renewed uproar and a loud voice gradually +dominating it; until at last the noise gradually lessens and +ceases.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Thank God! We were in great danger. (Sinks into a +chair. A pause.) Henning, where are you? (TJAELDE comes up behind +her, and strokes her head with his hand, but turns away immediately +to hide his deep emotion. A pause.) + +Signe (on her knees by her mother's side). But won't they come +back? Hadn't we better go away from here? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Where to? + +Signe (despairingly). What is to become of us? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What God wills. (A pause. Meanwhile HAMAR, +unobserved, has laid down the revolver on a chair and slipped +out of the room by the door at the back.) + +Valborg (softly). Signe, look! (SIGNE gets up, looks round the +room, and gives a little cry.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What is it? + +Signe. I knew he would! + +Mrs. Tjaelde (apprehensively). What is it? + +Valborg. Every rich family has its tame lieutenant--and ours has +just left us. That's all. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up). Signe, my child! + +Signe (throwing herself into her arms). Mother! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. There will be no more pretence now. Do not let us +regret it! + +Signe (in tears). Mother, mother! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Things are better as they are. Do you hear, dear? +Don't cry! + +Signe. I am not crying! but I feel so ashamed--oh, so ashamed! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. It is I that ought to feel ashamed for never having +had the courage to put a stop to what I saw was folly. + +Signe (as before). Mother! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Soon there will be no one else left to desert us; and +we shall have nothing left that any one can rob us of, either. + +Valborg (comes forward evidently labouring under great emotion). +Yes, there is, mother; _I_ mean to desert you. + +Signe. You, Valborg? Desert us? You? + +Valborg. Our home is going to be broken up, anyway. Each of us +ought to shift for herself. + +Signe. But what am I to do? I don't know how to do anything. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (who has sunk back into her chair). What a bad mother +I must have been, not to be able to keep my children together now! + +Valborg (impetuously). You know we cannot stay together now! You +know we cannot put up with living on the charity of our creditors; +we have done that too long! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Hush, remember your father is in the room. (A pause.) +What do you want to do, Valborg? + +Valborg (after she has regained her self-control, quietly). I want +to go into Mr. Holst's office, and learn commercial work--and keep +myself. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You don't know what you are undertaking. + +Valborg. But I know what I am leaving. + +Signe. And I shall only be a burden to you, mother, because I can't +do anything-- + +Valborg. You _can_! Go out and earn a living; even if it is only as +a servant, what does that matter? Don't live on our creditors--not +for a day, not for an hour! + +Signe. And what is to become of mother, then? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Your mother will stay with your father. + +Signe. But all alone? You, who are so ill? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No, not alone! Your father and I will be together. +(TJAELDE comes forward, kisses the hand she has stretched out to +him, and falls on his knees by her chair, burying his face in her +lap. She strokes his hair gently.) Forgive your father, children. +That is the finest thing you can do. (TJAELDE gets up again and +goes back to the other end of the room. A messenger comes in with a +letter.) + +Signe (turning round anxiously). It is a letter from him! I can't +stand any more! I won't have it! (The messenger hands the letter to +TJAELDE.) + +Tjaelde. I accept no more letters. + +Valborg (looking at the letter). It is from Sannaes? + +Tjaelde. He, too! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Take it and read it, Valborg. Let us get it all over +at once. (VALBORG takes the letter from the messenger, who goes +out. She opens the letter, looks at it, and then reads it with +emotion.) "Sir,--I have owed you everything since I entered your +employment as a boy. Therefore do not take what I am going to say +amiss. You know that about eight years ago I came into a little +legacy. I have used the money to some advantage, having especially +looked out for such investments as would not be affected by the +uncertainties of high finance. The total sum, which now amounts to +about L1400, I beg to offer to you as a token of respectful +gratitude; because, in the end, I owe it to you that I have been +able to make it that sum. Besides, you will be able to make many +times better use of it than I could. If you need me, my dearest +wish is to remain with you in the future. Forgive me for having +seized just this moment for doing this; I could not do otherwise.-- +Your obedient servant, J. SANNAES." (While VALBORG has been +reading, TJAELDE has come gradually forward, and is now standing +beside his wife.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Though out of all those you have helped, Henning, +only one comes to your aid at a time like this, you must feel that +you have your reward. (TJAELDE nods, and goes to the back of the +room again.) And you, children--do you see how loyally this man, a +stranger, is standing by your father? (A pause. SIGNE stands by the +desk, crying. TJAELDE walks up and down uneasily at the back of the +room once or twice, then goes up the staircase.) + +Valborg. I should like to speak to Sannaes. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, do, dear! I couldn't, just now; and I am sure +your father couldn't either. You speak to him! (Gets up.) Come, +Signe, you and I must have a talk; you must open your heart to +me now.--Ah, when have we ever had a real talk together? (SIGNE +goes to her.) Where is your father? + +Valborg. He went upstairs. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (leaning on SIGNE's arm). So he did. I am sure he must +be longing to rest--although he won't find it easy to do that. It +has been a terrible day; but surely God will turn it to our good! +(Goes out with SIGNE. VALBORG goes to the back of the room and +rings the bell. A messenger comes.) + +Valborg. If Mr. Sannaes is out there, please ask him to be so good +as to come in here for a moment. (The messenger goes out.) Perhaps +he won't come, when he hears it is I. (Listens.) Yes, he is coming! + +(SANNAES comes in, but stops short when he sees VALBORG, and +hurriedly puts his hands behind his back.) + +Sannaes. Is it you, Miss Valborg, that want me? + +Valborg. Please come in. (SANNAES takes a few timid steps forward. +VALBORG speaks in a more friendly tone.) Come in, then! (SANNAES +comes further into the room.) + +Valborg. You have written a letter to my father. + +Sannaes (after a moment's pause). Yes. + +Valborg. And made him a most generous offer. + +Sannaes (as before). Oh, well--it was only natural that I should. + +Valborg. Do you think so? It doesn't seem so to me. It is an offer +that honours the man that made it. (A pause.) + +Sannaes. I hope he means to accept it? + +Valborg. I don't know. + +Sannaes (sadly, after a moment's pause). Then he doesn't mean to? +No--I suppose not. + +Valborg. I honestly don't know. It depends on whether he dare. + +Sannaes. Whether he dare? + +Valborg. Yes. (A pause.) + +Sannaes (evidently very shy of VALBORG). Have you any more orders +for me, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg (with a smile). Orders? I am not giving you orders.--You +have offered also to stay with my father for the future. + +Sannaes. Yes--that is to say, if he wishes me to. + +Valborg. I don't know. In that case there would be only he and +my mother and you; no one else. + +Sannaes. Indeed? What about the others, then? + +Valborg. I don't know for certain what my sister means to do--but +I am leaving home to-day. + +Sannaes. Then you are going to-- + +Valborg. --to try and get a clerkship somewhere. So that it will be +a bit lonely for you to be in my father's employment now. (A +pause.) I expect you had not thought of it in that light? + +Sannaes. No--yes--that is to say, your father will have all the +more need of me then. + +Valborg. Indeed he will. But what sort of a prospect is it for you +to bind up your fortunes with my father's? The future is so very +problematical, you know. + +Sannaes. What sort of a prospect--? + +Valborg. Yes, a young man should have some sort of a prospect +before him. + +Sannaes. Yes--of course; that is to say, I only thought that at +first it would be so difficult for him. + +Valborg. But I am thinking of you. Surely you have some plans for +the future? + +Sannaes (embarrassed). Really I would rather not talk about myself. + +Valborg. But I want to.--You have something else in reserve, then? + +Sannaes. Well--if I must tell you--I have some well-to-do relations +in America who have for a long time wanted me to go over there. I +should soon be able to get, a good situation there. + +Valborg. Indeed?--But why haven't you accepted such a good offer +long before this? (SANNAES does not answer.) You must have been +sacrificing your best interests by staying so long with us? +(SANNAES is still silent.) Any! it will be making a still greater +sacrifice to stay with us now-- + +Sannaes (struggling with his embarrassment). I have never thought +of it as being that. + +Valborg. But my father can scarcely accept so much from you. + +Sannaes (in alarm). Why not? + +Valborg. Because it really would be too much.--And, in any case, I +shall try to prevent him. + +Sannaes (almost imploringly). You, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg. Yes. You must not be misemployed any longer. + +Sannaes. Misemployed? In what I _myself_ desire so much? + +Valborg. When I have talked it over with my father, I think he will +see my point. + +Sannaes (anxiously). What do you mean? + +Valborg (after a moment's reflection). --I mean, the reason of your +having made such great sacrifices for us--and of your being willing +to make still greater now. (A pause. SANNAES hangs his head, and is +raising his hands to hide his face, when suddenly he puts them +behind his back again. VALBORG continues, in gentle but firm +tones:) I have taught myself, all my life, to look behind deeds and +words for their motives. + +Sannaes (quietly, without raising his head). You have taught +yourself to be cruelly bitter, hard and unjust. + +Valborg (starts, but collects herself, and says gently:) Don't say +that, Mr. Sannaes! It is not hard-heartedness or bitterness that +makes me think of your future now--and makes me wish to spare you +disappointment. + +Sannaes (with a cry of pain). Miss Valborg! + +Valborg. Be honest with yourself, and you will be able to take a +fairer view of what I have just said. + +Sannaes. Have you any more orders, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg. I give you no orders, as I have told you already. I am +only bidding you good-bye; and I do it with grateful thanks to you +for all your goodness to me--and to us all. Good-bye and good luck, +Mr. Sannaes. (SANNAES bows.)Won't you shake hands? Ah, I forgot--I +offended you. I beg your pardon for that. (SANNAES bows and turns +to go.) Come, Mr. Sannaes--let us at least part as good friends! +You are going to America, and I am going among strangers. Let us go +away wishing one another well. + +Sannaes (moved). Good-bye, Miss Valborg. (Turns to go.) + +Valborg. Mr. Sannaes--shake hands! + +Sannaes (stopping). No, Miss Valborg. + +Valborg. Don't treat me uncivilly; I have not deserved that. +(SANNAES again turns to go.) Mr. Sannaes! + +Sannaes (stopping). You might soil your fingers, Miss Valborg! +(Walks proudly away.) + +Valborg (controlling herself with an effort). Well, we have +offended each other now. But why should we not forgive each other +as well? + +Sannaes. Because you have just offended me for the second time +to-day--and more deeply than the first time. + +Valborg. Oh, this is too much! I spoke as I did, because I owed it +to myself not to be put in a false position, and owed it to you to +spare you future disappointment. And you call that insulting you! +Which of us has insulted the other, I should like to know? + +Sannaes. You have, by thinking such things of me. Do you realise +how cruelly you have spoilt the happiest action of my life? + +Valborg. I have done so quite unintentionally, then. I am only +glad that I was mistaken. + +Sannes (bitterly). You are glad! So it really makes you glad to +know that I am not a scoundrel! + +Valborg (quietly). Who said anything of the kind? + +Sannaes. You! You know the weak spot in my armour; but that you +should on that account believe that I could lay a trap for you +and try to trade on your father's misfortune, Miss Valborg--! +No, I cannot shake hands with any one who has thought so badly +of me as that! And, since you have so persistently insulted me +that I have lost all the timidity I used to feel in your presence, +let me tell you this openly; these hands (stretching out his hands +to her) have grown red and ugly in loyal work for your father, and +his daughter should have been above mocking at me for them! +(Turns to go, but stops.) And, one word more. Ask your father for +_his_ hand now, and hold fast to it, instead of deserting him on +the very day that misfortune has overtaken him. That would be more +to the point than worrying about _my_ future. I can look after that +for myself. (Turns again to go, but comes back.) And when, in his +service--which will be no easy service now--your hands bear the +same honourable marks of work as mine do, and are as red as mine, +then you will perhaps understand how you have hurt me! At present +you cannot. (He goes quickly towards the door of the outer office.) + +Valborg (with a wry smile). What a temper! (More seriously.) And +yet, after all--. (Looks after him. Just as SANNAES gets to the +door TJAELDE'S voice is heard calling him from the top of the +staircase. SANNAES answers him.) + +Tjaelde (coming down the stairs). Sannaes! Sannaes! I can see +Jakobsen coming. (Hurries across the room as if pursued by fear. +SANNAES follows him.) Of course he will be coming back to look for +me again! It is cowardly of me to feel that I cannot stand it; but +I cannot--not to-day, not now! I cannot stand any more! Stop him! +Don't let him come in! I shall have to drink my cup of misery to +the dregs; but (almost in a whisper) not all at one draught! (Hides +his face in his hands.) + +Sannaes. He shan't come; don't be afraid! (Goes quickly out, with +an air of determination.) + +Tjaelde. It is hard--oh, it is hard! + +Valborg (coming to his side). Father! (He looks at her, anxiously.) +You may safely accept the money Sannaes offers you. + +Tjaelde (in surprise). What do you mean by that? + +Valborg. I mean--that, if you do, I will not forsake you either, +but stay here with you too. + +Tjaelde (incredulously). You, Valborg? + +Valborg. Yes, you know I want to learn office work, and business; +and I would rather learn in your office. + +Tjaelde (shyly). I don't understand what you--? + +Valborg. Don't you understand, dear? I believe I could become of +some use in the office. And in that way, you know, we might +begin afresh--and try, with God's help, to pay your creditors. + +Tjaelde (happily, but shyly). My child! Who put such a happy idea +into your head? + +Valborg (putting an arm round his neck). Father, forgive me for +all that I have neglected to do! You shall see how I will try and +make up for it! How hard I shall work! + +Tjaelde (still half incredulous). My child! My child! + +Valborg. I feel--I cannot tell you how deeply--a craving for love +and for work! (Throws both her arms round his neck.) Oh, father, +how I love you!--and how I shall work for you! + +Tjaelde. Ah, that is the Valborg I have waited for, ever since you +were a little child! But we had drifted away from one another, +somehow. + +Valborg. No more about the past! Look forward, father, look +forward! Concerns "that would not be affected by the uncertainties +of high finance,"--weren't those his words? + +Tjaelde. So you were struck by that expression, too? + +Valborg. That may mean a future for us now! We will have a home all +to ourselves--a little house down on the shore--and I shall help +you, and Signe will help mother--we shall know what it is to live, +for the first time! + +Tjaelde. What happiness it will be! + +Valborg. Only look forward, father! Look forward! A united family +is invincible! + +Tjaelde. And to think that such help should come to me now! + +Valborg. Yes, now we are all going to our posts--and all together, +where formerly you stood alone! You will have good fairies round +you; wherever you look, you will see happy faces and busy fingers +all day long; and we shall all enjoy our meals and our evenings +together, just as we did when we were children! + +Tjaelde. That, above everything! + +Valborg. Ha, ha!--it is after the rain that the birds sing +blithest, you know! And this time our happiness can never miscarry, +because we shall have something worth living for! + +Tjaelde. Let us go to your mother! This will cheer her heart! + +Valborg. Ah, how I have learnt to love her! What has happened +to-day has taught me. + +Tjaelde. It is for her that we shall all work now. + +Valborg. Yes--for her, for her. She shall rest now. Let us go to +her! + +Tjaelde. Kiss me first, my dear. (His voice trembles.) It is so +long since you did! + +Valborg (kissing him). Father! + +Tjaelde. Now let us go to your mother. (The curtain falls as they +go out together.) + + + +ACT IV + +(SCENE.--In the garden of TJAELDE'S new home, on the shore of the +fjord, three years later. A view of tranquil sunlit sea, dotted +with boats, in the background. On the left a portion of the house +is seen, with an open window within which VALBORG is seen writing +at a desk. The garden is shaded with birch trees; flower-beds run +round the house, and the whole atmosphere one of modest comfort. +Two small garden tables and several chairs are in the foreground on +the right. A chair standing by itself, further back, has evidently +had a recent occupant. When the curtain rises the stage is empty, +but VALBORG is visible at the open window. Soon afterwards TJAELDE +comes in, wheeling MRS. TJAELDE in an invalid chair.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Another lovely day! + +Tjaelde. Tjaelde. Lovely! There was not a ripple on the sea last +night. I saw a couple of steamers far out, and a sailing ship that +had hove to, and the fisher-boats drifting silently in. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. And think of the storm that was raging two days ago! + +Tjaelde. And think of the storm that broke over our lives barely +three years ago! I was thinking of that in the night. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Sit down here with me. + +Tjaelde. Shall we not continue our stroll? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. The sun is too hot. + +Tjaelde. Not for me. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You big strong man! It is too hot for me. + +Tjaelde (taking a chair). There you are, then. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (taking off his hat and wiping his forehead). You are +very hot, dear. You have never looked so handsome as you do now! + +Tjaelde. That's just as well, as you have so much time to admire +me now! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Now that I find getting about so difficult, you mean? +Ah, that is only my pretence, so as to get you to wheel me about! + +Tjaelde (with a sigh). Ah, my dear, it is good of you to take it so +cheerfully. But that you should be the only one of us to bear such +hard traces of our misfortune-- + +Mrs. Tjaelde (interrupting him). Do you forget your own whitened +hair? That is a sign of it, too, but a beautiful one! And, as for +my being an invalid, I thank God every day for it! In the first +place I have almost no pain, and then it gives me the opportunity +to feel how good you are to me in every way. + +Tjaelde. You enjoy your life, then? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, indeed I do--and just as I should wish to. + +Tjaelde. Just to be spoiled, and yourself to spoil us? + +Valborg (from the window). I have finished the accounts, father. + +Tjaelde. Doesn't it come out at about what I said? + +Valborg. Almost exactly. Shall I enter it in the ledger at once? + +Tjaelde. Oho! You are glad then, as you seem in such it hurry? + +Valborg. Certainly! Such a good stroke of business! + +Tjaelde. And both you and Sannaes tried your best to dissuade +me from it! + +Valborg. Such a pair of wiseacres! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Ah, your father is your master, my dear! + +Tjaelde. Tjaelde. Oh, it is easy enough to captain a small army +that marches on, instead of a big one that is in retreat. (VALBORG +goes on with her work.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. And yet it seemed hard enough for us to give it up. + +Tjaelde. Yes, yes--oh, yes. I can tell you, I was thinking of that +last night. If God had given me what I begged for then, what state +should we have been in now? I was thinking of that, too. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. It is the fact of the estate being at last wound up +that has brought all these thoughts into your mind, dear? + +Tjaelde. Yes. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Then I must confess that I, too, have scarcely been +able to think of anything else since yesterday, when Sannaes went +into town to settle it up. This a red-letter day! Signe is +wrestling with a little banquet for us; we shall see what an +artist she has become! Here she is! + +Tjaelde. I think I will just go and look over Valborg's accounts. +(Goes to the window. SIGNE comes out of the house, wearing a +cook's apron and carrying a basin.) + +Signe. Mother, you must taste my soup! (Offers her a spoonful.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Clever girl! (Tastes the soup.) Perhaps it would +stand a little--. No, it is very good as it is. You are clever! + +Signe. Am I not! Will Sannaes be back soon? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Your father says we may expect him any moment. + +Tjaelde (at the window, to VALBORG). No, wait a moment. I will come +in. (Goes into the house, and is seen within the window beside +VALBORG.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My little Signe, I want to ask you something? + +Signe. Do you? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What was in the letter you had yesterday evening? + +Signe. Aha, I might have guessed that was it! Nothing, mother. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Nothing that pained you, then? + +Signe. I slept like a top all night--so you can judge for yourself. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I am so glad. But, you know, there seems to me +something a little forced in the gay way you say that? + +Signe. Does there? Well, it was something that I shall always be +ashamed of; that is all. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I am thankful to hear it, for-- + +Signe (interrupting her). That must be Sannaes. I hear wheels. Yes, +here he is! He has come too soon; dinner won't be ready for half an +hour yet. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. That doesn't matter. + +Signe. Father, here is Sannaes! + +Tjaelde (from within). Good! I will come out! (SIGNE goes into +the house as TJAELDE comes out. SANNAES comes in a moment later.) + +Tjaelde and Mrs. Tjaelde. Welcome! + +Sannaes. Thank you! (Lays down his dust-coat and driving gloves on +a chair, and comes forward.) + +Tjaelde. Well? + +Sannaes. Yes--your bankruptcy is discharged! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. And the result was--? + +Sannaes. Just about what we expected. + +Tjaelde. And, I suppose, just about what Mr. Berent wrote? + +Sannaes. Just about, except for one or two inconsiderable trifles. +You can see for yourself. (Gives him a bundle of papers.) The high +prices that have ruled of late, and good management, have altered +the whole situation. + +Tjaelde (who has opened the papers and glanced at the totals). A +deficit of L12,000. + +Sannaes. I made a declaration on your behalf, that you intended to +try and repay that sum, but that you should be at liberty to do it +in whatever way you found best. And so-- + +Tjaelde. And so--? + +Sannaes. --I proferred on the spot rather more than half the amount +you still owed Jakobsen. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Not really? (TJAELDE takes out a pencil and begins +making calculations on the margins of the papers.) + +Sannaes. There was general satisfaction--and they all sent you +their cordial congratulations. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. So that, if all goes well-- + +Tjaelde. Yes, if things go as well with the business as they +promise to, Sannaes, in twelve or fourteen years I shall have paid +every one in full. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. We haven't much longer than that left to live, dear! + +Tjaelde. Then we shall die poor. And I shall not complain! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No, indeed! The honourable name you will leave to +your children will be well worth it. + +Tjaelde. And they will inherit a sound business, which they can go +on with if they choose. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Did you hear that, Valborg? + +Valborg (from the window). Every word! (SANNAES bows to her.) I +must go in and tell Signe! (Moves away from the window.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What did Jakobsen say?--honest old Jakobsen? + +Sannaes. He was very much affected, as you would expect. He will +certainly be coming out here to-day. + +Tjaelde (looking up from the papers). And Mr. Berent? + +Sannaes. He is coming hard on my heels. I was to give you his kind +regards and tell you so. + +Tjaelde. Splendid! We owe him so much. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, he has been a true friend to us. But, talking of +true friends, I have something particular to ask _you_, Sannaes. + +Sannaes. Me, Mrs. Tjaelde? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. The maid told me that yesterday, when you went into +town, you took the greater part of your belongings with you. Is +that so? + +Sannaes. Yes, Mrs. Tjaelde. + +Tjaelde. What does that mean? (To his wife.) You said nothing +about it to me, my dear. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Because I thought it might be a misunderstanding. +But now I must ask what was the meaning of it. Are you going away? + +Sannaes (fingering a chair, in evident confusion). Yes, Mrs. +Tjaelde. + +Tjaelde. Where to? You never said anything about it. + +Sannaes. No; but I have always considered that I should have +finished my task here as soon as the estate was finally wound up. + +Tjaelde and Mrs. Tjaelde. You mean to leave us? + +Sannaes. Yes. + +Tjaelde. But why? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Where do you mean to go? + +Sannaes. To my relations in America. I can now, without doing you +any harm, withdraw my capital from the business by degrees and +transfer it abroad. + +Tjaelde. And dissolve our partnership? + +Sannaes. You know that at any rate you had decided now to resume +the old style of the firm's name. + +Tjaelde. That is true; but, Sannaes, what does it all mean? What is +your reason? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Are you not happy here, where we are all so attached +to you? + +Tjaelde. You have quite as good a prospect for the future here as +in America. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. We held together in evil days; are we not to hold +together now that good days have come? + +Sannaes. I owe you both so much. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Good heavens, it is we that owe you-- + +Tjaelde. --more than we can ever repay. (Reproachfully.) Sannaes! + +(SIGNE comes in, having taken off her cooking apron.) + +Signe. Congratulations! Congratulations! Father mother! (Kisses +them both.) Welcome, Sannaes!--But aren't you pleased?--now? +(A pause. VALBORG comes in.) + +Valborg. What has happened? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Sannaes wants to leave us, my children (A pause.) + +Signe. But, Sannaes--! + +Tjaelde. Even if you want to go away, why have you never said a +single word to us about it before? (To the others.) Or has he +spoken to any of you? (MRS. TJAELDE shakes her head.) + +Signe. No. + +Sannaes. It was because--because--I wanted to be able to go as +soon as I had told you. Otherwise it would be too hard to go. + +Tjaelde. You must have very serious grounds for it, then! Has +anything happened to you to--to make it necessary? (SANNAES +does not answer.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. And to make it impossible for you to trust any of +us? + +Sannaes (shyly). I thought I had better keep it to myself. (A +pause.) + +Tjaelde. That makes it still more painful for us--to think that you +could go about in our little home circle here, where you have +shared everything with us, carrying the secret of this intention +hidden in your heart. + +Sannaes. Do not be hard on me! Believe me, if I could stay, I +would; and if I could tell you the reason, I would. (A pause.) + +Signe (to her mother, in an undertone). Perhaps he wants to get +married? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Would his being here with us make any difference to +that? Any one that Sannaes loved would be dear to us. + +Tjaelde (going up to SANNAES and putting an arm round his +shoulders). Tell one of us, then, if you cannot tell us all. +Is it nothing we can help you in? + +Sannaes. No. + +Tjaelde. But can you judge of that alone? One does not always +realise how much some one else's advice, on the experience of an +older man, may help one. + +Sannaes. Unfortunately it is as I say. + +Tjaelde. It must be something very painful, then? + +Sannaes. Please--! + +Tjaelde. Well, Sannaes, you have quite cast a cloud over to-day's +happiness for us. I shall miss you as I have never missed any one. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I cannot imagine the house without Sannaes! + +Tjaelde (to his wife). Come, dear, shall we go in again? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes--it is not nice out here any longer. (TJAELDE +takes her into the house. SIGNE turns to VALBORG to go in with her, +but when she comes close to her she gives a little cry. VALBORG +takes her arm, and their eyes meet.) + +Signe. Where have my wits been? (She goes into the house, looking +back at VALBORG and SANNAES. The latter is giving way to his +emotion, but as soon as his eyes fall on VALBORG he recovers +himself.) + +Valborg (impetuously). Sannaes! + +Sannaes. What are your orders, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg (turning away from him, then turning back, but avoiding +his eyes). Do you really mean to leave us? + +Sannaes. Yes, Miss Valborg. (A pause.) + +Valborg. So we shall never stand back to back at our desks in the +same room again? + +Sannaes. No, Miss Valborg. + +Valborg. That is a pity; I had become so accustomed to it. + +Sannaes. You will easily become accustomed to some one else's-- +back. + +Valborg. Ah, some one else is some one else. + +Sannaes. You must excuse me, Miss Valborg; I don't feel in the +humour for jesting to-day. (Turn to go.) + +Valborg (looking up at him). Is this to be our parting, then? (A +pause.) + +Sannaes. I thought of taking leave of you all this afternoon. + +Valborg (taking a step towards him). But ought not we two to settle +our accounts first? + +Sannaes (coldly). No, Miss Valborg. + +Valborg. Do you feel then that everything between us has been just +as it ought? + +Sannaes. God knows I don't! + +Valborg. But you think I am to blame?--Oh, well, it doesn't matter. + +Sannaes. I am quite willing to take the blame. Put anyway, it is +all finished with now. + +Valborg. But if we were to share the blame? You cannot be quite +indifferent as to which of us should take it? + +Sannaes. I confess I am not. But, as I said, I do not wish for any +settling of accounts between us. + +Valborg. But I wish it. + +Sannaes. You will have plenty of time to settle it to your own +satisfaction. + +Valborg. But, if I am in difficulties about it, I cannot do it +alone. + +Sannaes. I do not think you will find any difficulty. + +Valborg. But if _I_ think so?--if I feel myself deeply wronged? + +Sannaes. I have told you that I am willing to take all the blame +upon myself. + +Valborg. No, Sannaes--I don't want charity; I want to be +understood. I have a question to ask you. + +Sannaes. As you will. + +Valborg. How was it that we got on so well for the first year after +my father's failure-and even longer? Have you ever thought of that? + +Sannaes. Yes. I think it was because we never talked about +anything but our work--about business. + +Valborg. You were my instructor. + +Sannaes. And when you no longer needed an instructor-- + +Valborg. --we hardly spoke to one another. + +Sannaes (softly). No. + +Valborg. Well, what could I say or do, when every sign of +friendship on my part went unnoticed? + +Sannaes. Unnoticed? Oh no, Miss Valborg, I noticed them. + +Valborg. That was my punishment, then! + +Sannas. God forbid I should do you an injustice. You had a motive +which did you credit; you felt compassion for me, and so you could +not help acting as you did. But, Miss Valborg, I refuse your +compassion. + +Valborg. And suppose it were gratitude? + +Sannaes (softly). I dreaded that more than anything else! I had had +a warning. + +Valborg. You must admit, Sannaes, that all this made you very +difficult to deal with! + +Sannaes. I quite admit that. But, honestly, _you_ must admit that I +had good reason to mistrust an interest in me that sprang from +mere gratitude. Had circumstances been different, I should only +have bored you cruelly; I knew that quite well. And I had no +fancy for being an amusement for your idle hours. + +Valborg. How you have mistaken me!--If you will think of it, surely +you must understand how different a girl, who has been accustomed +to travel and society, becomes when she has to stay at home and +work because it is her duty. She comes to judge men by an +altogether different standard, too. The men that she used to think +delightful are very likely to appear small in her eyes when it is a +question of the demands life makes on ability or courage or +self-sacrifice; while the men she used to laugh at are transformed +in her eyes into models of what God meant men to be, when she is +brought into close contact with them in her father's office.--Is +there anything so surprising in that? (A pause.) + +Sannaes. Thank you, at all events, for saying that to me. It has +done me good. But you should have said it sooner. + +Valborg (emphatically). How could I, when you misjudged everything +I did or said? No; it was impossible until mistakes and +misunderstandings had driven us so far apart that we could not +endure them any longer (Turns away.) + +Sannaes. Perhaps you are right. I cannot at once recall all that +has happened. If I have been mistaken, I shall by degrees find the +knowledge of it a profound comfort.--You must excuse me, Miss +Valborg, I have a number of things to see to. (Turns to go.) + +Valborg (anxiously). Sannaes, as you admit that you have judged me +unjustly, don't you think you ought at least to give me--some +satisfaction? + +Sannaes. You may be certain, Miss Valborg, that when I am balancing +our account you shall not suffer any injustice. But I cannot do it +now. All I have to do now is to get ready to go. + +Valborg. But you are not ready to go, Sannaes! You have not +finished your work here yet! There is what I just spoke of--and +something else that dates farther back than that. + +Sannaes. You must feel how painful it is for me to prolong this +interview. (Turns to go.) + +Valborg. But surely you won't go without setting right something +that I am going to beg you to? + +Sannas. What is that, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg. Something that happened a long time ago. + +Sannaes. If it is in my power, I will do what you ask. + +Valborg. It is.--Ever since that day you have never offered to +shake hands with me. + +Sannaes. Have you really noticed that? (A pause.) + +Valborg (with a smile, turning away). Will you do so now? + +Sannaes (stepping nearer to her). Is this more than a mere whim? + +Valborg (concealing her emotion). How can you ask such a question +now? + +Sannaes. Because all this time you have never once asked me to +shake hands with you. + +Valborg. I wanted you to offer me your hand. (A pause.) + +Sannaes. Are you serious for once? + +Valborg. I mean it, seriously. + +Sannaes (in a happier voice). You really set a value on it? + +Valborg. A great value. + +Sannaes (going up to her). Here it is, then! + +Valborg (turning and taking his hand). I accept the hand you offer +me. + +Sannaes (turning pale). What do you mean? + +Valborg. I mean that for some time past I have known that I should +be proud to be the wife of a man who has loved me, and me alone, +ever since he was a boy, and has saved my father and us all. + +Sannaes. Oh, Miss Valborg! + +Valborg. And you wanted to go away, rather than offer me your +hand; and that, only because we had accepted help from you--and you +did not think we were free agents! That was too much; and, as you +would not speak, I had to! + +Sannaes (kneeling to her). Miss Valborg! + +Valborg. You have the most loyal nature, the most delicate mind, +and the warmest heart I have ever known. + +Sannaes. This is a thousand times too much! + +Valborg. Next to God, I have to thank you that I have become what I +am; and I feel that I can offer you a life's devotion such as you +would rarely find in this world. + +Sannaes. I cannot answer because I scarcely realise what you are +saying. But you are saying it because you are sorry for me, now +that I have to go away, and feel that you owe me some gratitude. +(Takes both her hand in his.) Let me speak! I know the truth better +than you, and have thought over it far more than you. You are so +immeasurably above me in ability, in education, in manners--and a +wife should not be able to look down on her husband. At all events, +I am too proud to be willing to be exposed to that. No, what you +are feeling now is only the result of your beautiful nature, and +the recollection of it will hallow all my life. All the pain and +all the happiness I have known have come from you. Your life will +be one of self-renunciation; but, God knows there are many such! +And my burden will be lightened now, because I shall know that your +good wishes will always be with me. (Gets up.) But part we must-- +and now more than ever! For I could not bear to be near you unless +you were mine, and to make you mine would only mean misery for us +both after a little while! + +Valborg. Sannaes--! + +Sannaes (holding her hands and interrupting her). I entreat you not +to say anything more! You have too much power over me; do not use +it to make me sin! For it would be that--a great sin--to put two +honest hearts into a false position, where they would distress one +another, even perhaps get to hate one another. + +Valborg. But let me-- + +Sannas (letting go her hands and stepping back). No, you must not +tempt me. Life with you would mean perpetual anxiety, for I should +never feel equal to what it would demand of me! But now I can part +from you comforted. There will be no bitterness in my heart now; +and by degrees all my thoughts of the past and of you will turn to +sweetness. God bless you! May every good fortune go with you! +Good-bye! (Goes quickly towards the house.) + +Valborg. Sannaes! (Follows him.) Sannaes! Listen to me! (SANNAES +takes up his coat and gloves, and, as he rushes out without looking +where he is going, runs full tilt into BERENT who comes in at that +moment followed by JAKOBSEN.) + +Sannaes. I beg your pardon! (Rushes out to the right.) + +Berent. Are you two playing a game of blind man's buff? + +Valborg. God knows we are! + +Berent. You need not be so emphatic about it! I have had forcible +evidence of it. (Rubs his stomach and laughs.) + +Valborg. You must excuse me! Father is in there. (Points to the +left and goes hurriedly out to the right.) + +Berent. We don't seem to be getting a particularly polite +reception! + +Jakobsen. No, we seem to be rather in the way, Mr. Berent. + +Berent (laughing). It looks like it. But what has been going on? + +Jakobsen. I don't know. They looked as if they had been fighting, +their faces were so flushed. + +Berent. They looked upset, you mean? + +Jakobsen. Yes, that's it. Ah, here is Mr. Tjaelde! (To himself.) +Good Lord, how aged he looks! (Withdraws into the background as +BERENT goes forward to greet TJAELDE, who comes in.) + +Tjaelde (to BERENT). I am delighted to see you! You are always +welcome in our little home--and this year more welcome than ever! + +Berent. Because things are going better than ever this year! I +congratulate you on your discharge--and also on your determination +to pay everything in full! + +Tjaelde. Yes, if God wills, I mean to-- + +Berent. Well, things are going splendidly, aren't they? + +Tjaelde. So far, yes. + +Berent. You are over the worst of it, now that you have laid the +foundations of a new business and laid them solidly. + +Tjaelde. One of the things that have given me the greatest +encouragement has been the fact that I have won your confidence-- +and that has gained me the confidence of others. + +Berent. I could have done nothing unless you had first of all done +everything. But don't let us say any more about it!--Well, the +place looks even prettier than it did last year. + +Tjaelde. We do a little more to it each year, you know. + +Berent. And you are still all together here? + +Tjaelde. So far, yes. + +Berent. Ah, by the way, I can give you news of your deserter. +(TJAELDE looks surprised.) I mean your lieutenant! + +Tjaelde. Oh--of him! Have you seen him? + +Berent. I was on the same boat coming here. There was a very +rich girl on board. + +Tjaelde (laughing). Oh, I see! + +Berent. All the same, I don't think it came to any thing. It is +rather like coming upon a herd of deer when you are stalking; after +your first shot, you don't find it so easy to get another; they +have grown wary! + +Jakobsen (who during this conversation has been screwing up his +courage to address TJAELDE). I--I am a pig, I am! I know that! + +Tjaelde (taking his hand). Oh, come, Jakobsen!-- + +Jakobsen. A great blundering pig!--But I know it now! + +Tjaelde. That's all right! I can tell you I am delighted to be able +to set affairs straight between you and me. + +Jakobsen. I don't know what to answer. It goes to my heart! (Shakes +his hand heartily.) You are a far better man than I,--and I said so +to my wife. "He's a splendid fellow," I said. + +Tjaelde (releasing his hand). Let us forget everything except the +happy days we have had together, Jakobsen! How do things go +at the Brewery? + +Jakobsen. At the Brewery! As long as folk ladle beer into their +stomachs at the rate they do now-- + +Berent. Jakobsen was kind enough to drive me out here. We had a +most amusing drive. He is a character. + +Jakobsen (in an anxious undertone, to TJAELDE). What does he mean +by that? + +Tjaelde. That you are different from most people. + +Jakobsen. Ah!--I didn't feel sure, you know, whether he wasn't +sitting there making game of me, all the way here. + +Tjaelde. How can you think such a thing? (To BERENT.) Do come into +the house. Excuse my going first; but my wife is not always quite +prepared to receive visitors since she has been able to do so +little for herself. (Goes into the house.) + +Berent. I don't think Mr. Tjaelde seems to me to be looking in +quite as good form as I expected? + +Jakobsen. Don't you? I didn't notice anything. + +Berent. Perhaps I am mistaken. I think he meant us to follow him +in, didn't he? + +Jakobsen. So I understood. + +Berent. Then, as you have brought me so far, you must take me +in to Mrs. Tjaelde. + +Jakobsen. I am quite at your service, sir. I have the deepest +respect for Mrs. Tjaelde--(hurriedly)--and of course for Mr. +Tjaelde too. Of course. + +Berent. Yes. Well, let us go in. + +Jakobsen. Let us go in. (He tries anxiously to keep in step with +BERENT'S peculiar walk, but finds it difficult.) + +Berent. I think you had better not try. My step suits very few. + +Jakobsen. Oh, I shall manage--! (They go out to the left. SANNAES +comes hurriedly in from the right, and crosses the stage; looks +around; then comes across to the foreground and leans with his +back against a tree. VALBORG comes in a moment later, comes +forward, sees him, and laughs.) + +Sannaes. There, you see, Miss Valborg; you are laughing at me. + +Valborg. I don't know whether I want to laugh or to cry. + +Sannaes. Believe me, you are mistaken about this, Miss Valborg. +You don't see things as plainly as I do. + +Valborg. Which of us was it that was mistaken to-day?--and had +to beg pardon for it? + +Sannaes. It was I, I know. But this is impossible! A real union of +hearts needs to be founded on more than respect-- + +Valborg (laughing). On love? + +Sannaes. You misunderstand me. Could you go into society with me +without feeling embarrassed? (VALBORG laughs.) You see, the mere +idea of it makes you laugh. + +Valborg (laughing). I am laughing because you are magnifying the +least important part of it into the most important. + +Sannaes. You know how awkward and shy--in fact downright frightened +I am amongst those who--. (VALBORG laughs again.) There, you see-- +you can't help laughing at the idea! + +Valborg. I should perhaps even laugh at you when we were in society +together! (Laughs.) + +Sannaes (seriously). But I should suffer horribly if you did. + +Valborg. Believe me, Sannaes, I love you well enough to be able +to afford to have a little laugh sometimes at your little +imperfections. Indeed, I often do! And suppose we were out in +society, and I saw you weighed down under the necessity for pretty +manners that do not come easy to you; if I did laugh at you, do you +think there would be any unkindness behind my laughter? If others +laughed at you, do you suppose I would not, the very next moment, +take your arm and walk proudly down the room with you? I know what +you really are, and others know it too! Thank God it is not only +bad deeds that are known to others in this world! + +Sannaes. Your words intoxicate me and carry me off my feet! + +Valborg (earnestly). If you think I am only flattering you, let us +put it to the test. Mr. Berent is here. He moves in the very best +society, but he is superior to its littlenesses. Shall we take his +opinion? Without betraying anything, I could make him give it in +a moment. + +Sannaes (carried away). I want no one's opinion but yours! + +Valborg. That's right! If only you feel certain of my love-- + +Sannaes (impetuously). --then nothing else will seem to matter; +and that alone will be able to teach me all that I lack, in a very +short time. + +Valborg. Look into my eyes! + +Sannaes (taking her hands). Yes! + +Valborg. Do you believe that nothing would ever make me ashamed of +you! + +Sannaes. Yes, I believe that. + +Valborg (with emotion). Do you believe that I love you? + +Sannaes. Yes! (Falls on one knee.) + +Valborg. Deeply enough for my love to last all our lives-- + +Sannaes. Yes, yes! + +Valborg. Then stay with me; and we will look after the old folk-- +and replace them when, in God's good time, they are taken from us. +(SANNAES bursts into tears. TJAELDE, who has come to the window to +show BERENT his ledgers, happens to look up and sees VALBORG and +SANNAES.) + +Tjaelde (leaning out of the window, and speaking gently:) Valborg, +what has happened? + +Valborg (quietly). Only that Sannaes and I are engaged to be +married. + +Tjaelde. Is it possible! (To BERENT, who is immersed in the +accounts.) Excuse me! (Hurries away from the window.) + +Sannaes (who, in his emotion has heard nothing). Forgive me! It +has been such a long, hard struggle--and I feel overwhelmed! + +Valborg. Let us go in to my mother. + +Sannws (shrinking back). I can't, Miss Valborg--you must wait a +little-- + +Valborg. Here they come. (TJAELDE comes in wheeling MRS. TJAELDE in +her chair. VALBORG runs to her mother and throws herself into her +arms.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (softly). God be praised and thanked! + +Tjaelde (going up to SANNAES and embracing him). My son! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. So that was why Sannaes wanted to go away! Oh, +Sannaes! (TJAELDE brings SANNAES up to her. SANNAES kneels and +kisses her hand, then gets up and goes into the background, to +recover himself. SIGNE comes in.) + +Signe. Mother, everything is ready now! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. So are things out here! + +Signe (looking round). Not really? + +Valborg (to SIGNE). Forgive me for never having told you! + +Signe. You certainly kept your secret well! + +Valborg. I kept long years of suffering secret--that was all! +(SIGNE kisses her and whispers to her; then turns to SANNAES.) + +Signe. Sannaes! (Shakes his hand.) So we are to be brother and +sister-in-law? + +Sannaes (embarrassed). Oh, Miss Signe-- + +Signe. But you mustn't call me Miss Signe now, you know! + +Valborg. You must expect that! He calls me "Miss" Valborg still! + +Singe. Well, he won't be able to do that when you are married, +anyway! + +Mrs. Tjaelde (to TJAELDE). But where are our friends? + +Tjaelde. Mr. Berent is in the office. There he is, at the window. + +Berent (at the window). Now I am coming straight out to +congratulate you, with my friend Jakobsen. (Comes out.) + +Valborg (going to TJAELDE). Father! + +Tjaelde. My child! + +Valborg. If we had not known those bad days we should never +have known this happy one! (He gives her a grip of the hand.) + +Tjaelde (to BERENT). Allow me to present to you my daughter +Valborg's fiance--Mr. Sannaes. + +Berent. I congratulate you on your choice, Miss Valborg--and I +congratulate the whole family on such a son-in-law. + +Valborg (triumphantly). There, Sannaes! + +Jakobsen. May I too, though I am only a stupid sort of chap, say +that this lad has been in love with you ever since he was in his +teens--he hardly could be sooner than that. But I can tell you, +honestly, I should never have credited you with having so much +sense as to take him. (All laugh.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Signe is whispering to me that our dinner is getting +cold. + +Signe. May I take my mother's place and ask you to take me in to +dinner, Mr. Berent? + +Berent (offering her his arm). I am honoured!--But our bridal pair +must go first! + +Valborg. Sannaes--? + +Sannaes (whispers, as he gives her his arm). To think that I have +you on my arm! (They go into the house, followed by BERENT +and SIGNE, and by JAKOBSEN.) + +Tjaelde (bending over his wife, as he prepares to wheel her chair +in). My dear, God has blessed our house now! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My dear man! + +Curtain. + + + +THE KING + +A PLAY IN A PROLOGUE AND FOUR ACTS + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + +The KING. +HARALD GRAN, a rich manufacturer. +KOLL, Chief Magistrate of the district. +FLINK. +CLARA ERNST. +The PRINCESS. +BARONESS MARC. +ANNA, a deaf and dumb girl. +FALBE. +The MAYOR. +NATHALIE, his daughter. +ALSTAD. +VILHELM, his son. +The PARISH PRIEST. +BANG, a rich trader. +VINAEGER. +COUNT PLATEN. +The GENERAL. +MATILDE. +A Ballad Singer. +A Young Beggar. +A Servant of the King's. +Ladies and Gentlemen, Masked Dancers, Work-people, Farmers, etc. + + +THE KING + +PROLOGUE + +(SCENE.--A large gothic hall, brilliantly illuminated, in which a +masked ball is taking place. At the rise of the curtain a ballet is +being performed in the centre of the hall. Masked dancers are +grouped around, watching it. Two of them, women, are conversing on +the right of the stage.) + +First Mask. Have you heard that the King is to be here to-night? + +Second Mask. Yes, and since I heard it I have been imagining I +saw him everywhere. + +First Mask (pointing). That is not he, is it? + +Second Mask. He is taller than that. + +First Mask. That one, then? Look, that one! + +Second Mask. That one has spoken to me. He has too old a voice. + +First Mask. Shall we see if we can find him? + +Second Mask. Yes, come along! + +(A number of girls, wearing similar costumes and all masked, +have meanwhile collected on the left side of the stage.) + +First Girl. Are we all here? + +Second Girl. All but Matilde. + +Matilde. Here I am! Have you heard that the King is to be here? + +All. Really? + +Matilde. I don't know how he is dressed; but one of the masters +of the ceremonies told me he was to be here. + +Several of the Girls. The dear King! (Two masked dancers, dressed +as Cats, pass by.) + +Tom Cat. Do you hear that, my pet? + +Puss. Miau! + +Matilde. Let us try and discover him. + +All. Yes, yes! + +A Mask. And when we have discovered him--? + +Matilde. Let us all dance round him! + +All. Yes! + +Tom Cat (to Puss). You had better look after your virtue, Miss! + +Puss. Miau! + +Tom Cat. Miau! (They pass out of sight.) + +Matilde. Remember that we are all to meet here in a quarter of an +hour! + +All. Yes! (They disperse. The ballet comes to a close amidst +universal applause. Conversation among the dancers becomes general +and animated. The BARONESS MARC, disguised as an Old Woman, comes +forward, talking to another mask dressed as a Donkey.) + +Baroness. I will never forgive you for that, my lord chamberlain. + +The Donkey. But you frighten me clean out of my part, Baroness! + +Baroness. If only I could understand how it happened! + +The Donkey. After all, my dear Baroness, you cannot be expected to +take out all your schoolmistresses and their senior pupils on a +leash! + +Baroness. No, but I have particular reasons for wishing to look +closely after _her_. (All this time she has been persistently +looking round the room.) And in such a whirling crowd as this-- + +The Donkey. Let us lose ourselves in it, then! (He brays as they +go out. The PRINCESS, masked and dressed in a costume of the time +of Louis XV., comes forward accompanied by a Cavalier in a costume +of the same period.) + +Princess (continuing a discussion). And I say that if a king has +such graces of mind and person as ours has, he may do anything he +pleases. + +Cavalier. _Anything_, Princess? + +Princess. Anything that his mind prompts, provided that he do it +beautifully. (A GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING, dressed in a costume of the +same period, approaches them.) + +Gentleman-in-Waiting. I cannot discover him, your Royal Highness! + +Princess. But he is here. He is _here_. And for a lady's sake. I am +certain I am right. + +Cavalier. But I asked one of the masters of the ceremonies, and +he knew nothing about it. + +Princess. Then it must have been one that has not been let into +the secret. + +Cavalier. But, your Royal Highness-- + +Princess. Don't keep calling me "your Royal Highness," but get +me a description of the costume he is wearing. (The GENTLEMAN- +IN-WAITING bows and goes away.) And you and I will go on hunting-- + +Cavalier. --for the noble huntsman-- + +Princess. --who is being hunted himself! (Moves away, but stops +suddenly.) Who is that? (CLARA ERNST, masked and in peasant +costume, comes forward followed by a masked figure wearing a +domino. He is whispering to her over her shoulder. She keeps +glancing about, as if looking for some one.) + +The Domino. --and there, in the enchanted castle, buried deep in +the wooded park-- + +Clara. Let me alone! + +The Domino. --there we shall be greeted by a babbling fountain of +water--a nymph, holding the cup of joy high above her head-- + +Clara (anxiously). What can have become of her? + +(Meanwhile one of the masked dancers has been following them, +and now turns back to join others.) + +A Masked Dancer (pointing to the DOMINO). That is the King! + +Another (quickly). But who is _she_? + +The Domino. --on both sides, shady alleys leading to the doors of a +secret retreat; and there-- + +Clara (turning round). I despise you! (The dancing and music +suddenly stop. General consternation.) + +The Baroness (starting forward as she hears CLARA voice.) Clara! + +The Domino (taking CLARA's hand and leading her apart from the +others). Do you know who it is that you despise? + +Clara (greatly agitated). Yes, I know who you are!--and that is +why, from the bottom of my heart, I despise you! (The music +begins afresh, covering the general consternation that has spread +among the dancers. The BARONESS comes forward with a cry of +"Clara!" CLARA bursts into tears and throws herself into her arms. +Curtain.) + + + +ACT I + + +SCENE I + +(SCENE.--A large hall in Gran's factory. The walls are bare. On the +left, about half-way forward, is a small platform. A meeting of the +shareholders of a railway company is in progress. Facing the +platform are seated the gentry; the common herd, mainly farmers and +work-people, are sitting and standing about wherever they can find +room. On the right, large windows are standing open; through these +another crowd can be seen, listening from outside. GRAN is standing +in front of the platform, speaking to the meeting.) + +Gran. And, as it was found impossible for the main 1ine of the +railway to touch our town, we determined, rather than allow all our +exertions to be wasted, to construct a branch line on our own +account. I had the honour to be elected chairman of the board of +directors of this undertaking. No directors ever had more +unrestricted powers than were given to us--possibly because there +were no two opinions as to the route the line should take the +natural formation of the ground indicated it unmistakably. It was +only when we approached the question of the purchase of our +rolling-stock that any dissension arose--not among the directors, +but among the shareholders. As the majority of the latter are +farmers and work-people, we had decided on buying only one class of +railway carriage of a type slightly more comfortable than the +ordinary third-class carriage. That is the extent of our misdeeds! +To-day's meeting will probably show what the general sense on the +matter is. Our powers being unlimited, we were under no obligation +to consult any one in the matter; but, notwithstanding that, we +decided to call a meeting of the shareholders and submit the +question to them. And, on the directors' behalf, I must thank the +shareholders for having attended in such numbers; young and +old, men and women, I dare say quite a third of the total number +of shareholders are present. The meeting will now proceed to +elect a chairman. (Sits down.) + +The Mayor (after a pause). I beg to move that Mr. Koll, our chief +magistrate, whom it is a great pleasure to see honouring this +meeting with his presence, have the further kindness to take the +chair. + +Gran. The motion before the meeting is that the Chief Magistrate +shall take the chair. Shall I assume it to be carried? (Silence +follows.) + +The Mayor. Yes. (Laughter.) + +Gran. The meeting should preferably elect some one who may be +considered to be unaffected by considerations of party. + +Alstad (half rising, with his glasses in his hand). Then we shall +have to send for some one that does not live in these parts! There +is no one of that sort left here! (Sits down, amidst laughter.) + +The Priest. All authority springs from on high. Obedience to those +set in authority over us is obedience to the Almighty. But it is +against this very obedience that people are rebelling nowadays. + +Gran. It is precisely some one to be in authority over us that we +want to elect. At present we have no one. + +The Priest. No, that's just it. Every meeting nowadays seems to +claim authority on its own account. Let rather show our respect +to actual authority--such respect as we would show to our fathers. +(Sits down.) + +Gran. Then, as far as I can grasp the situation, the Chief +Magistrate has been proposed and seconded? + +The Priest. Yes. + +Gran. Does any one wish to propose any one else? (Silence.) + +Alstad. May I request the Chief Magistrate to take the chair? + +Koll (getting up). I don't know that it is any great compliment to +be elected in this way; but I will take the chair, for the sole +reason of enabling the meeting to proceed to business. (Takes his +place on the platform, and raps on the table with a mallet.) I +declare the meeting open. + +Gran (getting up). Mr. Chairman! + +Koll. Mr. Gran will address the meeting. + +Gran. The motion proposed by the directors is this: "That only +one class of railway carriage shall be purchased, slightly more +comfortable than the ordinary third-class carriage." (Gives the +motion in writing to the chairman, and sits down.) + +Koll. The following is the motion submitted to meeting. (Reads it +out.) Who wishes to speak on the motion? (Silence.) Come, some one +must speak on it--or I shall have to put it to the vote forthwith. +(Silence, followed by laughter here and there.) + +The Priest. Mr. Chairman! + +Koll. The Priest will address the meeting. + +The Priest. I see, in this assembly, a number of young men, even +a number of maidens; and I feel bound to ask whether young men, and +even maidens, are to be allowed to take part in these proceedings? + +Koll. Any shareholder that is of age has the right to. + +The Priest. But St. Paul expressly tells us that women are not to +speak in public places. + +Koll. Well, they can hold their tongues, then. (Laughter.) + +The Priest. But even the fact of voting at a railway meeting does +not seem to me to be in accordance with the humility and modesty +that both Nature and the Scriptures indicate as characteristic of +woman. I believe it to be the first step on a wrong road. The +apostle says-- + +Koll. We must leave them to decide the matter for themselves. Does +any one wish to--? + +The Priest (interrupting him). Mr. Chairman, if you will not +permit me to quote the apostle, allow me at all events to say that +the spectacle of a young man voting against his father, or a +woman voting against her husband-- + +Koll. Will you tell me who could prohibit it? Does any one wish +to speak--? + +The Priest (interrupting). The Scriptures prohibit it, Mr. +Chairman!--the Scriptures, which we are all bound to obey, even-- + +Gran (getting up and interrupting him). Mr. Chairman! + +Koll. Mr. Gran will address the meeting. + +Gran. I only want to ask whether-- + +The Priest. But _I_ was addressing the meeting! + +Koll. Mr. Gran will address the meeting. + +The Priest. I protest against that ruling! + +Alstad (half rising). Our worthy Priest must obey authority. (Sits +down amidst laughter.) + +The Priest. Not when it does an injustice! I appeal to the meeting! + +Koll. Very good!--Will those in favour of the Priest addressing the +meeting kindly stand up? (No one gets up; and those who were +previously standing bob down. Laughter.) Carried unanimously, that +the Priest do not address the meeting. (The PRIEST sits down.) Mr. +Gran will address the meeting. + +Gran (getting up). I withdraw from my right! (Renewed laughter.) + +The Mayor (getting up). Mr. Chairman! + +Koll. The Mayor will address the meeting. + +The Mayor. I am one of many to whom this proposal of the directors +seems extraordinary, to say the least of it. Do they propose that +the ladies of my family--I will leave myself out of the question, +for as a public man I have to rub shoulders with all sorts of +people--do they propose, I say, that ladies who have been +delicately brought up shall travel with any Tom, Dick and Harry?-- +perhaps with convicts being conveyed to gaol, or with journeymen +labourers? Is his honour the Chief Magistrate, who is a Commander +of a noble Order of Knighthood, to travel side by side with a +drunken navvy? Supposing the King were to pay a visit to this +beautiful district, which has acquired such a reputation since so +many of the best people from town have taken villas here; is his +Majesty to make the journey in one of these third-class carriages, +with the chance of travelling in company with tradesman stinking of +stale cheese?--with folk who, moreover--well, perhaps in common +decency I ought not to go on, as ladies are present. (Laughter.) +"Economy," I hear some one suggest. That word is in great favour +nowadays. But I should like to know what economy there is getting +your clothes soiled? (Laughter.) Does a first-class carriage wear +out sooner than a third class? It costs more to build, no doubt, +but that is soon made up by the higher fares charged. I can +discover no reasonable ground for this proposal, look at it how you +will from the commercial point of view. One has to look at the +_political_ aspect of the matter, to understand it; and I am +reluctant to drag in politics. I will only say, in conclusion, that +it must be those who have framed this proposal that expect to +derive some profit from it; the railway certainly would derive +none. (Sits down.) + +Koll. That last remark was a little like an accusation-- + +The Mayor (getting up). I only alluded to what is in every one's +mind. (Sits down.) + +Koll. A speaker is not in order in making accusations, even though +they be assumed to be in every one's mind.--I see that Mr. Alstad +wishes to speak. + +Alstad. Human nature is frail. That seems to me a sufficient +explanation of how such a proposal came to be laid before us. But +honestly--for we all ought to be honest!--it seems to me that any +material advantage it might bring would be more than counterbalanced +by loss of esteem. (Uproar.) There has been quite a different +spirit in the place of late years--what with the factories, and the +stranger workmen, and the summer visitors. We never used to have so +much unrest or to hear so much of this talk about "equality." And +now, if we are to give the impression that there is only one social +class here--and that a third class--I know that I shall be by no +means alone in feeling offended. We certainly don't want to sit on +our work-people's laps; and, equally, we don't want to have them +sitting on ours. (Sits down.) + +Gran. Our friend the Mayor is very fond of talking of his loyalty; +but I must say I am surprised at his dragging the King even into +this matter. As for the matter of the railway carriage in which one +of so high degree would travel here--well, if our carriages are not +good enough, surely his Majesty's private saloon can be used on our +line as well as on the main line. And as for any of us ordinary +mortals who are afraid of mixing with the common herd, surely they +can sit together in carriages by themselves. The carriages would be +separate; they would only be of the same kind. I think there would +be little fear of their being exposed to intrusion on the part of +our country-folk. _They_ are much more apt to be more timidly shy +than is even desirable. On all small lines--even on many of the +bigger ones--it is the less luxurious carriages, the second and +third class, that for the cost of the more luxurious ones; it is +the third class that pays for the first. But that some passengers +should travel comfortably at the expense of those who travel less +comfortably, is what we wish to avoid. (Applause.) An old resident +of the yeoman class has reproached us with wishing to alter our +customs. Well, if one of our old customs is the aristocratic one +which makes the gulf that separates masters and men wider than it +already is, all I can say is that the sooner it is abolished the +better; for it is not a good custom; it is even a dangerous one. +(Murmurs.) And as for the political aspect of the question-- + +Koll. Don't you think we should leave politics out of the question? + +Gran (bows, with a laugh). That is just what I was going to say, +Mr. Chairman; that we ought to leave politics out out of the +question. (Sits down, amidst laughter applause. The audience, first +the younger men and then the older farmers, begin arguing the +matter with one another, more and more loudly.) + +Koll. I must beg the meeting to keep quiet, as long as this +business is under discussion. The Mayor wishes to speak. + +The Mayor. I admit that I am loyal-- + +Koll. Those people outside must be quiet! + +Alstad (going to the window). You must keep quiet! + +The Mayor. I admit I am loyal! I count it a point of honour, as a +native of the place, to show his Majesty that our first thought +when we planned this railway was, at that important moment, that +his Majesty might possibly be pleased to manifest a desire to pay +us a visit. "Let him use his own private saloon," we are told! No, +Mr. Chairman, that is not the way to speak when we are speaking +of his Majesty! And what about his Majesty's suite? Are they to +travel third class? What I say is that we are casting a slight on +his Majesty if we cast a slight on his railway carriage--I should +say, on his suite. And I go farther than that. I say that his +Majesty's functionaries are his Majesty's representatives, and that +it is casting an additional slight upon his Majesty not to show a +proper respect for them. I know that this jars upon the ears of +many present; they do not consider that a man who holds a public +office should be shown any more respect than any one else. The +majority rules, and the majority only thinks of its own interests +and those of its servile supporters. But even in this community of +ours there is a minority that bears the burden of its affairs and +represents its honour; and we will never consent to be dragged down +into the mire of this "equality" into which you want to plunge each +and every one of us! (Uproar.) + +Koll. The honourable speaker appears to me to be trenching upon +politics-- + +The Mayor. Possibly I am, Mr. Chairman; but what honest man can +shirk the truth? Only compare the present state of things in this +community with what was the case when everything here was as it +should be; when the King and his officials were respected; when +public affairs were in the hands of those who knew how to direct +them; when we used to have singing competitions, shooting +competitions, and other festal meetings of that kind. And--yes-- +well--compare, I say, the conditions in those days with our +conditions to-day--that is to say, with all this talk of "the +people;" as, for instance-- + +Koll. It is railway carriages that we are discussing. + +The Mayor. Quite so! But what is it that is at the bottom of this +proposal, Mr. Chairman? Does it not spring from that passion for +destruction, for a universal levelling which aims at abolishing the +monarchy, at destroying authority-- + +The Priest. And the Church too, my friend! + +The Mayor. --and the Church, it is quite true! Yes, it is because +they desire the Church and-- + +Koll. It is railway carriages that we are discussing. + +The Mayor. Exactly. But an old public official like myself, who +once was held in respect, when he sees the pillars of society +tottering and feels the keenest pang of sorrow at-- + +Koll. For the last time, it is railway carriages that we are +discussing! + +The Mayor (overcome by his feelings). I have no more say. (Sits +down.) + +Koll. Mr. Alstad wishes to speak. + +Alstad (getting up). The question before the meeting is itself a +small matter; but it is the consequences of it that I fear. We may +expect any proposal of the same kidney now. Never let it be said +that our community was eager to range itself under this banner of +"equality!" It bears too old and honoured a name for that! But +there is one thing I want to say. We have always, before this, felt +it an honour and a privilege to have the richest man in these parts +living amongst us. But when we see him one of the most eager in +support of a "popular" proposal of this sort, then it appears, to +me at all events, to be absolutely unaccountable how--oh, well, I +won't run the risk making what our chairman calls "accusations"; I +will sit down and hold my tongue. I have the right to do that at +all events. (Sits down.) + +Koll. Mr. Gran will address the meeting. + +Flink. Three cheers for Mr. Gran! (Almost the whole meeting cheers +lustily. KOLL shouts at them and hammers on the table with his +mallet in vain.) + +Koll (when peace is restored). I must ask the meeting to show some +respect for its chairman. If not, I will leave the chair.--Mr. Gran +will address the meeting. + +Gran. The plan that we are proposing is no new one. It has been in +practice for a long time. In America-- + +The Priest, Alstad, and others. Yes, in America! + +The Mayor (getting up). Mr. Chairman, are we to have politics, +after all? + +Koll. I cannot see that to mention America is to talk politics. + +The Mayor. Then what is politics, if America isn't? + +Koll. To talk politics is--for instance--to use the arguments your +worship did. Mr. Gran will proceed. + +Gran. I see that the Priest wishes to speak. I shall be happy to +give way. + +Koll. The Priest will address the meeting. + +The Priest. I see here, in this assembly, a number of those whom I +am accustomed to address in more solemn surroundings. My dear +parishioners, it was for your sake that I came here. You have heard +for yourselves--the whole question is a political one; and, dear +fellow Christians, let me entreat you to shun politics! Did not our +Lord Himself say: "My kingdom is not of this world"? This freedom, +this equality, of which they talk is not the soul's freedom, not +that equality which-- + +Koll. I would suggest to the reverend speaker that he should +postpone his remarks until the next time he gets into the pulpit. +(Slight laughter.) + +The Priest. One should be instant in season and out of season; +therefore-- + +Koll. I forbid you to continue. + +The Priest. It is written: "Thou shalt obey God rather than man"! +My dear parishioners, let us all leave this meeting! Who will +follow his priest? (Takes a few steps towards the door, but no one +follows him. Laughter. He sighs deeply, and sits down again.) + +Koll. If no one else wishes to speak-- + +Vinaeger. Mr. Chairman! + +Koll. Mr. Vinaeger wishes to speak. + +Vinaeger. These proceedings remind me of China, and of the Chinese +mandarins who will not allow any one of lesser degree to come near +them--although at moments I have felt as if I were still in Europe +in the presence of a still greater power, greater even than the +Grand Turk--I mean this democratic envy which grudges others what +it has not got itself. To reconcile both parties I should like to +make the following suggestion. Build the carriages, as is often +done, in two stories. Then those who wish to ensure their privacy +can do so by sitting upstairs; and the others will be satisfied +too, because they will all be in the same carriage after all. +(Loud laughter.) + +Koll. If no one else wishes to speak (looks at GRAN, who shakes his +head) I shall proceed to put the question to the vote. The motion +submitted by the directors, which is now before the meeting, is as +follows-- + +The Mayor. Excuse me, but what of my motion wit h regard to a +saloon for his Majesty? + +Koll. I did not understand your worship to mean your suggestion +as a formal motion. + +The Mayor. I did, though. + +Koll. Then I will put it to the vote after the director, motion has +been voted upon. + +The Mayor. A motion that concerns the King should take precedence +of all others. + +Koll. Even the King is subject to the rules of logic. The +directors' motion is: "That only one class of railway carriage +shall be purchased, of a type slightly more comfortable than the +ordinary third-class carriage." Will those in favour of the motion +kindly go to the left--on this side of the room; those against the +motion, to the right. (Nearly all go to the left. Cheers are heard +outside, and are gradually taken up by those inside. KOLL hammers +with his mallet.) Order, please! (The cheering ceases, but an +animated conversation goes on.) The directors' motion is carried! + +The Mayor (shouting). I am sure every one did not understand the +method of voting! + +Koll (hammering with his mallet). Order, order. (Quiet is gradually +restored.) What did your worship say? + +The Mayor. That some people must have misunderstood the way of +voting; because I see my daughter Natalie, who is a shareholder +too, on the other side of the room. Of course she has made a +mistake. + +Natalie. Oh no, father, I haven't. (Loud laughter, and applause.) + +The Priest. Ah, my poor deluded parishioners, I shall pray for you! + +The Mayor. Order!--The Mayor's motion-- + +Alstad. I would suggest that the Mayor should withdraw it. We know +what its fate would be in such a meeting as this. + +Koll. As long as I occupy the chair, I shall not permit any +derogatory expressions to be applied to the meeting. Does the Mayor +still insist on his motion being put? (Whispers to him: "Say no!") + +The Mayor. No. + +Koll. Then, as no one else wishes to speak, I declare the meeting +at an end. (Every one begins to move about and discuss affairs +vigorously.) + +Alstad (to his son VILHELM). So you have the face to vote with +these--these Americans, against your old father, have you? + +Vilhelm. Well, father, I honestly think-- + +Alstad. Just you wait till I get you home! + +Vilhelm. Oh, that's it, is it? Then I shan't go home--so there! I +shall stay here and get drunk, I shall. + +Alstad. Oh, come, come! + +Vilhelm. Yes, I shall! I shall stay here and get drunk! + +Alstad. But, Vilhelm, listen to me! (Takes him by the arm. Meantime +a STRANGER has taken KOLL and GRAN by the arm, to their manifest +surprise, and brought the forward away from the crowd. He stands +for a moment, looking them in the face, till suddenly KOLL gives a +start and cries out: "The King!") + +The King. Hush! + +Gran. It really is--! + +The King (to GRAN). You are at home here; take up into a room--and +give us some champagne. My throat is as dry as a lime-kiln! + +Curtain + + +SCENE II + +(SCENE.--A room built in Gothic style, comfortably furnished and +decorated with trophies of the chase. GRAN ushers in the KING and +KOLL.) + +Gran. We can be quite alone here. (ANNA, a deaf and dumb girl of +about fifteen, brings in some bottles of champagne, and, during +the following dialogue, sets out glasses, refreshments, cigars, and +pipes. She is quick and attentive to render the slightest service +required of her; when not employed, she sits on a stool in the +background. She talks to GRAN on her fingers, and receives orders +from him in the same manner.) + +The King. Ah, this is like old times! I know the setting: "Gothic +room in mediaeval style, decorated with trophies of the chase. +Furnished with an eye to bachelor comfort!" You always had bachelor +habits, you know, even when you were quite a boy. (To KOLL.) We +never called him anything but "the Bachelor" on board ship. He +never had a love affair in all the three years our cruise lasted; +but the rest of us had them in every port we touched at! + +Koll. He is just the same in that respect now. + +Gran (offering the KING some champagne). Allow me! + +The King. Thanks; I shall be glad of it. (To KOLL.) Your health, my +former tutor! (To GRAN.) And yours! (They drink.) Ah, that has done +me good!--Well now, let me ask you this: isn't it true that, all +through the meeting, you were talking nothing but republicanism, +although you didn't actually mention the word? + +Koll (laughing). You are not far wrong. + +The King. And you, who in the old days were considered to be too +advanced in your opinions to be retained as my tutor, are now not +considered advanced enough! They nearly--threw you over, didn't +they? + +Koll. Yes! That shows you, if I may say so, the result of +government by a minority. + +The King. And the result of mixing with such people as our +excellent friend the millionaire here, I suppose? + +Gran. It is always a mistake to lay the blame of public opinion on +individuals. + +The King. I quite agree with you. And now it is time you knew the +reason of my coming here--in the strictest incognito, as you see. +By the way, I hope no one recognised me? + +Gran and Koll. Not a soul! + +(FLINK comes in.) + +Flink. Ah, here you are! (Comes forward, rubbing his hands +delightedly.) Well, what did you think of the meeting, my boys? + +The King (aside to GRAN). Who is that? + +Gran (to the KING). We will get rid of him. (To FLINK.) Look here, +old chap--! + +Flink (catching sight of the KING). Oh, I beg your pardon, I +thought we were-- + +Gran (obliged to introduce him). Let me introduce Mr.--? Mr.--? +(Looks at the KING inquiringly.) + +The King. Speranza. + +Flink. An Italian? + +The King. In name only. + +Gran (completing the introduction). Mr. Flink. + +The King. Surely not A. B. Flink? + +Gran. Yes. + +The King (interested). Our peripatetic philosopher? (Shakes hands +with him.) I have read one or two of your books. + +Flink (laughing). Really? + +The King. Are you meditating another expedition? + +Flink. That's it. + +The King. And on foot? + +Flink. Always on foot. + +The King. Upon my word, I don't believe there is a man in the +country that can gauge popular opinion as accurately as you! Let +us sit down and have a chat. Do you drink champagne? + +Flink. Yes--when I can't get anything better! + +The King (lifting his glass to FLINK). Your health, (They all +drink, and then seat themselves.) What part the country were you in +last? + +Flink. I have just been shooting with our friend here. + +The King. So he is your friend? He is mine, too! My best friend, +ever since I was a boy. (He stretches out his hand; GRAN gets up +and grasps it in both of his.) + +Koll (to FLINK, who is looking astonished). Mr. Speranza was a +naval cadet at the same time as Gran. + +Flink. Really! Were they on the same ship? + +The King. Yes, we were on a cruise round the world together-- + +Flink. Do you mean the time when the Prince went on account of his +lungs?--the present King, I mean? + +The King. The Prince that afterwards became King--yes. + +Flink. There is quite a royal flavour about our little gathering, +then! Here is the King's shipmate, and here is his tutor in +jurisprudence-- + +Koll. You are forgetting yourself! You are the King's tutor's +tutor, you know-- + +The King. Were you Koll's tutor? Really? + +Flink (with a laugh). Yes, I had that misfortune! + +The King. You hadn't so great a misfortune in your pupil as he had +in his! + +Koll. The King was a very apt pupil. + +Flink (jestingly). He has shown traces of it in his reign, hasn't +he! + +Koll. Don't speak ill of the King, please. + +Flink (ironically). Heaven forbid! (Takes a pinch of snuff.) I +know all about his talent--his great talent, his genial talent! +(Offers his snuff-box to the KING.) + +Gran. But it was public opinion we were talking about, Flink; is +it very much like what we heard to-day? + +Flink. I wouldn't say that; your opinions are rather advanced in +these parts. + +The King. Is the tendency republican, rather than monarchical? + +Flink. That depends how you look at it. The King has just been +paying some visits in the country districts; he is, so to speak, +the commercial traveller for his firm--as all kings and crown +princes are. Of course he was cheered everywhere. But go and +ask the agricultural classes if they set great store by the pomp +and circumstance of royalty; they will unanimously answer: "It +costs an infernal lot to keep up!" Ha, ha, ha! + +Gran. Your farmer is a realist. + +Flink. A brutal realist! Ha, ha, ha! Self-government is cheaper. +He has it all at his fingers' ends, the scoundrel! + +The King. He is not a republican by conviction, then + +Flink. Not universally, no. At least, not _yet_. But things are +moving that way; and our reactionary government is helping the +movement--that, and the letter they get from America. + +The King. The letters they get from America? + +Koll. Letters from their relations in America. + +Gran. There is scarcely a family in the country now that has not +relations in America. + +The King. And they write home about self-government?--about +republican principles? + +Flink. And republican institutions. That is the situation! + +The King. Have you read any of these letters? + +Flink. Lots! + +The King. This is excellent champagne! (Drinks.) + +Gran. Let me fill your glasses. (They all drink.) + +Flink. It doesn't really agree with me. + +The King. But suppose the King were to establish democratic +government? Suppose he were to live like an ordinary citizen in +every way? + +Flink. In every way? What do you mean by that? + +The King. Kept house like an ordinary citizen--were married like +an ordinary citizen--were to be found in his office at regular +hours like any other official? + +Gran. And had no court, I suppose? + +The King. No. (KOLL and GRAN exchange glances.) + +Flink (shrugging his shoulders). It would be the last sensation +left for him to try. + +The King (who did not observe his shrug, eagerly). That is so, +isn't it? You agree with me as to that? I am delighted to have had +this talk with you, Mr. Flink. + +Flink. The same to you, Mr.--Mr.--. (In an undertone, to KOLL.) Is +he a republican? + +The King (who has overheard him). Am I a republican? I have had too +much experience not to be! Ha, ha! (Takes up his glass.) Devilish +good champagne, this! + +Flink (drinking). But, you know, Mr.--Mr. Republican--ha, ha!-- +(smiles and whispers)--the King simply would not be allowed to +do what you suggest. Ha, ha! + +The King. What do you mean? + +Gran (aside to KOLL, who gets up). Are you sure this is right? + +Koll. It will do him good, anyway, to hear all sides. + +Flink (who has got up and gone to the table on the other side to +get a pipe). He simply would not be allowed to, poor chap! What is +monarchy, I ask you? Nothing more or less than an insurance +business in which a whole crew of priests, officials, noblemen, +landed proprietors, merchants and military men hold shares? And, +goodness knows, _they_ are not going to give their director leave +to commit any such folly! Ha, ha, ha! + +The King (getting up). Ha, ha, ha! + +Flink (vociferously, to him). Don't you think that is true? + +The King. Good Lord!--perfectly true! Ha, ha ha! + +Flink (who has cleaned and filled a pipe, but forgotten to light +it, going up to the KING). And what do they insure themselves +again, these beauties? (More seriously.) Against the great mass of +the people--against _his_ people! (The KING looks at him and makes +a movement of dislike.) + +Gran. Look here, Flink; suppose we go out into the garden for a +little? These spring evenings are so lovely. + +Flink. Compared to a political talk, the loveliest spring evenings +have no attraction for me--no more than warm water, offered me in +place of fine cooling wine, would have. No, let us stay where we +are. What is the matter with this pipe? (ANNA signs that she will +put it right for him, but he does not understand.) + +Gran. Give her your pipe; she will put it right. + +Koll. What I have always said is that, if the King had an +opportunity of understanding the situation, he would interfere. + +Flink. The King? He doesn't care a brass farthing about the +whole matter! He has something else to do! Ha, ha! + +The King. Ha, ha, ha! + +Koll. The King is an unusually gifted man; he would not remain +indifferent in the long run. + +Flink. He has so many unusual gifts that have gone to the devil--! + +The King. Tralalla! Tralalalalala! Tralala! It feels quite odd to +be with you fellows again! (Drinks.) + +Flink (in an undertone, to GRAN). Is he drunk? + +The King (sitting down). Give me a cigar--! And let us discuss the +matter a little more seriously. (KOLL and GRAN sit down.) + +Gran. As a matter of fact, it is not a thing that can be discussed. +It must be tried. If, one day, the King were to say: "I mean to +live a natural life among my people, and to withdraw my name from +the old-established royal firm, which has lost all its reputation +for honesty"--that day everything else would follow of itself. + +Flink. Yes, that day, I dare say! + +Gran. Remember you are the guest of a man who is a friend of the +King's! + +The King. Don't play the domestic despot--you who are a republican! +Let us have free discussion! + +Flink. I certainly don't intend to insult the King. He has never +done me any harm. But surely you will allow me to doubt whether he +is really the shining light you make him out to be? + +The King. That is true enough! + +Flink (eagerly). You agree with me as to that, then? + +The King. Absolutely! But--leaving him out of the question--suppose +we _had_ a king who made himself independent of others, and, as a +necessary consequence, rose superior to questions of party--? + +Flink (interrupting him). It is a vain supposition, my dear fellow! +A king bound to no party? (Puffs at his pipe.) It wouldn't work! +(Puffs again.) It wouldn't work!--It wouldn't work!--Falsehood is +the foundation of constitutional monarchy. A king superior to +questions of party? Rubbish! + +Gran. It would be expecting something superhuman of him, too. + +Flink. Of course it would! + +The King. But the president of a republic is even less independent +of party, isn't he? + +Flink (turning to hint). He doesn't make any pretence that he +isn't. Haha! That's the difference! (Comes forward, repeating to +himself.) It is the falsehood that makes the difference. + +Koll. Oh, there are falsehoods enough in republics too, +unfortunately! + +Flink. I know; but they are not old-established institutions! Ha, +ha! + +The King. That is an idea you have got from Professor Ernst's +writings. + +Flink (eagerly). Have you read them? + +The King. I have scarcely read anything else for the last few +months. (KOLL and GRAN exchange glances.) + +Flink. Indeed?--Then there is no need for me to say anything more. + +Koll. But, after all this talk, we have got no further. Our friend +(pointing to the KING) wants to know, I think, whether a real, +serious attempt at what one might call "democratic monarchy" +could not reckon on being understood and supported-- + +The King (breaking in, eagerly). Yes, that's just it! + +Koll. --understood and supported by the most enlightened section of +the people, who are weary of falsehood and long for a generous but +secure measure of self-government. + +The King. That's just it! + +Flink (who was just going to sit down, jumps up again, lays down +his pipe and stands with arms akimbo, as he says:) But what sort of +ridiculous ideas are these? Aren't you republicans, then? + +Koll. I am not. + +Gran. I am; but that does not prevent my being of opinion that the +change of government should be made gradually and gently-- + +Flink. That would be treason! + +Gran. Treason! + +Flink. Treason against the truth--against our convictions! + +Koll. Don't let us use big words! Monarchy is strongly rooted in +the existing order of things. + +Flink (with a laugh). In the insurance company! + +Koll. Well, call it so if you like. It _exists_; that is the point. +And, since it exists, we must make it as honest and as serviceable +as we can. + +The King. Your health, Koll! (Drinks to him.) + +Flink (moving away from them). No true republican would agree with +you. + +Gran. You are wrong there. (FLINK gives a start of surprise.) + +The King (who has seen FLINK's surprise, gets up). Listen to me! +Suppose we had a king who said: "Either you help me to establish a +democratic monarchy--purged of all traces of absolutism, purged of +falsehood--or else I abdicate--" + +Flink. Bah! + +The King. I only say, "suppose"! You know quite well that the +cousin of the present king, the heir apparent, is a bigoted-- + +Koll (who has been exchanging glances with GRAN while the KING was +speaking, breaks in hurriedly). Don't go on! + +The King (with a laugh). I won't!--And his mother, who rules him-- + +Flink. --is even worse! + +The King. What would be your choice, then? Would you help the king +to establish a democratic monarchy or--? + +Flink (impetuously). I would ten thousand times rather have the +bigoted prince, with all his own and his mother's follies!--the +madder the better! + +Gran. No, no, no, no! + +The King (to GRAN and KOLL). We see his true colours now! (Moves +away from them.) + +Koll (to FLINK). That is the way you republicans always ride your +principles to death. + +Gran. Patriotism ought to come before-- + +Flink. --before truth? No; a short sharp pang of agony is better +than endless doubt and falsehood, my friend! That is true +patriotism. + +Koll. Oh, these theories!--these phrases! + +Gran. I am a republican as well as you, and, I think, as sincere a +one. But I should have no hesitation-- + +Flink. --in playing the traitor? + +Gran. Why do you use such words as that? + +Flink. Words! Do you think it is nothing but words? No, my friend, +if you did what--what I did not allow you to say--I should come +here one day to call you to account. And if you refused to fight +me, I should shoot you like a dog! + +Gran (gently). You would not do that. + +Flink (heatedly). Not do it?--Have I given you the deepest +affection of which my heart is capable, only for you to turn +traitor to it? Am I to see the man whose character is the crowning +achievement of my life, betraying our cause--and, by reason of his +great personal prestige, dragging thousands down with him? On the +head of all the disillusionments I have suffered, am I to have this +one in the evening of my life--? (Stops, overcome by his emotion. A +pause.) You shouldn't jest about such things you know. (Walks away. +ANNA has placed herself in front of GRAN, as if to protect him.) + +Koll. I think we had better change the subject, and go out for a +little! + +The King (aside, to him). Yes, get him away! + +Flink (in the background, as if he were addressing an invisible +audience). We must have discipline in the ranks! + +Koll. Gran, ask your maid to hurry up with the supper. + +Gran. Yes, I will. + +Koll (to the KING). What do you say to a turn in the garden, +meanwhile? + +The King. By all means! + +Flink (coming forward to GRAN). This friendship of yours with the +King--to which I had attached no particular importance--I hope it +has not altogether--(Stops short.) + +Gran. --not altogether corrupted me, you mean? + +Flink. Exactly. + +The King (laughing). Politically? + +Flink. Politics are not unconnected with morals, sir! + +The King. But why get so heated, sir? We know that the present King +is a-- + +Koll (breaking in hurriedly). Don't say any more! + +The King (with a laugh). You said yourself that he doesn't care a +brass farthing about the whole matter--he has something else to +do! And so the whole thing ends in smoke! + +Flink (more amiably). I dare say you are right. + +The King. Of course I am. You are all agreed that, under his rule, +republican sentiments are growing in real earnest. + +Flink. You are right! He couldn't help things on better if he were +a republican himself, I assure you! + +The King. Perhaps he _is_ a republican? + +Flink (animatedly). Perhaps he _is_! Splendid! And works against +his own interests--! + +The King. A sort of commercial traveller working for the downfall +of his own firm! + +Flink (excitedly). For the downfall of his own firm! Splendid! +Props up his reactionary rule by means of royal pronouncements, +confidential communications, public speeches-- + +The King. --in a suicidal manner! + +Flink. Splendidly suicidal! Ah, that makes you laugh, does it? + +Koll. Hush, some one might hear us! + +Flink. I don't care who hears us! (The KING bursts out laughing.) +But you ought, as one of the King's officials, to stop _his_ +laughing! (Points to the KING.) It's shocking!--It's high treason! + +Koll. Listen to me! + +Flink. You ought to arrest him for laughing like that! Suppose the +King-- + +Gran. That _is_ the King! (The KING goes on laughing. FLINK looks +from him to the others, and from the others to him.) + +The King. This is too much for me! (Sits down. FLINK rushes out.) + +Koll. That was very bad of you. + +The King. I know it was; but forgive me! I couldn't help it! Ha, +ha, ha, ha, ha! + +Koll. For all his queer ways, he is too good a fellow to be made a +fool of. + +The King. Yes, scold me; I deserve it. But, all the same--ha, ha, +ha, ha! + +Gran. Hush!--he is coming back. (The KING gets up as FLINK comes in +again.) + +Flink. Your Majesty may be assured that I would never have +expressed myself as I did in your Majesty's presence if I had been +fairly treated and told whom I was addressing. + +The King. I know. The fault is mine alone. + +Flink. The fault is that of others--my so-called friends. + +The King (earnestly). By no means! It is mine--mine alone. I have +had a scolding for it!--And in your presence I ask my friends' +pardon; I have put them in a false position. And, in the next +place, I ask for your forgiveness. My sense of humour got the +better of me. (Laughs again.) + +Flink. Yes, it was extremely amusing. + +The King. It really was! And, after all, what have you to complain +of? You had an opportunity of speaking your mind, any way! + +Flink. I certainly did! + +The King. Very well, then!--And when you wanted to show any +respect, _I_ prevented you. So I think we are quits. + +Flink. No, we are not. + +The King (impatiently). Indeed?--What do you want from me, then? + +Flink (proudly). Nothing! + +The King. I beg your pardon! I did not mean to offend you. + +Flink. You have done so to a degree that you are naturally +incapable of appreciating. (Goes out.) + +The King. This is a nice business! (Laughs. Then notices GRAN, who +is standing at his desk with his back to the KING, and goes up to +him.) You are angry with me. + +Gran (looking up slowly). Yes. + +The King. Why didn't you stop me? + +Gran. It all happened too quickly. But to think that you could have +the heart to do it--in my own house--to a man who was my father's +oldest friend, and is mine--! + +The King. Harald! (Puts his arm round his shoulders.) Have I ever +asked you for anything that you have not given me? + +Gran. No. + +The King. Then I ask you now to admit that you know that, if I +had thought this would hurt you, I would never have done it--not +for worlds! Do you still believe as well of me as that? + +Gran. Yes. + +The King. Thank you. Then I will admit to you, in return, that for +months past I have lived in a state of horrible tension of mind; +and that is why I jump too easily from one extreme to the other. +So, my friends, you must forgive me! Or finish my scolding some +other time! Because now I must talk to you of the matter which +induced me to come here. You are the only ones I can turn to; so +be good to me!--Shall we sit down again? + +Koll. As you please. + +The King (moving towards the table). I know you both want to ask +me the same question: why I have never come before now. My answer +is: because I have only now arrived at a clear conception of my own +position. Some months ago some hard words that were used to me lit +a fire in my heart and burnt out a heap of rubbish that had +collected there. (ANNA fills their glasses.) Won't you send that +girl away? + +Gran. She is deaf and dumb. + +The King. Poor girl! (Sits down.) When I came back from my cruise +round the world, the old king was dead. My father had come to the +throne, and I was crown prince, and I went with my father to the +cathedral to attend a thanksgiving service for my safe return. + +Gran. I was there. + +The King. The whole thing was a novelty to me, and a solemn one. I +was overcome with emotion. Seeing that, my father whispered to me: +"Come farther forward, my boy! The people must see their future +king praying." That finished it! I was not born to be a king; my +soul was still too unsullied, and I spurned such falsehood with the +deepest loathing. Just think of it!--to come back from three years +at sea, and begin my life in that way--as if perpetually in front +of a mirror! I won't dwell on it. But when my father died and I +became king, I had become so accustomed to the atmosphere of +falsehood I lived in that I no longer recognised truth when I saw +it. The constitution prescribed my religion for me--and naturally I +had none. And it was the same with everything--one thing after +another! What else could you expect? The only tutor I valued--you, +Koll--had been dismissed; they considered you to be too freethinking. + +Koll (smilingly). Oh, yes! + +The King. The only real friend that dated from my happier days-- +you, Harald, had been sent to the right about; you were a +republican. It was while I was in despair over that loss that I +fell really in love for the first time--with your sister, Harald. +Banishment, again. What then? Why, then the craving that every +healthy youth feels--the desire for love--was turned into dissolute +channels. (Drinks.) + +Gran. I understand, well enough. + +The King. Well, put all those things together. That was what my +life was--until just lately. Because lately something happened, my +dear friends. And now you must help me! Because, to make a long +story short, either I mean to be the chief official in my country +in a peaceful, citizenlike, genuine way, or--as God is above me--I +will no longer be king! (Gets up, and the others do so.) + +Koll. Ah, we have got it at last! + +The King. Do you think I don't know that our republican friend +there spoke what is every thoughtful man's verdict upon me? (They +are silent.) But how could I possibly undertake my task, as long as +I believed everything to be make-believe and falsehood, without +exception? Now I know the root of the falsehood! It is in our +institutions; he was quite right. And one kind of falsehood begets +another. You cannot imagine how ludicrous it appeared to me--who up +till then had led such a sinful, miserable existence--when I saw +honourable men pretending that I was a being of some superior +mould! I! (Walks up and down, then stops.) It is the state--our +institutions--that demand this falsehood both on their part and on +mine. And that for the security and happiness of the country! +(Moves about restlessly.) From the time I became crown prince they +kept from me everything that might have instilled truth into me-- +friendship, love, religion, a vocation--for my vocation is quite +another one; and it was all done in the name of my country! And now +that I am king, they take away all responsibility from me as well-- +all responsibility for my own acts--the system demands it! Instead +of an individual, what sort of a contemptible creature do they make +of me! The kingly power, too?--that is in the hands of the people's +representatives and the government. I don't complain of that; but +what I do complain of is that they should pretend that _I_ have it, +and that everything should be done in _my_ name; that I should be +the recipient of petitions, cheers, acclamations, obeisances--as if +the whole power and responsibility were centred in _my_ person! In +me--from whom, in the interests of all, they have taken away +everything! Is that not a pitiful and ludicrous falsehood? And, to +make it credible, they endow me into the bargain with a halo of +sanctity! "The King is sacred;" "Our Most Gracious Sovereign," +"Your Majesty!" It becomes almost blasphemous! + +Gran. Quite true. + +The King. No, if that cannot be done away with, I can do away with +myself. But it must be possible to do away with it! It cannot be +necessary for a people, who are marching on the eternal path +towards truth, to have a lie marching at the head of them! + +Koll. No, it is not necessary. + +The King (eagerly). And that is what you will help me to show them. + +Koll. I have no objection! There is life in the country yet! + +The King (to Gran). And you, my friend? Are you afraid of being +shot by a mad republican if you help me? + +Gran. I am not particularly afraid of death, any way. But the maid +is telling us that supper is served. + +The King. Yes, let us have supper! + +Koll. And then, to our task! + +Curtain + + + +ACT II + +(SCENE.--A park with old lofty trees. In the foreground, to the +right, an arbour with a seat. The KING is sitting, talking to BANG, +who is a man of gross corpulence.) + +Bang. And I felt so well in every way that, I assure your Majesty, +I used to feel it a pleasure to be alive. + +The King (drawing patterns in the dust with his walking stick). I +can quite believe it. + +Bang. And then I was attacked by this pain in my heart and this +difficulty in breathing. I run round and round this park, on an +empty stomach, till I am absolutely exhausted. + +The King (absently). Couldn't you drive round, then? + +Bang. Drive?--But it is the exercise, your Majesty, that-- + +The King. Of course. I was thinking of something else. + +Bang. I would not mind betting that I know what your Majesty was +thinking of--if I may say so without impertinence. + +The King. What was it, then? + +Bang. Your Majesty was thinking of the socialists! + +The King. Of the--? + +Bang. The socialists! + +The King (looking amused). Why particularly of them? + +Bang. I was right, you see! Ha, ha, ha! (His laughter brings on a +violent fit of coughing.) Your Majesty must excuse me; laughing +always brings on my cough.--But, you know, the papers this morning +are full of their goings on! + +The King. I have not read the paper. + +Bang. Then I can assure your Majesty that the way they are going on +is dreadful. And just when we were all getting on so comfortably! +What in the world do they want? + +The King. Probably they want to get on comfortably too. + +Bang. Aren't they well off as it is, the beasts? Excuse me, your +Majesty, for losing my temper in your Majesty's presence. + +The King. Don't mention it. + +Bang. You are very good. These strikes, too--what is the object of +them? To make every one poor? Every one can't be rich. However, I +pin my faith to a strong monarchy. Your Majesty is the padlock on +my cash-box! + +The King. I am what? + +Bang. The padlock on my cash-box! A figure of speech I ventured to +apply to your Majesty. + +The King. I am much obliged! + +Bang. Heaven help us if the liberals come into power; their aim is +to weaken the monarchy. + +(A BEGGAR BOY comes up to them.) + +Beggar Boy. Please, kind gentlemen, spare a penny! I've had nothing +to eat to-day! + +Bang (taking no notice of him). Aren't there whispers of the sort +about? But of course it can't be true. + +Beggar Boy (pertinaciously). Please, kind gentlemen, spare a penny! +I've had nothing to eat to-day. + +Bang. You have no right to beg. + +The King. You have only the right to starve, my boy! Here! (Gives +him a gold coin. The BEGGAR Boy backs away from him, staring at +him, and gripping the coin in his fist.) + +Bang. He never even thanked you! Probably the son of a socialist!-- +I would never have opened this park to every one in the way your +Majesty has done. + +The King. It saves the work-people a quarter of am hour if they can +go through it to get to their work. + +(The GENERAL appears, driving the BEGGAR BOY before him with his +stick.) + +The General (to the BEGGAR). A gentleman sitting on a seat gave it +you? Point him out to me, then! + +Bang (getting up). Good morning, your Majesty! + +The King. Good morning! (Looks at his watch.) + +The General. That gentleman, do you say? + +The King (looking up). What is it? + +The General. Your Majesty? Allow me to welcome you back! + +The King. Thank you. + +The General. Excuse me, sir; but I saw this fellow with a gold coin +in his hand, and stopped him. He says your Majesty gave it to him--? + +The King. It is quite true. + +The General. Oh--of course that alters the case! (To the BEGGAR.) +It is the King. Have you thanked him? (The boy stands still, +staring at the KING.) + +The King. Are you taking a morning walk on an empty stomach because +of a weak heart, too? + +The General. Because of my stomach, sir--because of my stomach! It +has struck work! + +The Beggar Boy. Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! (Runs away.) + +The General. I am astonished at your Majesty's having thrown this +park open to every one. + +The King. It saves the work-people a quarter of an hour if they can +go through it to get to their work.--Well, General, it seems you +have become religious all of a sudden? + +The General. Ha, ha, ha! Your Majesty has read my Order of the Day, +then? + +The King. Yes. + +The General (confidentially). Well, sir, you see things couldn't go +on any longer as they were. (Whispers.) Debauchery in the ranks! I +won't say anything about the officers; but when the men take to +such courses openly--! + +The King. Oho! + +The General. My brother the bishop and I, between us, composed an +Order of the Day on the subject of the necessity of religion-- +religion as the basis of discipline. + +The King. As a matter of fact the bishop was the first person I +met here to-day.--Is he suffering from a disordered stomach, too? + +The General. More so than any of us, Sir! Ha, ha, ha! (The KING +motions to him to sit down.) Thank you, Sir.--But, apart from that, +I have had it in my mind for some time that in these troublous days +there ought to be a closer co-operation between the Army and the +Church-- + +The King. In the matter of digestion, do you mean? + +The General. Ha, ha, ha!--But seriously, Sir, the time is +approaching when such a co-operation will be the only safeguard +of the throne. + +The King. Indeed? + +The General (hurriedly). That is to say, of course, the throne +stands firm by itself--God forbid I should hint otherwise! But +what I mean is that it is the Army ants the Church that must +supply the monarchy with the necessary splendour and authority-- + +The King. I suppose, then, that the monarchy has no longer any +of its own? + +The General (jumping up). Heaven forbid that I should say such +a thing! I would give my life in support of the monarchy! + +The King. You will have to die some day, unfortunately (Laughs +as he gets up.) Who is that coming this way? + +The General (putting up his eyeglass). That? It is the Princess +and Countess L'Estoque, Sir. + +The King. Is the Princess suffering from indigestion too? + +The General (confidentially). I fancy your Majesty knows best +what the Princess is suffering from. (The KING moves away from +him.) I made a mess of that! It comes of my trying to be too +clever.--He is walking towards her. Perhaps there is something in +it, after all? I must tell Falbe about it. (Turns to go.) Confound +it, he saw that I was watching them! (Goes out. The KING returns to +the arbour with the PRINCESS on his arm. The COUNTESS and one of +the royal servants are seen crossing the park in the background.) + +The Princess. This is a most surprising meeting! When did your +Majesty return? + +The King. Last night.--You look very charming, Princess! Such +blushing cheeks!--and so early in the morning! + +The Princess. I suppose you think it is rouge?--No, Sir, it is +nothing but pleasure at meeting you. + +The King. Flatterer! And I went pale at the sight of you. + +The Princess. Perhaps your conscience--? + +The King. I am sorry to say my conscience had nothing to do with +it. But this morning I have been meeting so many people that are +suffering from indigestion that, when I saw your Highness walking +quickly along-- + +The Princess. Make your mind easy! My reason for my morning walk is +to keep my fat down. Later in the day I ride--for the same reason. +I live for nothing else now. + +The King. It is a sacred vocation! + +The Princess. Because it is a royal one? + +The King. Do you attribute your sanctity to me? Wicked Princess! + +The Princess. Both my sanctity and any good fortune I enjoy. It +is nothing but my relationship to your Majesty that induces the +tradespeople to give me unlimited credit. + +The King. You don't feel any awkwardness about it, then? + +The Princess. Not a bit! The good folk have to maintain many worse +parasites than me!--By the way, talking of parasites, is it true +that you have pensioned off all your lords-in-waiting and their +hangers-on? + +The King. Yes. + +The Princess. Ha, ha, ha! But why did you make the special +stipulation that they should live in Switzerland? + +The King. Because there is no court in Switzerland, and-- + +The Princess. And so they could not fall into temptation again! +I have had many a good laugh at the thought of it. But it has its +serious side too, you know; because your Majesty cannot dispense +with a court. + +The King. Why not? + +The Princess. Well, suppose some day you are "joined in the bonds +of holy matrimony," as the parsons so beautifully put it? + +The King. If I were, it would be for the sake of knowing what +family life is. + +The Princess. Like any other citizen? + +The King. Precisely. + +The Princess. Are you going to keep no servants? + +The King. As many as are necessary--but no more. + +The Princess. Then I must secure a place as chambermaid in your +Majesty's household as soon as possible. Because if my financial +circumstances are inquired into there will be nothing else left for +me but that! + +The King. You have too sacred a vocation for that, Princess! + +The Princess. How pretty! Your Majesty is a poet, and poets are +allowed to be enthusiastic about ideals. But the people are poets +too, in their way; they like their figure-head to be well gilded, +and don't mind paying for it. That is their poetry. + +The King. Are you certain of that? + +The Princess. Absolutely certain! It is a point of honour with +them. + +The King. Then I have to weigh my honour against theirs! And +my honour forbids me--for the honour of my people and their +poetry--to keep up my palaces, my guards, and my court any +longer! _Voila tout_! + +The Princess. My dear King, certain positions carry with them +certain duties! + +The King. Then I know higher duties than those!--But, Princess, +here are we two seriously discussing-- + +The Princess. Yes, but there is something at the bottom of it that +is not to be laughed away. All tradition and all experience +proclaim it to be the truth that a king--the kingly majesty--should +be a dignity apart; and should be the ultimate source of law, +surrounded with pomp and circumstance, and secure behind the +fortified walls of wealth, rank, and hereditary nobility. If he +steps out of that magic circle, the law's authority is weakened. + +The King. Has your Royal Highness breakfasted yet? + +The Princess. No. (Bursts out laughing.) + +The King. Because, if you had, I should have had great pleasure +is giving you a lesson in history; but on an empty stomach that +would be cruel. + +The Princess. Do you know--you used to be such an entertaining +king, but this last year you have become so tedious! + +The King. Most beautiful of princesses! Do you really mean to say +that I rise and fall in your estimation according as I have my +pretty royal gew-gaws on or not? + +The Princess. In my estimation? + +The King. Or in any one's? You know the story of "The Emperor's New +Clothes"? + +The Princess. Yes. + +The King. We don't keep up that pretence any longer. + +The Princess. But will every one understand? + +The King. You understand, don't you? + +The Princess. The people or I--that is all the same, I suppose! +You are very flattering. + +The King. Heaven forbid that I should lump your Royal Highness +together with the common herd; but-- + +The Princess. We have already had proof of the fact that your +Majesty does not hold the same place in _every one's_ estimation +that you do in mine, at all events! + +The King. If I occupy a place of honour in your Royal Highness's +heart, your Royal Highness may be certain that-- + +The Princess. I will interrupt you to save you from speaking an +untruth! Because the way to attain to a place of honour in your +Majesty's heart is not to admire you as I do, but, on the contrary, +to shout out: "I despise you!"--Au revoir! + +The King. You wicked, terrifying, dangerous-- + +The Princess. --omniscient and ubiquitous Princess! (Makes a deep +curtsey, and goes away.) + +The King (calling after her). In spite of everything, my heart goes +with you-- + +The Princess. --to show me the door! I know all about that! (To +the COUNTESS.) Come, Countess! (Goes out. FALBE, an old gentleman +in civilian dress, has come in from the side to which the KING'S +back is turned.) + +The King. How the devil did she--? + +Falbe (coming up behind him). Your Majesty! + +The King (turning quickly). Ah, there you are! + +Falbe. Yes, sir--we have been walking about in the park for some +time; your Majesty was engaged. + +The King. Not engaged--I was only deadening thoughts by gossiping. +My anxiety was too much for me. So they have come?--both of them? + +Falbe. Both of them. + +The King. Can I believe it! (Appears overcome.) But--you must wait +a moment! I can't, just at this moment--. I don't know what has +come over me! + +Falbe. Are you unwell, sir? You look so pale. + +The King My nerves are not what they should be. Is there any water +near here? + +Falbe (pointing, in astonishment). Why, there is the fountain, +Sir! + +The King. Of course! Of course!--I don't seem able to collect my +thoughts. And my mouth is as dry as--. Look here, I am going that +way (points); and then you can--you can bring the ladies here.--She +is here! She is here! (Goes out to the left, and turns round as he +goes.) Don't forget to lock the gates of the inner park! + +Falbe. Of course not, Sir. (Goes out to the right, and returns +bringing in the BARONESS MARC and CLARA.) His Majesty will be +here in a moment. (Goes out to the right.) + +Clara. You must stay near enough for me to be able to call you. + +Baroness. Of course, my dear. Compose yourself; nothing can happen. + +Clara. I am so frightened. + +Baroness. Here is the King! (The KING comes in and bows to them.) + +The King. Excuse me, ladies, for having kept you waiting. I am +very grateful to you both for coming. + +Baroness. We only came upon your Majesty's solemn promise-- + +The King. --which shall be inviolable. + +Baroness. I understand that you wish to speak to Miss Ernst alone? + +The King. Your ladyship need only go up to the top of that little +slope. (Points.) I can recommend the view from there. + +Baroness. The interview will not be a long one, I suppose? + +The King. If it is, I give your ladyship permission to come and +interrupt us. (The BARONESS goes out. The KING turns to CLARA.) May +I be permitted to thank you again--you especially--for having been +so good as to grant me this interview? + +Clara. It will be the only one. + +The King. I know that. You have not condescended to answer one +of my letters-- + +Clara. I have not read them. + +The King. --so there was nothing left for me but to address myself +to the Baroness. She was _obliged_ to listen to me, Miss Ernst. + +Clara (trembling). What has your Majesty to say to me? + +The King. Indeed, I can't tell it you in a single sentence. Won't +you sit down? (CLARA remains standing.) You must not be afraid +of me. I mean you no harm; I never could mean you any harm. + +Clara (in tears). Then what do you call the persecution that I +have endured for more than a year? + +The King. If you had condescended to read a single one of my long +and many letters you would have known I call it a passion that is +stronger than--. (CLARA turns to go. The KING continues anxiously.) +No, Miss Ernst, by everything you hold dear, I beg you not to leave +me! + +Clara. Then you must not insult me! + +The King. If that is an insult your terms are very hard. + +Clara. Hard? No, but what you have done to me is hard! (Bursts into +tears.) + +The King. Don't cry, Miss Ernst! You don't know how you hurt me! + +Clara (angrily). Do you know what it means to try and ruin a young +girl's reputation? + +The King. I repeat that you are doing me an injustice + +Clara. An injustice?--Good God! Do you know who I am? + +The King (taking of his hat respectfully). You are the woman I +love. + +Clara (quietly and with dignity). Your Majesty has solemnly +promised not to insult me. + +The King. As sure as there is a heaven above us I will not, and +could not, insult you! But I will obey your wishes. + +Clara. When a king says such a thing as--as you did just now, to a +poor little governess, it is more than an insult! It is so +cowardly, so base! And to think that you could have the heart to do +it after what you have done to my father! + +The King. Your father?--I? + +Clara. Do you really not know who I am? + +The King I don't understand-- + +Clara. Whose daughter I am, I mean? + +The King. I only know that your father's name is Ernst. (Suddenly.) +Surely your father is not--? + +Clara. Professor Ernst. + +The King. The republican? + +Clara (slowly). Yes. (A pause.) I may remind your Majesty that he +was sentenced for high treason. And why? Because he warned the +young men at the university against the bad example set by the +King! (A pause.) He was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. +In escaping from his prison he broke both his legs; and now he +lives in exile--a cripple--supported by what money I am able to +earn. (A pause.) You have ruined his life--and now you are trying +to ruin mine too! + +The King. I beg of you--! + +Clara. I am ashamed of my tears. It is not compassion for myself +or for my father that makes them flow; it is the heartless +injustice of it all that overcomes me. + +The King. God knows, if only I could atone for the injustice--! +But what can I do? + +Clara. You can let me alone, so that I may do my work in peace; +that is what you can do! Neither he nor I ask for more than that-- +of you! + +The King. I must do more than that! + +Clara. No! Can you not understand that a girl who is persecuted +by the king's attentions cannot be a governess? All you will +achieve will be to rob me and my father of our bread!--Oh, God! + +The King. But my intention is not to-- + +Clara (interrupting him). And you are not even man enough to be +ashamed of yourself! + +The King. Yes, you may say what you please to me! + +Clara. I have nothing more to say to you. I have said what I have +to say. (Turns to go.) + +The King. No, don't go! You have not even heard me yet. You don't +even know what I want to beg of you! + +Clara. My dishonour. + +The King (vehemently). You misunderstand me utterly! If you had +only read a single one of my letters you would have known that +there is standing before you a man whom you have humbled. Ah, don't +look so incredulous! It is true, if there is any truth in anything. +You don't believe me? (Despairingly.) How am I to--! A man who has +risked your contempt for more than a year, and has been faithful to +you without even being allowed to see you or exchange a word with +you--who has had no thought for anything or any one else--is not +likely to be doing that out of mere idleness of heart! Do you not +believe that, either? + +Clara. No. + +The King. Well, then, there must surely be some general truths that +you, as Ernst's daughter, cannot refuse to believe! Let me ask you +if you can understand how a man becomes what I was at the time when +I repeatedly insulted you. You must know, from your father's books, +in what an unnatural atmosphere a king is brought up, the soul-destroying +sense of self-importance which all his surroundings foster, until, +even in his dreams, he thinks himself something more than human; +the doubtful channels into which his thoughts are forced, while any +virtues that he has are trumpeted abroad, and his vices glossed +over with tactful and humorous tolerance. Don't you think that a +young king, full of eager life, as I was, may plead something in +excuse of himself that no other man can? + +Clara. Yes, I admit that. + +The King. Then you must admit that the very position he has to +assume as a constitutional monarch is an acted lie. Think what a +king's vocation is; _can_ a vocation of that sort be hereditary? +Can the finest and noblest vocation in the world be that? + +Clara. No! + +The King. Then suppose that he realises that himself; suppose that +the young king is conscious, however dimly and partially, of the +lie he is living--and suppose that, to escape from it, he rushes +into a life of pleasure. Is it not conceivable that he may have +some good in him, for all that? And then suppose that one morning, +after a night of revelling, the sun shines into his room; and he +seems to see upon the wall, in letters of fire, some words that +were said to him the night before--true words (CLARA looks up at +him in surprise)--the words: "I despise you!" (CLARA gives a +start.) Words like that can burn out falsehood. And he, to whom +they are said, may long to hear again the tones of the voice that +spoke them. No man has ever hated what has given him new life. If +you had read a single one of the letters which I felt impelled to +write even if they were refused acceptance--you would not have +called it persecution. (CLARA does not answer.) And, as for my +persecution of your father--I am not going to make any excuses for +myself; I will only ask you to remember that a king has no control +over the law and its judgments. I feel the sincerest respect for +your father. + +Clara. Thank you. + +The King. And it is just part of the falsehood I was speaking of, +that he should be condemned for saying of me what I have said a +thousand times of myself! + +Clara (softly). Dare I believe that? + +The King. Ah, if only you had read one of my letters! Or even the +little book of poems I sent you last! I thought that, if you would +not receive my letters, perhaps a book-- + +Clara. I do not accept anonymous gifts. + +The King. I see you are on your guard--although I don't admit that +the poems were mine! May I read it to you? + +Clara. I don't understand--. + +The King. One that I marked--for you. It will prove to you what +you refuse to believe. + +Clara. But if the poem is not yours? + +The King. The fact that I have marked it shows that its sentiments +apply to me. Will you let me read it to you? (CLARA looks up.) Do +not be too much surprised, Miss Ernst! (Takes a slim volume from +his pocket.) I found this somewhere. (Turns over the leaves.) It +won't take long to read. May I? + +Clara. If only I understood-- + +The King. --why I want to read it? Simply for the reason that you +have forbidden me to speak to you--or to write to you; but not, as +yet, to read to you! (CLARA smiles. A pause.) Do you know--a little +event has just happened in my life?--and yet not such a little one, +after all! + +Clara. What is that? + +The King. I have seen you smile for the first time. + +Clara. Your Majesty! + +The King. But, Miss Ernst, is it an insult, too, to see you smile? + +Clara (smiling). If I consent to hear the poem, shall not the +Baroness-- + +The King. --hear it also? With pleasure; but not at the same time! +Please! Because I am a very bad reader. You can show it to the +Baroness afterwards, if you like. (CLARA smiles.) May I? + +Clara. You are sure there is nothing in it that-- + +The King. You can interrupt me, if you think fit. It is called "The +Young Prince;" and it is about--no, I won't tell you what it is +about unless you will be so good as to sit down, so that I can sit +down too. If I stand up I shall be sure to begin declaiming, and I +do that shockingly badly!--You can get up again when you like, you +know! (CLARA smiles and sits down. The KING sits down beside her.) +Now, then! "The Young Prince." (To himself.) I can scarcely +breathe. (He begins to read.) + + Full fed with early flattery and pride-- + +(Breaks off.) Excuse me, Miss Ernst! I don't feel-- + +Clara. Is your Majesty not well? + +The King. Quite well! It is only--. Now, then! + + Full fed with early flattery and pride, + His sated soul was wearied all too young; + Honour and kingly pomp seemed naught to him + But whimsies from the people's folly sprung. + + From such pretence he fled to what was real-- + Fair women's arms, laughter and love and pleasure, + All the mad joy of life; whate'er he craved, + He found was given him in double measure. + + Whate'er he craved--until one day a maiden + To whom he whispered, like a drunken sot, + "I'd give my life to make thee mine, my sweeting!" + Turned from him silently and answered not. + + He sought by every means to win her to him; + But when his love with cold _contempt_ was met, + It was as if a judgment had been spoken + Upon his life, and doom thereon were set. + + His boon companions left him; in his castles + None seemed to be awake but he alone, + Racked with remorse, enshrouded in the darkness + Of dull despair, yet longing to atone. + + Then through the darkness she appeared! and humbly, + Emboldend by her gentleness of mien, + He sued once more: "If only thou wouldst listen! + If still 'twere not too late--" + +(His emotion overcomes him, and he stops suddenly, gets up, and +walks away from CLARA. She gets up, as he comes back to her.) +Excuse me! I had no intention of making a scene. But it made me +think of--. (Breaks of again overcome by emotion, and moves a +little way from her. There is a pause as he collects himself before +returning to her.) As you can hear, Miss Ernst, it is nothing much +of a poem--not written by a real poet, that is to say; a real poet +would have exalted his theme, but this is a commonplace-- + +Clara. Has your Majesty anything more to say to me? (A pause.) + +The King. If I have anything more to say to any one, it is to you. + +Clara. I beg your pardon. + +The King. No, it is I should beg yours. But I am sure you do not +wish me to lie to you. + +Clara (turning her head away). No. + +The King. You have no confidence in me. (Control, his emotion.) +Will you ever, I wonder, come to under stand that the only thing I +crave for now is--one person's confidence! + +Clara. Any one who speaks as your Majesty has done to-day surely +craves for more than that. + +The King. More than that, yes; but, first of all, one person's +confidence. + +Clara (turning away). I don't understand-- + +The King (interrupting her, with emotion). Your life has not been +as empty and artificial as mine. + +Clara. But surely you have your task here to fill it with? + +The King. I remember reading once about the way a rock was +undermined, and the mine filled with gunpowder with an electric +wire leading to it. Just a slight pressure on a little button and +the great rock was shattered into a thousand pieces. And in the +same way everything is ready here; but the little pressure--to +cause the explosion--is what I am waiting for! + +Clara. The metaphor is a little forced. + +The King. And yet it came into my mind as unconsciously as you +broke off that twig just now. If I do not get what I lack, nothing +can be accomplished--there can be no explosion! I shall abandon the +whole thing and let myself go under. + +Clara. Go under? + +The King. Well, not like the hero of a sensational novel--not +straight to the bottom like a stone--but like a dreamer carried off +by pixies in a wood, with one name ever upon my lips! And the world +would have to look after itself. + +Clara. But that is sheer recklessness. + +The King. I know it is; but I am reckless. I stake everything upon +one throw! (A pause.) + +Clara. Heaven send you may win. + +The King. At least I am daring enough to hope that I may--and there +are moments when I almost feel certain of victory! + +Clara (embarrassed). It is a lovely morning-- + +The King. --for the time of year; yes. And it is lovelier here than +it is anywhere else! + +Clara. I cannot really understand a course of action which implies +a want of all sense of responsibility-- + +The King. Every one has their own point of view. A scheme of life, +to satisfy me, must have its greatest happiness hidden away at its +core; in my case that would be to have a house of my own--all to +myself, like any other citizen--from which I should go away to my +work, and come back to as to a safe refuge. That is the button on +the electric wire, do you understand? It is the little pressure on +it that I am waiting for. (A pause.) + +Clara. Have you read my father's book, _Democratic Monarchy_? + +The King. Yes. + +Clara. He wrote it when I was a child; and so I may say that I grew +up amongst ideas like--like those I have heard from you to-day. All +the friends that came to our house used to talk to me about it. + +The King. Then no doubt you heard the crown prince talked about, +too! + +Clara. I think I heard his name oftener mentioned at home than any +one's. I believe the book was written expressly for you. + +The King. I can feel that when I read it. If only I had been +allowed to read it in those days! Do you remember how in it your +father maintains, too, that all reform depends on the beating down +of the hedge that surrounds royalty?--on a king's becoming, as he +says, "wedded to his people" in the fullest sense of the word, not +irregularly or surreptitiously? No king can share his people's +thoughts if he lives apart from them in a great palace, married to +a foreign princess. There is no national spirit behind a +complicated court life of outlandish ceremonial. + +Clara (turning away her head). You should have heard how vehemently +my father used to assert those ideas. + +The King. And yet he abandoned them. + +Clara. Became a republican, you mean? + +The King. Yes. + +Clara. He was so disappointed. (A pause.) + +The King. I sometimes wonder every one isn't a republican! It must +come to that in the end; I can see that. If only royalties nowadays +thought seriously enough about it to realise it! + +Clara. It is made so difficult for them by those who surround them. + +The King. Yes, you see, that is another reason why any such reform +must begin at home. Do you think that a king, who went every day to +his work from a home that was in every respect like that of one of +his people, could fail in the long run? + +Clara. There are so many different kinds of homes. + +The King. I mean a home that holds love instead of subservience-- +comfort instead of ceremony-truth instead of flattery; a home +where--ah, well, I need not teach a woman what a home means. + +Clara. We make them what they are. + +The King. Surely; but they are especially what women make them. (A +pause.) + +Clara. The sun is quite strong now. + +The King. But it can scarcely pierce through the screen of leaves +here. + +Clara. When the sun shines down like this and the leaves tremble-- + +The King. The sunshine seems to tremble too. + +Clara. Yes, but it makes one feel as if everything were trembling-- +even deep down into our hearts! + +The King. That is true.--Yes, its homes are the most precious +things a nation makes. Their national characteristics mean +reverence for their past and possibilities for their future. + +Clara. I understand better now what you meant. + +The King. When I said I wanted to begin at the beginning? + +Clara. Yes. (A pause.) + +The King. I cannot do otherwise. My heart must be in my work. + +Clara (smiling). My father had his heart in his work, too. + +The King. Forgive me--but don't you think it was just the want of +an object in his life that led your father to push his theories too +far?--an object outside himself, I mean? + +Clara. Perhaps. If my mother had lived--. (Stops.) + +The King. --he might have taken it differently; don't you think so? + +Clara. I have sometimes thought so. (A pause.) + +The King. How still it is! Not a sound! + +Clara. Yes, there is the fountain. + +The King. That is true; but one ends by hardly hearing a continuous +sound like that. + +Clara. There is a tremulousness in _that_ too. (Looks round her.) + +The King. What are you looking for? + +Clara. It is time to look for the Baroness. + +The King. She is up on that slope. Shall I call her? Or--perhaps +you would like to see a fine view? + +Clara. Yes. + +The King. Then let us go up to her together! (They go.) + + + +ACT III + + +SCENE I + +(SCENE. An open place in the town. It is evening, and the square is +badly lit. On the right is the club, a large building, standing +alone; lights are shining from all its windows. Steps lead from the +door, above which is a balcony. The square is full of people. In +the background, standing on the lowest step of the pedestal of an +equestrian statue, is a BALLAD SINGER, singing to the accompaniment +of his guitar. Cigars, oranges, and other wares are being sold by +hawkers. The singer's voice is heard before the curtain rises. The +crowd gradually joins him in the refrain which he repeats after +each verse of his ballad.) + +The Ballad Singer (sings). + + The Princeling begged and begged and begged + Her love, on bended knee. + The Maid said craftily, "Nay, nay, + I doubt your high degree!" + + Refrain. + + She knew the might, the might, the might + Of love's distracting hour; + How royalty, with all its pomp, + Will curtsey to its power. + + The Princeling said: "Consent, my dear, + And you shall marry me." + The Maiden answered mockingly, + "Over the left, maybe!" + + "Nay, as my Queen, enchanting maid, + And that this very day!" + The Maiden answered him, "Gadzooks!" + And fainted right away. + + Recovering, she sighed, "My Lord, + Princesses will be wroth; + On every side they sit and wait + To plight to you their troth." + + He answered, "Bosh!"--"But what of those + Who counselled you before?" + "Whom do you mean?"--"Your ministers!" + "I'll show them to the door!" + + "But think, my dear--your generals, + Your nobles, court, and priest; + They'll try to drag you from my side + Or shun us as the pest." + + "Nay, be not feared! I'll make you more + By dozens at a word, + Who'll bow and grovel if they be + To rank and place preferred." + + "But think of the republicans! + My father!--what if he--?" + "The cock that crows the loudest, then, + Prime minister shall be!" + + "Suppose the people stoutly swear + They'll none of me?"--"Nay, nay, + An order here, a title there, + And all will homage pay." + + "Then I am yours!"--"Hurrah!" He holds + Her tight his arms between; + "Nay, not so fast, my kingly love! + Not till I am your Queen!" + + She knew the might, the might, the might + Of love's distracting hour; + How royalty, with all its pomp, + Will curtsey to its power. + +An Old Gentleman (to another). What is going on here? + +Second Old Gentleman. I don't know. I have only just come. + +A Workman. Why, the King is coming past here with her! + +First Old Gentleman. Coming past here with her? To hold a court +at the palace? + +The Workman. Yes. + +Second Old Gentleman (taking a pinch of snuff). And I suppose those +fellows in the club mean to make a demonstration?--hiss them, or +something of that sort? + +The Workman. So they say. + +First Old Gentleman. Have they decided not to attend the court +then? + +A Dandy. Unanimously decided. + +A Woman. It's filthy! + +The Dandy. I beg your pardon? + +The Woman. I say that those fellows in there will condescend to +seduce our daughters, right enough; but they won't condescend to +marry them. But, you see, the King does. + +The Workman. I am not sure it wouldn't be better if he didn't. + +The Woman. Well, I know people who say that she is quite a +respectable person. + +The Dandy. I imagine that you have not read the newspapers? + +First Old Gentleman. Hm!--one has to be a little careful as to how +far one believes the newspapers. + +Second Old Gentleman (offering him his snuff-box). I am delighted +to hear you say that! There is such a lot of slander flying about. +That bawdy ballad just now; for instance. + +The Woman. Yes, that's poking fun at _him_--I know that. + +The Dandy. You had better take care what you are saying, my good +woman! + +The Woman. Ah, I only say what I know. + +(FLINK appears on the steps of the statue beside the BALLAD +SINGER.) + +Flink. Stop your stupid songs! I want to speak! + +Voice in the Crowd. Who is that? + +Flink. You don't know me. I have never made public speeches--and +least of all to street mobs. + +Voice in the Crowd. Why are you doing it now, then? + +Flink. Because I have been charged with a message to you! (The +members of the club rush to the windows and on to the balcony +and steps. Uproar.) + +Voice in the Crowd. Be quiet! Let us hear him! + +Flink. Listen to me, good people! You don't know me. But you used +to know a tall chap, with long white hair and a big hat, who often +made speeches to you. I mean Professor Ernst. + +Voice in the Crowd. Three cheers for Professor Ernst. (Cheers.) + +Flink. He was sent to prison, as you know, for high treason; +escaped from prison, but broke his legs. Now he is living in exile, +hopelessly crippled. + +Voice in the Crowd. He got a pardon. + +Another. No one knows where he is. + +Flink. I know where he is. He has charged me to deliver a message +to you to-day. + +Voices from the Club. Bravo! + +Voices from the Crowd. Has he! Bravo, Ernst! + +Voices from the Club. Be quiet, down there! + +Flink. He made me promise that, on the day on which his daughter +was to be presented at the palace as the King's betrothed, I would +stand up in some public place where she would pass by, and say that +it was being done against her father's will and in spite of his +urgent entreaties and commands. (Loud cries of "Bravo!" from the +club. A voice in the crowd: "That is just what we thought!") I am +charged to announce publicly that he despises her for it and sends +her his curse! (Fresh cries of "Bravo!" from the club. Voices in +the crowd: "That's shocking!"--"No, he was quite right;" etc., etc. +Uproar.) Quiet, good people! + +A Young Man in the Crowd. May I be allowed to ask a question? +(Shouts of "Yes!" and "No!" and laughter are heard.) + +Flink. By all means. + +The Young Man. Did not Professor Ernst himself advocate a king's +doing just what our King has done? + +Voices in the Crowd. Hear, hear! + +Flink. Yes, and in return was thrown into prison and is now an +incurable cripple. No one has been more cruelly treated by the +King's hirelings. And now here is his daughter willing to become +Queen! + +Count Platen (from the club balcony). I don't see why you want to +blame her! No; what I say is, that it is our dissolute King's fault +altogether! (Renewed uproar. Cries of: "Turn him out!" from the +club.) + +Flink. I had something more to say about those who--. But make +those fellows at the club be quiet first. + +A Voice. They are fighting over there! (Laughter. Wild uproar is +heard from the club, amidst which COUNT PLATEN'S voice is heard +shouting: "Let me be! Let me alone!"--and other voices: "Don't let +him go out!"--"He is drunk!" Eventually COUNT PLATEN comes out on +to the steps, hatless and dishevelled.) + +Count Platen. I'm going to make a speech to you! I am better than +that crew in there! (Cries of "Bravo!") What I say is, that the +King is coming past here directly with a woman. (Applause, and +laughter. Every one crowds towards him. The police try to pull him +down. A free fight ensues.) Hiss them when they come! (Cries of +"Throw him down!"--"Bravo!"--"Hurrah!") I, Count Platen, tell you +to do so! Hiss him, howl at him, make a regular hullabaloo when he +comes! I, Count Platen, tell you to! (Cries of "Three cheers for +Count Platen!" are mingled with cries of "Three cheers for the +King!" There is a general tumult. COUNT PLATEN is hustled up and +down the steps, and tries to go on making his speech every time he +comes up.) He is defiling the throne!--He wants to marry a +traitor's daughter! Shame! I, Count Platen, say so! Here I stand--! +(A trumpet-call is heard; then cries of "Here is the King!"--"No, +it's the cavalry!"--"The cavalry are coming!"--"Clear the square!" +A shot is heard, followed by a scream; the people take to their +heels as another trumpet-call is heard. Curtain.) + + +SCENE II + +(SCENE.--A room in the BARONESS' house. The BARONESS is sitting +reading. A MAID enters and brings her a card.) + +Baroness (looking at the card). The Minister of the Interior!-- +Show him in! (GRAN comes in.) I am glad to see you back, your +Excellency!--You have found him, then? + +Gran. Yes, we have discovered him. + +Baroness. And spoken to him? + +Gran. Yes. + +Baroness. May I send for his daughter? + +Gran. For heaven's sake + +Baroness. What is the matter? + +Gran. He is a dying man. + +Baroness. What! + +Gran. The King desires me to tell you that he has ordered a special +train to be ready at 10 o'clock, so that as soon as the court is +over she can go to her father. The King will accompany her. + +Baroness. That is kind of him! + +Gran. Then you will get ready everything that she needs for a +night's journey? + +Baroness. Yes. + +Gran. And without her being aware of it? The King does not wish her +to know anything of her father's condition till after the court. + +Baroness. The court is to be held, then? + +Gran. The court is to be held. After it is over, His Majesty will +tell her the news himself. + +Baroness. I am thankful for that.--But what did Professor Ernst +say? Why has he not answered his daughter's letter? Why has he +hidden from her? Is he really irreconcilable? + +Gran. Irreconcilable? He hates her! + +Baroness. Good heavens! + +Gran. And not only her, but every one that has made common cause +with the King--every one! + +Baroness. I suppose it was to be expected.--But won't you sit down? + +Gran (bows, but remains standing). I had a talk with his doctor +before I saw him. He had some hesitation about letting me in. It +was a fortnight since his patient had been able to move. But when I +told him my errand, and that I had come from the King, he let me +see him. + +Baroness. How did he look? He was a fine man once. + +Gran. He was sitting in a big chair, a mere paralysed wreck of a +man. But when he saw me and realised who I was--and probably, too, +what my errand was--he found the strength not only to move, but to +seize both his crutches and raise himself on them! I shall never +forget his gaunt ashen-grey face, the feverish gleam in his sunken +eyes, his unkempt hair and beard-- + +Baroness. He must have looked terrible! + +Gran. He was like a creature from beyond the grave--with an +eternity of hatred in his eyes! + +Baroness. Oh, my God! + +Gran. When at last I could find my voice, I gave him his daughter's +greeting, and asked if she might come and see him. A dark look came +into his eyes, and his face flushed for a moment, as he gasped out: +"May she be--." He could not finish the sentence. His crutches +slipped from his grasp and he fell down, blood pouring from his +mouth. The doctor rushed to him; and for a long time we thought he +was dead. + +Baroness. But he came round? + +Gran. I waited an hour or two before I started back. Then the +doctor told me that he had recovered consciousness, but that the +end could certainly not be far off--perhaps not twenty-four hours. + +Baroness. It must have been a shock to you. + +Gran. It was. + +Baroness. But what did he mean by: "May she be--" + +Gran. That is what I have been wondering. + +Baroness. He cannot do her any harm, can he? + +Grad. He may give her the same reception that he gave me; if she +goes. + +Baroness, Even if the King is with her? + +Gran. All the more then! + +Baroness. Oh, that would be horrible! But it won't prevent her +going. + +Gran. Let us hope so! + +Baroness. I am certain of it! She has extraordinary strength of +character--just like her father's. + +Gran. Yes, that is the one thing I rely on. + +Baroness. What do you mean? Your words sound so despondent! + +Gran. I mean what is perfectly true--that everything will depend +upon her strength of character. + +Baroness. What about the King, then? + +Gran. I could say a great deal on that topic, Baroness; but (bows) +you must excuse me--I haven't time now. + +Baroness. How are the elections going? + +Gran. They are going well--if nothing happens now? + +Baroness. What could happen? + +Gran. The situation is very strained; one must expect anything. + +Baroness. Are you anxious, your Excellency? + +Gran. I must beg leave to retire now. (A MAID comes in.) + +Maid (to GRAN). The Inspector of Police, who came with your +Excellency, wishes to know if he may speak to your Excellency. + +Gran. I will come at once. (To the BARONESS.) There is rioting +going on in the town, not far from here--in front of the club. + +Baroness (in alarm). What?--Isn't the King coming along that way? + +Gran. Don't be afraid! We have taken our precautions--Good-bye! +(Goes out.) + +Baroness. --He has quite alarmed me--everything seems to come at +the same time! She has had a suspicion that there was something +amiss with her father; I have noticed that, but she hasn't wanted +to speak about it. (CLARA comes in, dressed for the court.) Ah, +there you are, my dear! Quite ready? + +Clara. Quite. + +Baroness (looking at her). Well, I daresay there have been royal +brides more elaborately dressed, but I am sure there has never +been one more charming. (Kisses her.) + +Clara. I think I hear a carriage? + +Baroness. I expect it is the King! + +Clara. I am afraid it is too early yet--but all the same I hope it +is he! + +Baroness. Do you feel afraid? + +Clara. No, no--it is not that at all; it is something--something +that you don't--a kind of feeling as if--as if some one were +haunting me; and I know who it is. I only feel secure when the King +is with me. I hope it may be he coming. (Goes to the window.) + +(The MAID comes in.) + +Maid. A lady wishes to speak to you, Miss Ernst-- + +Baroness. A lady? + +Clara. Didn't she give her name? + +Maid. She is veiled--and very handsomely dressed. + +Clara (with decision). No! I can see no one. + +Baroness. No one that we do not know. (To the MAID.) You ought +to know that. + +Maid (hesitatingly). But I think it is--. (The door opens and the +PRINCESS comes in.) + +Baroness. What does this mean? Clara! leave us, my dear. + +Princess (drawing aside her veil). Do you know me? + +Clara and Baroness. The Princess! + +Princess. Are you Clara Ernst? + +Clara. Yes. + +Princess (haughtily, to the BARONESS). Leave us alone! (The +BARONESS goes out.) Before going to the palace I wanted to come +here--even at the risk of meeting the King. + +Clara. He has not come yet. (A long pause.) + +Princess. Have you thought well over what you are going to do? + +Clara. I think so. + +Princess. I don't think you have. Have you read what the papers say +about it--every one of them--to-day? + +Clara. No. The King has advised me not to. + +Princess. But the letters that have been sent to you? I know +letters have been written to you. + +Clara. The King has advised me not to read them either. He takes +all the letters. + +Princess. Do you know that they are rioting in the streets close to +here? + +Clara (in alarm). No! + +Princess. You will be received with hisses, hooting--perhaps with +stone throwing. You didn't expect anything like that, did you? + +Clara. No. + +Princess. What shall you do? + +Clara (after a moment, quietly). I shall go with the King. + +Princess. A nice road you are dragging him along, truly! And I +assure you that the farther you go along it, the worse it will +become. You cannot possibly have prepared yourself for all that you +will have to go through. + +Clara. I think I have. + +Princess (in surprise). What do you mean? How? + +Clara (bending her head). I have prayed to God. + +Princess. Pshaw! I mean that you cannot have considered the misery +into which you are dragging the King--and the disgrace and trouble +you are bringing upon all his people. (CLARA is silent.) You are +young still; your heart cannot be altogether hardened yet, whatever +your past may have been. + +Clara (proudly). I have no reason to be ashamed of my past. + +Princess. Indeed? What sort of a past has it been, then? + +Clara. One full of suffering, princess--and of work. (A pause.) + +Princess. Do you know what the King's past has been? + +Clara (drooping her head). Ah, yes. + +Princess. Yours will be tarred with the same brush--no matter what +it really has been. + +Clara. I know that. He has told me so. + +Princess. Really!--After all, is it a sacrifice you are making for +his sake? Do you love the King? + +Clara (faintly). Yes. + +Princess. Then listen to me. If you loved the King, you would have +made a _real_ sacrifice for him. We are women, you and I; we can +understand these things without many words. But such a sacrifice +does not consist in consenting to be his queen. + +Clara. It is not I that wished it. + +Princess. You have allowed yourself to be persuaded?--Well, you are +either deceiving yourself, my girl, or you are deceiving him. +Perhaps you began with the one and are ending with the other. +Anyway, it is time you had your eyes opened as to which of you it +is that is making the sacrifice. Do you not know that, on your +account, he is already the target for general contempt? (CLARA +bursts into tears.) If that makes you repent, show it--show it by +your deeds! + +Clara. I repent of nothing. + +Princess (in astonishment). What state of mind are you in, then? + +Clara. I have suffered terribly. But I pray God for strength to +bear it. + +Princess. Don't talk nonsense! The whole thing is a horrible +confusion of ideas--half remorse and half cant--the one so mixed up +with the other in your mind that you cannot disentangle them. But, +believe me, others feel very sure that sacred things and--and what +I won't call bluntly by its name, go very ill together! So don't +waste those airs on me; they only irritate me! + +Clara. Princess, don't be cruel to me. I _am_ suffering, all the +same. + +Princess. Why on earth do you want to go any farther with the +affair? If you aren't clear about it, take advice! Your father is +opposed to it, isn't he? + +Clara. Yes. (Throws herself into a chair.) + +Princess. He has hidden himself away from you. You don't know where +he is, or how he is--though you know he is crippled and ill. And, +meanwhile, here you are in full dress, with a rose in your hair, +waiting to set out to a court at the palace! Are you willing to +pass through contemptuous rioting crowds, and over your sick +father's body, to become queen? What callous levity! What a +presumptuous mixture of what you think is love, duty, sacrifice, +trial--with an unscrupulous ambition--! The King? Are you depending +on him? He is a poet. He loves anything unusual or sensational. +Resistance stimulates him; and that is what drives him into +believing that his love will be unending. When you have been +married a week, it will be all over. If he had not met with +resistance, it would have been all over before this. I know the +King better than you; for I know his faithlessness. It is like his +love--unending! It hurts you to hear that, does it? Well, it hurts +one's eyes to look at the sun. But I can tell you about these +things. The only reason I had for coming was to tell you what I +know. And now that I have seen you, I can tell you that I know one +thing more--and I will tell you what it is. If you actually allow +the King, with his ardent temperament, to stray into a path which +will lead to the ruin of his career, your action will, in the +fullness of time, recoil so appallingly upon your own head that it +will kill you. I know you are one of those that faithlessness, +remorse and contempt _would_ kill.--Don't look so beseechingly at +me; I cannot retract a word of what I have said. But I can tell you +now what I had decided upon before I came. _I_ will look after your +future. I am not rich; but, as sure as I stand here before you, you +shall live free from care--you shall have everything that you need-- +for the rest of your life. I want no thanks! I do it for the sake +of the King, and for the sake of the country to which I belong. +It is my duty. Only get up now and come with me to my carriage. +(Offers CLARA her hand.) + +Clara. If it were as easy as that, I should have done it long, long +ago. + +Princess (turns away. Then comes back). Get up. (Pulls her on to +her feet.) Do you love the King? + +Clara. Do I love him? I am a motherless child, and have lived alone +with a father who has been constantly persecuted on account of his +principles; I shared his ideals from a very early age, and I have +never abandoned them since. Then one day I was given the chance of +making these ideals real. "What _I_ long to do, _you_ shall +accomplish!" he said. There is something great about that, +Princess--something all-powerful--a call from God Himself. Of that +I am certain. + +Princess. It is merely a rhapsody of the King's--nothing else! + +Clara. Then I will make it real and live it! I have given my whole +soul to it, and have strengthened his to the same end. It has been +my ideal all my life. + +Princess. And you believe that it will last? + +Clara. Yes. + +Princess. Then let me beg you to believe this, too--it will last +until he has attained his end. + +Clara. If you mean our marriage, let me tell you that _that_ is not +our end. + +Princess (in surprise). What is, then? + +Clara. Our end is to accomplish something together. That task shall +be consecrated and ennobled by our love. Yes, you may look at me! +Those were his own words. + +Princess. That answer!--That thought!--But what certainty have you? + +Clara. Of what? + +Princess. That you did not put the thought into his mind?--and that +the fire in his soul may not flicker out? + +Clara. If I needed any assurance, I should find it in the fact that +he changed his whole life for my sake; he waited for me for more +than a year. Has he ever done that for any one before? I am sure +he has never needed to! (The PRINCESS winces.) It is those who have +seduced that "ardent" temperament of his--you called it that +yourself--that are to blame, and not I, Princess! (A pause.) I +checked him to the best of my power when he came to me as he was +wont to go to others. (A pause.) Indeed it is no sacrifice to +become his wife. When one loves, there is no question of sacrifice. +But the position in which I now stand exposes me to more suspicion +than the humblest of his subjects, to more scorn than if I were his +mistress. Think how you have spoken to me to-day yourself, +Princess! (A pause.) It is no sacrifice to endure such things for +the man one loves. It was not I that used the word "sacrifice," +either; and as for the sacrifice you implied that I ought to have +made, I don't wish to understand what you meant by that, even +though I am a woman as well as you! But if you knew, Princess, how +hard a fight I have been through before I found the strength to +cast in my lot with his, against my father's wish and against you +all--you would not have spoken to me about making a sacrifice. At +all events you would not have spoken to me as you have done to-day; +because you are not cruel, and I know that at bottom you mean me +well. (A longer pause.) + +Princess. This is more serious than I knew.--Poor child, your +disappointment will be all the more serious. + +Clara. Not with him! + +Princess (half to herself). Is it possible he can be so changed? +Was that what was needed to secure a hold on him--? (To CLARA.) +Is he coming here to fetch you? + +Clara. Yes. + +Princess. What does he want to hold this court for? What is the +good of throwing down this challenge to all the dignitaries of his +kingdom?--especially if, after all, he means to live the life of an +ordinary citizen? + +Clara. He wished it. + +Princess. An exciting episode in his rhapsody! Why did you not +dissuade him? + +Clara. Because I agree with him. + +Princess. Perhaps you don't fully realise what it means?--what +humiliation the King will have to undergo? + +Clara. I only know that it seems to me that these things should +be done openly, and that he has plenty of courage. + +Princess. That is mere bravado. Are you going in that dress?--to +court in that dress? (CLARA is silent.) I say it is mere bravado. + +Clara. I have no better dress. + +Princess. What do you mean? Surely the King can--? Are you jesting? + +Clara (shyly). I do not allow the King to give me anything; not +until--. + +Princess. Doesn't he pay your expenses here, then? (Looks round the +room.) + +Clara. No. + +Princess. It is the Baroness? + +Clara. She and I. We are both poor. + +Princess. Ah, yes--she has lost her post now, hasn't she? + +Clara. On my account--yes. And you, Princess, who have known her-- +for she was once your governess--can you really suppose that she +would have been faithful to me if she did not trust me and feel +that this was right? You treated her so contemptuously when you +came in. + +Princess. I seem to have broken in upon the most incomprehensible +romance!--Then you love the King? (CLARA nods her head.) He knows +how to love, and make a woman happy! He is a dazzling creature!--We +shall see now whether you are to suffer for all the hearts he has +broken. You are not the first woman he has loved. + +Clara. Princess! + +Princess. Yes, let that sink into your mind! Your happiness is +embroidered with tears! + +Clara. It is cruel of you to reproach me with it. + +Princess. Forgive me! I really did not mean that.--But there is +still time to put on a more suitable dress. If you dare accept no +gifts from the King--you might from some one else? A King's bride +is a King's bride after all, you know! + +Clara. He told me I should not need anything more than this. + +Princess. Not in his eyes, I dare say. But we women know a little +better!--If it were only a necklace? Will you accept this one? +(Begins to unfasten hers.) + +Clara. I knew you were kind.--But I daren't. + +Princess. Why not? + +Clara. Because--because people would think that--. (Bursts into +tears. A pause.) + +Princess. Listen, my child. The whole thing is sheer lunacy; but-- +as it cannot be altered--as soon as the court assembles I shall +take my place at your side and not leave you till it is all over. +Tell the King that! Good-bye! + +Clara (going towards her). Princess! + +Princess (kisses her, and whispers). Haven't you allowed him to +kiss you, either? + +Clara (in a whisper). Yes, I have. + +Princess (kissing her once snore). Love him! (The sound of carriage +wheels is heard. The BARONESS comes in.) + +Baroness. I hear the King's carriage. + +Princess. I don't wish to meet him. (Stretches out her hand to the +BARONESS.) Baroness! (Points to the door through which the BARONESS +has come in.) Can I get out that way? + +Baroness. Yes. (She takes the PRINCESS out. A moment later the MAID +ushers in the KING, who is dressed in plain clothes and wearing no +decorations.) + +The King. Clara! + +Clara. My friend! (They embrace.) + +The King. What does it mean? + +Clara. What? + +The King. The Princess' carriage here? + +Clara. She told me to greet you. She has just gone, and-- + +The King. And--? + +Clara. She said as soon as the court assembled she would take her +place beside me and stay there till we left the palace. + +The King. Is it possible? + +Clara. It is _true_. + +The King. You have conquered her! I know she could be conquered-- +she has a heart, as well as a head! It is a good omen!--So she +offered to do _that_! What will our precious nobility have to say +to that? + +Clara. They are about the streets, aren't they? + +The King. Ah, then you know? + +Clara. I know, too, that there has been rioting outside the club. + +The King. You know that too?--and are not afraid? + +Clara. Perhaps I might have been--but there is something else that +I am more afraid of. (Draws closer to the KING.) + +The King. What is that? + +Clara. You know. (A pause.) + +The King. Have you been uneasy about him to-day too? + +Clara. All day--incessantly. Something must have happened. + +The King. Well, now I can tell you where he is. + +Clara (eagerly). At last! Have you found him? + +The King. Gran has been to see him. + +Clara. Thank God! Is it far from here? + +The King. This evening, immediately after the court, you and I +will both start for there in a special train. We shall be there +early to-morrow. + +Clara (throwing her arms round his neck). Thanks, thanks! How +good you are! Thanks! How is he? Is he ill! + +The King. Yes. + +Clara. I knew it? And implacable? + +The King. Yes. + +Clara. I feel it! (Nestles closer in his arms.) + +The King. Are you afraid? + +Clara. Yes! + +The King. Dear, when you see him perhaps your fear will go. + +Clara. Yes, only let me see him! Whatever he says, let me see him! + +The King. Within twelve hours from now you shall! And I shall be +with you. + +Clara. The finest thing about you is your kindness. Oh, I am so +glad you have come! I could not endure my fears any longer. + +The King. There are dissensions going on about you! + +Clara. Oh!--(Nestles in his arms again.) + +The King. Bear up!--It will soon be over. + +Clara. I believe it will. Yes, I know it will.--Let me walk about a +little! (The KING walks up and down with her.) + +The King. And turn our thoughts to something else! Do you know +where I have come from? + +Clara. Where? + +The King. From our little house in the park. + +Clara. Why, we drove past it yesterday! + +The King. You will feel only _one_ person's presence there! +Wherever you go, you will be surrounded by the thoughts I have had +of you there. If you look out of the window, or go out on to the +balcony--on every rock, by each turn of the stream--on the lawns, +under the trees, among the bushes--everywhere you will find a +thousand thoughts of you hidden. Breathe the words "my darling +girl," and they will all come clustering round you!--Let us sit +down. + +Clara. It is all like a fairy tale. + +The King. And I am the latest fairy prince! (He sits down and draws +her on to his knee.) And you are the little maid who comes, led by +good fairies, to the enchanted castle to wake him. He has been kept +asleep by wicked spells for many, many years. + +Clara. For many, many years! + +The King. I am not really _I_, nor you _you_. The monarch was +bewitched long ago. He was turned into a wild beast who gave reign +to his passion by night and slept by day. And now the maiden of +humble degree has become a woman and freed him from the spells. + +Clara. Really! Ah, you are so clever at inventing things to cheat +my fears away from me. And you always succeed. But after all, you +know, I have no strength and no courage; I am so weak. + +The King. You have more strength than I!--more than any one I +have ever known. + +Clara. No, don't say that; but--you may be sure of this!--if I did +not feel that I had _some_ strength I would never try to throw in +my lot with yours. + +The King. I will explain to you what you are! Some people are +tremendously more spiritual, more delicately constituted than +others; and they are a hundred times more sensitive. And they +fancy that is weakness. But it is just they who draw their strength +from _deeper_ sources, through a thousand imperceptible channels. +You will often find them with heads erect and valiant when others +have gone under; they merely bend before the storm, with supple +strength, when others break under it. You are like that! + +Clara. You are very ingenious when you start explaining me! + +The King. Well, listen to this! At the time when I was behaving so +badly to you, your terror, every time I approached you, was so +piteous that it was always before my eyes and rang in my ears +like a cry of agony from a wounded heart. It is true! It filled me +with terror, too. Do you call that weakness, to feel things so +intensely that another person is influenced by your feelings +against his will? + +Clara. No. + +The King. And then, when I found you again--the way you listened to +me-- + +Clara (stopping him with a kiss). Don't let us talk about it now! + +The King. What shall we talk about, then? It is a little too early +to start yet.--Ah, I have it! We will talk about the impression you +will make this evening when you come forward through the brightly +lit rooms, radiant against the background of ugly calumny! That was +prettily put, wasn't it? "Is _that_ she?" they will think. And then +something will come into their eyes that will cheat them into +thinking that pearls and gold are strewn over your hair, over your +dress, over your-- + +Clara (putting her hand over his mouth). No, no, no! Now I am +going to tell you a little story! + +The King. Tell away! + +Clara. When I was a child, I saw a balloon being filled one day, +and there was a horrible smell from the gas. Afterwards, when I +saw the gleaming balloon rising in the air, I thought to myself: +"Ah, that horrid smell was something burning; they had to burn it +for the balloon to be able to rise." And after that, every time I +heard anything horrid said about my father, I felt as if something +was burning inside me, and I thought of the balloon and imagined I +could smell the smell. And then all at once I imagined I saw it +rising; the horrid part was burnt, and it was able to mount aloft! +I assure you that balloon was a good genius to me. And now, years +afterwards, when I have been a target for calumny myself--and +you for my sake--I have felt just the same thing. Every word has +burned; but I have got over it in a moment, and risen high, high +above it all! I never seem to breathe so pure an atmosphere as a +little while after something cruel has been said of me. + +The King. I shall certainly set to work and abuse you at once, if +it has such delightful results! I will begin with a selection from +to-day's papers: "You Aspasia! You Messalina! You Pompadour! You +Phylloxera, that are eating into our whole moral vine-crop! You +blue-eyed curse of the country, that are causing panics in the +money-market, overthrowing ministries, and upsetting all +calculations in the elections! You mischievous hobgoblin, who are +pouring gall into the printers' ink and poison into the people's +coffee, filling all the old ladies' heads with buzzing flies, and +the King's Majesty with a million lover's follies!" Do you know +that, besides all the harm you are doing to-day, you are hastening +a revolution by ten years? You are! And no one can be sure whether +you haven't been pursuing the same wicked courses for the last +hundred years or more! All our royal and noble ancestors are +turning in their graves because of you! And if our deceased queens +have any noses left-- + +Clara (interrupting him). The Baroness! (They get up. The BARONESS +comes in wearing a cloak over her court dress and carrying CLARA'S +cloak over her arm.) + +Baroness. I must take the liberty of disturbing you. Time is up! + +The King. We have been killing it by talking nonsense. + +Baroness. And that has put you in a good humour? + +The King (taking his hat). In the best of humours! Here, my darling +(fastens CLARA'S cloak about her shoulders), here is the last +scandalous bit of concealment for you! When we take it off again, +you shall stand radiant in the light of your own truth. Come! +(Gives her his arm, and they go trippingly up to the back of the +room. Suddenly the phantom of an emaciated figure leaning on +crutches appears in their path, staring at them. His hair and +beard are in wild disorder, and blood is pouring from his mouth. +CLARA gives a terrified scream.) + +The King. In Heaven's name, what is it? + +Clara. My father! + +The King. Where? (To the BARONESS.) Go and see! (The BARONESS +opens the doors at the back and looks out). + +Baroness. I can see no one. + +The King. Look down the corridor! + +Baroness. No--no one there, either! (CLARA has sunk lifelessly into +the KING'S arms. After one or two spasmodic twitchings of her +hands, her arms slip away from him and her head falls back.) + +The King. Help, help! + +The Baroness (rushing to him with a shriek). Clara! + +Curtain. + + + +ACT IV + +(SCENE.--A room in GRAN's house; the same as in Act I, Scene II. +GRAN is standing at his desk on the right. FLINK comes in carrying +a pistol-case, which he puts down upon the table.) + +Gran. You? + +Flink. As you see. (Walks up and down for a little without +speaking.) + +Gran. I haven't seen you since the day the King was here. + +Flink. No.--Have you taken your holidays? + +Gran. Yes; but, anyway, I am likely to have perpetual holidays +now! The elections are going against us. + +Flink (walking about). So I hear. The clerical party and the +reactionaries are winning. + +Gran. That would not have been so, but for her unhappy death--. +(Breaks off, and sighs.) + +Flink. A judgment from heaven--that is what the parsons say, and +the women, and the reactionaries-- + +Gran. --and the landlords. And they really believe it. + +Flink (stopping). Well, don't you believe it? + +Gran (after a pause). At all events I interpret it differently from-- + +Flink. --from the parson? Naturally. But can any one doubt the fact +that it was the finger of fate? + +Gran. Then fate assumed her father's shape? + +Flink. Whether her father appeared to her at the moment of his +death or not (shrugs his shoulders) is a matter in which I am not +interested. I don't believe in such things. But that she was +suffering pangs of conscience, I do believe. I believe it may have +brought painful visions before her eyes. + +Gran. I knew her pretty well, and I will answer for it she had no +guilty conscience. She was approaching her task with enthusiasm. +Any one that knew her will tell you the same. With her the King was +first and foremost. + +Flink. What did she die of, then? Of enthusiasm? + +Gran. Of being overwrought by the force of her emotions. Her task +was too great for her. The time was not ripe for it. (Sadly.) Our +experiment was bound to fail. + +Flink. You condemn it when you say that!--But with her last breath +she called out: "My father!" And, just at that moment, he died, +fifty miles away from her. Either she _saw_ him, or she _imagined_ +she saw him, standing before her. But his bloodstained, maltreated, +crippled form standing in the way of her criminal advance towards +the throne--is that not a symbol of maltreated humanity revolting +against monarchy at the very moment when monarchy wishes to atone! +Its guilt through thousands of years is too black. Fate is +inflexible. + +Gran. But with what result? Are we rid of monarchy yet? + +Flink. We are rid of that treacherous attempt to reconcile it with +modern conditions. Thank God it emerges, hand in glove with the +parsons and reactionaries, none the worse for its temporary +eclipse. + +Gran. So everything is all right, I suppose? + +Flink. For the moment--yes. But there used to exist here a strong +republican party, which enjoyed universal respect, and was making +extraordinary progress. Where is it now? + +Gran. I knew that was why you came. + +Flink. I have come to call you to account. + +Gran. If I had been in your place I would not have acted so, +towards a defeated and wounded friend. + +Flink. The republican party has often been defeated--but never +despised till now. Who is to blame for that? + +Gran. None of us ever think we deserve contempt. + +Flink. A traitor always deserves it. + +Gran. It is but a step from the present state of things to a +republic; and we shall have to take that step in the end. + +Flink. But at least we can do so without treachery. + +Gran. I honestly believe that what we did was right. It may have +miscarried the first time, and may miscarry a second and a third; +but it is the only possible solution. + +Flink. You pronounced your doom in those words. + +Gran (more attentively). What do you mean by that? + +Flink. We must make sure that such an attempt will not be made +again. + +Gran. So that is it.--I begin to understand you now. + +Flink. The republican party is broken up. For a generation it will +be annihilated by contempt. But a community without a republican +party must be one without ideals and without any aspirations +towards truth in its political life--and in other respects as well! +That is what you are responsible for. + +Gran. You pay me too great a compliment. + +Flink. By no means! Your reputation, your personal qualities and +associations are what have seduced them. + +Gran. Listen to me for a moment! You used to overrate me in the +hopes you had of me. You are overrating me now in your censure. You +are overrating the effects of our failure--you never seem to be +able to do anything but overshoot your mark. For that reason you +are a danger to your friends. You lure them on. When things go well +you lure them on to excess of activity; when things go ill, you +turn their despondency into despair. Your inordinate enthusiasm +obscures your wits. _You_ are not called upon to sit in judgment +upon any one; because you draw the pure truths that lie hidden in +your soul into such a frenzied vortex of strife that you lose sight +of them; and then they have so little of truth left in them that in +your hands they can be answerable for crimes. + +Flink. Oh, spare me your dialectics!--because any skill you have in +them, _I_ taught you! You cannot excuse your own sins by running +over the list of mine; that is the only answer I have to make to +you! I don't stand before you as the embodiment of truth; I am no +braggart. No; but simply as one who has loved you deeply and now is +as deeply offended by you, I ask this question of your conscience: +What have you done with the love we had for one another? Where is +the sacred cause we both used to uphold? Where is our honour--our +friends--our future? + +Gran. I feel respect for your sorrow. Can you not feel any for +mine? Or do you suppose that I am not suffering? + +Flink. You cannot act as you have done without bringing unhappiness +upon yourself. But there are others to be considered besides you, +and we have the right to call you to account. Answer me! + +Gran. And is it really you--you, my old friend--that propose to do +that? + +Flink. God knows I would sooner some one else did it! But none can +do it so fitly as I--because no one else has loved you as I have. I +expected too much of you, you say? The only thing I wanted of you +was that you should be faithful! I had so often been disappointed; +but in you and your quiet strength I thought I had splendid +security that, as long as you lived, our cause would bear itself +proudly and confidently. It was your prestige that brought it into +being; your wealth that supported it. It did not cry aloud for the +blood of martyrs!--You were the happiness of my life; my soul +renewed its strength from yours. + +Gran. Old friend--! + +Flink. I was old, and you were young! Your nature was a harmonious +whole--it was what I needed to lean upon. + +Gran. Flink, my dear old friend--! + +Flink. And now, here you stand--a broken man, and our whole cause +broken with you; all our lives broken--at least mine is-- + +Gran. Don't say that! + +Flink. You have destroyed my faith in mankind--and in myself, for I +see what a mistake I made; but it will be the last I shall make! I +took you to my heart of hearts--and now, the only thing I can do is +to call you to account! + +Gran. What do you want me to do? Tell me! + +Flink. We must stand face to face--armed! You must die! (A pause.) + +Gran (without seeming greatly surprised). Of the two of us, it will +go hardest with you, old friend. + +Flink. You think your aim will be the surer of the two? (Goes +towards the table.) + +Gran. I was not thinking of that--but of what your life would be +afterwards. I know you. + +Flink (opening the pistol-case). You need not be anxious! My life +afterwards will not be a long one. What you have done has robbed me +of anything to live for in this generation, and I don't aspire to +live till the next. So it is all over and done with! (Takes up the +pistols.) + +Gran. Do you mean _here_--? + +Flink. Why not? We are alone here. + +Gran. The King is asleep in the next room. (Points to the door near +his desk.) + +Flink. The King here? + +Gran. He came here to-night. + +Flink. Well, it will wake him up; he will have to wake up some +time, any way. + +Gran. It would be horrible! No! + +Flink. Indeed? It is for his sake you have betrayed me. You did +that as soon as ever you met him again. He has bewitched you. Let +him hear and see what he has done! (Holds out the pistols.) Here! + +Gran. Wait. What you have just said brings a doubt into my mind. Is +not revenge, after all, the motive for what you are doing? + +Flink. Revenge? + +Gran. Yes. Don't misunderstand me; I am not trying to shuffle out +of it. If I were free to choose, I would choose death rather than +anything else. The King knows that, too. But I ask because there +ought to be some serious reason for anything that may happen. I am +not going to stand up and face a sentiment of revenge that is so +ill-grounded. + +Flink (laying the pistols down). I hate the man who has led you +astray--that is true. When I was giving you the reasons why I took +upon myself the task of calling you to account, perhaps I forgot +that. I hate him. But the instrument that carries out a sentence is +one thing; the sentence itself is quite another. You arc sentenced +to death because you have betrayed our cause--and because you say +that you were right to do so. The world shall learn what that +costs. It costs a man's life. + +Gran. So be it! + +Flink. The pistols are loaded. I loaded them myself. I imagine that +you still have trust in my honour? + +Gran (with a smile). Indeed I have. + +Flink. One of them has a blank cartridge in it; the other is fully +loaded. Choose! + +Gran. But what do you mean? Suppose I were to--? + +Flink. Don't be afraid! Heaven will decide! _You_ will not choose +the fully loaded one!--We shall stand face to face. + +Gran. You are settling everything--the sentence, the challenge, the +choice of weapons, the regulations for the duel--! + +Flink. Are you dissatisfied with that? + +Gran. By no means! You are quite welcome! We are to have no +seconds? So be it. But the place? + +Flink. The place? Here! + +Gran. Horrible! + +Flink. Why? (Holds out the two pistols to him. The door to the left +is opened softly. ANNA looks in, sees what is going on, and rushes +with a pitiful attempt at a scream to GRAN, putting her arms round +him protectingly, and caressing him with every sign of the utmost +terror.) + +Gran (bending down and kissing her). She is right! Why should I die +for the sake of dull theories, when I can hold life in my arms as I +do now? A man who is loved has something left, after all. I won't +die! + +Flink. If you were not loved, my friend, you might be allowed to +live. A cry of sorrow will be heard throughout the land, from the +King's palace to the meanest hovel, when you have been shot. And +that is just why I must do it! The louder the cry of sorrow, the +greater will be the silence afterwards. And in that silence is to +be found the answer to the question "Why?" The people will not +allow themselves to be cheated any longer. + +Gran. Horrible! I won't do it! (Lifts ANNA in his arms as if she +were a child.) + +Flink (going up to him). It is no mere theory that you are facing. +Look at me! + +Gran. Old friend--_must_ it be? + +Flink. It _must_. I have nothing else left to do. + +Gran. But not here. + +Flink. Since it cannot be here, then come out into the park. (Puts +the pistols into their case.) You owe me that. + +Gran (to ANNA). You must go, my dear! + +Flink (putting the pistol-case under his arm). No, let her stay +here. But you come! (They all three move towards the door. ANNA +will not let GRAN go, and there is a struggle until he, half +commanding and half entreating, persuades her to stay behind. The +two men go out, shutting the door after them. She throws herself +against the door, but it has been locked on the outside. She sinks +down to the floor in despair, then gets up, as if struck by a +sudden idea, rushes into the room on the right, and almost +immediately re-appears, dragging the KING after her. He is only +half-dressed and has no shoes on.) + +The King. What is it? (A shot is heard.) What is it? (ANNA pulls +him to the door. He tries to open it, but in vain. She rushes to +the window, with the KING after her. Meanwhile the door is opened +from outside, and FALBE comes in, evidently overcome with emotion.) +What is it, Falbe? (ANNA runs out.) + +Falbe. His Excellency the Minister of the Interior-- + +The King. Well, what of him? + +Falbe. --has been assassinated! + +The King. The Minister of the Interior?--Gran? + +Falbe. Yes. + +The King. Gran?--What did you say? + +Falbe. He has been assassinated! + +The King. Gran? Impossible!--Where? Why? I heard his voice only +just now, here! + +Falbe. That fellow shot him--the grey-haired fellow--the republican + +The King. Flink? Yes, I heard his voice here too! + +Falbe. It was in the park! I saw it myself! + +The King. Saw it yourself? Wretch! (Rushes out.) + +Falbe. How could I prevent a madman--? (Follows the KING. The door +stands open, and through it a man is seen running past, calling +out: "Where?" Others follow him, and amidst the sound of hurrying. +feet, cries are heard of "Good God!"--"In the park, did you say?"-- +"A doctor! Fetch a doctor!"--"Who did it?"--"That fellow running +towards the river!"--"After him! After him!"--"Fetch a barrow from +the works!"--After a while the KING returns alone, looking +distracted. He stands motionless and silent for some time.) + +The King. What a happy smile there was on his face! Just as she +smiled!--Yes, it must be happiness! (Hides his face in his hands.) +And he died for me too! My two only--. (Breaks down.) So that is +the price they have to pay for loving me!--And at once! At once!-- +Of course! Of course! (The sound of the crowd returning is heard, +and cries of: "This way!"--"Into the blue room!" Women and children +come streaming in, all in tears, surrounding ANNA and the men that +are carrying GRAN'S body, and follow them into the room on the +left. Cries are heard of: "Why should he die?"--"He was so good!"-- +"What had he done to deserve it!"--"He was the best man in the +world!") + +The King. "He was the best man in the world!" Yes. And he died for +my sake! That means something good of me!--the best possible! Are +they two together now, I wonder? Oh, let me have a sign!--or is +that too much to ask? (The crowd come out again, sobbing and +weeping, and cries are heard of: "He looks so beautiful and +peaceful!"--"I can't bring myself to believe it!" When they see the +KING, they hush their voices, and all go out as quietly as they +can. When they have gone out, the MAYOR's voice is heard asking: +"Is he in here?" and an answer: "No, in the blue room, over there." +Then the GENERAL'S voice: "And the murderer escaped?"--An answer: +"They are looking for him in the river!"--The GENERAL'S voice: "In +the river? Did he jump into the river?"--The PRIEST's voice: +"Shocking!" A few moments later the GENERAL with BANG, the MAYOR, +and the PRIEST come in from the other room. They stop on seeing the +KING, who is standing at the desk with his back to them, and +whisper.) + +The General. Isn't that the King? + +The Others. The King? + +The Mayor. Is the King back? He must have come in the night! + +Bang. Let me see!--I know him personally. + +The General (holding him back). Of course it is the King. + +The Mayor. Really? + +Bang. I recognise him by his agitation! It is he. + +The General. Hush! Let us go quietly out again! (They begin to move +off.) + +The Mayor. He is grieved. Naturally. + +Bang. First of all her death; and then this--! + +The Priest. It is the judgment of heaven! + +The King (turning round). Who is that? What? (Comes forward.) Who +said that? (They all stop, take off their hats and bow.) Come back! +(They come back hastily.) Who said: "It is the judgment of heaven"? + +The General. Your Majesty must forgive us--we were just taking a +little stroll; I am here to spend Christmas with my friend Mr. +Bang, who has a factory here--a branch of his works--and we +happened to meet the Mayor and the Priest, and we joined company-- +and were strolling along when we heard a shot. A shot. We did not +think anything more about it till we came nearer here and saw +people running, and heard a great outcry and disturbance. Great +disturbance--yes. We stopped, of course, and came to see what it +was. Came to see what it was, of course. And they told us that the +Minister of the Interior-- + +The King. What is all that to me! (The GENERAL bows.) Who said: "It +is the judgment of heaven"? (No one speaks.) Come, answer me! + +The Mayor. It was the Priest--I fancy. + +The King (to the PRIEST). Haven't you the courage to tell me so +yourself? + +The General. Probably our reverend friend is unaccustomed to find +himself in the presence of royalty. + +The Priest. It is the first time that--that I have had the honour +of speaking to your Majesty--I did not feel self-possessed enough, +for the moment, to-- + +The King. But you were self-possessed enough when you said it! What +did you mean by saying it was "the judgment of heaven"?--I am +asking you what you meant by it. + +The Priest. I really don't quite know--it slipped out-- + +The King. That is a lie! Some one said: "First of all her death, +and then this." And you said: "It is the judgment of heaven." + +The Mayor. That is quite right, your Majesty. + +The King. First of all _her_ death? That meant the death of my +betrothed, didn't it? + +Bang and The Priest. Yes, your Majesty. + +The King. "And then _this_" meant my friend--my dear friend! (With +emotion.) Why did heaven condemn these two to death? (A pause.) + +The General. It is most regrettable that we should, quite +involuntarily, have disturbed your Majesty at a moment when your +Majesty's feelings are, naturally, so overcome-- + +The King (interrupting him). I asked you why heaven condemned these +two to death. (To the VICAR.) You are a clergyman; cudgel your +brains! + +The Priest. Well, your Majesty, I was thinking that--I meant that-- +that heaven had in a miraculous way checked your Majesty-- + +The General. "Ventured to check" would be more suitable, I think. + +The Priest. --from continuing in a course which many people thought +so unfortunate--I mean, so fatal to the nation, and the church; had +checked your Majesty-- + +The General (in an undertone). Ventured to check. + +The Priest. --by taking away from your Majesty the two persons +who--the two persons who--in the first place the one who-- + +The King. The one who--? + +The Priest. Who was-- + +The King. Who was--? A harlot that wanted to sit on the throne? + +The Priest. Those are your Majesty's word, not mine. (Wipes his +forehead.) + +The King. Confess that they express what you meant! + +The Priest. I confess that I have heard--that people say--that-- + +The King. Pray to heaven that for a single day your thoughts may +be as pure as hers were every day. (Bursts into tears. Then says +impetuously.) How long have you been a clergyman? + +The Priest. Fifteen years, your Majesty. + +The King. Then you were already ordained at the time when I was +leading a dissolute life. Why did you never say anything to me +then? + +The Priest. My most gracious King-- + +The King. God is the only "most gracious King"! Do not speak +blasphemy! + +The Priest. It was not my duty to-- + +The General. Our friend is not a court chaplain. He has merely a +parish in the town here-- + +The Mayor. And his work lies chiefly among the factory hands. + +The King. And so it is not your duty to speak the truth to me--but +to attack my dear dead friends by prating about heaven's judgment +and repeating vile lies? Is that your duty? + +The Mayor. I only had the honour to know one of the--the deceased. +Your Majesty honoured him with your friendship; the greatest honour +a subject can enjoy. I should like to say that one would rarely +find a nobler heart, a loftier mind, or more modest fidelity, than +his. + +The General. I should like, if I may make so bold, to make use of +the opportunity chance has afforded me of associating myself with +my sovereign's sorrow, a sorrow for which his whole people must +feel the deepest respect, but especially those who, in consequence +of their high position, are more particularly called upon to be the +pillars of the monarchy; to use this opportunity, I say--and to do +so, I know, as the representative of many thousands of your +Majesty's subjects--to voice the sympathy, the unfeigned grief, +that will be poured forth at the news of this new loss which has +wrung your Majesty's heart--a loss which will reawaken consternation +in the country and make it more than ever necessary to take the +severest possible measures against a party to which nothing is +sacred, neither the King's person nor the highest dignities of +office nor the inviolability of the home--a party whose very +existence depends on sedition and ought no longer to be tolerated, +but ought, as the enemy of the throne and of society, to be visited +with all the terrors of the law, until-- + +The King. What about compassion, my friend? + +The General. Compassion? + +The King. Not for the republicans--but for me! + +The General. It is just the compassion which the whole nation will +feel for your Majesty that compels me, in spite of everything, to +invoke the intervention of justice at this particular crisis! +Terror-- + +The King. --must be our weapon? + +The General. Yes! Can any one imagine a more priceless proof of the +care that a people have for their King, than for the gravely +anxious tones of their voice to be heard, at this solemn moment, +crying: Down with the enemies of the throne! + +The King (turning away). No, _I_ haven't thews and sinews for that +lie! + +The Mayor. I must say I altogether agree with the General. The +feeling of affection, gratitude, esteem-- + +The General. --the legacy of devotion that your Majesty's ancestors +of blessed memory-- + +The King (to the Priest). You, sir--what does my ancestors being +"of blessed memory" mean? + +The Priest (after a moment's thought). It is a respectful manner of +alluding to them, your Majesty. + +The King. A respectful lie, you mean. (A pause. ANNA comes out of +the room on the left and throws herself at the KING'S feet, +embracing his knees in despairing sorrow.) Ah, here comes a breath +of truth!--And you come to me, my child, because you know that we +two can mourn together. But I do not weep, as you do; because I +know that for a long time he had been secretly praying for death. +He has got his wish now. So you must not weep so bitterly. You must +wish what he wished, you know. Ah, what grief there is in her eyes! +(Sobs.) + +(The GENERAL signs to the others that they should all withdraw +quietly, without turning round. They gradually do so; but the KING +looks up and perceives what they are doing.) + +The General. Out of respect for your Majesty's grief, we were going +to-- + +The King. Silence! With my hand on the head of this poor creature, +who used to trust so unassumingly and devotedly to his goodness of +heart, I wish to say something in memory of my friend. (ANNA clings +to him, weeping. The others come respectfully nearer, and wait.) +Gran was the richest man in the country. Why was it that he had no +fear of the people? Why was it that he believed that its salvation +lay in the overthrow of the present state of affairs? + +Bang. Mr. Gran, with all his great qualities, was a visionary. + +The King. He had not inherited all of his vast fortune; he had +amassed a great part of it himself. + +Bang. As a man of business, Mr. Gran was beyond all praise. + +The King. And yet a visionary? The two things are absolutely +contradictory.--You once called me "the padlock on your cash-box." + +Bang. I allowed myself, with all respect, to make that jest--which, +nevertheless, was nothing but the serious truth! + +The King. Why did he, who has met his death, consider that the +security for _his_ cash-box came from those _below_ him, as long as +he did what was right, and not from those above him? Because he +understood the times. No question of selfishness stood in the way +of his doing that.--That is my funeral oration over him!--(To +ANNA.) Get up, my dear! Did you understand what I was saying? Do +not weep so! (She clings to him, sobbing.) + +The Priest. He was a very great man! When your Majesty speaks so, I +fully recognise it. But your Majesty may be certain that, though we +may not have been so fortunate as to see so far ahead and so +clearly--though our mental horizon may be narrow--we are none the +less loyal to your Majesty for that, nor less devoted! It is our +duty as subjects to say so, although your Majesty in your heaviness +of heart seems to forget it-seems to forget that we, too, look for +everything from your Majesty's favour, wisdom and justice. +(Perspires freely.) + +The King. It is very strange! My dear friend never said anything +like that to me. (A pause.) He had the most prosperous business in +the country. When I came to him and asked him to abandon it, he did +so at once. And in the end he died for me. That is the sort of man +he was. (To ANNA.) Go in to him, my dear! You are the very picture +of dumb loyalty. Although I do not deserve to have such as you to +watch by my side, still, for the sake of him who is dead, I shall +have you to do so when I too--. (Breaks off.) Yes, yes, go in there +now! I shall come. Do you understand? I shall come. (ANNA moves +towards the other room.) There, that's it! (He repeats his words to +her every time she looks back as she goes.) Yes, directly!--That's +it!--In a very little while! Go now! + +Bang. Excuse me, your Majesty, but it is terribly hot in here, and +the affection of my heart which troubles me is attacking me +painfully. Will your Majesty be pleased to allow me to withdraw? + +The Mayor. With all respect, I should like to be allowed to make +the same request. Your Majesty is obviously very much upset, and I +am sure we are all unwilling that our presence--which, indeed, was +unintentional and unsought by us--should augment a distress of mind +which is so natural in one of your Majesty's noble disposition, and +so inevitable considering the deep sense of gratitude your Majesty +must feel towards a friend who-- + +The King (interrupting him). Hush, hush! Let us have a little +respect for the truth in the presence of the dead! Do not +misunderstand me--I do not mean to say that any of you would lie +wilfully; but the atmosphere that surrounds a king is infected. +And, as regards that--just a word or two. I have only a short time. +But as a farewell message from me-- + +The Priest. A farewell message? + +The King. --give my greeting to what is called Christianity in this +country. Greet it from me! I have been thinking a great deal about +Christian folk lately. + +The Priest. I am glad to hear it! + +The King. Your tone jars on me! Greet those who call themselves +Christians--. Oh! come, come--don't crane your necks and bend your +backs like that, as if the most precious words of wisdom were about +to drop from my lips! (To himself.) Is it any use my saying +anything serious to them? (Aloud.) I suppose you are Christians? + +The General. Why, of course! Faith is invaluable-- + +The King. --in preserving discipline? (To the Mayor.) How about +you? + +The Mayor. I was taught by my parents, of blessed memory-- + +The King. Oh, so they are "of blessed memory" too, are they? Well, +what did they teach you? + +The Mayor. To fear God, honour the King-- + +The King. --and love the brotherhood! You are a public official, +Mr. Mayor. That is what a Christian is, nowadays. (To BANG.) And +you? + +Bang. Of late I have been able to go so little to church, because +of my cough. And in that unwholesome atmosphere-- + +The King. --you go to sleep. But you are a Christian? + +Bang. Undoubtedly! + +The King (to the Priest). And you are one, of course? + +The Priest. By the grace of God I hope so! + +The King (snapping his fingers). Yes, that is the regulation +formula, my good fellow! You all answer by the card! Very well, +then--you are a community of Christians; and it is not my fault if +such a community refuses to take any serious interest in what +really affects Christianity. Tell it from me that it ought to keep +an eye on the monarchy. + +The Priest. Christianity has nothing to do with such things. It +concerns only the souls of men! + +The King (aside). That voice. (Aloud.) I know--it does not concern +itself with the air a patient breathes, but only with his lungs! +Excellent!--All the same, Christianity ought to keep an eye on the +monarchy. Ought to tear the falsehood away from it! Ought not to go +in crowds to stare at a coronation in a church, like apes grinning +at a peacock! I know what I felt at that moment. I had rehearsed it +all once that morning already--ha, ha! Ask your Christianity if it +may not be about time for it to interest itself a little in the +monarchy? It seems to me that it scarcely ought any longer to allow +monarchy, like a seductive harlot, to keep militarism before the +people's eyes as an ideal--seeing that that is exactly contrary to +the teachings of Christianity, or to encourage class divisions, +luxury, hypocrisy and vanity. Monarchy has become so all-pervading +a lie that it infects even the most upright of men. + +The Mayor. But I don't understand, your Majesty! + +The King. Don't you? You are an upright man yourself, Mr. Mayor--a +most worthy man. + +The Mayor. I do not know whether your Majesty is pleased to jest +again? + +The King. In sober earnest, I say you are one of the most upright +of men. + +The Mayor. I cannot tell your Majesty how flattered I am to hear +your Majesty say so! + +The King. Have you any decorations? + +The Mayor. Your Majesty's government has not, so far, deigned to +cast their eyes on me. + +The King. That fault will be repaired. Be sure of that! + +The General (to the Mayor). To have that from his Majesty's own +mouth is equivalent to seeing it gazetted. I am fortunate to be +able to be the first to congratulate you! + +Bang. Allow me to congratulate you also! + +The Priest. And me too! I have had the honour of working hand in +hand with you, Mr. Mayor, for many years; I know how well deserved +such a distinction is. + +The Mayor. I feel quite overcome; but I must beg to be allowed to +lay my thanks at your Majesty's feet. I trust I shall not prove +unworthy of the distinction. One hesitates to make such +confessions--but I am a candid man, and I admit that one of the +chief aims of my ambition has been to be allowed some day to +participate in-- + +The King (interrupting him). --in this falsehood. That just points +my moral. As long as even upright men's thoughts run in that mould, +Christianity cannot pretend to have any real hold on the nation. As +for your decoration, you are quite sure to get one from my +successor.--In a word, Christianity must tackle monarchy! And if it +cannot tear the falsehood from it without destroying it, then let +it destroy it! + +The General. Your Majesty! + +The King (turning to him). The same thing applies to a standing +army, which is a creation of monarchy's. I do not believe that +such an institution--with all its temptations to power, all its +inevitable vices and habits--could be tolerated if Christianity +were a living thing. Away with it! + +The Priest. Really, your Majesty--! + +The King (turning to him). The same applies to an established +church--another of monarchy's creations! If we had in our country a +Christianity worth the name, that salvation trade would stink in +men's nostrils. Away with it! + +The Mayor (reproachfully). Oh, your Majesty! + +The King (turning on him). The same applies to the artificial +disparity of circumstances that you prate about with tears in +your eyes! I heard you once. Class distinctions are fostered by +monarchy. + +Bang. But equality is an impossibility! + +The King. If _you_ would only make it possible--which it can be +made--even the socialists would cease to clamour for anything +else. I tell you this: Christianity has destroyed ideals. +Christianity lives on dogmas and formulas, instead of on ideals. + +The Priest. Its ideals lead us away from earth to heaven-- + +The King. Not in a balloon, even if it were stuffed full of all the +pages of the Bible! Christianity's ideals will lead to heaven only +when they are realised on earth--never before. + +The Priest. May I venture to say that Christianity's ideal is a +pious life. + +The King. Yes. But does not Christianity aim at more than that, +or is it going to be content with making some few believers? + +The Priest. It is written: "Few are chosen." + +The King. Then it has given up the job in advance? + +The Mayor. I think our friend is right, that Christianity has never +occupied itself with such things as your Majesty demands of it. + +The King. But what I mean is, could it not bring itself to do so? + +The Priest. If it did, it would lose sight of its _inner_ aim. The +earliest communities are the model for a Christian people! + +The King (turning away from him). Oh, have any model you like, so +long as it leads to something! + +The General. I must say I am astonished at the penetration your +Majesty slows even into the deepest subjects. + +Bang. Yes, I have never heard anything like it! I have not had the +advantage of a university education, so I don't really understand +it. + +The King. And to think that I imagined that I should find my +allies, my followers, in Christian people! One is so reluctant to +give up _all_ hope! I thought that a Christian nation would storm +the strongholds of lies in our modern, so-called Christian +communities--storm them, capture them!--and begin with monarchy, +because that would need most courage, and because its falsehood +lies deepest and goes farthest. I thought that Christianity would +one day prove to be the salt of the earth. No, do _not_ greet +Christianity from me. I have said nothing, and do not mean it. I am +what men call a betrayed man--betrayed by all the most ideal powers +of life. There! Now I have done! + +The General. But what does your Majesty mean? Betrayed? By whom? +Who are the traitors? Really--! + +The King. Pooh! Think it over!--As a matter of fact I am the only +one that has been foolish. + +Bang. Your Majesty, just now you were so full of vigour--! + +The King. Don't let that astonish you, my friend! I am a mixture of +enthusiasm and world-weariness; the scion of a decrepit race is not +likely to be any better than that, you know! And as for being a +reformer--! Ha, ha! Well, I thank you all for having listened to me +so patiently. Whatever I said had no significance--except perhaps +that, like the oysters, I had to open my shell before I died.-- +Good-bye! + +The General. I really cannot find it in my heart to leave your +Majesty when your Majesty is in so despondent a humour. + +The King. I am afraid you will have to try, my gallant friend!-- +Don't look so dejected, Mr. Mayor!--Suppose some day serious-minded +men should feel just as humiliated at such falsehoods existing as +you do now because you have not been allowed to participate in +them. I might perhaps be able to endure being king then! But as +things are now, I am not strong enough for the job. I feel as if I +had been shouldered out of actual life on to this strip of carpet +that I am standing on! That is what my attempts at reform have +ended in! + +The Mayor. May I be allowed to say that the impression made on my +mind by the somewhat painful scene we have just gone through is +that your Majesty is overwrought. + +The King. Mad, you mean? + +The Mayor. God forbid I should use such a word of my King! + +The King. Always punctilious!--Well, judging by the fact that every +one else considers themselves sane, I must undoubtedly be the mad +one. It is as simple as a sum in arithmetic.--And, in all +conscience, isn't it madness, when all is said and done, to take +such trifles so much to heart?--to bother about a few miserable +superannuated forms that are not of the slightest importance?--a +few venerable, harmless prejudices?--a few foolish social customs +and other trumpery affairs of that sort? + +The General. Quite so! + +The Mayor. Your Majesty is absolutely right! + +Bang. I quite agree! + +The Priest. It is exactly what I have been thinking all the time. + +The King. And probably we had better add to the list certain +extravagant ideas--perhaps even certain dangerous ideas, like mine +about Christianity? + +The Priest (hastily and impressively). Your Majesty is mistaken +on the subject of Christianity. + +The Mayor. Christianity is entirely a personal matter, your +Majesty. + +The General. Your Majesty expects too much of it. Now, as a comfort +for the dying--! + +The King. And a powerful instrument of discipline. + +The General (smiling). Ah, your Majesty! + +Bang (confidentially). Christianity is no longer such a serious +matter nowadays, except for certain persons--. (Glances at the +PRIEST.) + +The King. All I have to say on the head of such unanimous approval +is this: that in such a shallow society, where there is no +particular distinction between lies and truth, because most things +are mere forms without any deeper meaning--where ideals are +considered to be extravagant, dangerous things--it is not so _very_ +amusing to be alive. + +The General. Oh, your Majesty! Really, you--! Ha, ha, ha! + +The King. Don't you agree with me?--Ah, if only one could grapple +with it!--but we should need to be many to do that, and better +equipped than I am. + +The General. Better equipped than your Majesty? Your Majesty is the +most gifted man in the whole country! + +All. Yes! + +The General. Yes--your Majesty must excuse me--I spoke +involuntarily! + +The Mayor. There was a tone running through all your Majesty said +that seemed to suggest that your Majesty was contemplating--. +(Breaks off.) + +The King. --going away? Yes. + +All. Going away? + +The General. And abdicating? For heaven's sake, your Majesty--! + +Bang. That would mean handing us over to the crown prince--the +pietist! + +The Priest (betraying his pleasure in spite of himself). And his +mother! + +The King. You are pleased at the idea, parson! It will be a sight +to see her and her son prancing along, with all of you in your best +clothes following them! Hurrah! + +The General. Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! + +Bang. Ha-ha-ha! (Coughs.) I get such a cough when I laugh. + +The King (seriously). I had no intention of provoking laughter in +the presence of death. I can hear the sounds of mourning through +the open door. + +The Mayor. With all due respect to the church--the vast majority of +the nation have no desire for things to come to _that_--to the +accession of a pietist to the throne. If your Majesty threatens to +abdicate you will have us all at your feet. + +The General (with decision). The accession of a new king just now +would be universally considered a national calamity. I will wager +my life on that! + +Bang. And I too! + +The King. My excellent friends--you must take the consequences of +your actions! + +The Mayor (despairingly). But _this_! Who ever imagined such a +thing? + +The General and Bang. No one--no one! + +The King. So much the worse. What is it you are asking me to do? To +stay where I am, so as to keep another man down? Is that work for a +man? Shame! + +The Mayor (in distress). We ask more than that! Your Majesty is +making a fatal mistake! The whole of your Majesty's dissatisfaction +springs from the fact that you believe yourself to be deserted by +your people because the elections are going contrary to what your +Majesty had hoped. Nothing is further from the truth! The people +fight shy of revolutionary ideas; but they love their King! + +Bang. They love their King! + +The King. And that white dove, who came confidently to my hand--she +had some experience of what their love was! + +The Mayor. The King's associates may displease the people; ideas +may alter; but love for their King endures! + +The Others. Endures! + +The King. Cease! Cease! + +The General (warmly). Your Majesty may command us to do anything +except refrain from giving utterance to a free people's freely +offered homage of devotion, loyalty, and love for its royal house! + +The Mayor (emotionally). There is no one who would not give his +life for his King! + +Bang, The General, and The Priest. No one! + +The General. Try us! (They all press forward.) + +The King. Done with you! (Takes a revolver from his pocket.) Since +yesterday I have carried this little thing in my pocket. (They all +look alarmed.) + +The Priest. Merciful heavens! + +The King (holding out the revolver to him). Will you die for me? If +so, I will continue to be King. + +The Priest. I? What does your Majesty mean? It would be a great +sin! + +The King. You love me, I suppose? + +All (desperately). Yes, your Majesty! + +The King. Those who love, believe. Therefore, believe me when I say +this: If there is a single one of you who, without thinking twice +about it, will die for his King now--here--at once--then I shall +consider that as a command laid upon me to go on living and +working. + +The Mayor (in a terrified whisper). He is insane! + +The General (whispers). Yes! + +The King. I can hear you!--But I suppose you love your King, even +if he is insane? + +All (in agitated tones). Yes, your Majesty! + +The King. Majesty, majesty! There is only One who has any majesty +about Him--certainly not a madman! But if I have been driven mad by +the lies that surround me, it would be a holy deed to make me sound +again. You said you would die for me. Redeem your words! That will +make me well again!--You, General? + +The General. My beloved King, it would be--as our reverend friend +so aptly put it--a most dreadful sin. + +The King. You have let slip a splendid opportunity for showing your +heroism.--You ought to have seen that I was only putting you to the +test!--Good-bye! (Goes into the room on the left.) + +The General. Absolutely insane! + +The Others. Absolutely. + +The Mayor. Such great abilities, too! What might not have been made +of him! + +Bang. The pity of it! + +The Priest. I got so alarmed. + +Bang. So did I! (A loud pistol-shot is heard.) + +The Priest. Another shot? (A pitiful woman's cry is heard from the +other room.) + +The Mayor. What on earth was that? + +Bang. I daren't think! + +The Priest. Nor I! (An old woman rushes out of the room on the +left, calling out: "Help!--Help!--The King!" and hurries out at the +back, calling: "The King! Help, help!" The GENERAL and the MAYOR +rush into the other room. Voices are heard outside asking: "The +King?--Was it the King?" The confusion and uproar grows. In the +midst of it ANNA comes stumbling out of the other room, her hands +stretched out before her, as if she did not know where she was +going. The noise and confusion grows louder every minute, and +crowds of people come rushing into the room from outside as the +Curtain falls.) + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THREE DRAMAS *** + +This file should be named 73dram10.txt or 73dram10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 73dram11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 73dram10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext05 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext05 + +Or /etext04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, +91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + + PROJECT GUTENBERG LITERARY ARCHIVE FOUNDATION + 809 North 1500 West + Salt Lake City, UT 84116 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/73dram10.zip b/old/73dram10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0daddad --- /dev/null +++ b/old/73dram10.zip diff --git a/old/83dram10.txt b/old/83dram10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d93f02 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/83dram10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13138 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Three Dramas, by Bjornstjerne M. Bjornson + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Three Dramas + +Author: Bjornstjerne M. Bjornson + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7844] +[This file was first posted on May 22, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO Latin-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THREE DRAMAS *** + + + + +Nicole Apostola + + + +THREE DRAMAS + +THE EDITOR--THE BANKRUPT--THE KING + +BY BJÖRNSTJERNE BJÖRNSON + + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +The three plays here presented were the outcome of a period when +Björnson's views on many topics were undergoing a drastic revision +and he was abandoning much of his previous orthodoxy in many +directions. Two of them were written during, and one immediately +after, a three years' absence from Norway--years spent almost +entirely in southern Europe. [Note: Further details respecting +Björnson's life will be found in the Introduction to Three Comedies +by Björnson, published in Everyman's Library in 1912.] For nearly +ten years previous to this voluntary exile, Björnson had been +immersed in theatrical management and political propagandism. His +political activities (guided by a more or less pronounced +republican tendency) centred in an agitation for a truer equality +between the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, his point of view being +that Norway had come to be regarded too much as a mere appanage of +Sweden. Between that and his manifold and distracting cares as +theatrical director, he had let imaginative work slide for the time +being; but his years abroad had a recuperative effect, and, in +addition, broadened his mental outlook in a remarkable manner. +Foreign travel, a wider acquaintance with differing types of +humanity, and, above all, a newly-won acquaintance with the +contemporary literature of other countries, made a deep impression +upon Björnson's vigorously receptive mind. He browsed voraciously +upon the works of foreign writers. Herbert Spencer, Darwin, John +Stuart Mill, Taine, Max-Müller, formed a portion of his mental +pabulum at this time--and the result was a significant alteration +of mental attitude on a number of questions, and a determination to +make the attempt to embody his theories in dramatic form. He had +gained all at once, as he wrote to Georg Brandes, the eminent +Danish critic, "eyes that saw and ears that heard." Up to this time +the poet in him had been predominant; now it was to be the social +philosopher that held the reins. Just as Ibsen did, so Björnson +abandoned historical drama and artificial comedy for an attempt at +prose drama which should have at all events a serious thesis. In +this he anticipated Ibsen; for (unless we include the satirical +political comedy, _The League of Youth_, which was published in +1869, among Ibsen's "social dramas") Ibsen did not enter the field +with _Pillars of Society_ [Note: Published in _The Pretenders and +Two Other Plays_, in Everyman's Library, 1913.] until 1877, +whereas Björnson's _The Editor_, _The Bankrupt_, and _The King_ +were all published between 1874 and 1877. Intellectual and literary +life in Denmark had been a good deal stirred and quickened in the +early seventies, and the influence of that awakening was inevitably +felt by the more eager spirits in the other Scandinavian countries. +It is amusing to note, as one Norwegian writer has pointed out, +that this intellectual upheaval (which, in its turn, was a +reflection of that taking place in outer Europe) came at a time +when the bulk of the Scandinavian folk "were congratulating +themselves that the doubt and ferment of unrest which were +undermining the foundations of the great communities abroad had not +had the power to ruffle the placid surface of our good, +old-fashioned, Scandinavian orthodoxy." Björnson makes several sly +hits in these plays (as does Ibsen in _Pillars of Society_) at this +distrust of the opinions and manners of the larger communities +outside of Scandinavia, notably America, with which the +Scandinavian countries were more particularly in touch through +emigration. + +Brandes characterises the impelling motive of these three plays as +a passionate appeal for a higher standard of truth--in journalism, +in finance, in monarchy: an appeal for less casuistry and more +honesty. Such a motive was characteristic of the vehement honesty +of Björnson's own character; he must always, as he says in one of +his letters, go over to the side of any one whom he believed to +"hold the truth in his hands." + +_The Editor_ (_Redaktören_) was written while Björnson was in +Florence, and was published at Copenhagen in 1874. It was at first +not accepted for performance at Christiania or Copenhagen, though +an unauthorised performance of it was given at one of the lesser +Christiania theatres in 1875, Meanwhile a Swedish version of it had +been produced, authoritatively, at Stockholm in February of that +year. The play eventually made its way on the Norwegian and Danish +stage; but, before that, it had been seen in German dress at Munich +and Hamburg. As an inevitable result of his recent activities as a +political speaker and pamphleteer, Björnson had come in for a good +deal of vituperation in the press, a fact which no doubt added some +gall to the ink with which he drew the portrait of the journalist +in this play. The Stockholm critics, indeed, had condemned _The +Editor_ as merely a pamphleteering attack on the editor of a +well-known journal. In answer to this criticism Björnson wrote from +Rome in March, 1875: "It is said that my play is a pamphleteering +attack on a certain individual. That is a deliberate lie. I have +studied the journalist type, which is here represented, in many +other countries besides my own. The chief characteristic of this +type is to be actuated by an inordinate egotism that is perpetually +being inflamed by passion; that makes use of bogeys to frighten +people, and does this in such a way that, while it makes all its +honest contemporaries afraid of any freedom of thought, it also +produces the same result on every single individual by means +of reckless persecution. As I wished to portray that type, I +naturally took a good deal of the portrait from the representative +of the type that I knew best; but, like every artist who wishes to +produce a complete creation, I had to build it up from separate +revelations of itself. There can, therefore, be no question of any +individual being represented in my play except in so far as he may +partially agree with the type." + +However much Björnson may have written _The Editor_ with a +"purpose," his vivid dramatic sense kept him from becoming merely +didactic. The little tragedy that takes place amongst this homely +group of people makes quite a moving play, thanks to the skill with +which the types are depicted--the bourgeois father and mother, with +their mixture of timidity and self-interest; the manly, +straightforward young politician, resolute to carry on the work +that has sapped his brother's life; the warped, de-humanised nature +of the journalist; the sturdy common-sense of the yeoman farmer; +and the doctor, the "family friend," as a sort of mocking chorus. +Besides its plea for a higher regard for truth, the play also +attacks the precept, preached by worldly wisdom, that we ought to +harden our natures to make ourselves invulnerable; a proposition +which was hateful to one of Björnson's persistently impressionable +and ingenuous nature. The fact remains, as Brandes grimly admits, +that "nowadays we have only a very qualified sympathy with public +characters who succumb to the persecution of the press." Brandes +sees in the play, besides its obvious motive, an allegory. Halvdan +Rejn, the weary and dying politician, is (he says) meant for Henrik +Wergeland, a Norwegian poet-politician who had similar struggles, +sank under the weight of similar at tacks, died after a long +illness, and was far higher reputed after his death than during his +life. In Harald Rejn, with his honest enthusiasm and misjudged +political endeavours Brandes sees Björnson himself; while the +yeoman brother, Haakon, seems to him to typify the Norwegian +people. + +_The Bankrupt_ (_En Fallit_: literally _A Bankruptcy_) was partly +written in Rome, partly in Tyrol, and published at Copenhagen in +1875. It was a thing entirely new to the Scandinavian stage for a +dramatist to deal seriously with the tragi-comedy of money, and, +while making a forcible plea for honesty, to contrive to produce a +stirring and entertaining play on what might seem so prosaic a +foundation as business finance. Some of the play's earliest critics +dismissed it as "dry," "prosaic," "trivial," because of the nature +of its subject; but it made a speedy success on the boards, and +very soon became a popular item in the repertories of the +Christiania, Bergen and Copenhagen theatres. It was actually first +performed, in a Swedish translation, at Stockholm, a few days +before it was produced at Christiania. Very soon, too, the play +reached Berlin, Munich, Vienna, and other German and Austrian +theatres. It was played in Paris, at the Théâtre Libre in 1894. The +character of Berent, the lawyer, which became a favourite one with +the famous Swedish actor Ernst Possart, was admittedly more or less +of a portrait of a well-known Norwegian lawyer, by name Dunker. +When Björnson was writing the play, he went to stay for some days +with Dunker, who was to instruct him as to the legal aspect of +bankruptcy. Björnson took the opportunity of studying the lawyer as +well as the law. + +_The King_ (_Kongen_) was written at Aulestad, the Norwegian home +in which Björnson settled after his return from abroad, and was +published at Copenhagen in 1877. It is perhaps not surprising that +the play, with its curious blend of poetry and social philosophy, +and its somewhat exuberant (though always interesting) wordiness, +was not at first a conspicuous success on the stage; but the +interest aroused by the published book was enormous. It was widely +read and vigorously discussed, both in Scandinavia and abroad; and +while, on the one hand, it brought upon Björnson the most +scurrilous abuse and the harshest criticism from his political +opponents, on the other hand a prominent compatriot of his (whose +opinion was worth having) gave it as his verdict, at a political +meeting held soon after the play's publication, that "the most +notable thing that has happened in Norway of late--or at any rate, +one of the most notable--in my opinion is this last book of +Björnson's--_The King_." + +The idea of a "democratic monarchy"--a kind of reformed +constitutional monarchy, that should be a half-way house on the +road to republicanism--was not entirely new; Björnson's success was +in presenting the problem as seen from the _inside_--that is to +say, from the king's point of view. His opponents, of course, +branded him as a red-hot republican, which he was not. In a preface +he wrote for a later edition of the play, he says that he did not +intend the play mainly as an argument in favour of republicanism, +but "to extend the boundaries of free discussion"; but that, at +the same time, he believed the republic to be the ultimate form of +government, and all European states to be proceeding at varying +rates of speed towards it. + +_The King_ is composed of curiously incongruous elements. The +railway meeting in the first act is pure comedy of a kind to +compare with the meeting in Ibsen's _An Enemy of Society_; the last +act is melodrama with a large admixture of remarkably interesting +social philosophy; the intervening acts betray the poet that always +underlay the dramatist in Björnson. The crudity, again, of the +melodramatic appearance of the wraith of Clara's father in the +third act, contrasts strangely with the mature thoughtfulness of +much of the last act and with the tender charm of what has gone +before: And--strangest incongruity of all in a play so essentially +"actual"--there is in the original, between each act, a mysterious +"mellemspil," or "interlude," in verse, consisting of somewhat +cryptic dialogues between Genii and Unseen Choirs in the clouds, +between an "Old Grey Man" and a "Chorus of Tyrants" in a desolate +scene of snow and ice, between Choruses of Men, Women, and Children +in a sylvan landscape, and so forth--their utterances being of the +nature of the obscurest choruses in the Greek dramatists, but for +the most part with a less obvious relevance to the play itself. +Such a device leads the present-day reader's thoughts inevitably to +the use made of the "unseen chorus," in a similar way, by Thomas +Hardy in _The Dynasts_; but Hardy's interludes are closely relevant +to his drama and help it on its way, which Björnson's do not. They +have been entirely omitted in the present translation, on the +ground of their complete superfluity as well as from the extreme +difficulty of retaining their "atmosphere" in translation. + +None of the three plays in the present volume have previously been +translated into English. German, French, and Swedish versions of +_The Editor_ are extant; German, Swedish, Finnish, French, and +Hungarian of _The Bankrupt_; French and Spanish of _The King_. + +R. FARQUHARSON SHARP. + +The following is a list of the works of Björnstjerne Björnson:-- + +DRAMATIC AND POETIC WORKS.--Mellem Slagene (Between the Battles), +1857. Halte-Hulda (Lame Hulda), 1858. Kong Sverre (King Sverre), +1861. Sigurd Slembe (Sigurd the Bastard), 1862; translated by +W. M. Payne, 1888. Maria Stuart i Skotland, 1864. De Nygifte (The +Newly-Married Couple), 1865; translated by T. Soelfeldt, 1868; by +S. and E. Hjerleid, 1870; as A Lesson in Marriage, by G. I. +Colbron, 1911. Sigurd Jorsalfar (Sigurd the Crusader), 1872. +Redaktören (The Editor), 1874. En Fallit (A Bankruptcy), 1874. +Kongen (The King), 1877. Leonarda, 1879. Det ny System (The New +System), 1879. En Hanske, 1883; translated as A Gauntlet, by +H. L. Braekstad 1890; by Osman Edwards 1894. Over AEvne (Beyond our +Strength), Part I., 1883; translated as Pastor Sang, by W. Wilson, +1893; Part II., 1895. Geografi og Kaerlighed (Geography and Love), +1885; Paul Lange og Tora Parsberg, 1898; translated by H. L. +Braekstad, 1899. Laboremus, 1901; translation published by +Chapman and Hall, 1901. Paa Storhove (At Storhove), 1904; +Daglannet, 1904; Naar den ny Vin blomstrer (When the Vineyards +are in Blossom), 1909; The Newly-Married Couple, Leonarda, and A +Gauntlet, translated by R. Farquharson Sharp (Everyman's Library), +1912. + +Digte og Sange (Poems and Songs), 1870; Arnljot Gelline, 1870. + + +FICTION.--Synnöve Solbakken 1857; translated as Trust and Trial, +by Mary Howitt, 1858; as Love and Life in Norway, by Hon. Augusta +Bethell and A. Plesner, 1870; as The Betrothal, in H. and +A. Zimmern's Half-hours with Foreign Novelists, 1880; also +translated by Julie Sutter, 1881; by R. B. Anderson, 1881. Arne, +1858; translated by T. Krag, 1861; by A. Plesner and S. Rugeley- +Powers, 1866; by R. B. Anderson, 1881; by W. Low (Bohn's Library), +1890. Smaastykker (Sketches), 1860. En glad Gut, 1860; translated +as Ovind, by S. and E. Hjerleid 1869; as The Happy Boy, by R. B. +Anderson, 1881; as The Happy Lad (published by Blackie), 1882. +Fiskerjenten, 1868 translated as The Fisher Maiden, by M. E. Niles, +1869; as The Fishing Girl, by A. Plesner and F. Richardson, 1870; +as The Fishing Girl, by S. and E. Hjerleid, 1871; as The Fisher +Maiden, by R. B. Anderson, 1882. Brude-Slaatten, 1873; translated +as The Bridal March, by R. B. Anderson, 1882; by J. E. Williams, +1893. Fortaellinger (Tales), 1872. Magnhild, 1877; translated by +R. B. Anderson, 1883. Kaptejn Mansana, 1879; translated as Captain +Mansana by R. B. Anderson, 1882. Det flager i Byen og paa Havnen +(Flags are Flying in Town and Port), 1884; translated as The +Heritage of the Kurts, by C Fairfax 1892. Paa Guds Veje, 1889; +translated as In God's Way, by E. Carmichael, 1890. Nye Fortaellinger +(New Tales), 1894; To Fortaelinger (Two Tales), 1901; Mary, 1906. +Collected edition of the Novels, translated into English, edited by +E. Gosse, 13 vols., 1895-1909. + +[See Life of Björnson by W. M. Payne, 1910; E. Gosse's Study of +the Writings of Björnson, in edition of Novels, 1895; H. H. +Boyesen's Essays on Scandinavian Literature, 1895; G. Brandes' +Critical Studies of Ibsen and Björnson, 1899.] + + + +CONTENTS + +THE EDITOR +THE BANKRUPT +THE KING + + + +THE EDITOR + +A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + +EVJE, a prosperous distiller. +MRS. EVJE. +GERTRUD, their daughter, engaged to HARALD REJN. +The DOCTOR. +The EDITOR. +HAAKON REJN, a yeoman farmer. +HALVDAN REJN and HARALD REJN, his brothers. +The DOCTOR'S ASSISTANT. +INGEBORG, maid to the Evjes. +JOHN, coachman to the Evjes. +HALVDAN REJN's HOUSEKEEPER. +HALVDAN REJN's MAID. +A Lamplighter. + +The action takes place in a town in Norway. + +THE EDITOR + + +ACT I + +(SCENE.--The breakfast-room at the EVJES' house. A glass-cupboard, +in two partitions, stands against the left-hand wall, well forward. +On the top of it stand a variety of objects. Beyond it, a stove. At +the back of the room, a sideboard. In the middle of the room a +small round folding table, laid for four persons. There is an +armchair by the stove; a sofa on the right; chairs, etc. A door at +the back of the room, and another in the left-hand wall. There are +paintings on the walls, and the general impression of the room is +one of snug comfort. EVJE, MRS. EVJE, and GERTRUD are seated at the +table. INGEBORG is standing by the sideboard. Breakfast is +proceeding in silence as the curtain rises. INGEBORG takes away +EVJE'S cup and re-fills it. As she brings it back to him, a ring is +heard at the bell. GERTRUD gets up.) + +Evje. Sit still; John will go to the door. (GERTRUD sits down +again. Directly afterwards, another ring is heard.) + +Mrs. Evje. What can John be doing? + +Ingeborg. I will go. (Goes out. She comes back, showing in HARALD +REJN, who hangs up his hat and coat in the hall before coming +in.) + +Harald. Good morning! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. Good morning! (HARALD shakes hands with them.) + +Harald (to GERTRUD, who is sitting on the right). Good morning, +Gertrud! Am I a bit late to-day? (GERTRUD, who has taken his hand, +looks lovingly at him but says nothing.) + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, I suppose you have been for a long constitutional, +although the weather is none of the best. + +Harald. It is not; I expect we shall have a thick fog by the +afternoon. + +Evje. Did you have breakfast before you went out? + +Harald. I did, thanks. (To INGEBORG, who has come forward with a +cup of coffee.) No, thank you. I will sit down here while you are +finishing. (Sits down on the sofa behind GERTRUD.) + +Mrs. Evje. How is your brother Halvdan? + +Harald. A little better to-day, thanks--but of course we cannot +build on that. + +Evje. Is your eldest brother coming to see him? + +Harald. Yes, we expect him every day. Probably his wife has +come with him, and that has been the reason of the delay; she +finds it difficult to get away. + +Mrs. Evje. Halvdan so often talks of her. + +Harald. Yes, I believe she is the best friend he has. + +Evje. No wonder, then, that she wants to come and say good-bye +to him. By the way, have you seen how the paper bids him +good-bye to-day? + +Harald. Yes, I have seen it. + +Mrs. Evje (hurriedly). I hope Halvdan has not seen it? + +Harald (smiling). No, it is a long time now since Halvdan read a +newspaper. (A pause.) + +Evje. Then I suppose you have read what they say about you too? + +Harald. Naturally. + +Mrs. Evje. It is worse than anything they have said about you +before. + +Harald. Well--of course, you know, my election meeting comes on +this evening. + +Evje. I can tell you it has upset _us_. + +Mrs. Evje. Day after day we wake up to find our house invaded by +these abominations. That is a nice thought to begin your day's +work with! + +Harald. Is it so indispensable, then, to educated people to begin +their day by reading such things? + +Mrs. Evje. Well--one must have a paper. + +Evje. And most people read it. Besides, one can't deny that a lot +of what is in it is true, although its general tendency is to run +everyone down. + +Harald (getting up). Quite so, yes. (Leans over GERTRUD'S +shoulder.) Gertrud, have you read it? + +Gertrud (does not look at him, and hesitates for a moment; then +says gently): Yes. + +Harald (under his breath). So that is it! (Walks away from her.) + +Evje. We have had a little bit of a scene here, I must tell you. + +Harald (walking up and down). Yes, I can understand that. + +Evje. I will repeat what I have said already: they write about +_you_, and _we_ have to suffer for it. + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, and Gertrud especially. + +Gertrud. No--I don't want anyone to consider me in the matter at +all. Besides, it is not what they say of you in the paper that +hurts me--. (Stops abruptly.) + +Harald (who has come up to her). But what your parents are +feeling about it? Is that it? (GERTRUD does not answer.) + +Evje (pushing back his plate). There, I have finished! (They rise +from the table. MRS. EVJE helps INGEBORG to clear away the +things, which INGEBORG carries out of the room.) + +Mrs. Evje. Couldn't you wash your hands of politics, Harald? +(GERTRUD goes out to the left.) + +Evje (who has followed GERTRUD with his eyes). We cannot deny that +it pains us considerably that in our old age our peaceful home +should be invaded by all this squabbling and abomination. + +Mrs. Evje (who rung for INGEBORG to move the table). You have no +need to do it, either, Harald! You are a grown man, and your own +master. (INGEBORG comes in. HARALD helps her to move the table.) + +Evje (to his wife). Don't let Ingeborg hear. Come along, we will go +into my room. + +Mrs. Evje. You forget, all the windows are open there. I have had +the fire lit here, so that we could stay here. + +Evje. Very well--then we will sit here. (Sits down by the fire.) +Will you have a cigar? + +Harald. No, thanks. (INGEBORG goes out.) + +Evje (taking a cigar and lighting it). As my wife said just now-- +couldn't you wash your hands of politics, Harald? You, who have +both talent and means, need not be at a loss for a vocation in +life. + +Harald (sitting down on the sofa). If I have any talent, it is for +politics--and so I intend to devote my means to that. + +Evje. What do you propose to gain by it? + +Harald. What any one who believes in a cause hopes to gain--that +is to say, to help it on. + +Evje. And to become a cabinet minister? + +Harald. I certainly can't do that any other way; well, I admit-- +that _is_ my idea. + +Evje. You will not be elected now. + +Harald. That we shall see. + +Evje. But suppose you are not re-elected to-morrow? + +Harald. Then I must find some other way. + +Evje. Always with the same object? + +Harald. Always with the same object. (EVJE sighs.) + +Mrs. Evje (who has taken her sewing and sat down by the fire). +Oh, these politics! + +Harald. At any rate, they are the most prominent factors in +life just now. + +Evje. We do not suppose we can exercise any influence over you. But +at any rate it is possible that you yourself have not considered +the position into which you have put the whole of us. (Both he and +his wife avoid looking at HARALD during this discussion.) + +Mrs. Evje. Say what you really mean, dear--that he is making us +all thoroughly unhappy, and that is the truth! + +Harald (getting up, and walking up and down). Well, look here--I +have a proposal to make. It is, that you should abandon all +opposition to Gertrud's marrying me at once. To-day again my +brother has expressed the wish that we should be married by his +bedside; so that he should be able to take part in it. I scarcely +need add how happy it would make me. + +Evje. But whether she is here at home or married to you, you know, +her parents' distress would be just as great every time their child +was persecuted. + +Mrs. Evje. Surely you can appreciate that! + +Harald. But what answer am I to give to my brother's request?-- +most likely the last he will ever--. (Stops.) + +Evje (after a pause). He is very kind to wish it, as he always is. +Nothing would make us happier; but we who are her parents do not +consider that you could make our daughter happy as long as you +remain in politics and on the lines on which you are now +travelling. + +Harald (after a pause, during which he has stood still). That is to +say, you contemplate breaking off our engagement? + +Evje (looking at him quickly). Far from it! + +Mrs. Evje (at the same time). How can you say such a thing? + +Evje (turning towards the fire again). We have spoken about it +to Gertrud to-day--as to whether it would not be possible to +induce you to choose some other career. + +Mrs. Evje. You understand now, why you found Gertrud upset. You +must listen to us now, as she did, in all friendliness. + +Evje (getting up and standing with his back to the fire). The first +thing I do in the morning is to read my paper. You know what +was in it to-day--the same as is in it now every day. + +Mrs. Evje. No; I am sure it has never been as bad as to-day. + +Harald (walking up and down again). The election is just at +hand! + +Evje. Well--it is just as painful to us, her father and mother, +whether it is before or after the election. We are not accustomed +to associate with any one who has not first-class credentials--and +now we have to endure seeing doubt cast upon our own son-in-law's. +Do not misunderstand me; to my mind, for credentials to be +first-class they must not only actually be so, but must also be +considered to be so by people in general. (HARALD begins to walk +up and down again.) The second thing I do in the morning is to +open my letters. Amongst to-day's were several from friends we +had invited to a party we thought of giving--if, that is to say, +your brother's illness took no sudden turn for the worse. No fewer +than ten of them refuse our invitation--most of them making some +excuse, and a few with a little more show of a real reason; but one +of them speaks straight out, and I have his letter here. (Takes it +from his pocket.) I have kept it for you. It is from my father's +old friend, the bishop. I haven't my spectacles--and for me to have +mislaid my spectacles will show you what a state of mind I am in. I +don't think I have done such a thing for--. Here, read it yourself! +Read it aloud! + +Harald (taking the letter). "My dear Mr. Evje. As you are my poor +dear friend's son, you must listen to the truth from me. I cannot +willingly come to your house while I might meet there a certain +person who, certainly, is one of you, but nevertheless is a person +whom I cannot hold in entire respect." + +Mrs. Evje. Well, Harald, what do you think our feelings must be +when we read things like that? + +Evje. Do not imagine that, in spite of that, _we_ do not hold you +in entire respect. We only ask you to ensure our daughter's +happiness. You can do that with a word. + +Mrs. Evje. We know what you are, whatever people say--even if they +are bishops. But, in return, you ought to have confidence in our +judgment; and our advice to you is, have done with it! Marry +Gertrud at once, and go away for your honeymoon; by the time you +come back, people will have got something else to talk about--and +you will have found something else to occupy you as well. + +Evje. You must not misunderstand us. We mean no coercion. We are +not insisting on this alternative. If you wish to be married, you +shall--without feeling yourself obliged to change your vocation for +_our_ sakes. We only want to make it clear that it would pain us-- +pain us very deeply. + +Mrs. Evje. If you want to take time to think it over, or want to +talk it over with Gertrud or with your brother, do! (GERTRUD +comes in and goes about the room looking for something.) + +Evje. What are you looking for, dear? + +Gertrud. Oh, for the--. + +Mrs. Evje. I expect it is the newspaper; your grandfather has been +asking for it. + +Evje. Surely there is no need for _him_ to read it? + +Mrs. Evje. He asked me for it, too. He knows quite well what has +made us all unhappy. + +Evje. Can't you tell him? No, that wouldn't do. + +Mrs. Evje (to GERTRUD). I suppose you have had to confess to him +what is the matter? + +Gertrud (trying to conceal an emotion that is almost too much for +her). Yes. (Finds the paper, and goes out.) + +Mrs. Evje (when GERTRUD has gone). Poor child! + +Evje. Does not what she is carrying to him, with all that it says +about you and about your brother, seem to you like an omen? I will +tell you how it strikes me. Your brother is a very much more gifted +man than I am; and although it is true, as that paper says, that +nothing of all that he has worked for has ever come to anything, +still perhaps he may nevertheless have accomplished more than +either you or me, although we have done a good deal between us to +increase the prosperity of our town. I feel that to be so, although +I cannot express what I mean precisely. But consider the reputation +he will leave behind him. All educated people will say just what +that paper says to-day--and to-morrow he will be forgotten. He will +scarcely find a place in history, for history only concerns itself +with the great leaders of men. What does it all come to, then? +Neither present nor posthumous fame; but death--death all the time. +He is dying by inches now, dying of the most horrible persecution; +and the emotion that his end will cause among a few individuals +cannot be called posthumous fame. (HARALD begins to speak, but +checks himself.) Can _you_ hope to make a better fight of it? You +think you are stronger? Very well; perhaps you may have the +strength to endure it until other times come and other opinions +with them. But there will be one by your side who will not have the +strength to endure it. Gertrud is not strong--she could never stand +it; indeed now--already--. (Is stopped by his emotion.) + +Mrs. Evje. She hides it from you, but she cannot hide it from us. +Besides, a friend of ours--our dear doctor--said only yesterday--. +(Breaks off in tears.) + +Evje. We never told you, but he warned us some time ago; we had no +idea it was so serious, or that it had anything to do with this. +But yesterday he frightened us; he said she--. Well, you can ask +him yourself. He will be here directly. (HARALD fills a glass of +water and raises it to his lips, but sets it down again untasted.) + +Mrs. Evje (going to him). I am so sorry for you, Harald! To have +this come on you just now--when your splendid brother is at the +point of death, and you yourself are being persecuted! (A ring is +heard at the bell.) + +Evje. But it should be a warning to you! Sometimes a single +movement will change the course of a whole life. + +Mrs. Evje. And do have a little confidence in us! (A ring is heard +again.) + +Evje. What on earth has become of John to-day? That is the second +time the bell has rung. + +Mrs. Evje. One of the maids is opening the door, I can hear. + +Evje. I expect it is the doctor. + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, it is he--I know his ring. (A knock is heard at the +door.) + +Evje. Come in! (The DOCTOR comes in.) + +The Doctor. Good morning! (Lays down his hat and stick.) Well, so I +hear John has been up to his pranks again? The rascal is in bed. + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. In bed? + +The Doctor. Came home at four o'clock in the morning, drunk. Ill +to-day, naturally. Ingeborg asked me to go in and see him. + +Evje. Well!--I am determined to put an end to it! + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, I have never been able to understand why you were +so lenient with John. + +Evje. He has been with us five years; and, besides, it makes people +talk so, if you have to send your servants away. + +Mrs. Evje. But surely this sort of thing makes them talk much +worse! + +Evje. Well--he shall leave this very day. + +The Doctor (to HARALD). How are you, Rejn?--Oho! I understand. I +have come at an inopportune moment with my complaints of John? You +have all got something more serious on your minds? + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, we have had it out, as we agreed yesterday. + +The Doctor. You must forgive me, my dear Rejn, for having told my +old friends the whole truth yesterday. She (pointing to MRS. EVJE) +was an old playfellow of mine, and her husband and I have been +friends from boyhood; so we have no secrets from each other. And +Gertrud's condition makes me very uneasy. + +Harald. Why have you never told me that before? + +The Doctor. Goodness knows I have often enough given her parents +hints that she was not well; but they have only made up their minds +that her happiness in her engagement would quite cure her. They are +a considerate couple, these two dear people, you know; they didn't +want to seem interfering. + +Harald. Their consideration--which I appreciate and have lately had +constant reason to be grateful for--has all at once become a more +powerful weapon than open opposition. It makes a duty of what I +should otherwise have felt to be unfair coercion. But now the +situation is such that I can neither go forward nor back. After +what I have gone through, you must see that I cannot withdraw on +the very eve of the election--and after the election it will be too +late. On the other hand--(with emotion)--I cannot, I dare not, go +on with it if it is to cost me--. (Breaks off.) + +Evje (standing in front of the fire). There, there! Take time to +think it over, my dear boy; talk it over with her and with your +brother. + +The Doctor (who has sat down on a chair to the left, a little away +from the others). I have just been to see your brother. A +remarkable man! But do you know what occurred to me as I sat there? +He is dying because he _is_ a man. The only people that are fit for +political life nowadays are those whose hearts have been turned to +stone. (Picks up something from the table and gets up.) Ah, just +look here! Here is a fine specimen of petrifaction. It is a +fragment of palm leaf of some kind, found impressed in a bit of +rock from Spitzbergen. I sent it you myself, so I know it. That is +what you have to be like to withstand arctic storms!--it will take +to harm. But your brother--well, his life had been like that of the +original palm tree, with the air sighing through its branches; the +change of climate was too sudden for him. (Goes up to HARALD.) You +have still to try it. Shall you be able to kill all the humanity +that is in you? If you can make yourself as insensate a thing as +this stone, I daresay you will be able to stand the life. But are +you willing to venture upon political life at such a price? If you +are--so be it; but remember that in that case you must also kill +all humanity in Gertrud--in these two--in every one that is dear to +you. Otherwise no one will understand you or follow you. If you +cannot do that, you will never be more than a dabbler in politics-- +a quarter, an eighth part, of a politician--and all your efforts, +in what you consider your vocation, will be pitiable! + +Mrs. Evje (who has been occupied at the back of the room, but now +sits down by the fare). That is quite true! I know cases of +petrifaction like that--and God preserve anyone that I love from +it! + +Evje (coming forward towards HARALD). I don't want to say anything +to hurt your feelings--least of all just now. But I just want to +add my warning, because I believe I have discovered that there is a +danger that persecution may make you hard. + +Harald. Yes!--but do you suppose it is only politics that offer +that dangerous prospect? + +The Doctor. You are quite right! It is all the cry nowadays, +"Harden yourself!" It isn't only military men and doctors that +have to be hardened; commercial men have to be hardened, civil +servants have to be hardened, or dried up; and everybody else has +to be hardened for life, apparently. But what does it all mean? It +means that we are to drive out all warmth from our hearts, all +desire from our imaginations. There is a child's heart at the +bottom of every one of our hearts-ever young, full of laughter and +tears; and that is what we shall have killed before we are "fitted +for the battle of life," as they put it. No, no--that is what we +ought to preserve; we were given it for that! (HARALD hides his +face in his hands, and sits so for some time.) + +Mrs. Evje. Any mother or any wife knows that. + +Evje (standing with his back to the fire). You want to bring back +the age of romance, doctor! + +The Doctor (with a laugh). Not its errors--because in those days +unclean minds brought to birth a great deal that was unclean. +(Seriously.) But what is it, when all is said and done, but a +violent protest on the part of the Teutonic people against the +Romanesque spirit and school--a remarkable school, but not _ours_. +To us it seems a barren, merely intellectual school--a mere mass of +formulas which led to a precocious development of the mind. And +that was the spirit it bred--critical and barren. But these schools +of thought are now all we have, and both of them are bad for us! +They have no use for the heart or the imagination; they do not +breed faith or a longing for high achievement. Look at _our_ life! +Is our life really our own? + +Mrs. Evje. No. You have only to think of our language, our tastes, +our society, our-- + +The Doctor (interrupting her). Those are the externals of our life, +merely the externals! No, look within--look at such a view of life +as we were talking about, clamouring for "hardening"--is that ours? +Can we, for all our diligence, make as much way in it as, for +instance, a born Parisian journalist?--become like a bar of steel +with a point at each end, a pen-point and a sword-point? _We_ +can't do that; the Teutonic temperament is not fitted for it. + +Evje. Oh, we are well on the way towards it. Look at the heartless +intolerance in our politics; it will soon match what you were +describing. + +Harald. Everyone that disagrees with you is either an ambitious +scoundrel, or half mad, or a blockhead. + +The Doctor (laughing). Yes, and here in the north, in our small +communities, where a man meets all his enemies in the same barber's +shop, we feel it as keenly as if we were digging our knives into +each other! (Seriously.) We may laugh at it, but if we could add up +the sum of suffering that has been caused to families and to +individuals--if we could see the concrete total before us--we +should be tempted to believe that our liberty had been given to us +as a curse! For it _is_ a cursed thing to destroy the humanity that +is in us, and make us cruel and hard to one another. + +Harald (getting up, but standing still). But, my good friends, if +you are of the same mind about that, and I with you--what is the +next thing to do? + +The Doctor. The next thing to do? + +Harald. Naturally, to unite in making an end of it. + +Mrs. Evje (as she works). What can _we_ do? + +Evje. I am no politician and do not wish to become one. + +The Doctor (laughing, and sitting down). No, a politician is a +principle, swathed round with a printed set of directions for use. +I prefer to be allowed to be a human being. + +Harald. No one can fairly insist on your taking up any vocation +to which you do not feel you have a calling. + +The Doctor. Of course not. + +Harald. But one certainly might insist on your not helping to +maintain a condition of affairs that you detest. + +All. We? + +Harald. This newspaper, which is the ultimate reason of all this +conversation we have had--you take it in. + +Evje. Why, you take it in yourself! + +Harald. No. Every time there is anything nasty in it about me or +mine, it is sent to me anonymously. + +The Doctor (with a laugh). I don't take it in; I read my hall-porter's +copy. + +Harald. I have heard you say that before. I took an opportunity +to ask your hall-porter. He said _he_ did not read it, and did not +take it in either. + +The Doctor (as before). Then I should like to know who does pay +for it! + +Evje. A newspaper is indispensable to a business man. + +Harald. An influential business man could by himself, or at any +rate with one or two others, start a paper that would be as useful +again to him as this one is. + +Evje. That is true enough; but, after all, if we agree with its +politics? + +Harald. I will accept help from any one whose opinions on public +affairs agree with my own. Who am I that I should pretend to +judge him? But I will not give him my help in anything that is +malicious or wicked. + +The Doctor. Pshaw! + +Harald. Everyone who subscribes to, or contributes to, or gives +any information to a paper that is scurrilous, is giving his help to +what is wicked. And, moreover, every one who is on terms of +friendship with a man who is destroying public morality, is +helping him to do it. + +The Doctor (getting up). Does he still come here? (A silence.) + +Evje. He and I are old schoolfellows--and I don't like breaking with +old acquaintances. + +Mrs. Evje. He is a most amusing man, too--though I can't deny that +he is malicious. (The DOCTOR sits down again, humming to himself.) + +Harald. But that is not all. Both you and the Doctor have--with +some eloquence-- + +The Doctor (with a laugh). Thank you! + +Harald. --expressed your abhorrence of certain political tendencies +with which neither you nor I have any sympathy--which affront +our ideas of humane conduct. You do not feel called upon to +enter actively into the lists against them; but why do you try to +prevent those who do feel so called upon? You lament the +existing state of things--and yet you help to maintain it, and make +a friend of the man who is its champion! + +The Doctor (turning his head). Apparently we are on our defence, +Evje! + +Harald. No--I am. I was told a little while ago that I was in a fair +way to become hardened and callous, and that I must abandon +my career--and that I must do so for Gertrud's sake, too, because +she would never be able to share the fight with me. I was told +this at one of the bitterest moments in my life. And that made me +hesitate for a moment. But now I have turned my face forward +again, because you have enlightened me! (A short, sharp cough is +heard in the hall.) + +Mrs. Evje (getting up). That is he! (A knock is heard at the door; +the DOCTOR gets up and pushes his chair back. The EDITOR comes in.) + +The Editor. Good morning, my children! How are you? + +Mrs. Evje (sitting down). I did not hear the bell. + +The Editor. I don't suppose you did--I came in by the back door. I +took you by surprise, eh? Discussing me, too--what? (Laughs.) + +Evje. You have given us enough reason to, to-day, any way. + +The Editor. Yes, haven't I? Such a thing for a man to do to his +best friends--eh? + +Evje. That is true. + +The Editor. To his old schoolfellows--his neighbours--eh? I expect it +has disturbed your natural moderation--eh? + +Evje. I pride myself on my moderation. + +The Editor. As much as on your brandy! + +Evje. Are you going to begin your nonsense again? + +The Editor. Good-morning, Doctor! Have you been making them +a fine speech this morning?--about my paper? or about humanity?-- +romanticism? or catholicism?--eh? (Laughs.) + +The Doctor (laughing). Certainly one of us two has made a fine +speech this morning! + +The Editor. Not me; mine was made yesterday!--How is your hall-porter? + +The Doctor (laughing). Quite well, I am ashamed to say. + +The Editor. There's a faithful subscriber to my paper, if you like! +(The DOCTOR laughs.) Well, Mrs. Evje, I can give you news of your +man, Master John! + +Mrs. Evje. Can you? It is more than I can. + +The Editor. Yes--he is in bed still. That is why I came in the back +way--to enquire after his health. + +Mrs. Evje. But how--? + +The Editor. How is he after last night? + +Mrs. Evje. Really, I believe you know everything. We had no idea +he was out last night. + +The Editor. Oh, that is the very latest intelligence! He has been +figuring as a speaker--he was drunk, of course--before the +Association founded by his master's future son-in-law. And he +made a most effective speech--indeed, the speakers at that +Association always make most effective speeches! It was all +about a Sliding Scale of Taxation, Profit-Sharing for Workers, the +necessity for a Labour majority in Parliament, etc., etc., all the +usual Socialist rhodomontade. You see how infectious intellectual +ideas are! + +Evje. Well!--I shall turn him out of the house to-day! + +The Editor. But that is not in accordance with your love of +moderation, Evje! + +Evje. It is a scandal. + +The Editor (to EVJE). But not the worst. Because, if you want to +avoid that sort of thing, there are others you must turn out of the +house. (Glances towards HARALD.) + +Evje. You seem determined to quarrel to-day? + +The Editor. Yes, with your "moderation." + +Evje. You would be none the worse of a little of it. + +The Editor. "Brandy and Moderation" is your watchword--eh? + +Evje. Do stop talking such nonsense!--I know one thing, and that +is that you seem to find the brandy from my distillery remarkably +to your taste! + +The Doctor (interrupting them). When you are in these provoking +moods there is always some grievance lurking at the back of your +mind. Out with it! I am a doctor, you know; I want to get at the +cause of your complaint! + +The Editor. You were not very successful in that, you know, +when you said my maid had cholera, and she really only was--. +(Laughs.) + +The Doctor (laughing). Are you going to bring that story up +again? Every one is liable to make mistakes, you know--even you, +my boy! + +The Editor. Certainly. But before making a mistake this time-- +ahem!--I wanted first of all to enquire whether-- + +The Doctor. Ah! now it is coming! + +The Editor --whether you have any objection to my mentioning +John in my paper? + +Mrs. Evje. What has John to do with us? + +The Editor. Just as much as the Association, where he delivered +his speech, has; it--ahem!--is one of the family institutions! + +Evje. I have had no more to do with making John what he is than I +have had with making that Association what it is. + +The Editor. Your future son-in-law made the Association what it is, +and the Association has made John what he is. + +The Doctor. Or, to put it the other way round: John is Mr. Evje's +servant; John has become an active member of the Association; +therefore Mr. Evje is a patron of the Association. + +The Editor. Or this way: John, being the well-known Mr. Evje's +servant, has for that reason become an active member of the +Association which--as he expressed it--his employer's future +son-in-law "has had the honour to found!" + +Mrs. Evje. Surely you never mean to put that in the paper? + +The Editor (laughing). They are John's own words. + +Mr. Evje. Of course, he would never put a tipsy man's maunderings +into the paper. (To his wife.) Don't you understand that he is joking? + +The Editor (clearing his throat). It is already in type. + +The Doctor. Oh, nonsense! + +The Editor. The scene afforded an opportunity for an extremely +amusing sketch, without mentioning any names. + +Mr. Evje. I sincerely hope that + +The Doctor (to EVJE). Oh, he is only teasing you! You know him. + +The Editor. What do you think of this? "Those who indirectly +support so dangerous an institution will have to face exposure."--I +quite agree with it. + +Mrs. Evje (getting up). What do you mean? Do you mean that my +husband--? + +The Editor. A little fright will be a good discipline for him! + +Evje. Is what you quoted meant as an accusation against us-- +whether you are serious or whether you are joking? + +The Doctor. He is only trying to frighten you with a bogey; it is +not the first time, you know! + +Evje. Yes, but what have _I_ to be frightened of? I don't belong to +the Association. + +The Editor. But persons who do belong to it frequent your house. +A man is known by the company he keeps. + +Mrs. Evje. I really begin to think he _does_ mean it seriously. + +The Editor. It is too ugly a thing to jest about, you mean? + +Evje. Is it possible that you seriously mean to allude to John as +my servant? + +The Editor. Isn't he your servant? + +Evje. And to put that in the paper for every one to read? + +The Editor. No--only for those who read the paper. + +Evje. And you have come here to tell us that? + +The Editor. Do you suppose I would do it without telling you? + +Mrs. Evje. It is perfectly shameless! + +The Editor. It certainly is. + +Evje. Is it your intention to quarrel with me? + +The Editor. Of course! + +Evje. With your own schoolfellow?--one who has been it true friend +to you in all your ups and downs? It is abominable! + +The Editor. Perhaps it was to ensure my holding my tongue that +you have been my friend! + +Mrs. Evje. You _couldn't_ behave in such a fashion to a friend! + +The Editor (drily). To my own brother, if he stood in my way! + +Harald (to himself). This is too much! (Comes forward.) Is your +hatred for me so bitter that on my account you must persecute +even my future parents-in-law, your own old friends? + +The Editor (who, as soon as HARALD came forward, has turned away +to the DOCTOR). Have you heard how people are being beaten up to +go to the meeting of electors to-night? The last political speeches +of the campaign must be made with red fire burning at the wings! (Laughs.) + +Mrs. Evje (coming up to him). No, you are not going to get out of it +by changing the subject. Is it really your intention to put my +husband in your paper? + +The Editor. He is putting himself there. + +Evje. I, who all my life have avoided being drawn into any political +party? + +The Doctor. What has Evje to do with Harald Rein's politics? + +The Editor. He endorses them! + +Mrs. Evje. No!--a thousand times no! + +Evje. Why, only to-day + +The Doctor. I can bear witness to that! + +The Editor. It is no use protesting! + +Evje. But you must believe our protestations! + +The Editor. Bah! You will see something more to-morrow-- + +Evje. Something more? + +Mrs. Evje. Against my husband? + +The Editor. That scandal about the Stock Exchange Committee. No +less than three Letters to the Editor about it have been lying in my +pigeon-holes for some time. + +Evje (in bewilderment). Are you going to put nonsense of that sort +in your paper? The most respected men on the Exchange--? + +Mrs. Evje. Members of the Committee--? + +The Editor. They are only respected men so long as they respect +themselves. When their chairman enters into connections which +offend public opinion, the whole crew of them must be made to +feel what sort of a man it is they are associating with. + +The Doctor. So on Mr. Rejn's account you are going to expose +Evje, and on Evje's account the Stock Exchange Committee? I +suppose my turn will come soon! + +The Editor. It will come. + +The Doctor. Indeed! + +The Editor. The letters that have been sent to me are all from +highly respected men. That shows that public opinion has turned +round; and public opinion must be obeyed! (Throws out his hands.) + +Evje (in a troubled voice). It is quite true that I have noticed in +several little ways that their temper--. (Looks round him, and +checks himself. Then speaks more confidently.) But it was just at +such a time that I looked for help from you, my friend. That is +why I did not bother myself much about it. + +The Editor (to EVJE). But you know it is you that are attacking me +now! + +Evje. I? + +Mrs. Evje. He? + +The Editor. And, besides, I have no choice in the matter. You have +made your bed, and must lie on it. + +Evje (growing angry again). But do you really mean that you don't +feel yourself how shocking such behaviour in an old friend is? + +The Editor. "Old friend," "old schoolfellow," "neighhour,"--out +with the whole catalogue! + +Mrs. Evje. I am sure you don't deserve to be either one or the other! +(The EDITOR laughs.) Think what you wrote to-day about Halvdan +Rejn, who is dying. A man could only write that who--who-- + +The Editor. Well?--who? + +Mrs. Evje. Who has not an atom of heart. + +The Editor. Ha, ha! "The natural affections!"--"family considerations!" +Truth, my dear lady, has no family ties; it has no respect even for a +"dying man." + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, indeed--every decent man has some respect for +suffering, and even wicked men are silent in the presence of death! + +The Editor. "Sufferer"--"dying man"--"martyr," +I suppose! Oh, we know all that old story! + +Harald (coming forward). Let me tell you that you are a--person +with whom I will not condescend to argue. (Walks away from him.) + +The Editor (who has at once crossed the room). This theatrical +flaunting of the "dying man" before people's eyes, that a +calculating brother has permitted himself, is of course what is +really shocking in the whole affair. But I will tear the mask off him. + +The Doctor (following him). Listen to me, now; listen! +We are gentlefolk, you know! And even if Mr. Rejn +has let himself be so carried away as to mention his +dying brother on a public occasion--well, I am not going +to say that I approve of it, but surely it is excusable +and-- + +Harald (coming forward). I want none of your defence, thank you! + +The Doctor. The one of you is just as mad as the other! (To the +EDITOR.) But what has all this to do with Evje, seeing that, after all, +the whole of this affair of the Rejns'-- + +Evje (to the EDITOR, eagerly). I give you my word of honour that I +have never approved of Harald's utterances about his brother, +either. I am a man of moderation, as you know; I do not approve +of his politics. Only to-day-- + +Mrs. Evje. And what on earth have politics to do with the Stock +Exchange Committee? + +The Doctor. Or with Evje's coachman! + +Evje. You might just as well take it into your head to write about +my clerks, or my workmen, or-- + +The Doctor. His carpenters, or his brewers--or his horses! + +The Editor (stands suddenly still and says, drily): You may assure +yourselves that things are quite sufficient as they are! (Begins to +button up his coat.) + +Evje. Is it so bad as all that! + +Mrs. Evje. Good gracious!--what is it then? + +The Editor (taking up his hat). You will be able to read it +to-morrow, together with some more about the "dying man." +Good-bye! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje (together.) But before you go-- + +The Doctor. Hush, hush! Let us remember we are gentlefolk! What +will you bet that the whole thing is not just a bogey to frighten you? + +The Editor (holding out his hand towards the DOCTOR). +I hold Mr. Evje's position in the town in the hollow of my hand! + +Evje (fuming). Is your object to ruin _that_, then? + +Mrs. Evje. You will never succeed in that! + +The Doctor. Hush, hush! let us remember we are gentlefolk! + +Evje. In my own house--my old schoolfellow--that +he should have the audacity--! + +The Editor. I have told you the truth openly. And, as far as that +goes, you have stood more than that from me in your own house, +my boy. Because the misfortune is that you are a coward. + +Evje. _I_ a coward? + +The Doctor (laughing). Hush, hush! Let us remember we are +gentlefolk! + +Evje. Yes, I have been weak enough to be afraid of +scandal, especially in the newspapers, it is true; that is why I have +put up with you too long! But now you shall see that I am not a +coward. Leave my house! + +Mrs. Evje. That's right! + +The Doctor. But you must part like gentlefolk, you know. + +The Editor. Pooh! You will be sending me a message +directly, to call me back! + +Evje. You have the face to say that? + +Mrs. Evje (to EVJE). Come, dear, don't provoke him any more! + +The Editor (turning to go). You daren't do otherwise. + +The Doctor. But part like gentlefolk--! + +Evje (following the EDITOR). No, as sure as I live-- + +The Editor. You will be sending a message to call me back! Ha, ha, +ha! + +Evje. Never, never! + +Mrs. Evje. My dear--! + +The Editor. Yes, you will--directly--this very day! Ha, ha, ha! + +The Doctor. Don't part like that! Part like gentle-- + +Evje. No, I tell you! + +The Editor (laughing all the time). Yes! + +Mrs. Evje. My dear-remember you may bring on one of your +attacks! + +The Editor (at the door). You are too much of a coward! Ha! ha! +(Goes out.) + +Evje (in a rage). No! + +The Editor (sticking his head in at the door). Yes! (Goes away.) + +The Doctor. What a visit! I cannot help laughing, all the same! Ha, +ha, ha, ha! + +Evje. Do you dare to laugh at that? + +The Doctor. "Old schoolfellows"--ha, ha! "Moderation"--ha, ha! +"The same party"--ha, ha, ha! + +Mrs. Evje. Oh, my husband is ill! + +Evje (faintly). Yes--a little water! + +Mrs. Evje. Water, water, Harald! + +The Doctor. One of his attacks--that is another affair altogether. +Here (takes a bottle from his pocket)--smell this! That's it! Now, a +little water! (Gives him some.) No danger this time. Cheer up, old +boy! + +Evje. What a scandal! + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, you will never be able to bear it, dear; I told you +so. + +Evje. To think of _my_ name appearing in the papers, when all my +life I have-- + +Mrs. Evje. --done everything you could to keep clear of such +things! And you such a dear, good, upright man!--Oh, these politics +are the curse of the world! + +The Doctor (laughing). As I told you, you must go through a +special process of hardening before you can stand them. + +Evje. And think of public opinion--my position--my connections! It +is more than I can bear! + +Mrs. Evje (to the Doctor). I am sure the first time he reads +something about himself in the paper, it will make him really ill! +He won't be able to stand it, I know. + +The Doctor. Oh, he will get over it. + +Mrs. Evje. No, he won't. I am frightened at the mere thought of it. +He will never be able to bear it, never! + +Evje. When all my life I have tried to keep clear of such things--! + +Mrs. Evje. And now in your old age, though you deserve it no +more than a child does, to be dragged into it! If I could prevent +that, I would willingly take on my own shoulders whatever-- + +Evje. No, no--not you! Not you! + +The Doctor. But the thing is not necessarily done because he +threatened he would do it. + +Evje. Do you think--? + +The Doctor. He is so dreadfully hot-headed, but I am sure he will +think twice-- + +Mrs. Evje. --before he attacks a lifelong friend! Yes, that is so, isn't +it! + +Evje. Do you really think that there is any possibility then--? + +The Doctor. I really can't say! + +Mrs. Evje. Nothing in the world is impossible! + +Evje. We were both so hot-headed. + +The Doctor. Yes, it will have to be a more peaceable conversation +than that of a few minutes ago! + +Evje. I don't know how it is--there is something so provoking about +him. + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, and you have not been very well lately, either. I +have often said so to you. + +Evje. No, I haven't. It has been just one thing after another! And all +my life I have tried to keep clear of such things! + +The Doctor. I will tell you what, old friend; I am sure the best thing +to do would be-- + +Evje. What? + +The Doctor. I am sure you will not be easy in your mind until +someone has talked to him. + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, couldn't that be done? Good gracious, that is not +sending a message to him! + +Evje. But who would--? (A short silence.) + +The Doctor. I don't know who would be best. + +Mrs. Evje. All our old friends have deserted us; we shall soon have +none. + +The Doctor. Well, at all events, you have me. + +Evje. Would you really be willing to--? Do you mean it? (Grasps his +hand.) + +The Doctor. Of course I will! He can't eat me! + +Mrs. Evje. How good you are! Of course you only need tell him-- +what is quite true--that my husband would never be able to bear it! +He, who all these years-- + +Evje. --have put up with an incredible amount for his sake, both +from himself and from others! + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, that is true! And now you will go, dear friend--our +only friend!--and talk to him quite amicably and sensibly, won't +you? + +Evje. But don't delay! He is so hot-headed that we must find him +before-- + +The Doctor. Oh, I will find him; he is always about the town. + +Evje. And tell him--ask him-- + +The Doctor. Oh, I know what to say to him. + +Mrs. Evje. That is right! + +Evje. Thank you! I shall never forget how, at a moment when +everything threatened to overwhelm me, you were the only one to +stand by me! Ah, I feel as if a load had fallen off my shoulders! I +feel all at once quite happy again! + +The Doctor. That's right. You pull yourself together! I will see to +everything else. + +Evje. Thanks, thanks! But make haste! + +The Doctor. I am off! My hat? (Turns, and sees HARALD, and says to +himself.) A-ha! He looks as if he had had about enough of this. It +would have been a joke to-- + +Evje. Oh, do make haste, my friend! + +The Doctor. Yes, yes--if only I could find my hat. + +Mrs. Evje. It is on the table. + +The Doctor. So it is! + +Evje. Good luck to you! + +Mrs. Evje. And do it very tactfully! + +The Doctor (meaningly). And I hope you three will enjoy +yourselves! (Goes out.) + +Evje. What a morning! + +Mrs. Evje. We, who have always endeavoured to take everything +quietly and indulgently-- + +Evje. Yes, and to conduct our family affairs peaceably and +affectionately! (Jumps up and turns to HARALD.) The whole thing is +_your_ fault! + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, it is Harald's fault! From the day this unfortunate +engagement came about, we have scarcely had a moment's peace +here. + +Evje. No, no, that is not the case! We must be reasonable. At first, +when Mr. Rejn had a fine future before him, when people vied +with one another to catch him, then the engagement was an honour +to us as well as to our daughter. But from the moment he took up these +wretched politics--that is to say, from the time his brother fell ill-- +well, he can see for himself what the result has been to us! + +Mrs. Evje. And he certainly must admit that it is not what we +have deserved; indeed it is more than a respected and well-bred +family can put up with. + +Harald. I quite agree that it is more than a respected and +well-bred family _ought_ to put up with. + +Mrs. Evje. Oh, so _you_ feel that too? + +Harald. Certainly. And the only excuse I can see is that there are +many more in the same case. It is only in that way that such +things become possible. + +Evje. I do not understand. Many more like--?--like whom? + +Harald. Like you! + +Mrs. Evje. In what respect? + +Harald. I will explain. Most of the successful politicians +nowadays have not gained their position by means of any +greatness of their own, but by the pitiable weakness of others. +Another age will form a different estimate of them--see them in +their proper perspective, and find them to be much smaller men! + +Evje. But what has that to do with us? + +Harald. Well, just try to size up that man whom a little while ago +you turned out of your house and afterwards sent a message to-- + +Evje. We sent _no_ message to him! + +Mrs. Evje. A friend of ours has gone to talk to him. That is quite a +different thing! + +Harald. Well, take his measure by yours and yours by his! He +went away, and he will come back like a conquering hero. Will +that be thanks to his greatness, or his talent--to the loftiness of his +opinions or his feelings? No,--it will be thanks to your pitiable +weakness. + +Mrs. Evje. Upon my word! + +Evje. Well, I--! + +Harald. Do you think any one who has any pluck in his +disposition would consent to be a party to such a contemptible +state of things? Think of your own daughter, educated by that +good old man who lies in there, but an obedient child to you; +think how she must be perpetually torn between what she loves +and respects and what she sees going on here! No wonder she is +ill! But remember this--she is not ill because she sticks to me; +she is ill because of your pitiable weakness! + +Mrs. Evje. How can you dare to say such things! So you too--! + +Evje. Such an absolute want of respect! + +Harald. Listen to me, once for all. I intend, God helping me, to +take up the fight that has killed my brother, the noblest man I +know! And Gertrud is going to take up _her_ share in the fight, as I +do mine. But to come to this house as long as _he_ comes here--to go +through what I have gone through to-day--sullies my self-respect +to such an extent, and offends my better feelings so deeply, that +either he never sets foot here again, or I do not! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. But--! + +Harald (quietly). When I came here to-day, I thought we should +be able to arrange matters without my speaking out; but there is +nothing else for it, so good-bye! (Goes out. A moment's silence +follows.) + +Mrs. Evje. Is _he_ giving _us_ our dismissal? Or does he not really +mean to break with us?--My dear, what is the matter? (Goes to +her husband's side.) + +Evje (without moving). Tell me, my dear--am I a bad man? + +Mrs. Evje. You, a bad man? + +Evje. Because, if I were not a bad, wicked man, they could not +behave in such a way to me, one after the other. + +Mrs. Evje. But, my dear, you are the best and dearest and most +considerate of men! And they are shameless traitors to you, my +dear husband! + +Evje. But how on earth, then, could it come about that I, who all +my life have tried to keep clear of such things--for I have, haven't I? + +Mrs. Evje. Every one knows that, that knows anything about you. + +Evje. How could it come about that in my old age I should be +despised and forsaken by everybody? Surely it is no crime to +want to live in peace, apart from all that sort of thing? + +Mrs. Evje. No, indeed; that is what all decent people want to do. + +Evje. Yes, I thought so too. But now you see! + +Mrs. Evje. But _you_ have been dreadfully unfortunate. + +Evje. Why should I have been just the one to be dreadfully +unfortunate? Most people escape such things altogether. + +Mrs. Evje (starting). Here is Gertrud. + +Evje. Poor child! + +Mrs. Evje. What on earth are we to say to her? + +Evje. Be careful, my dear! be careful! (GERTRUD comes in quietly +and comes forward to them.) + +Gertrud. Did I see Harald go away? + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, my child, he--he went away. + +Gertrud. Without saying good-bye to me? + +Evje. That's true, he didn't say good-bye to you. + +Mrs. Evje. Were you expecting him to come into grandfather's +room to say good-bye to you? + +Gertrud. Yes. Tell me how things went here? + +Evje. Why were you not here, dear? + +Gertrud (in astonishment). I here? You said you did not want me +to be present-- + +Evje. I remember, yes; we thought it would not be advisable. + +Gertrud (still speaking quietly, but in growing alarm). +But how did things go, then? + +Evje. How did they go? Badly. + +Mrs. Evje (hurriedly). That is to say, he did not behave at all well. +You must prepare yourself for the worst, my child! + +Gertrud. Is it something very bad, then? + +Evje. You know he is a little hasty just now, when he has so much +on his hands. He lacks a proper sense of moderation--but he will +learn it, sure enough. + +Gertrud (almost inaudibly). But what does it mean? Is he never +coming back? + +Evje. Never coming back? What an extraordinary question! Of +course he will come back. He was only a little over-hasty, you +know-- + +Gertrud. And said he would never come back? + +Mrs. Evje. Come, come, my dear--you mustn't be alarmed. + +Evje. He talked such a lot, you know, that we must not attach any +particular importance to anything he said. + +Gertrud. So that is how it is! + +Mrs. Evje. We must make allowances for all that he is going +through just now-- + +Evje (suddenly). My child, you look so pale-- + +Mrs. Evje (going to her). Gertrud! + +Gertrud (with a quiet movement of protest). I must give grandfather +his drink; that was really what I came for. And that was how I +happened to see Harald through the window. I will take grandfather +his drink. (The curtain falls as she goes out of the room.) + + + +ACT II + +(SCENE.--A street in the "villa quarter" of the town. Between it +and another street running parallel with it in the background, are +two houses standing in gardens, half of the facade of one of them +projecting into the stage on the right. On the left a third street +runs at right angles to the others, to the back of the stage. The +left side of this third street opens onto a well-wooded park. +The house in the foreground on the right is in two stories. There +is a narrow strip of garden in front of it, enclosed by an iron +railing with a gate in it. The gate is standing open. The entrance +door to the house is immediately behind this gate. There is light +in a small window by the door; the ground floor windows are in +darkness; in those of the upper floor, light is visible through +heavy curtains. It is a wintry evening, and everything is swathed +in an unusually thick fog, in which the gas lamps in the streets +show dimmer and dimmer as they recede in the distance. As the +curtain goes up, a lamplighter is seen descending his ladder from a +lamp-post, where he has just lit the lamp at the corner of the +house.) + +The Lamplighter (as he reaches the ground). It's all one whether +the lamps are lit or not, in such a fog as this. (MRS. EVJE is seen +drawing back the curtain at a window on the first floor. She opens +the window and looks out.) + +Mrs. Evje. The fog is so thick, my dear, that I can't see across +the street. + +Evje (coming to the window, with fur coat and cap on). So it is!-- +Well, so much the better, my dear! (They withdraw into the room; +the window is shut and the curtains drawn. Two passers-by come +along the street from the right, talking.) + +First Passer-by. The Land of Fogs--the old idea of the land of Fogs +was that of a vision of confused and faint sensation, with the +light of the intelligence dimmed and blurred like these gas lamps +in the fog. + +Second Passer-by. It would be that, if our hearts did not often act +as guiding lights to our befogged intelligences. Look at this house +behind us--the brandy distiller's. The devilish workings of his +intelligence have befogged the whole country--befogged it with +brandy--and some such guiding light is much needed there. + +First Passer-by. Ah, well,--the old idea of the Land of Fogs was +that fogs were--. (The sound of their conversation dies away as +they pass into the park on the left. GERTRUD, closely veiled and +wrapped in furs, comes slowly out of the park. She stops at the +corner and looks down the street, then passed slowly along to the +right, looking up at the house as she goes. She is scarcely out of +sight when the house-door opens and EVJE comes out.) + +Evje. This is about the time he comes home--I daren't go to his +house and ask for him; I don't know if he would admit me. I +daren't trust to the Doctor alone.--This uncertainty is dreadful! +(He starts at seeing GERTRUD, whom he does not recognise in the +fog, walking towards him. She turns suddenly and walks back the +way she came.) Who was that? She gave me quite a fright in this +fog! Her furs seemed rather like--no, no, it couldn't be. I must +not let any one recognise me. (Puts up the high collar of his coat, +so that only his nose is visible.) Both of them called me a coward, +but they are very much mistaken. It is not cowardice for a man who +is respected and honoured to try and avoid scandal. Hm! Naturally +those who trade in scandals think otherwise!--To act without +attaching weight to the opinion of others, to disregard one's own +predilections, to put up with being laughed at--all for the sake of +preventing a scandal--that is to be strong and courageous. And it +_is_ admirable, too; for it is admirable to act fearlessly in the +interest of one's family, and of one's business, and of propriety. +(Starts as he hears his door opened. JOHN has come along the street +and gone into the house.) Is that some one coming out of my house? +No, it is a man going in. And then to think of Harald Rejn +beginning that nonsense about my being a coward, because I refused +to become a party man! Every one ought to take sides in politics-- +that is their cry. Hm! I should say it required rather more +courage nowadays to _refrain_ from taking sides. (Starts again.) Who +is that? Oh, only that woman again. She is waiting for some one +too. I expect we shall both catch bad colds. (Walks up and down.) +It is an odd sensation to be walking up and down on the watch +outside one's own house. Cowardice? Pshaw! To let one's self be +abused in a public street without stirring a finger to prevent it, +_that_ would be cowardice. I only hope he has not gone round the +other way? There is much more traffic in that street, and some one +might easily--. I think I will take a turn towards the town, and +turn back when I am a little way from here; it will look less +suspicious. I must catch him, because his paper will be going to +press. (Looks up at his house.) My poor wife, sitting up there +dreadfully alarmed on my account! (Goes out to the right. As soon +as he has gone, the house-door opens and JOHN comes warily out.) + +JOHN. So he has gone out, has he! Oh, well, he is bound to come in +again! I will wait and catch him, that I will! Tra, la, la, la, la! +I can play about here in the fog till he comes back; I have nothing +to lose! And it will be best to catch him in the street; he will +make less fuss, and can't run away from me! Tra, la, la, la, la! +(Lounges out to the right. A moment later, HARALD comes out of the +park. He is dressed much as EVJE is, but has not his coat-collar +turned up.) + +Harald. There is a light in her window! Then she is alone in her +room. What am I going to do now? Twice already I have come to look +at that light; now I have seen it--and must go away! Good-bye, my +darling! Be patient, and wait! I know your thoughts are with me +now; and I know you feel that mine are with you! (As he turns away +from the house he sees the veiled figure of GERTRUD, who, as soon +as she has come nearer, rushes to him, throws up her veil, and +falls into his arms in a glad embrace.) + +Gertrud. I was certain that, if you could not go into the house +again, you would be out here! I knew you would not go away from me, +dear! + +Harald. No--neither now nor ever. + +Gertrud. And, while I was walking up and down here in the fog, I +felt that though there might be all this gloom tend cold around us +outside, there was the brightness and warmth of certainty in our +hearts. + +Harald. Yes, our love is the one certainty for me! Fog may obscure +the goal I aim at, the road I have to I read, the very ground I +stand on; doubts may even for a while attack my faith; but my love +for you shines clear through it all! + +Gertrud. Thank you, my darling! If that is so, there is nothing +that we cannot overcome! + +Harald. Of course, you know what took place to-day? + +Gertrud. I can guess. + +Harald. Is it true that you are ill? Why did you never tell me? + +Gertrud. No, the doctor is not telling the truth; I am not ill! +Even if I were, what matter? I should go on living as long as I +could--and should have done my duty before I gave in! + +Harald. That is the way to look at it! + +Gertrud. But I am not ill! I suffer, it is true--and am likely to-- +every time you are persecuted, or my parents on my account. Because +_I_ have drawn them into all this that, they are so unfitted for, +and that is why it pains me so to see how unprepared it finds them +--most of all when, out of tenderness for me, they try to conceal +it. But I can't alter things. We are fighting for a cause that you +believe to be right, and so do I; surely that is better than never +to suffer at all in any good cause. Try me! Let me share the fight +with you! I am not weak; it is only that my heart is sore for those +I love. + +Harald. You splendid, loyal creature!--and you are mine! (Embraces +her.) + +Gertrud. You should hear what grandfather says! + +Harald. Yes, how is the dear old gentleman? + +Gertrud. Pretty well, thanks, though he never gets out now. But he +is following your work, and he says that what you are aiming at is +right, if you ask for God's guidance on your way. Harald--you will +always be the same as you are now--good and genuine--won't you, +dear? Not like the rest of them--nothing but bitterness and malice, +always talking of principles and consequences and all the rest of +it, and always attacking others? If one were obliged to be like +that, it would be a curse to be a politician. + +Harald. I will be what you make me! I think that behind every man's +public life you can see his private life--whether he has a real +home, and what it is like, or whether he only has a place he lives +in--that is to say, no real home. + +Gertrud. With God's help I shall try to make a bright, snug and +cosy home for you! And this fog is delightful, because it only +makes the thought of such a home all the cosier and snugger! It +makes us seem so alone, too; no one is out driving or walking; and +we can talk as loud as we please, because the fog deadens the sound +of our voices. Oh, I feel so happy again now! Do you know, I think +it is rather nice to be persecuted a little; it makes our meetings +so much more precious! + +Harald. But, you know dear, to meet you like this--and just now-- + +Gertrud (as they walk up and down together). Yes, of course! I had +altogether forgotten how much you have to bear just now; I have +been chattering away--. Oh, I don't know how I could feel so happy, +because I am really dreadfully distressed. But, you know, I sit the +whole play beside grandfather, thinking, without even being able to +talk. I generally read aloud to him; now and then he makes a +remark, but he really lives more in the next world than in this one +now. (They hear a cough in the distance, and give a start, because +they recognise it. The EDITOR and EVJE, walking along together, +EVJE apparently talking very earnestly, are seen, indistinctly +through the fog, in the street running parallel with the one HARALD +and GERTRUD are in. JOHN is seen following them cautiously. They +disappear into the park.) + +Harald. I hear the enemy! I am sure I caught a glimpse of him over +there through the fog, talking to another man. + +Gertrud. Is he always about the streets even in weather like this? + +Harald. Well, we won't let him disturb us. (They begin walking up +and down again in front of the house.) + +Gertrud. Do you know whom I met out here? Father! + +Harald. Really? Then it is as I thought; the other man over there +was your father! + +Gertrud. Do you think it was? Poor father! + +Harald. Yes, he is weak. + +Gertrud. But you must be good to him. He is so good himself. Think +how mother loves him; she is absolutely wrapped up in him, because +he is so good! + +Harald. He is a good man, and an able man. But, but, but-- + +Gertrud. They have lived a very tranquil life. We of the younger +generation try to undertake heavier duties and greater responsibilities +than the older generation did. But we must not be angry with them. + +Harald. I am afraid it is only too easy to feel angry with them. + +Gertrud. No, do as grandfather does! If he thinks any one is going +to be amenable to it, he talks to them quietly; if not, he only +behaves affectionately to them. Do you understand, dear?--just +affectionately. + +Harald. Well, to-day--ought I to have put up with their allowing +themselves to be treated in such an unseemly way, and their +treating me in such an unseemly way? + +Gertrud. Was it really as bad as that? + +Harald. You would not believe what it was like, I assure you! + +Gertrud (standing still). Poor father! Poor father! (Throws her +arms round HARALD'S neck.) Be good to them, Harald!--just because +of their faults, dear! We are their children, you know, and it is +God's commandment, even if we were not their children. + +Harald. If only I could take you up in my arms and carry you off +home with me now! Your love takes possession of my heart and my +will, and purifies both of them. I am at a crisis in my life now-- +and now you should be on my side! + +Gertrud. Listen!--to begin with, I will go with you to your meeting +to-night! + +Harald. Yes, yes,--I will come and fetch you! + +Gertrud. Down at the door here! + +Harald. Yes! + +Gertrud. And, in the next place, I am going to walls into the town +with you now. + +Harald. But then I shall have to see you home again. + +Gertrud. Do you object? + +Harald. No, no! And you shall teach me a lot of things on the way! + +Gertrud. Yes, you will be so wise before we get back! (They go +out to the right.) + +(The EDITOR and EVJE come out of the park. JOHN follows them, +unseen by them, and slips past them to the right when they stop for +a moment. The following conversation is carried on in hurried +tones, and every time the EDITOR raises his voice EVJE hushes him, +and speaks himself in a persistently lowered voice.) + +Evje. But what concern of yours--or of the public's--are my private +affairs? I don't want to have anything to do with politics. + +The Editor, Well, then, you ought not to have had anything to do +with _him_. + +Evje. When I first made his acquaintance he was not a politician. + +The Editor. Then you ought to have dropped him when he became one. + +Evje. Ought I to have dropped you too, when you became one? + +The Editor. Let me repeat, for the last time, that we are not +talking about me! + +Evje. Hush, hush! What a fellow you are! You get into a rage if +any one chaffs you. But you want to hit out at everybody all round! + +The Editor. Do you suppose I am myself? + +Evje. Who the devil are you, if you are not yourself? + +The Editor. I am merely the servant of the public. + +Evje. The public executioner, that is to say? + +The Editor. Well, yes, if you prefer it. But you shall pay for that +word some day. + +Evje. There--you see! Always talking of paying for things!--of +revenge! + +The Editor. You shall pay for it, I tell you! + +Evje. You are absolutely mad!--Poof! I am sweating as if it were +the dog days! (Changes his tone.) Think of the time when we used to +go to school together--when you never could go to bed without first +coming to thank me for the jolly times we were having together! + +The Editor. None of that nonsense! I am accustomed to be hated, +despised, spit upon, scourged; if any one speaks kindly to me, I +do not trust them! + +Evje. You must trust me! + +The Editor. No--and, besides, I observed very clearly to-day that +you had counted on having me in reserve if ever you got into a +scrape. + +Evje. Well, who doesn't count on his friends? Doesn't every one +take them into his reckoning? + +The Editor. I don't; I have no friends. + +Evje. Haven't you me? Do you think I would leave you in the lurch? + +The Editor. That is hypocrisy! At times when I have needed it, the +very last thing you have thought of has been to give me any help! + +Evje. Have I not helped you? + +The Editor. That is hypocrisy, too-to pretend you think I am +speaking of money. No; when I have been accused of being +dishonourable--of lying--you, the "old schoolfellow," the "old +friend," the "neighbour," have never once had the courage to +come forward on my behalf. + +Evje. I never meddle with politics. + +The Editor (with rising temper). More hypocrisy! Another of your +damned evasions! + +Evje. Hush, hush, hush! + +The Editor. You try to excuse yourself with a lie! You are doubly +a traitor!--And then you expect me to have compassion on you! + +Evje. As sure as I stand here, I have never thought of deserting +you, however bad things were. + +The Editor. And you have the face to take credit to yourself for +that? It is all calculation from beginning to end! You thought it +would be the best way of making me remember your loyalty, and +reward you for it. + +Evje. This is abominable! + +The Editor. Oh, you are cunning enough! You represent wealth of +another kind, which at first was not entirely irreproachably come +by-- + +Evje. There you go again! + +The Editor. --and want to give it the cachet of good society; so +you take care to keep friends with a newspaper that may be able +to give you a helping hand in gaining what you want. Can you +deny it? + +Evje. There may be a slight tinge of calculation even in our +highest purposes. But the misfortune about you is that you can +see nothing but the calculation, though it may be only an +infinitesimal part of the whole thing. + +The Editor. Oho--I have had experience of you! + +Evje. Then you must have had experience of your party's loyalty, +too. + +The Editor. My party's loyalty! + +Evje. Well, after all, it keeps you where you are to-day. + +The Editor. _It_ keeps me there? + +Evje. And you have friends in that party-myself amongst others-- +who certainly would rather stand outside altogether, but +nevertheless give you their advice and support when you are in +difficulties. You cannot deny that. + +The Editor. I have friends in the party? Oh yes; and if we lose a +fight these fine counsellors are the first to run away! They are +always egging me on and egging me on; but only let public opinion +once get tired of me, and they will throw me overboard without more +ado! By that sort of treachery they manage to fill the sails of the +party craft with a new breeze--and leave me to shift the best way I +can!--they, for whom I have fought with all my might and main! I +despise my opponents--they are either scoundrels and thieves, or +they are blockheads and braggarts. But my supporters are lick-spittles, +fools, cravens. I despise the whole pack of them, from first +to last! If any one would give me the assurance that if, as a +pledge that I would never use a pen again, I were to chop off my +right hand I should thereby gain the prospect of a peaceful life a +thousand miles away from here, I believe I would do it!--I despise +the whole pack of them--oh, how I despise them! + +Evje. But this is horrible! Do you find no comfort in religion? Or, +at all events, you have your paper! + +The Editor. My paper, yes--but what good do you suppose that is to +me? And do you think I give the impression of being a religious +man? + +Evje. Then what do you work for? + +The Editor. Perhaps you think I work for your sake?--or for the +sake of prosperity, or order, or whatever it is you cowards or +self-seekers like to imagine it is that you personify? No, the +whole human race is not worth the powder and shot that they are +holding at each other's heads. + +Evje. Then why do you come and almost threaten my life, if the whole +thing seems so worthless to you? + +The Editor. Do you seriously suppose that I would give in, so as to +spare you or some other shopkeeper?--so that you should be able to +say triumphantly, "You see he didn't dare! He didn't dare quarrel +with Capital!"--or, "You see he has given in--he has turned tail!" +No; what I should like to do would be to lay a mine underground, +and blow myself and the whole lot of you sky high! + +Evje. And I and all the happiness of my family life are to be +sacrificed in order that you shall not have to give in on a side +issue of no importance!--Oh, I am chilled to the bone! + +The Editor. Ha, ha! It is good to hear you speaking like yourself +again, because it reminds me that it is time to put an end to this +solemn nonsense! (Looks at his watch.) A quarter past! You must be +quick! + +Evje. Are you really in earnest? + +The Editor. I often play off jokes on you, it is true. But I don't +know how you will like this one to-morrow morning. + +Evje. Then let me tell you that I solemnly refuse! I will not break +off the engagement! Put me in your paper, if you like; I am a free +man. + +The Editor. Bah! nobody is that. Then you refuse? Good-bye! (Walks +away from EVJE.) + +Evje (going after him). No, no--where are you going? + +The Editor (stopping). Nowhere--or rather, I am going home. + +Evje. But you won't really do what you said? + +The Editor. Ha! ha! ha! (Moves away.) + +Evje (following him). No, listen! Listen to me for a minute. + +The Editor (turning back). Do you think I have time to stop at all +the stations your vanity or your fright will invent on the way? +(Moves away.) + +Evje. You mad creature--listen to me! (The EDITOR stops.) Tell me +exactly what you mean to do? + +The Editor. Fiddlesticks! (Moves on.) + +Evje (following him). Do you mean to put in the paper that I have +broken off this match? + +The Editor (stopping). Better than that--I shall spread the news in +the town; then it will get about, and all the journalists will get +a hold of it. + +Evje. Give me a day or two to think it over! + +The Editor. Oh, no--you are not going to catch me like that! It is +election time, and the other side must be made to feel that all +decent people have deserted them. + +Evje. But it is a lie, you know! + +The Editor. What is lying, and what is truth? But your resignation +from the Stock Exchange Committee and your subsequent failure to be +elected to any public position will be no lies, I can assure you! +Public opinion is not to be trifled with, you know! + +Evje. And this from you! + +The Editor. Bah! Public opinion is a very faithless friend. + +Evje. But who, after all, constitute public opinion? + +The Editor. Oh, no--you are not going to lead me into a trap again! +Besides--it would be very difficult to say exactly who does +constitute it. + +Evje. This is really--! Then you won't put that in the paper? + +The Editor. The news of a broken engagement travels quickest by +foot-post--ha, ha, ha! (Coughs; then adds seriously :) But won't +you, of your own accord, break off what are really absolutely +inadmissible relations with a man who scandalises all your +acquaintances? + +Evje. Lay the blame on me, of course! I know his credentials are no +longer first class; but my daughter--ah, you would not be able to +understand that. The circumstances are quite exceptional, and--. +Look here, shall we go up and talk it over with my wife? + +The Editor. Ha, ha!--you turned me out of the house this morning! + +Evje. Oh, forget all about that! + +The Editor (looking at his watch). Half past! Now, without any +more evasions--will you, or will you not? + +Evje (with a struggle). No! I repeat, no! (The EDITOR moves away.) +Yes, yes!--It nearly kills me to do it! + +The Editor. "The Capitalist, secure in his position, who needs pay +no regard to," etc., etc.--that is the "common form," isn't it, you +man of first-class credentials? Ha, ha! Good-bye. I am going home +to send the boy to the printers; he has waited long enough. (Moves +away.) + +Evje (following him). You are the cruellest, hardest, most reckless-- + +The Editor (who has been laughing, suddenly becomes serious). Hush! +Do you see? + +Evje (turning round). What? Where? + +The Editor. Over there! + +Evje. Those two? + +The Editor. Yes--your daughter and Mr. Harald Rejn. + +Evje. But he swore this morning that he would never set foot in +my house again! + +The Editor. But he will stay _outside_ your house, as you see! +These gentlemen of the Opposition, when they give any assurance, +always do it with a mental reservation! You can't trust the +beggars! Come round the corner. (They do so.) + +Evje. An assignation in the street in the fog! To think my daughter +would let herself be induced to do such a thing! + +The Editor. Evil communications corrupt good manners! You are a +mere bungler in delicate matters, Evje. You made a bad choice in +that quarter! + +Evje. But he seemed to be-- + +The Editor. Yes, yes, I know! A real gentleman would have guessed +what he would develop into. He has a brother, you know! (HARALD and +GERTRUD come in slowly, arm-in-arm.) + +Gertrud. While your brother has been ill you have received many +gratifying proofs of the good feeling and goodwill that there is in +this town-haven't you? + +Harald. Yes, I have. I have found no ill-will against him, nothing +but kindness on all sides--with the exception of one person, of +course. + +Gertrud. But even he has a heart! It has often seemed to me as if I +heard a cry of yearning and disappointment from it--and that just +when he spoke most bitterly. + +Harald. Yes, it needs no very sharp sight to see that he, who +makes so many unhappy, is himself the unhappiest of all. + +The Editor. What the deuce are they talking about? + +Evje. We cannot hear from here. And the fog deadens their voices. + +The Editor. Go a bit nearer, then! + +Evje. Not before they separate. You only understand _him_! + +Harald (to GERTRUD). What are you holding there? + +Gertrud (who has taken off her glove and then a ring from her +finger). The ring they gave me when I was confirmed. Give me +your hand! No, take your glove off! + +Harald. Do you want me to try your ring on? I shall not be able +to get it on. + +Gertrud. On the little finger of your left hand? Yes! + +Harald (putting it on). So I can. Well? + +Gertrud. You mustn't laugh at me. I have been beating up my courage +to do this all this time. It was really why I wanted to walk a +little farther with you first! I wanted to bring the conversation +round to it, you see! I am so convinced that your happiness, and +consequently mine, depends on your being able to be kind. You have +got this meeting before you to-night. It will be a decisive moment +for you. If you, when you are facing all this horrible persecution, +can be a kind boy, you will win all along the line! (Pulls at his +buttons in an embarrassed way.) So I wanted you to wear this ring +to remind you. The diamonds in it sparkle; they are like my tears +when you are hard and forget us two. I know it is stupid of me +(wipes her eyes hastily), but now, when it comes to the point, I +can't say what I--. But do wear it! + +Harald (kissing her). I will wear it! (Gently.) Its pure rays shall +shed a light on my life. + +Gertrud. Thank you! (Throws her arms round him and kisses him.) + +The Editor. What they are doing now is all right! Ha, ha, ha! + +Evje. I won't stand it! (The EDITOR coughs loudly.) What are you +doing? (The EDITOR goes to the neighbouring house and rings the +bell. The door is opened and he goes in, laughing as he goes.) + +Gertrud (who has started from HARALD'S arms at the sound of the +cough). That is--! + +Harald. It sounds like him! (Turns, and sees Evje.) + +Gertrud. Father! (Turns to run away, but stops.) No, it is cowardly +to run away. (Comes back, and stands at HARALD'S side. EVJE comes +forward.) + +Evje. I should not have expected my daughter, a well-brought-up +girl, to make an assignation in the street with--with-- + +Gertrud. With her fiancé. + +Evje. --with a man who has made a mock of her father and mother, +and of his own doing has banished himself from our house. + +Harald. From your house, certainly; but not from my future wife. + +Evje. A nice explanation! Do you suppose we will consent to have as +our son-in-law a man who spurns her parents? + +Gertrud. Father! + +Evje. Be quiet, my child! You ought to have felt that yourself. + +Gertrud. But, father, you surely do not expect him to submit to +your being abused and himself ill-treated in our house? + +Evje. Are you going to teach your parents--? + +Gertrud (putting her arm round his neck). I don't want to teach +you anything; because you know yourself, dear, that Harald is +worth far more--and far more to us--than the man who went away +just now! (At this moment the printer's boy, who has come out of +the EDITOR'S house, runs past them towards the town.) + +Evje (seeing the boy, tries to get away). Go in now, Gertrud! I +have something I wish to talk to Mr. Rejn about. + +Gertrud. You have nothing to talk to Harald about that I cannot +hear. + +Evje. Yes, I have. + +Harald. But why may she not hear it? What you want is to break off +our engagement. + +Gertrud. Father--! (Moves away from him.) Is that true? + +Evje. Well-since it cannot be otherwise-it is true; that is to say, +for the moment. (Aside.) Good Lord, they can make it up right +enough when this is all over! + +Gertrud (who is standing as if thunderstruck). I saw you with him! +--Ah! that is how it is! (Looks at her father, bursts into tears +and rushes to the door of their house, pulls the bell and +disappears into the house.) + +Evje. What is it? What is the matter with her? + +Harald. I think I know. She realises that her life's happiness has +been bought and sold. (Bows to EVJE.) Good-bye! (Goes out to the +right.) + +Evje (after standing dumb for some moments). Bought and sold? Some +people take everything so dreadfully solemnly. It is only a +manoeuvre--to get out of this difficulty. Why is it that I cannot +get free of it! They both of them exaggerate matters so absurdly; +first of all this crazy fellow, and then Harald with his "Good-bye," +spoken as if the ground were giving way beneath his feet! I--I-- +feel as if every one had deserted me. I will go in to my wife-- +my dear, good wife; she will understand me. She is sitting up +there, full of anxiety about me. (He turns towards his house; +but, on reaching the garden gate, sees JOHN standing there.) + +John (touching his hat respectfully). Excuse me, Mr. Evje-- + +Evje. You, John! Go away! I told you never to set foot in my +house again. + +John (very respectfully). But won't you allow me to stand outside +your house either, sir? + +Evje. No! + +John (standing in EVJE'S way, but still with a show of great +respect). Not at the door here? + +Evje. What are you standing in my way for, you scoundrel? + +John. Shall I assist you to call for help, sir? (Calls out.) +Help! + +Evje. Be quiet, you drunken fool! Don't make a disturbance! What do +you want? Be quick! + +John. I want, with all respect, to ask you, sir, why you have sent +me away. + +Evje. Because you are a swine that gets drunk and then talks +nonsense. You don't know what a dilemma you have put me in.--Now go +away from here, quietly! + +John. I know all about it! I was following you and the Editor all +the time, you know! + +Evje. What? + +John. These articles, that were to go in the paper--the printing +was at a standstill, waiting for them. + +Evje. Hush, hush, John! So you overheard that, did you? You are +too clever; you ought never to have been a servant.--Now, be off +with you! Here is a shilling or two for you. Good-bye. + +John. Thank you very much, sir.--This was how it was, sir. You +see, I thought of the number of times I had run over to the +printer's with messages when that nice Editor gentleman was +spending an evening with you--and so I thought I might just as +well run over with this one. + +Evje (starting back in alarm). What? What have you done? + +John. Just to do you a good turn, sir, I ran along and told them +they might print those articles. + +Evje. What articles? + +John. The ones about you, sir. "Print away," I said--and they +printed away. By Jove, how they worked, and then off to the +post with the papers! + +Evje. You had the impudence, you--! Ah, it's not true! I saw the +printer's boy myself, running to the office to countermand the +instructions. + +John. I caught him up outside here and told him that a message +had been sent from Mr. Evje's house. And I gave him sixpence to +go to the theatre with; but he must have had to run for it, to be +in time, because I am sure it was after seven. Excuse me, sir, but +it _is_ after seven now, isn't it? + +Evje. You scoundrel! You vindictive brute! + +John. You can have a look at the paper, sir, if you like. + +Evje. Have _you_ got a copy? + +John. Yes, sir, the first copy struck off is always sent to the +Editor, so I volunteered to bring it to him. But you must be +anxious to see it, sir! (Holds it out to EVJE.) + +Evje (snatching it from him). Give it to me! Let me see--. (Moves +towards his door, but stops.) No, my wife mustn't--. Here, under +the gas-lamp! This filthy fog! I can't--. (Feels in his pocket for +his glasses, and pasts them on.) Ah, that's better! (Holds the +paper under the light.) What a mischance! The blackguard--! Where +is the article, then? Oh, here--I can't see properly, my heart is +beating so! + +John. Shall I run for the doctor, sir? + +Evje. Will you go away, you--! (Holds the paper first up, and then +down, in his attempts to see better.) Ah, here it is! "The Stock +Exchange Committee"--oh! (Lowers the paper.) + +John (mimicking him). Oh! + +Evje (trying to read). What a vile thing to do! + +John. Oh, go on! go on! + +Evje (as he reads). This beats everything I ever--Oh! + +John. Oh! We _are_ in a bad way! + +Evje (wiping his forehead). What a different thing it is to read +libellous attacks on others--and on one's self! (Goes on reading.) +Oh! Oh! What horrible, revolting rascality! What is it he says +here? I must read through it again! Oh, oh! + +John. And often of a morning, when you have been reading the +paper, I have heard you laughing till the bed shook under you! + +Evje. Yes, I who have so often laughed at others! (Reads.) No, +this is beyond belief! I can't read any more! This will ruin my +position in the town; I can hear every one laughing at me--he +knows all my weaknesses, and has managed to make it all so +hideously ludicrous! (Tries to go on reading.) Why, here is some +more! (Reads.) It begins even worse than the other! (Lowers the +paper, panting, then tries to go on reading.) No, I can't--I can't! +I must wait! Everything seems going round and round--and my heart +is beating so violently that I know I shall have one of my attacks! +What a devil it is that I have been making a friend of! What a +creature to have broken bread with!--an unprincipled scoundrel! +And the disgrace of it!--the disgrace! What will they say at the +Exchange? What will--? I shall not dare to go out of my house, at +least for some weeks! And then people will only say I have taken +to my bed! Oh, oh! I feel as if it were the end of everything! + +John (solicitously). Can I help you, sir? + +Evje. Will you leave me alone--! No, I will have my revenge on him +immediately! I will go and ring his bell, and go into his house and +call him a scoundrel and spit in his face--! Did I bring my stick +out with me? Where is my stick? I will send my man for it, and then +I will thrash him round and round his own room! + +John (eagerly). I will fetch it for you, sir! + +Evje (without hearing him). No, it would only make more scandal!-- +How can I take my revenge? I must do him some injury--some real +injury that will seem to poison his food for him and rob him of his +rest. Scoundrels like that don't deserve sleep! It must be +something, too, that will make his family every bit as unhappy as +mine will be when they have read this--something that will make +them hide their heads for shame--something that will make them +terrified every time their door-bell rings, out of shame for what +their servants may hear! No, no, I am getting as evil-minded as he +is, now!--What a horrible trade--for ever sowing the seeds of sin +and reaping a crop of curses! Now I understand what Harald Rejn +meant by saying that no one ought to give his help to such things! +--Heavens, hear my vow: never again will I give my help to such +things!--What am I to say to my wife--my dear, good wife, who has +no suspicion how disgraced I am! And Gertrud, our good Gertrud--ah, +at all events I can give her some pleasure at once. I cannot +conceal it from them; but I will tell them myself, so that they +shall not read it. + +John. Is there anything else I can do for you, sir? + +Evje (almost screaming at him). Once for all, can't you let me +alone! + +Mrs. Evje (leaning out of a window she has opened). The sound must +have come from the street, all the same. Are you there, my dear? + +Evje (drawing back in alarm). There she is! Shall I answer? + +Mrs. Evje. Are you there, my dear? + +Evje. Yes, dear, here I am! + +Mrs. Evje. So you are! I heard your voice, and looked all over the +house. What is the matter, dear? + +Evje. Oh, I am so unhappy! + +Mrs. Evje. Good heavens, are you, dear? Come along in--or shall I +come down to you? + +Evje. No, I will come in. Shut the window, or you will catch cold. + +Mrs. Evje. Do you know, Gertrud is sitting up here, crying? + +Evje. Good gracious, is she? I will come up--I will come up! + +John. I will help him up, ma'am! (Pretends to be doing so.) + +Mrs. Evje. Is that you, John? + +Evje (in a low voice). Will you be off! + +John. Yes, it is me, ma'am. He is so unwell. + +Mrs. Evje. Is he! Heavens, it is one of his attacks! Help him, +John! + +Evje (as before). Don't you dare! + +John (who has rung the bell loudly). I do hope you will moon be +better, sir! (Calls up to the window.) I can leave him now, ma'am! +(To EVJE, as he goes.) This has been a bit of luck, for me; but +you shall have some more of it! (Disappears into the fog as EVJE +goes into his house. The two Passers-by, that were seen at the +beginning of the scene, are now indistinctly seen returning along +the street at the back.) + +First Passer-by. Well, the land of Fogs used to be thought by the +ancients to lie in the north, where all confused ideas come from-- + +Second Passer-by (who does not seem to be able to get a word in). +But, listen to me for a moment-do you think it means--? + +[Curtain] + + + +ACT III + +(SCENE.--A room in HALVDAN REJN's house. He is lying, supported on +pillows, on a sofa on the left-hand side of the room. There is a +table in the background, and another near the sofa. A lamp is +hanging from the ceiling, and another standing on the table at the +back. HAAKON REJN, his dress proclaiming him to be a well-to-do +yeoman farmer, is sitting on a chair by the sofa.) + +Halvdan. So she couldn't come? + +Haakon. No; there are the youngsters, you know--she finds it +difficult to get away. + +Halvdan (after a moment's silence). Remember to thank her for +all her kindness to me. The happiest moments of my life have +been those Sundays and evenings that she and you and I spent +together at your house. (A pause.) + +Haakon. She wanted very much to know how you were feeling-- +whether you, who have suffered so much, are at peace now. + +Halvdan. At peace? A man who has to die with all his work +unfinished, cannot easily root out all thoughts of that from his +heart. + +Haakon. You should try to lay in God's hands all that you have +striven for. + +Halvdan. That is what I struggle daily to do. (A pause.) + +Haakon. A sister of my wife's, who was a widow and badly off, died +leaving three young children. But she was glad to die. "Their +Heavenly Father will help them better when I am out of the way," +she said. "I took up too much room," she said; "I know I have often +stood in their way." (A pause.) + +Halvdan. You tell that just as your wife would; she told me that +story once. + +Haakon. I was to tell you from her that she believes you are to die +in order that what you have worked for may come to its fullest +fruit. She thinks that when you are gone, people will appreciate +better what your aims were. + +Halvdan. There is some comfort in the thought that I may be dying +in order that what I have loved may live. I have already given up +happiness-even honour-for it; I gladly give my life for it now. (A pause.) + +Haakon. Do you bear ill-will to any of those who have opposed you +so cruelly? + +Halvdan. To no one. + +Haakon. Not even to those whose doing it is that you are lying +here? + +Halvdan. No, to no one. (A pause.) + +Haakon. Could you bear to read something hateful about +yourself to-day? + +Halvdan. I don't know. + +Haakon. Then you have not done with it all yet. + +Halvdan. No, I know I have not. It is only sometimes that the busy +world outside seems to me like a ship sailing idly before the wind. +More often, I am back in the midst of it again--planning, hoping, +praying! I am young, you know, and have had to suffer so much-- +there was so much I wanted to do. (Lifts a handkerchief to his +forehead. HAAKON helps him to wipe his face with it. A pause.) + +Haakon. But it must be a comfort to you, too, that Harald is +taking up what you are laying down. There is good stuff in him. + +Halvdan. Yes. + +Haakon. And he never says more than is necessary. The country folk +will understand him all the better for it. + +Halvdan. I hope so. As soon as he comes into my room I feel as if +the atmosphere were charged with electricity--I feel as if I _must_ +have a part in what he is doing--and so I work, and tire myself +out. Ah, it often seems very hard to have to die, and leave undone +a great work that one has failed to accomplish! + +Haakon. But you have made him what he is, you know--and many +others. + +Halvdan. I have started the fight, that is all. It is hard to have +to desert at the beginning of it!--But God is good, and will +understand; He will not be surprised at what my thoughts are full +of, when I go to Him. (A ring is heard at the bell.) + +Haakon. I expect that is Harald. + +Halvdan. No, he never rings. Besides, I expect he is taking a walk, +to think over what he is going to say to-night. + +Haakon. Yes, I suppose it will be a big meeting. (The HOUSEKEEPER +comes in.) + +The Housekeeper. Mr. Evje is here, sir, asking for Mr. Harald. I +told him we were expecting him every moment. Shall I ask him to +come in? + +Halvdan. Yes, show him in. (HAAKON gets up, as EVJE is shown in.) + +Evje (to HALVDAN). Good evening! (Sees HAAKON.) Ah, good evening! +So you have come? That is splendid. Is your wife with you? + +Haakon. No, she couldn't leave the children. + +Evje. I see. (To HALVDAN.) And how are you? About the same? Of +course, yes.--Where is your brother? + +Halvdan. He has his meeting to-night, you know. + +Evje. His momentous meeting--I know! I am going to it myself! + +Halvdan (turns his face towards him). You? + +Evje. My object in coming here was to take him home with me, so +that we could all go together to the meeting. We mean to go on to +the platform with him; I mean people to see that we are with him! + +Halvdan (turning his face away). Really! + +Evje (to HAAKON). You never answered my letter, Mr. Rejn. + +Haakon. No, I knew I was coming in to town. + +Evje. Well--will you sell? + +Haakon. No. + +Evje. But, my dear Mr. Rejn, you have not sold a single potato to +my distillery for five years! And with a farm like yours! This year +you had the best crop in the whole valley. + +Haakon. Oh, yes--it wasn't so bad. + +Evje. Not so bad! It was an extraordinary crop; and, everywhere +else round about, the crops were very middling. + +Haakon. Oh, yes--it might have been worse. + +Evje (laughing). I should think so! But then why won't you sell? +(Turns to HALVDAN.) I hope you will excuse our talking business in +a sick-room; a business man has to seize every opportunity, you +know! (To HAAKON.) You have never got higher prices elsewhere than +you have from me. + +Haakon. No, so I believe; but I have my own reasons. + +Evje. Your own reasons? What are they? + +Haakon. I had a servant once--it is about five years ago now--a +good, capable fellow. He used to take potatoes for me to the +distillery every day, and every evening came back drunk. So I spoke +to him seriously about it; and his answer was: "How do you suppose +our brandy-merchants are to grow rich, if chaps like me don't drink +pretty hard?" You know the man; he went into your service +afterwards. But from that day I have never sold a potato to a +distillery. + +Evje. But, my dear Mr. Rejn, we cannot be held responsible for the +use to which such rascals put God's gifts! + +Haakon. No--no--I suppose not; still, I am not going to have +anything more to do with it. + +Evje (to HALVDAN). Do you think your brother will not be home +before the meeting? + +Halvdan. I should think he would; there is plenty of time yet. + +Evje. There is; but I should have liked to take him home with me +first. The fact is (laughs) I have promised my wife and daughter +not to go home without him. You know what women are! Shall I just +go into his room and wait for him? There is something I want to +talk to him about, you know. + +Halvdan. I don't think there is a fire in there. + +Evje. Oh, well, never mind--I will sit here. I have got a newspaper +to read, and yon two must go on with your talk just as if I were +not here! I shall hear nothing, because I have something to read +that interests me. (He pulls a chair up to the table on the right +with its back to HALVDAN. HAAKON brings the lamp from the table at +the back.) Ah, thank you very much! Now, just talk away as if I +were not here! (Takes the paper from his pocket and sits down.) + +Haakon (sitting down again beside his brother). I should have +liked to go to the meeting, too. + +Halvdan. Of course you must go! You will hear Harald tell them +how each nation has its own appointed task in the world; that is +why it _is_ a nation. But, as long as it does not realise the fact, +its politics will be nothing but wrangling between the various +class-interests--a haphazard struggle for power. Our nation has +never got beyond that point! I have shouted myself to death over +what is a mere market. + +Evje (to himself, striking the table with his fist). The whole +commercial community is insulted in this insult to me! I will stir +them up at the meeting, and insist on our taking our revenge in +common! + +Haakon. I don't think things will be any better until we are better +Christians. Men think of nothing nowadays but themselves and their +position. + +Evje (to himself). No, no-that wouldn't do. What would people say? +They would only say I was badly hit by this. + +Halvdan (half to himself). A Christian nation, thinking of nothing +but its own interests--that is to say, power! Equality and Liberty +have no meaning for it. Haakon, it surely will be bliss for a +wounded soul to be taken into the Everlasting Love, high above all +this so-called Christianity of the world! For my soul is sorely +wounded! + +Evje (to himself ). If only I could strike him dead! + +Halvdan. But may they all be forgiven!--You asked just now whether +I could bear to read something hateful about myself to-day. I think +I could. + +Haakon. Then I can tell you the other message she gave me for you. +I have been a little shy of telling you that. It was that you +should remember that you must do more than forgive; you must pray +for them. (A pause.) + +Halvdan (with his hand over his eyes). I do. + +Evje (crumpling up the paper and throwing it on the floor). No, I +won't stand it! If the blackguard--. (Gets up in alarm, as he +realises what he has done, and is just going to pick up the paper; +but at that moment turns round facing the others, and lets it lie.) +No, I won't touch it again--never, as long as I live! (To the +others.) You must forgive me, but I was reading something that +upset me very much. Your brother will tell you all about it in the +morning, no doubt. Poof--it is very warm in here! But, of course, +that is natural in a sick-room. I don't think he can be coming now. +I think, too, that I will go on, so as not to be late for the +meeting; there is sure to be a difficulty in getting seats. I will +get him to go home with me after the meeting, instead. That will be +better, after all. + +Haakon. I was thinking of going to the meeting. Would you mind if I +went with you?--for I do not know the way myself. + +Evje. You will come with me, Mr. Rejn? (To himself.) That will be +splendid--to make my entrance in the company of one of our yeomen +farmers! (Aloud.) By all means let us go together! I feel flattered +by the opportunity, because I have always maintained that our +yeomen are the pick of the nation. Well, then--(to Halvdan) I hope +you will soon be feeling better, Mr. Rejn. God bless you! + +Halvdan (raising himself on his elbow, and looking at him with a +smile). Something must have gone amiss with you to-day. + +Evje. Why do you say that? + +Halvdan. Because as a rule you appear so composed so aloof from all +this squabbling. + +Evje (impetuously). But, do what I like, I am not allowed to keep +aloof from it! I have no greater wish in the world than to do so, I +can assure you. Oh, well, your excellent brother--my future +son-in-law, as I am proud to call him--he will tell you all about +it. Good-bye!--and--and--God bless you! + +Haakon. Shall I tell your housekeeper to come to you? + +Halvdan. Oh, no; but you might tell her to come in a little while. + +Haakon. Good-bye for the present, then! + +Halvdan. Thank you for coming! Good-bye. (Sinks back on to the +sofa. The others go out, HAAKON turning round once at the door.) + +Halvdan. It is something in the paper that has disturbed his +equanimity. What can it be? The same thing that made Harald so +gloomy to-day, I wonder? (Gets half up.) It is lying there.--No! +What interest have I in all their petty spite now? (Sinks back +again.) "Could you bear to read something hateful about yourself +to-day?" Haakon asked. Then I suppose there is something about me +in it to-day. (Puts his hand over his heart.) My heart doesn't seem +to be beating any the faster for my knowing that. (Gets half up.) +There it lies! (Sinks back again.) No, I am only trying to tempt +myself. All the same, I should like to know how many stations I +have passed on my journey to the great City of Peace! Can their +malice affect me still? Surely I have passed _that_ station?--It +would be worth trying, to see. There it lies! (Takes up a stick +that is standing by the sofa.) Surely I can get over there by +myself? (Gets up from the sofa with the help of the stick, and +smiles.) I have not much strength left. (Takes a few steps.) +Scarcely enough to get across the floor. (A few more steps.) To +think that I should have--so much vanity--my weak point--. (His +breath fails him, but he gets as far as the chair on which EVJE was +sitting, and sits down.) One ought to have done with all that +before the soul can get quite away from the dust that--. (Begins to +rake the paper towards him with his stick.) And here am I, sitting +here raking more of it towards me!--No, let the thing lie! I won't +soil my wings any more.--Poor Harald! He has to take up the burden +now! What a horrible bungle it is, that we should be brought into +the world to give each other as much pain as possible! (Decidedly.) +Well, I am going to see what legacy of unhappiness I am leaving +him! I want to have a vivid impression of the misery I am escaping +from. There is a certain comfort even in that. (Bends down and +picks up the paper, rests for a moment, and then unfolds the +paper.) But this is not to-day's paper; it is dated for to-morrow! +How can Evje have got hold of it? Yes, here is the date--Sunday. +"Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath Day!" On that day men's +souls should turn to God--and they offer Him _this_! It is after +reading _this_ that these fine ladies and gentlemen go to church! +(Pushes the paper away from him.) Suppose these "Christians" were +to be brought to judgment one day without warning?--Let us think of +ourselves and not of others! (Lets his eye rest on the paper.) Does +that mean me? (Reads.) "Not yet actually dead, but already +canonised by a calculating brother--." (Checks himself.) God +forgive them! (Reads on.) "His teachings will no doubt obtain him a +paean of praise, but this will be--or, at least, so it is to be +hoped--from within the closely locked doors of the state's prisons +and houses of correction"--(checks himself a little)--"for that is +whither he leads his followers."--Good God, to think that they can +say such things!--And yet, they said worse things of _Him_! Peace! +(Reads.) "No doubt he talks against Socialism; no doubt he coquets +with Christianity; but it is by these very means that he has become +so expert a seducer of men's opinions-which was his aim all along." +(Puts his hands before his face.) I should not have read it; +forgive me! I am too weak still!--Ah! I feel--what is it? (Puts his +hands suddenly to his heart, still unconsciously grasping the +newspaper in them.) I must get into my room--get to bed! (Gets up +with the help of his stick.) If only I can get there! Oh, I feel it +coming on!--I must--. (Tries to hurry, but when he is halfway +across the floor he stumbles, throws out his hands but finds no +support, staggers on for a few steps, and falls full length on the +threshold of his bedroom, so that half his length lies within the +door and half without. A moment later, the HOUSEKEEPER comes in.) + +The Housekeeper (not observing that he is not still on the sofa). +Won't you go to bed now, sir? You can't stand so much in one day. +(Goes to the sofa.) Where is he? Surely he has not tried to walk in +alone? (Hurries across to the bedroom door and almost falls over +his body. She starts back with a scream.) Where is--? (Catches up +the lamp, hurries back, and bends over him; then calls out, +screaming:) Help! Help! (Rings the bell wildly. A MAID appears.) +Mr. Halvdan is lying here! Heaven knows whether he is dead or +alive! Run for the Doctor! Leave the door open behind you, and beg +the first man you meet in the street to come up here at once and +help me. Tell them it is a matter of life and death! + +Maid. Yes! + +The Housekeeper. Hurry! + +Maid (going out). Yes, yes! + +The Housekeeper (coming back into the room). Is he alive or dead? I +haven't the courage to find out. And both his brothers away! +(Cries.) God grant some one comes soon!--Poor man, alone in his +death as he was in his life! But what was he doing _there_? Why did +he get up from the sofa? (Sees the paper.) Surely that can't be--? +(Puts the lamp on the floor and unfolds the paper.) Yes, it is the +paper, right enough! Who can have given it him? I can't look at it +now; but if it is like the number I read the other day (lets the +paper fall, and gets up with the lamp) then I understand everything +--and may God requite those that do such things! (The EDITOR rushes +in.) + +The Editor. Is it here? + +The Housekeeper (holds the lamp to him, then starts back). What do +_you_ want here? + +The Editor. Where am I? A girl came running down the street and +told me I must come up here and help some one that was dying. What +do you want me to do?--or is it not here? + +The Housekeeper. And it was _you_ she met? It is the hand of God! + +The Editor. What are you babbling about? If it is not here, say so +at once. + +The Housekeeper. Yes, it is here. There he lies! + +The Editor. Then oughtn't we to get him into bed? + +The Housekeeper. Yes. But do you know who it is you are helping? + +The Editor (to himself). She is not very polite. (Aloud.) No; but +what does that matter? + +The Housekeeper. This much--that it is you that have killed him. + +The Editor. I--? She is mad. + +The Housekeeper. The man lying there is Halvdan Rejn. And he had +been reading about himself in your paper.--Come, now, and carry him +in. (She goes into the bedroom with the lamp. Her voice is heard +from inside the room.) Now, take hold of him and lift him. You can +think afterwards. + +The Editor (stoops to lift the body, but gets up again). I don't +think he is dead yet. + +The Housekeeper. All the more reason to make haste. + +The Editor (stoops down again, but gets up once more.) Let me take +his head. + +The Housekeeper. Why? + +The Editor. So that--if he should open his eyes + +The Housekeeper. --he won't see you. (Comes out of the bedroom). Go +in there, then, and take his head. (He goes in.) What was that? + +The Editor (from inside the room). I slipped. There is something +wet here. + +The Housekeeper. Yes, he has had a hemorrhage. Carefully, now. +(They carry him in. The stage remains empty for a moment. Then the +EDITOR comes back, wiping his forehead. He walks backwards and +forwards, treading on the paper as he goes, but without noticing +it.) + +The Editor. What a horrible thing to happen!--Newspapers are not +meant for dying people.--It is not my fault.--Is this blood on my +hand? It is! (Wipes it with his handkerchief.) And now it is on my +handkerchief! (Throws it away.) No, it has my name on it. (Picks it +up again.) No one can say it is my fault. (Sits down, then gets up, +wiping his forehead with his handkerchief without noticing what +he is doing.) Ah, I hope I haven't put blood on my forehead? I +seem to feel it there! (Feels with his hand to see if his brow is +wet.) No. (Sits down, then gets up again.) Let me get away from +here. (Stops.) To think that I should be the one to come up! that +it should just happen to-night that I did not receive my paper, +and so went out! It almost seems more than accident. Indeed, I +often had a foreboding that it would happen. (Stands opposite the +bedroom door.) But is he dead? I think I will go and fetch the +Doctor. Oh no, of course the maid has gone for him. He hasn't +long to live, anyway; I could see that. (Walks forward, pointing +with his finger.) "There goes the man that killed Halvdan Rejn! +And his punishment was that he had to lift up his bloodstained +body himself." That is what they will say; and they will look at +me as if--. (Sits down.) No, let me get away! (Takes a few steps, +then stops suddenly.) That article in to-morrow's paper! It is +worse than the others! (Pulls out his watch.) Too late--the post +has gone! I would have given--. (Checks himself.) I have nothing +worth giving. In the morning It will be known all over the town +just as everyone is reading my fresh article. There will be a riot; +I shall be hunted like a wild beast. What shall I do? I might sneak +out of the town? Then they will gloat over me! I won't allow them +that pleasure! No, I cannot stay my hand utter a failure; only +after a victory. That is the cursed part of it-never, never to be +able to end it. Oh, for some one that could end it--end it, end it! +Oh, for one day of real peace! Shall _I_ ever get that? (Sits down.) +No, no, I must get away! (Gets up.) To-morrow must take care of +itself. (Starts.) There is the paper he was reading! (Steps over +it.) I will take it away--and burn it. (Takes it up.) I cannot burn +it here; some one might come. (Is just going to put it into his +pocket, as it is, but takes it out again to fold it better.) A +Sunday's paper, apparently! Then it is _not_ to-day's? An old number, +I suppose. Then the whole thing is a mistake! (Sighs with relief.) +Let me look again! (Opens the paper, tremblingly.) I don't deserve +it, but--. (Reads.) Sunday, the--. _To-morrow's_ paper? _Here_? How in +all the world did it get here? (Appears horrified.) Here are the +articles about Evje! How on earth did they get in? Didn't I send a +message? Didn't I write? This on the top of everything else! Are +even my printers conspiring against me? Well, even if it ruins me, +I shall go on! They shall find out what I can do. How on earth can +I be expected to help it if a weak-minded fellow dies, or if my +printers are drunk or my manager has delirium tremens! I shall +pursue my end through all chances and in spite of all their tricks, +and I shall crush them, crush them--I shall--. (Gives way to a +paroxysm of rage. At this moment the MAID comes in with the +DOCTOR'S ASSISTANT. The MAID rushes into the bedroom. The EDITOR +starts up.) Who is that? What do you want? + +The Doctor's Assistant (coldly). What do _you_ want here? + +The Editor. I? Oh, I was called up to help the sick man into his +bed. + +The Doctor's Assistant (as before). Ah!--so it was _you_! (A pause.) + +The Editor. Have you ever seen me before? + +The Doctor's Assistant. Yes. I have heard you grind your teeth +before this. (Goes into the bedroom.) + +The Editor (after standing for a moment looking after him). They +will all look at me to-morrow like that-with those cold eyes. +"Every man's hand against him, and his hand against every man;" +there can only be one end to that. To-night, the meeting--and +Harald Rejn will take them by storm. To-morrow, his brother's +death--and my new article in the paper--and, in addition to +that, those about Evje, who at present is only angry. And the +election in two days! Oh, yes, he will be elected now. So I may as +well give it all up at once. I would change places with any wolf +that has a lair to hide in. Those cold eyes of his! (Shudders.) +That is how every one will look at me to-morrow! They have pierced +through my armour! (The DOCTOR'S ASSISTANT comes back, and the +EDITOR makes an effort to resume his former confident manner.) + +The Doctor's Assistant. I don't know whether you will be glad to +hear that it is all over. + +The Editor (under his breath). You brute! + +The Doctor's Assistant. His old housekeeper does not feel equal to +coming here to tell you what his last words were. They were: +"Forgive him!" (Goes out.) + +The Editor (sitting down, then getting up again). No, I mustn't be +found here. (Walks about the room on tiptoe, as if he were afraid +of waking some one. When he comes opposite to the bedroom door, he +turns towards it, stretches out his arms and says:) Give me your +forgiveness too! + + + +ACT IV + +(SCENE.--A large and handsomely furnished sitting-room at the +EVJE'S. The room is brightly lit and the fire burning. The entrance +door is on the right, and beyond it a door leading to the dining-room. +INGEBORG is busy taking the covers off the chairs, folding them +carefully as she does so. After a little, the bell rings. She +goes to open the door, and returns, showing in the DOCTOR.) + +The Doctor. Oho! Is it to be in here to-night? + +Ingeborg (who has resumed her work of making the room ready). Yes, +sir. + +The Doctor. Where are they all? + +Ingeborg. At the meeting, sir. + +The Doctor. All of them? + +Ingeborg. Yes, all of them. Miss Gertrud went first-- + +The Doctor. Yes, I saw her well enough! + +Ingeborg. And then the master, and a farmer gentleman with him, +came in to fetch the mistress. + +The Doctor (to himself). Something has happened here, then. +(Aloud.) Tell me, Ingeborg--has _he_ been here again? You know +who I mean. (Coughs in imitation of the EDITOR'S cough.) + +Ingeborg. Oh, the Editor; no, sir. + +The Doctor (to himself). I wonder what has happened. (Aloud.) +Well, evidently there is to be a festivity here to-night; and, as I +see the chairs are getting their covers taken off, I may as well +take mine off too. (Takes off his coat and gives it to INGEBORG, +who carries it out.) I don't blame Evje for wanting to celebrate +Harald's success after a meeting like that! He is not exactly +eloquent in the ordinary sense of the word--doesn't bother about +his antitheses and climaxes and paradoxes, and all that sort of +nonsense; but he is a _man_! He goes bail for what he says, and he +says what he likes--ha, ha! And that dear Gertrud, too! Follows +him into the hall, and, as there isn't a single seat left there, +goes up on to the platform among the committee, and sits there +looking at him with those trustful blue eyes of hers, as if there +was no one else in the room! And _we_ were all looking at _her_! +She helped him more than ten good speakers would have done, I am +sure. Her faith in him bred it in others, whether they liked it or +no. She is one who would die for her faith! Yes, yes! The man +that gets her--. (INGEBORG comes back.) Well! (Rubs his hands +together.) Look here, Ingeborg. (Very politely.) Do you know +what is meant by the Rights of Man? + +Ingeborg (going on with her work). No, sir. Something we have +earned, I suppose. + +The Doctor. Yes, you earn them every day. + +Ingeborg. Our meals, perhaps? + +The Doctor (laughing). No, it isn't something to eat, +unfortunately. (Politely.) Do you ever read papers, Ingeborg? + +Ingeborg. Papers? Oh, you mean the price-lists they leave at the +kitchen door. Yes, sir; every day, before we go to market, I-- + +The Doctor. No, I don't mean papers of that sort. I mean-- + +Ingeborg. Oh, you mean the newspaper I take in to master's room +every morning. No, Sir, I don't read that. I am told there are such +horrors in it. + +The Doctor. Quite so. Don't you care to read about horrors, then? + +Ingeborg. Oh, we poor folk see enough of them in our everyday lives, +without reading about them!--But perhaps the gentry enjoy it. + +The Doctor. You are a very wise woman. Let me tell you, though, +that there is a fight going on, about--oh, well, never mind what it +is about. And the Editor and Mr. Rejn, who both come to this +house, are the two chief fighters. Don't you want to know what +they are fighting about? + +Ingeborg (going on unconcernedly with her work). Oh, so they are +fighting, are they? No, I don't care the least bit, sir! + +The Doctor (to himself). Ha, ha--the difference between Ingeborg +and me is that I am interested in the fight merely as a student of +human nature, and she is not interested in it at all. I wonder +which is farthest from any genuine belief in politics?--from our +"duty as a citizen," as they call it? (To INGEBORG.) Ingeborg, do +you know what your "duty as a citizen" means? + +Ingeborg. My "duty as a citizen"? That mean; paying fines, doesn't +it, sir? + +The Doctor. Yes; and a very heavy fine, into the bargain! + +Ingeborg. The master was fined because the pavement was not swept. +John was ill. + +The Doctor. Quite right, that was one of his duties as a citizen.-- +Tell me, Ingeborg, are they expecting a lot of people here to-night? + +Ingeborg. No, sir, I have only laid table for quite a few. + +The Doctor. And what are they going to have? + +Ingeborg. Oh, one or two dishes and one or two sorts of wine--. + +The Doctor. Aha! (A ring is heard at the bell. INGEBORG goes to the +door.) There they are! Now we shall have a fine time! + +Ingeborg (coming back with a letter). It is a note for you, sir. + +The Doctor. Oh, bother I + +Ingeborg. The man who brought it was not sure whether you would be +at the meeting or here. + +The Doctor. How could he know--? (Putting on his glasses.) Oh, from +my assistant--that is quite another thing. Of course he wants my +help or my advice. Well, he shan't have it! I have run about quite +enough to-day. Tell the messenger that I haven't time! I have my +Duties as a Citizen to attend to! (Calls after her.) And my +Manhood's Rights too! (Opens the envelope.) No, I won't read it; if +I do, the matter will worry me all the evening. I know what I am. +(Puts the note in his pocket.) I mean to enjoy this evening! +(Suddenly.) I wonder how our friend the Editor is enjoying this +evening! Was he at the meeting, I wonder? A remarkable personality +--but malignity itself! Lion-hearted, though! He would fight till +the last drop of his blood! But what is it, really, that he is +fighting for? That question has always interested me, for I can't +make it out. (To INGEBORG, who has comeback.) Well? + +Ingeborg. The messenger has gone.--Yes, sir, I told him everything +you told me to. + +The Doctor. Of course. You would! Why the deuce does any one pay +any attention to what I say! (The bell rings.) Here they are at +last! Now we shall have a delightful evening! (EVJE and MRS. EVJE +come in.) I am first, you see! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. Were you at the meeting, too? + +The Doctor. Where else should I be? + +Evje. Did you see me? + +Mrs. Evje. There were so many people there, dear. + +Evje. But I was standing on a seat. + +Mrs. Evje. Yes, he was standing on a seat! + +The Doctor. There were plenty of people doing that. + +Evje. I wanted to be seen!--There _have_ been goings on here +to-day, my friend! + +Mrs. Evje. You will never guess what has happened! + +The Doctor. Anyway I can see that something has happened. + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. Oh--! + +The Doctor. What is it, then? + +Evje. Those articles will be in to-morrow's paper. + +The Doctor. In the paper?--Yes, I didn't find him. + +Evje. But I found him! + +The Doctor (impatiently). Well? + +Evje. I will tell you all about it another time. But I have read them-- + +Mrs. Evje. And he has told me all about them! + +The Doctor. Are they very bad? + +Evje. Oh--oh! + +Mrs. Evje. Oh--oh--oh! + +The Doctor (with a look of pleased curiosity.) As bad as all that? + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. Oh--oh--oh--oh! + +The Doctor. And _that_ was why you went to the meeting! + +Evje. Of course--tit for tat! It was my wife's idea. + +Mrs. Evje. It was the obvious thing to do, dear. + +Evje. Our whole family at the meeting!--So that all the town should +know that it was nothing but the meanest political persecution +because I had joined my son-in-law's party. + +Mrs. Evje. We are party people now, you know! + +Evje. Do you know, there is something exciting about being mixed +up with such things--something invigorating, something-- + +The Doctor (stepping back). Are _you_ bitten with it, too? + +Evje. Yes, if I can't be left in peace, I shall become a party man. + +The Doctor (enthusiastically). Did you see Gertrud? + +Evje and Mrs. Evje (with emotion). Our Gertrud! Yes, indeed we did! + +The Doctor. Did you see her coming in with him! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje (as before). Yes, we saw her coming in with him! + +The Doctor. I suppose you did not know she was going? + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. Oh, yes! + +Mrs. Evje. She had said she would go with us-- + +Evje. But when we went to fetch her, the bird had flown! + +The Doctor. How pretty she looked, too! All the men were looking +at her. And how she looked at him! + +Mrs. Evje. It made me want to cry. I had quite a job to prevent +myself. + +Evje. You need not have minded, dear! God has given us great +happiness. Her faith in him and her love shone to from her eyes +that it went to my heart. I felt quite upset! (Wipes his eyes.) + +The Doctor. And what about _him_--eh? I don't fancy any one will +think about stopping his career. We have been a pack of fools. + +Evje. That we have! + +The Doctor. He is not exactly eloquent, but-- + +Evje. That is precisely what I was saying to my wife! He is not +exactly eloquent, but he is-- + +The Doctor. --a man! + +Evje. A man! My very words, weren't they, my dear? + +Mrs. Evje. Yes.--And I say he is so strong a man that he can afford +to be tender-hearted. For he certainly has been that. + +Evje. Yes, he has been that! + +The Doctor (laughing). In spite of his strength! + +Evje. Oh, you may make the most of your--. Aha! (Loud ringing at +the bell is heard.) Here they are! + +Mrs. Evje. Let us go and meet them! + +The Doctor. No; look here--let us wait for them at the other side +of the room, so that they may make a triumphal progress up to us! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje, Yes! (They go to the opposite end of the room, +while HARALD comes in rather quickly, with GERTRUD on his arm. As +they cross the room, the others cry out: "Bravo! Bravo!" and clap +their hands.) + +Gertrud (still holding to HARALD's arm). And he is my man! My man! +(Throws her arms round his neck, crying with happiness, and kisses +him; then does the same to her mother, and then to her father, to +whom she whispers: Thank you!) + +The Doctor. Oh--me too! + +Gertrud (after a moment's hesitation). Yes--you too! + +(The DOCTOR helps her to take off her cloak, and talks to her, +whispering and laughing.) + +Harald (shaking EVJE's hand). Good evening! + +Evje. Forgive me! + +Harald. With all my heart! + +Mrs. Evje. And now everything is all right! + +Harald. For good! + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. For good! + +Harald. And, thank you for coming to the meeting. + +Evje. It was no more than our duty! Look here--did you see me? + +Harald. The whole time! But, tell me, was it a delusion, or was it +my brother Haakon that was standing on the floor beside you, rather +in the shadow? + +Evje and Mrs. Evje. It _was_ he! + +Evje. I fetched him from your brother Halvdan's. + +Harald. I am so glad! It must have pleased Haakon. Gertrud and I at +first thought of going in to see Halvdan before we came on here; +but we saw all his lights were out. He must be asleep. + +Evje. I can give you news of him. He is all right. + +Harald. And Haakon? + +Evje. Very well, too. A fine fellow! I wanted him to come home with +us now; but he said he was tired after his journey. + +Mrs. Evje (to INGEBORG, who has come in from the dining room). Is +it ready? + +Ingeborg. Yes, ma'am. + +Mrs. Evje. Then come along. (INGEBORG opens the dining-room door.) + +The Doctor and Evje. Yes, come along! + +The Doctor. But we must go ceremoniously! Let us make a little +festivity of it to-night! You must head the procession, Evje--and +then the two young people Gertrud (taking HARALD's arm). Yes! + +The Doctor. And Mrs. Evje and I will bring up the rear! (Offers her +his arm.) + +Evje. Forward!(The bell rings. He stops.) Who can it be--as late as this? + +The Doctor. Probably some friends on their way back from the +meeting. + +Mrs. Evje. We must wait a moment!(To INGEBORG, who is going to open +the door.)Put a leaf in the table, and lay places for as many as +come. + +Ingeborg. Yes, ma'am. (The bell rings again, as she goes to open +the door.) + +The Doctor. They are impatient! So much the better--it shows they +are in a good humour after the meeting! (A knock is heard at the +door.) + +All. Come in!(The EDITOR comes in, with no overcoat on, but wearing +his hat, which he forgets to take of till he is well into the +room. He goes straight up to EVJE, who has crossed over to the +left-hand side of the room.) + +All (when they see him in the doorway). You! (GERTRUD clings closer +to HARALD.) + +The Editor. I wanted once more, as in the old days, not to go to +bed without--this time it is not a question of thanking you for the +happy time we have had together but without begging your pardon!(He +speaks quietly, but with suppressed emotion.)There has been some +unfortunate misunderstanding. Those articles have been printed, in +spite of my express instructions to the contrary--I do not know how. + +Evje. I have read them. + +The Editor. You have read them? + +Evje. Yes, the copy of the paper that was meant for you came into +my hands. + +The Editor. So that was it!--Forgive me, old friend! Won't you give +me your hand? + +Mrs. Evje (coming forward). That he shall never do! + +The Editor (glancing over his shoulder at her). Let no one come +between us at a moment like this! You don't know--. A hundred times +in my life I would have done what I am doing now, had I not been +afraid that people would call it affectation on my part and repulse +me. Don't _you_ do that!--least of all now! Give me your hand, +Evje! I beg you, in the sight and hearing of you all--. (EVJE seems +to vacillate.) + +Mrs. Evje. No, you shan't!--not while he has anything to do with a +newspaper. Otherwise it will all begin over again to-morrow. He +is not his own master, you know. + +The Editor. I have done with it all. + +Mrs. Evje. Oh, you have said that so often! Nobody believes it. +No; when a man can push political hatred so far as to write about +an old friend, in whose house he has been a daily guest, as if he +were a criminal--and all because he doesn't like his son-in-law, or +his servant--one doesn't shake hands with him the very day his +attacks appear in the paper. + +The Editor (who, all the tinge, has kept his back turned to MRS. +EVJE, and has not looked at her). Evje, you are a good-hearted +fellow, I know. Don't listen to what others say, now. This is a +very bitter hour for me. You would be doing a good deed! Give +me your hand--or a word! I am in such a state now that I must +have visible signs of _some one's_ forgiveness, or I shall--! + +Mrs. Evje (emphatically). Yes, a little repentance will do you +good! But it will do you no good if you obtain forgiveness easily! +You want to learn, just for once, what it is to be wounded at +heart. You are only accustomed to deal with people whom you can +flog one day and have at your feet--either from fear or from +vanity--the next. And have we--God forgive us!--ever thought +seriously the worse of you for it? No; because we never understood +what it was till we were hit by it ourselves. But that is all the +more reason why we should do our duty now! Hatred shall be met with +hatred! + +The Doctor (at the back of the room, to GERTRUD and HARALD). She is +her father's daughter, after all, when it comes to the point! + +The Editor (turns upon MRS. EVJE, with his fist clenched, but +restrains himself from answering her). Then you won't shake hands, +Evje? Not a word of forgiveness? + +Evje. I think my wife is right. + +The Editor (controlling himself with difficulty). You are a weak +man, I know-- + +Evje. What do you mean? + +The Editor. --but do not be weak this time! If you knew everything, +you would know you _must_ not refuse me what I ask. There are +others concerned--and for that reason-- + +The Doctor. Let us go! + +Mrs. Evje. No, stay! He shall not have his way again. + +The Editor. Well, of all--! It is certainly true that those who are +hardest on sinners are those who have never been tempted +themselves--and the most merciless creature in the world is an +injured woman. + +Mrs. Evje. Now he is coming out in his true colours! + +The Doctor (not without glee). Yes, that he is! + +The Editor (controlling himself once more). Evje--you, who know me, +know what it must cost me to do this--and you can form some idea of +the need I am in. I have never-- + +Evje. I believe you; but I never can feel sure what your next move +will be. You have so many. + +The Editor. My next move is to have done with it all, as sure as-- + +Mrs. Evje. Don't believe him! A man who can ask for your sympathy +one moment and abuse you the next is not fit to promise anything-- +and certainly not fit to be forgiven, either. + +The Editor (with an outburst of passion). Then may everything evil +overtake me if I ever ask you or any one else for sympathy again! +You have succeeded in teaching me that I can do without it! I can +rise above your cowardly cruelty. (To EVJE.) You are a miserable, +weak creature--and have always been, for all your apparent +good-natured shrewdness! (To MRS. EVJE.) And as for you, who have +often laughed so heartily at my so-called malice, and now all at +once have become so severely virtuous--why, you are both like +part-proprietors of my paper! You have taken all the profit you could +from me, as long as it served your purpose--I have seen that for a +long time! And all my pretended friends are like you--secret +holders of shares in me, so as to secure their own safety and the +persecution of others!--every bit as guilty as I am, only more +prudent, more timid, more cowardly--! + +Evje. Once more--leave this house, which you have outraged! + +Mrs. Evje. And how dare you set foot in here again? + +The Editor. No, I am not going until all the anger that is in my +heart has turned into fear in yours! Because now I will _not_ have +done with it all! No--it is just through _his_ death that respect +for me will revive--it will be like a rampart of bayonets round me! +"There goes one who can kill a man with a word, if he likes!" +_That_ will make them treat me respectfully! + +Harald and the Doctor. What does he mean? + +The Editor (as he hears HARALD'S voice). And you--you mountebank, +who can stand up in public and seek applause before your brother's +corpse is cold--don't come talking rant to me! You are more +contemptible than I am! I couldn't have done that; I couldn't stand +there, as you are doing now, impatient to get to your champagne and +pretty speeches!--Oh, how I despise all such lying and heartlessness! +(They all look at him and at each other with a questioning +expression.) + +Harald. Is my brother dead? + +Mrs. Evje. Is his brother dead? + +Gertrud. Good God, is Halvdan dead? + +Evje. Is he dead? Impossible! + +The Doctor. Is Rejn dead--and I--? + +Evje. I saw him only a couple of hours ago, looking quite well. + +The Editor (in a broken voice). Didn't you know? + +All (except the DOCTOR). No! + +The Doctor. Ah, that letter, that letter! (Looks in his pocket for +it and his glasses.) + +The Editor. I am the wretchedest man alive! (Sinks into a chair.) + +The Doctor. I had a letter from my assistant, but I have not read +it! + +Mrs. Evje. Read it, read it! + +The Doctor (reading). "I am writing in great haste. As I expect you +will be going to your old friends' after the meeting, and will meet +Harald Rejn there, the task will probably fall to you of telling +him--(the EDITOR gets up to go, but stands still)--that Halvdan +Rejn died about eight o'clock of a fresh attack of hemorrhage! +(HARALD leaves GERTRUD'S side and comes forward, with a cry. The +EDITOR steadies himself by holding on to the table.) No one was +with him; he was found lying across the threshold of his bedroom. A +copy of the newspaper was lying on the floor behind him." (HARALD, +with a groan, advance threateningly towards the EDITOR.) + +Gertrud. Harald, my ring!--my ring! (HARALD Stops, collects +himself, buries his face in his hands and bursts into uncontrollable +tears. GERTRUD puts her arms round him and holds him folded in them.) + +The Doctor (laying a hand on HARALD's arm). "The housekeeper told +me he had only spoken two words, and they were 'Forgive him!'" +(HARALD bursts into tears.) + +The Doctor (after waiting for a little). "Apparently chance--or +perhaps something else--decreed that the maid who ran for help, +should meet the very man, who hats caused the tragedy, and that it +should be _he_ who helped the housekeeper to lay him on his +deathbed." (All look at the EDITOR.) + +Evje. That was why he came! (A pause.) + +Gertrud. Harald! (HARALD, who has turned away from her to struggle +with his emotion, does not turn round.) If _he_ could forgive-- + +The Editor (with a gesture of refusal). No! + +Gertrud (quietly, to the EDITOR). If you want to deserve it, make +an end of all this! + +The Editor. It is all at an end! (To MRS. EVJE.) You were right. I +knew it myself, too. My armour is pierces pierced through. A child +might conquer me now--and this child has done so; for she has +begged for mercy for me, and no one has ever done that before. +(Puts his hand over his eyes, turns away, and goes out. As he is +going out the bell rings. A moment later, INGEBORG Shows in HAAKON +REJN.) + +Gertrud (who has put her arms round HARALD, whispers). Who is it? + +Harald. My brother. (Goes to meet HAAKON and throws himself into +his arms.) You had a talk with him this afternoon, then? + +Haakon. Yes. + +Mrs. Evje. Let us all go to him. + +Evje and Gertrud. Yes. + +Mrs. Evje (to INGEBORG). Bring in our cloaks and hats again, and +afterwards clear the table. (INGEBORG does so.) + +Harald (unable to control his emotion). Haakon, this is my future +wife. (Goes away from them.) + +Haakon. Well, my dear, your engagement has begun seriously; take +all the future seriously, too. + +The Doctor. You need not say that to _her_. What she needs is to +take life more lightly. + +Haakon. Oh, yes--if she lays everything in God's hands she can +always take life lightly. + +Mrs. Evje. It is our own fault, I expect, when we take it too +lightly. + +Evje. But sometimes we learn a lesson by that. + +Haakon. Oh, yes. Well, we must stand by one another, we who +take life in the same way. + +Mrs. Evje. Shall we go, children? + +Harald (to HAAKON). Will you bring Gertrud, Haakon? I would rather +go alone. (They go out. The curtain falls.) + + + +THE BANKRUPT + +A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + +HENNING TJAELDE, merchant and brewer. +MRS. TJAELDE, his wife. +VALBORG and SIGNE, their daughters. +LIEUTENANT HAMAR, engaged to Signe. +SANNAES, Tjaelde's confidential clerk. +JAKOSSEN, manager of Tjaelde's brewery. +BERENT, a lawyer. +PRAM, a custom-house official. +An Agent. +The VICAR. +LIND, a guest. +FINNE, a guest. +RING, a guest. +HOLM, a guest. +KNUTZON, a guest. +KNUDSEN, a guest. +FALBE, a guest. + + +THE BANKRUPT + +ACT I + +(SCENE.--A sitting-room in the TJAELDES' house, opening on a +verandah that is decorated with flowers. It is a hot summer's day. +There is a view of the sea beyond the verandah, and boats are +visible among the islands that fringe the coast. A good-sized +yacht, with sails spread, is lying close up under the verandah on +the right. The room is luxuriously furnished and full of flowers. +There are two French windows in the left-hand wall; two doors in +the right-hand. A table in the middle of the room; arm-chairs and +rocking-chairs scattered about. A sofa in the foreground on the +right. LIEUTENANT HAMAR is lying on the sofa, and SIGNE sitting in +a rocking-chair.) + +Hamar. What shall we do with ourselves to-day? + +Signe (rocking herself). Hm! (A pause.) + +Hamar. That was a delicious sail we had last night. (Yawns.) +But I am sleepy to-day. Shall we go for a ride? + +Signe. Hm! (A pause.) + +Hamar. I am too hot on this sofa. I think I will move. (Gets up. +SIGNE begins to hum an air as she rocks herself.) Play me +something, Signe! + +Signe (singing her words to the air she has been humming). +The piano is out of tune. + +Hamar. Read to me, then! + +Signe (as before, looking out of the window). They are swimming +the horses. They are swimming the horses. They are swimming +the horses. + +Hamar. I think I will go and have a swim too. Or perhaps I will +wait till nearer lunch-time. + +Signe (as before). So as to have a better appetite--appetite-- +appetite. + +(MRS. TJAELDE comes in from the right, walking slowly.) + +Hamar. You look very thoughtful! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, I don't know what to order. + +Signe (as before). For dinner, I suppose you mean? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes. + +Hamar. Do you expect any one? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, your father writes to me that Mr. Finne is +coming. + +Signe (speaking). The most tiresome person possible, of course. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. How would boiled salmon and roast chicken do? + +Signe. We had that the other day. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. (with a sigh). There is nothing that we didn't. There +is so little choice in the market just now. + +Signe. Then we ought to send to town. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Oh, these meals, these meals! + +Hamar (yawning). They are the best thing in life, anyway. + +Signe. To eat, yes--but not to cook; I never will cook a dinner. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (sitting down at the table). One could put up with the +cooking. It's the having always to think of something fresh! + +Hamar. Why don't you get a chef from one of the hotels, as I have +so often advised you? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Oh, we have tried that, but he was more trouble +than it was worth. + +Hamar. Yes, because he had no invention. Get a French chef! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, and have to be always beside him to interpret!-- +But I am no nearer this dinner. And lately I have been finding such +difficulty in getting about. + +Hamar. I have never in my life heard so much talk about meals +as I have in this house. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You see, you have never been in a prosperous +business-man's house before. Our friends are mostly business-men, +of course--and most of them have no greater pleasures than those of +the table. + +Signe. That's true. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Are you wearing _that_ dress to-day? + +Signe. Yes. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You have worn a different one every day. + +Signe. Well, if Hamar is tired of both the blue one and the grey +one, what can I do? + +Hamar. And I don't like this one any better than the others. + +Signe. Indeed!--Then I really think you had better order me one +yourself. + +Hamar. Come to town with me, and I will! + +Signe. Yes, mother--Hamar and I have made up our minds that +we must go back to town. [Note: There would be nothing contrary to +Norwegian ideas of propriety in Signe's proposal. In Norway an +engaged couple could travel alone; and the fiancée would go to stay +in the house of her future husband's relations.] + +Mrs. Tjaelde. But you were there only a fortnight ago! + +Hamar. And it is exactly a fortnight too long since we were there! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. (thoughtfully). Now, what _can_ I order for dinner? + +(VALBORG comes into sight on the verandah.) + +Signe (turning round and seeing VALBORG). Enter Her Highness! + +Hamar (turning round). Carrying a bouquet! Oho! I have seen it +before! + +Signe. Have you? Did _you_ give it her? + +Hamar. No; I was coming through the garden--and saw it on the table +in Valborg's summerhouse. Is it your birthday, Valborg? + +Valborg. No. + +Hamar. I thought not. Perhaps there is some other festivity to-day? + +Valborg. No. (SIGNE suddenly bursts out laughing.) + +Hamar. Why do you laugh? + +Signe. Because I understand! Ha, ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. What do you understand? + +Signe. Whose hands it is that have decked the altar! Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. I suppose you think they were mine? + +Signe. No, they were redder hands than yours! Ha, ha, ha, ha! +(VALBORG throws the bouquet down.) Oh, dear me, it doesn't do to +laugh so much in this heat. But it is delightful! To think he +should have hit upon that idea! Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar (laughing). Do you mean--? + +Signe (laughing). Yes! You must know that Valborg-- + +Valborg. Signe! + +Signe.--who has sent so many distinguished suitors about their +business, cannot escape from the attentions of a certain red pair +of hands--ha, ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. Do you mean Sannaes? + +Signe. Yes! (Points out of the window.) There is the culprit! He is +waiting, Valborg, for you to come, in maiden meditation, with the +bouquet in your hands--as you came just now-- + +Mrs. Tjaelde. (getting up). No, it is your father he is waiting +for. Ah, he sees him now. (Goes out by the verandah.) + +Signe. Yes, it really is father--riding a bay horse! + +Hamar (getting up). On a bay horse! Let us go and say "how do +you do" to the bay horse! + +Signe. N--o, no! + +Hamar. You won't come and say "how do you do" to the bay horse? A +cavalry officer's wife must love horses next best to her husband. + +Signe. And he his wife next best to his horses. + +Hamar. What? Are you jealous of a horse? + +Signe. Oh, I know very well you have never been so fond of me +as you are of horses. + +Hamar. Come along! (Pulls her up out of her chair.) + +Signe. But I don't feel the least interested in the bay horse. + +Hamar. Very well, then, I will go alone! + +Signe. No, I will come. + +Hamar (to VALBORG). Won't you come and welcome the bay horse too? + +Valborg. No, but I will go and welcome my father! + +Signe (looking back, as she goes). Yes, of course--father as well. +(She and HAMAR go out.) + +(VALBORG goes to the farthest window and stands looking out of it. +Her dress is the same colour as the long curtain, and a piece of +statuary and some flowers conceal her from any one entering the +room. SANNAES comes in, carrying a small saddle-bag and a cloak, +which he puts down on a chair behind the door. As he turns round +he sees the bouquet on the door.) + +Sannaes. There it is! Has she dropped it by accident, or did she +throw it down? Never mind--she has had it in her hands. (Picks it +up, kisses it, and is going to take it away.) + +Valborg (coming forward). Leave it alone! + +Sannaes (dropping the bouquet). You here, Miss Valborg--? I +didn't see you-- + +Valborg. But I can see what you are after. How dare you presume +to think of persecuting me with your flowers and your--your red +hands? (He puts his hands behind his back.) How dare you make +me a laughing-stock to every one in the house, and I suppose to +every one in the town? + +Sannaes. I--I--I-- + +Valborg. And what about me? Don't you think I deserve a little +consideration? You will be turned out of the house before long, if +you do not take care--! Now be quick and get away before the others +come in. (SANNAES turns away, holding his hands in front of him, +and goes out by the verandah to the right. At the same moment +TJAELDE is seen coming at the other end of the verandah, followed +by HAMAR and SIGNE.) + +Tjaelde. Yes, it is a fine horse. + +Hamar. Fine? I don't believe there is its equal in the country. + +Tjaelde. I dare say. Did you notice that he hadn't turned a hair? + +Hamar. What glorious lungs! And such a beauty, too--his head, his +legs, his neck--! I never saw such a beauty! + +Tjaelde. Yes, he is a handsome beast. (Looks out of the verandah at +the yacht.) Have you been out for a sail? + +Hamar. I was sailing among the islands last night, and came back +this morning with the fishing-boats--a delightful sail! + +Tjaelde. I wish I had time to do that. + +Hamar. But surely it is only imagination on your part, to think +that you never have time? + +Tjaelde. Oh, well, perhaps I have time but not inclination. + +Signe. And how do things stand where you have been? + +Tjaelde. Badly. + +Valborg (coming forward). Welcome home, father! + +Tjaelde. Thank you, dear! + +Hamar. Is it not possible to save anything? + +Tjaelde. Not at present; that is why I took the horse. + +Hamar. Then the bay horse is the only thing you get out of the +smash? + +Tjaelde. Do you know that I might say that horse has cost me three +or four thousand pounds? + +Hamar. Well, that is its only defect, anyway! Still, if the worst +comes to the worst, and you can afford it--the horse is priceless! +(TJAELDE turns away, puts down his hat and coat and takes off his +gloves.) + +Signe. It is beautiful to see your enthusiasm when you talk about +horses. I rather think it is the only enthusiasm you have. + +Hamar. Yes, if I were not a cavalry officer I should like to be a +horse! + +Signe. Thank you! And what should I be? + +Valborg. "Oh, were I but the saddle on thy back! Oh, were I but the +whip about thy loins!" + +Hamar. "Oh, were I but the flowers in thy--." No, "hand" doesn't +rhyme! + +Tjaelde. (coming forward, meets MRS. TJAELDE, who has come in from +the right.) Well, my dear, how are you? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Oh, I find it more and more difficult to get about. + +Tjaelde. There is always something the matter with you, my dear! +Can I have something to eat? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, it has been standing waiting for you. Here it +comes. (A maid brings in a tray which she lays on the table.) + +Tjaelde. Good! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Will you have a cup of tea? + +Tjaelde. No, thank you. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. (sitting down beside him and pouring him out a glass +of wine). And how have things gone with the Möllers? + +Tjaelde. Badly. I told you so already. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I didn't hear you. + +Valborg. I had a letter to-day from Nanna Möller. She tells me all +about it--how none of the family knew anything about it till the +officers of the courts came. + +Tjaelde. Yes, there must have been a dreadful scene. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Did he tell you anything about it? + +Tjaelde (as he eats). I didn't speak to him. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My dear! Why, you are old friends! + +Tjaelde. Bah! Old friends! He sat looking as if he had taken leave +of his senses. Besides, I have had enough of that family. I didn't +go there to hear them talk about their troubles. + +Signe. I suppose it was all very sad? + +Tjaelde (still eating). Shocking! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What will they have to live on? + +Tjaelde. What is allowed them by their creditors, of course. + +Signe. But all the things they had? + +Tjaelde. Sold. + +Signe. All those pretty things--their furniture, their carriages, +their--? + +Tjaelde. All sold. + +Hamar. And his watch? It is the most beautiful watch I have ever +seen--next to yours. + +Tjaelde. It had to go, of course, being jewellery. Give me some +wine; I am hot and thirsty. + +Signe. Poor things! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Where are they going to live now? + +Tjaelde. In the house of one of the skippers of what was their +fleet. Two small rooms and a kitchen. + +Signe. Two small rooms and a kitchen! (A pause.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What do they intend to do? + +Tjaelde. There was a subscription started to enable Mrs. Möller to +get the job of catering for the Club. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Is the poor woman going to have more cooking to do! + +Signe. Did they send no messages to us? + +Tjaelde. Of course they did; but I didn't pay any attention to +them. + +Hamar (who has been standing on the verandah). But Möller--what +did he say? What did he do? + +Tjaelde. I don't know, I tell you. + +Valborg (who has been walking up and down the room during the +preceding conversation). He has said and done quite enough already. + +Tjaelde (who has at last finished eating and drinking, is struck by +her words). What do you mean by that, Valborg? + +Valborg. That if I were his daughter I would never forgive him. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My dear Valborg, don't say such things! + +Valborg. I mean it! A man who would bring such shame and misery +upon his family does not deserve any mercy from them. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. We are all in need of mercy. + +Valborg. In one sense, yes. But what I mean is that I could never +give him my respect or my affection again. He would have wronged me +too cruelly. + +Tjaelde (getting up). Wronged you? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Have you finished already, dear? + +Tjaelde. Yes. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No more wine? + +Tjaelde. I said I had finished. Wronged you? How? + +Valborg. Well, I cannot imagine how one could be more cruelly +wronged than to be allowed to assume a position that was nothing +but a lie, to live up to means that had no real existence but were +merely a sham--one's clothes a lie, one's very existence a lie! +Suppose I were the sort of girl that found a certain delight in +making use of her position as a rich man's daughter--in using it to +the fullest possible extent; well, when I discovered that all that +my father had given me was stolen-that all he had made me believe +in was a lie--I am sure that then my anger and my shame would be +beyond all bounds! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My child, you have never been tried. You don't know +how such things may happen. You don't really know what you are +saying! + +Hamar. Well it might do Möller good if he heard what she says! + +Valborg. He has heard it. His daughter said that to him. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. His own daughter! Child, child, is that what you +write to each other about? God forgive you both! + +Valborg. Oh, He will forgive us, because we speak the truth. + +Mrs. Tialde. Child, child! + +Tjaelde. You evidently don't understand what business is--success +one day and failure the next. + +Valborg. No one will ever persuade me that business is a lottery. + +Tjaelde. No, a sound business is not. + +Valborg. Exactly. It is the unsound sort that I condemn. + +Tjaelde. Still, even the soundest have their anxious moments. + +Valborg. If the anxious moments really foreshadow a crisis, no man +of honour would keep his family o: his creditors in ignorance of +the fact. My God, how Mr. Möller has deceived his! + +Signe. Valborg is always talking about business! + +Valborg. Yes, it has had an attraction for me ever since I was a +child. I am not ashamed of that. + +Signe. You think you know all about it, anyway. + +Valborg. Oh, no; but you can easily get to know a little about +anything you are fond of. + +Hamar. And one would need no great knowledge of business to condemn +the way Möller went on. It was obvious to every one. And the way +his family went on, too! Who went the pace as much as the Möllers? +Think of his daughter's toilettes! + +Valborg. His daughter is my best friend. I don't want to hear her +abused. + +Hamar. Your Highness will admit that it is possible to be the +daughter of a _very_ rich man without being as proud and as vain +as--as the lady I am not allowed to mention! + +Valborg. Nanna is neither proud nor vain. She is absolutely +genuine. She had the aptitude for being exactly what she thought +she was--a rich man's daughter. + +Hamar. Has she the "aptitude" for being a bankrupt's daughter +now? + +Valborg. Certainly. She has sold all her trinkets, her dresses-- +every single thing she had. What she wears, she has either paid for +herself or obtained by promising future payment. + +Hamar. May I ask if she kept her stockings? + +Valborg. She sent everything to a sale. + +Hamar. If I had known that I would certainly have attended it! + +Valborg. Yes, I daresay there was plenty to make fun of, and +plenty of idle loafers, too, who were not ashamed to do so. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Children, children! + +Hamar. May I ask if Miss Nanna sent her own idleness to the sale +with her other effects?--because I have never known any one with a +finer supply of it! + +Valborg. She never thought she would need to work. + +Tjaelde (coming forward to VALBORG). To take up the thread of what +we were saying: you don't understand what a business-man's hope is +from one day to the other--always a renewed hope. That fact does +not make him a swindler. He may be unduly sanguine, perhaps--a +poet, if you like, who lives in a world of dreams--or he may be a +real genius, who sees land ahead when no one else suspects it. + +Valborg. I don't think I misunderstand the real state of affairs. +But perhaps you do, father. Because is not what you call hope, +poetry, genius, merely speculating with what belongs to others, +when a man knows that he owes more than he has got? + +Tjaelde. It may be very difficult to be certain even whether he +does that or not. + +Valborg. Really? I should have thought his books would tell him-- + +Tjaelde. About his assets and his liabilities, certainly. But +values are fluctuating things; and he may always have in hand some +venture which, though it cannot be specified, may alter the whole +situation. + +Valborg. If he undeniably owes more than he possesses, any venture +he undertakes must be a speculation with other people's money. + +Tjaelde. Well--perhaps that is so; but that does not mean that he +steals the money--he only uses it in trust for them. + +Valborg. Entrusted to him on the false supposition that he is +solvent. + +Tjaelde. But possibly that money may save the whole situation. + +Valborg. That does not alter the fact that he has got the use of it +by a lie. + +Tjaelde. You use very harsh terms. (MRS. TJAELDE has once or twice +been making signs to VALBORG, which the latter sees but pays no +attention to.) + +Valborg. In that case the lie consists in the concealment. + +Tjaelde. But what do you want him to do? To lay all his cards on +the table, and so ruin both himself and the others? + +Valborg. Yes, he ought to take every one concerned into his +confidence. + +Tjaelde. Bah! In that case we should see a thousand failures every +year, and fortunes lost one after the other everywhere! No, you +have a level head, Valborg, but your ideas are narrow. Look here, +where are the newspapers? (SIGNE, who has been talking confidentially +to HAMAR on the verandah, comes forward.) + +Signe. I took them down to your office. I did not know you meant to +stay in here. + +Tjaelde. Oh, bother the office! Please fetch them for me. (SIGNE +goes out, followed by Hamar.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (in an undertone to VALBORG). Why will you never +listen to your mother, Valborg? (VALBORG goes out to the verandah; +leans on the edge of it, with her head on her hands, and looks +out.) + +Tjaelde. I think I will change my coat. Oh no, I will wait till +dinner-time. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Dinner! And here I am still sitting here! + +Tjaelde. Are we expecting any one? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, have you forgotten? + +Tjaelde. Of course, yes. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (going out). What on earth am I to order? + +(TJAELDE comes forward as soon as he is alone, sits down on a chair +with a weary, harassed expression, and buries his face in his hands +with a sigh. SIGNE and HAMAR come back, she carrying some +newspapers. HAMAR is going out to the verandah again, but SIGNE +pulls him back.) + +Signe. Here you are, father. Here are-- + +Tjaelde. What? Who? + +Signe (astonished). The newspapers. + +Tjaelde. Ah, yes. Give them to me.(Opens them hurriedly. They are +mostly foreign papers, in which he scans the money articles one +after another.) + +Signe (after a whispered conversation with HAMAR). Father! + +Tjaelde (without looking up from the papers).Well? (To himself, +gloomily.) Down again, always down! + +Signe. Hamar and I want so much to go into town again to Aunt +Ulla's. + +Tjaelde. But you know you were there only a fortnight ago. I +received your bills yesterday. Have you seen them? + +Signe. No need for that, father, if _you_ have seen them! Why do +you sigh? + +Tjaelde. Oh--because I see that stocks keep falling. + +Signe. Pooh! Why should you bother about that? Now you are sighing +again. I am sure you know how horrid it is for those you love not +to have what they want. You won't be so unkind to us, father? + +Tjaelde. No, my child, it can't be done. + +Signe. Why? + +Tjaelde. Because--because--well, because now that it is summer time +so many people will be coming here whom we shall have to entertain. + +Signe. But entertaining people is the most tiresome thing I know, +and Hamar agrees with me. + +Tjaelde. Don't you think I have to do tiresome things sometimes, +my girl? + +Signe. Father dear, why are you talking so solemnly and +ceremoniously? It sounds quite funny from you! + +Tjaelde. Seriously, my child, it is by no means an unimportant +matter for a big business house like ours, with such a wide-spread +connection, that people coming here from all quarters should find +themselves hospitably received. You might do that much for me. + +Signe. Hamar and I will never have a moment alone at that rate. + +Tjaelde. I think you mostly squabble when you are alone. + +Signe. Squabble? That is a very ugly word, father. + +Tjaelde. Besides, you would be no more alone if you were in town. + +Signe. Oh, but it is quite different there! + +Tjaelde. So I should think--from the way you throw your money +about! + +Signe (laughing). Throw our money about! What else have we to do? +Isn't that what we are for? Daddy, listen--dear old dad-- + +Tjaelde. No, dear--no. + +Signe. You have never been so horrid to me before. + +Hamar (who has been making signs to her to stop, whispers). Can't +you be quiet! Don't you see he is put out about something? + +Signe (whispering). Well, you might have backed me up a little. + +Hamar (as before). No, I am a bit wiser than you. + +Signe (as before). You have been so odd lately. I am sure I don't +know what you want? + +Hamar (as before). Oh, well, it doesn't matter now--because I am +going to town alone. + +Signe (as before). What are you going to do? + +Hamar (going). I am going to town alone. I am sick of this! + +Signe (following him). Just you try! (Both go out by the verandah, +to the right. TJAELDE lets the newspapers fall out of his hands +with a heavy sigh.) + +Valborg (looking in from the verandah). Father! (TJAELDE starts.) +There goes Mr. Berent, the lawyer from Christiania. + +Tjaelde (getting up). Berent? Where? On the wharf? + +Valborg. Yes. (Comes back into the room. TJAELDE looks out of the +window.) The reason I told you was because I saw him yesterday at +the timber-yard, and a little while before that, at the brewery and +at the works. + +Tjaelde (to himself). What can that mean? (Aloud.) Oh, I know he is +very fond of making little trips to all sorts of places in the +summer. This year he has come here--and no doubt he likes to see +the chief industries of the place. There is not much else here to +see! But are you sure it is he? I think-- + +Valborg (looking out). Yes, it is he. Look now, you know his walk-- + +Tjaelde. --and his trick of crossing his feet--yes, it is he. It +looks as if he were coming here. + +Valborg. No, he has turned away. + +Tjaelde. All the better! (To himself, thoughtfully.) Could it +possibly mean--? (SANNAES comes in from the right.) + +Sannaes. Am I disturbing you, sir? + +Tjaelde. Is that you, Sannaes? (SANNAES, as he comes forward, sees +VALBORG standing by the farther window. He appears frightened and +hides his hands quickly behind his back.) What do you want? +(VALBORG looks at SANNAES, then goes on to the verandah and out to +the right.) What is it, man? What the deuce are you standing there +for? + +Sannaes (bringing his hands from behind his back as soon as VALBORG +has passed him, and looking after her.) I didn't like to ask you, +before Miss Valborg, whether you are coming down to your office +to-day or not. + +Tjaelde. Have you gone mad? Why on earth shouldn't you ask me that +before Miss Valborg? + +Sannaes. I mean that--if not--I should like to speak to you here, +if it is convenient. + +Tjaelde. Look here, Sannaes, you ought to try and get rid of your +shyness; it doesn't suit a business man. A business man should be +smart and active, and not let his wits go wool-gathering because he +finds himself in the same room with a woman. I have often noticed +it in you.--Now, what is it? Out with it! + +Sannaes. You are not coming to the office this morning, sir? + +Tjaelde. No, there is no post goes out before this evening. + +Sannaes. No. But there are some bills of exchange-- + +Tjaelde. Bills? No. + +Sannaes. Yes, sir--that fourth one of Möller's that was protested, +and the big English one. + +Tjaelde (angrily). Have they not been met yet? What does this mean? + +Sannaes. The manager of the bank wanted to see you first, sir! + +Tjaelde. Have you gone crazy--? (Collects himself.) There must be +some misunderstanding, Sannaes. + +Sannaes. That is what I thought; so I spoke about it to the chief +clerk, and to Mr. Holst as well. + +Tjaelde. And Mr. Holst said--? + +Sannaes. The same thing. + +Tjaelde (walking up and down). I will go and see him--or rather, I +_won't_ go and see him; because this is evidently something that--. +We have some days' grace yet, haven't we? + +Sannaes. Yes, sir. + +Tjaelde. And still no telegram from Mr. Lind? + +Sannaes. No, sir. + +Tjaelde (to himself). I can't understand it. (Aloud.) We will +negotiate this matter direct with Christiania, Sannaes. That is +what we will do--and leave these little local banks alone in +future. That will do, Sannaes! (Makes a gesture of dismissal. Then +says to himself:) That damned Möller! It has made them all +suspicious! (Turns round and sees SANNAES still there.) What are +you waiting for? + +Sannaes. It is settling day--and I have no money in the safe. + +Tjaelde. No money in the safe! A big business like this, and +nothing in the safe on settling day! What kind of management is +that, I should like to know? Must I teach you the A B C of business +over and over again? One can never take a half day off, or hand +over the control! of the tiniest part of the business--! I have no +one, absolutely no one, that I can rely on! How have you let things +get into such a state? + +Sannaes. Well, there was a third bill, which expired to-day--Holm +and Co., for £400. I had relied upon the bank, unfortunately--so +there was nothing for it but to empty the safe--here and at the +brewery as well. + +Tjaelde (walking about restlessly). Hm--hm--hm!--Now, who can have +put that into Holst's head?--Very well, that will do. (Dismisses +SANNAES, who goes out but comes back immediately.) + +Sannaes (whispering). Here is Mr. Berent! + +Tjaelde (surprised). Coming here? + +Sannaes. He is just coming up the steps! (Goes out by the further +door on the right.) + +Tjaelde. (calls after him in a whisper). Send up some wine and +cakes!--It is just as I suspected! (Catches sight of himself in a +mirror.) Good Lord, how bad I look! (Turns away painfully from the +mirror; looks in it again, forces a smile to his face, and so, +smiling, goes towards the verandah, where BERENT is seen coming in +slowly from the left.) + +Tjaelde (greeting BERENT politely but with reserve). I feel +honoured at receiving a visit from so distinguished a man. + +Berent. Mr. Tjaelde, I believe? + +Tjaelde. At your service! My eldest daughter has just been +telling me that she had seen you walking about my property. + +Berent. Yes; an extensive property--and an extensive business. + +Tjaelde. Too extensive, Mr. Berent. Too many-sided. But one thing +has led to another. Pray sit down. + +Berent. Thank you; it is very warm to-day. (A maid brings in cakes +and wine, and puts them on the table.) + +Tjaelde. Let me give you a glass of wine? + +Berent. No, thank you. + +Tjaelde. Or something to eat? + +Berent. Nothing, thank you. + +Tjaelde (taking out his cigar-case). May I offer you a cigar? I can +answer for their quality. + +Berent. I am very fond of a good cigar. But for the moment I will +not take anything, thank you! (A pause. TJAELDE takes a seat.) + +Tjaelde (in a quiet, confidential voice). Have you been long here, +Mr. Berent? + +Berent. Only a day or two. You have been away, have you not? + +Tjaelde. Yes--that unhappy affair of Mr. Möller's. A meeting of +creditors after the sale. + +Berent. Times are hard just now. + +Tjaelde. Extraordinarily so! + +Berent. Do you think that Möller's failure will bring down any +more firms with it-besides those we know of already, I mean? + +Tjaelde. I don't think so. His--his misfortune was an exceptional +case in every respect. + +Berent. It has made the banks a little nervous, I hear. + +Tjaelde. I dare say. + +Berent. Of course you know the state of affairs here better than +any one. + +Tjaelde. (with a smile). I am very much indebted to you for your +flattering confidence in me. + +Berent. I suppose all this might have a bad effect upon the +export trade of this part of the country? + +Tjaelde. Yes--it is really hard to tell; but the important thing +certainly is to keep every one on their legs. + +Berent. That is your opinion? + +Tjaelde. Undoubtedly. + +Berent. As a general rule a crisis of this sort shows up the +unsound elements in a commercial community. + +Tjaelde (with a smile). And for that reason this crisis should be +allowed to take its natural course, you mean? + +Berent. That is my meaning. + +Tjaelde. Hm!--In some places it is possible that the dividing line +between the sound firms and the unsound may not be very distinct. + +Berent. Can there really be any danger of such a thing here? + +Tjaelde. Well--you are expecting too much of my knowledge of +affairs; but I should be inclined to think that there may. (A +pause.) + +Berent. I have been instructed by the banks to prepare an opinion +upon the situation--a fact which I have, so far, only confided to +you. + +Tjaelde. I am much obliged. + +Berent. The smaller local banks here have combined, and are acting +in concert. + +Tjaelde. Indeed? (A pause.) I suppose you have seen Mr. Holst, +then? + +Berent. Of course. (A pause.) If we are to assist the sound firms +and leave the others to their fate, the best way will certainly be +for all alike to disclose their actual position. + +Tjaelde. Is that Mr. Holst's opinion too? + +Berent. It is. (A pause.) I have advised him for the present--at +all events till we have all the balance-sheets--to say "no" to +every request for an advance, without exception. + +Tjaelde. (with a look of relief). I understand! + +Berent. Only a temporary measure, of course-- + +Tjaelde. Quite so! + +Berent. --but one that must apply to every one impartially. + +Tjaelde. Admirable! + +Berent. Not to treat every one alike would be to run the danger of +throwing premature suspicion on individuals. + +Tjaelde. I quite agree. + +Berent. I am delighted to hear it. Then you will not misunderstand +me if I ask you also to prepare a balance-sheet which shall show +the actual position of your firm. + +Tjaelde. With the greatest pleasure, if by doing so I can assist +the general welfare. + +Berent. I assure you, you can. It is by such means that public +confidence is strengthened. + +Tjaelde. When do you want the balance-sheet? Of course, it can +only be a summary one. + +Berent. Naturally. I will give myself the pleasure of calling for +it. + +Tjaelde. By no means. I can let you have it at once, if you like. I +am in the habit of frequently drawing up summary balance-sheets of +that kind--as prices rise and fall, you know. + +Berent. Indeed? (Smiles.) You know, of course, what they say of +swindlers--that they draw up three balance-sheets everyday, and +all different! But you are teaching me, apparently-- + +Tjaelde (laughing). --that others too, may have that bad habit!-- +though I haven't actually got as far as three a day! + +Berent. Of course I was only joking. (Gets up.) + +Tjaelde (getting up). Of course. I will send it to the hotel in an +hour's time; for I suppose you are staying in our only so-called +hotel! Would you not care, for the rest of your stay, to move +your things over here and make yourself at home in a couple of +empty spare rooms that I have? + +Bercnt. Thank you, but the length of my stay is so uncertain; and +the state of my health imposes habits upon me which are +embarrassing to every one, and to myself most of all, when I am +among strangers. + +Tjaelde. But at all events I hope you will dine with us to-day? I +expect one or two friends. And perhaps a short sail afterwards; it +is very pretty among the islands here. + +Berent. Thank you, but my health won't allow me such dissipations. + +Tjaelde. Ha, ha!--Well, if I can be of any further service to you--? + +Berent. I should be glad to have a talk with you before I leave, +preferably as soon as possible. + +Tjaelde (somewhat surprised). You mean, after you have received +all the balance-sheets? + +Berent. I have already managed to get most of them quietly, through +Mr. Holst. + +Tjaelde (more surprised). Oh--so you mean to-day--? + +Berent. Would five o'clock suit you? + +Tjaelde. I am quite at your disposal! I will give myself the +pleasure of calling upon you at five. + +Berent. No, I will come here at five o'clock. (Bows, and turns to +go.) + +Tjaelde (following him). But you are the invalid--the older man-- +and a distinguished man-- + +Berent. But you are at home here. Good-bye! + +Tjaelde. Let me thank you for the honour you have done me by +calling upon me! + +Berent. Please don't bother to see me out. + +Tjaelde. Allow me to escort you? + +Berent. I can find the way quite well, thank you. + +Tjaelde. No doubt, no doubt-but I should feel it an honour! + +Berent. As you please! (As they are about to go down the verandah +steps they are met by SIGNE and HAMAR, who are coming up arm in +arm. Each couple draws aside to make room for the other.) + +Tjaelde. Let me introduce--no, I am sure Mr. Berent needs no +introduction. This is my youngest daughter--and her fiancé, +Lieutenant Hamar. + +Berent. I thought your regiment was at the manoeuvres, Lieutenant? + +Hamar. I have got furlough-- + +Berent. On account of urgent business, no doubt! Good day! + +Tjaelde. Ha, ha, ha! (He and BERENT go down the steps.) + +Hamar. Insolent fellow! But he is like that to every one. + +Signe. Not to my father, as far as I could see. + +Hamar. Your father is insolent too. + +Signe. You shan't say such things of father! + +Hamar. What else do you call it, to laugh at such impertinence as +Berent's. + +Signe. I call it good spirits! (Sits down in a rocking-chair and +begins rocking herself.) + +Hamar. Oh, then, so you--. You are not very agreeable to-day. + +Signe (still rocking herself). No; do you know, sometimes I get so +bored with you. + +Hamar. Yet you won't let me go away? + +Signe. Because I should be still worse bored without you. + +Hamar. Let me tell you this, I am not going to put up much longer +with the way I am treated here! + +Signe. Very well. (Takes off her engagement ring and holds it +between her finger and her thumb, as she rocks herself and hums a +tune.) + +Hamar. Oh, I don't say anything about _you_; but look at Valborg! +Look at your father! He hasn't even as much as offered me a mount +on his new horse! + +Signe. He has had something else to think about--possibly something +even more important than that. (Goes on humming.) + +Hamar. Oh, do be nice, Signe! You must admit that my feelings are +very natural. Indeed, to speak quite candidly--because I know I can +say anything to you--it seems to me that, as I am to be his +son-in-law and am in a cavalry regiment, and as he has no sons of +his own, I might almost expect that--that he would make me a +present of the horse. + +Signe. Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. Does it seem so unreasonable to you? + +Signe. Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. Why do you laugh at what I say, Signe? It seems to me that +it would reflect very well on your family if, when my friends +admired my horse, I could say: "My father-in-law made me a present +of it." Because, you know, there isn't a finer horse in the whole +of Norway. + +Signe. And that is the reason why you should have it? Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. I won't stand it! + +Signe. The peerless lieutenant on the peerless horse! Ha, ha, ha! + +Hamar. Signe, be quiet! + +Signe. You are so funny! (Begins to hum again.) + +Hamar. Listen, Signe! No one has so much influence with your father +as you.--Oh, do listen! Can't you talk seriously for a moment? + +Signe. I should like to! (Goes on humming.) + +Hamar. My idea was that, if that horse were mine, I would stay here +for the summer and break it in thoroughly. (SIGNE stops rocking +herself and humming. HAMAR comes up to her chair and leans over +her.) In that case I would not go back till the autumn, and then +you could come with the horse and me into town. Wouldn't that be +delightful? + +Signe (after looking at him for a moment). Oh, yes, my dear, you +always have such delightful ideas! + +Hamar. Don't I! But the whole thing depends, of course, on whether +you can get the horse from your father. Will you try, darling? + +Signe. And then you would stay here all the summer? + +Hamar. All the summer! + +Signe. So as to break in the horse. + +Hamar. Just to break in the horse! + +Signe. And I would go with you into town in the autumn--that was +what you said, wasn't it? + +Hamar. Yes; wouldn't it be jolly? + +Signe. Shall you take the bay horse to stay with your Aunt Ulla +too? + +Hamar (laughing). What? + +Signe. Well, you have spent your furlough here simply for the sake +of that horse--I know that well enough--and you propose to stay +here, just to break it in-and then you propose that the horse and I +should go to your aunt's-- + +Hamar. But, Signe, what do you--? + +Signe (beginning to rock herself furiously). Ugh! Go away! + +Hamar. Jealous of a horse! Ha, ha, ha! + +Signe. Go away to the stables. + +Hamar. Is that meant for a punishment? Because it would be more +amusing there than it is here. + +Signe (throwing down her ring). There! Let your horse wear that! + +Hamar. Every time you throw down that ring-- + +Signe. Oh, you have said that so often! I am tired of that too! +(Turns her chair round so as to turn her back on him.) + +Hamar. You are such a spoilt child that it would be absurd to take +everything you say seriously-- + +Signe. I am sick of that too, I tell you--for the hundred and +twentieth time! Go away! + +Hamar. But can't you see how ridiculous it is of you to be jealous +of a horse? Have you ever heard of anyone else behaving like that? + +Signe (jumping up). Oh, you make me want to shout and scream! +I feel so ashamed of you! (Stamps her foot.) I despise you! + +Hamar (laughing). And all on account of the horse? + +Signe. No, on your own account--yours, yours! I feel so miserable +sometimes, I should like to throw myself down on the floor and +cry--or run away and never come back! Can't you let me alone! +Can't you go away! + +Hamar. Yes--and I have not picked up the ring this time, either! + +Signe. Oh, do go!--go, go, go! (Bursts out crying and sits down.) + +Hamar. All right!--I see the steamer in the distance; I shall go +home at once. + +Signe. Oh, you know as well as I do that that steamer goes the +other way! Oh! (Cries. The masts and funnel of a steamer come +into sight, and a trail of smoke passes over the sky. TJAELDE'S +voice is heard outside, calling: "Hurry up! Take the lieutenant's +boat; it is ready!" SIGNE jumps up.) + +Hamar. They are going to fetch some one from the steamer! +(TJAELDE'S voice is heard again: "You get the boat out! He is +coming here!" HAMAR runs to pick up the ring and comes back +hurriedly to SIGNE.) Signe! + +Signe. No, I won't! + +Hamar. Signe, dear! What does this mean? What is it that I have +done? + +Signe. I don't know, but I am wretchedly unhappy! (Bursts into +tears.) + +Hamar. But you know that in the end I always do what you want? What +more can you wish than that? + +Signe. I can't help it, I wish I were dead! It is always the same +thing! (In tears again.) + +Hamar. But, Signe--you who have told me hundreds of times that +you loved me! + +Signe. And so I do. But sometimes our engagement seems horrible!-- +No, don't come near me! + +Hamar. Signe! (TJAELDE'S voice is heard outside: "Of course, put +your best coat on!" He calls louder: "Sannaes!" An answering voice +is heard in the distance. TJAELDE continues: "Don't forget your +gloves!") Dry your eyes, Signe! Don't let him see you have been +crying. (He tries to give her the ring, but she turns away, wiping +her eyes. TJAELDE comes up the steps on to the verandah.) + +Tjaelde. Oh, there you are! That's right. Mr. Lind is arriving by +this steamer--I had a telegram from him just now. (Calls out over +the verandah.) Come along with those flags! And get this boat out +of the way and unstep her mast! She is moored up tight! (HAMAR runs +to help him.) Yes, you cast her off! (HAMAR does so, and the boat +is hauled away to the right. TJAELDE comes forward into the room.) +Signe! (Looks at her.) What? Squabbling again? + +Signe. Father! + +Tjaelde. Well, this is no time for tomfoolery of that sort! You +must all do the honours of the house to-day. Tell Valborg-- + +Signe. Tell her yourself, please! You know Valborg only does +just what she likes. + +Tjaelde. Don't talk such rubbish! This is an important moment-- +and you will all do as _I_ say! Tell Valborg that she is to make +herself look nice and come to me here. And you do the same. (She +goes.) Signe! + +Signe (stopping). Yes? + +Tjaelde. We must ask five or six more people to dinner. You must +send word to Mr. Finne that we shall dine punctually at three +o'clock, instead of four. Mr. Lind has to go away again by the +next boat, at five o'clock. Do you understand? + +Signe. But has mother enough in the house for so many? + +Tjaelde. It is not a mere question of there being enough--it must +be a very good dinner. I expect my larder to be kept thoroughly +well stocked all through the summer. How often am I to repeat that? + +Signe (trying to repress her fears). But mother is feeling so ill +to-day-- + +Tjaelde. Oh! don't begin about that everlasting "feeling ill." +There is no time to-day to feel ill. Now, be quick! (SIGNE goes out +by the farther door. TJAELDE turns to HAMAR.) Get a pen and ink and +some paper! We must draw up a list of guests, at once! + +Hamar (looking about). There is none here. + +Tjaelde (impatiently). Fetch some, then! (HAMAR goes into the next +room. TJAELDE, after a long sigh of relief, reads a telegram he has +in his hand. His hand trembles as he reads it slowly, repeating +some passages twice.) "Letter received just as starting. Before +taking charge of affairs, must have interview. Coming to-day +earliest boat, return five o'clock. Have clear statement ready. +Lind." I can hardly read it--but it is true! Yes, if I can only +work this properly all doors will be open to me! (To HAMAR, who has +come back.) Ah, there you are! It would take too long to write +invitations. We will just draw up a list of names and one of my +clerks shall run round to them all. Now then! (Dictates.) The +Vicar--Oh, by the way, what is the champagne like? + +Hamar. Do you mean the new lot? + +Tjaelde. Yes. + +Hamar. The Vicar praised it highly. + +Tjaelde. Good. Well, then-- + +Hamar (writing). The Vicar. + +Tjzlde. Mr. Ring. + +Hamar. Mr. Ring. + +Tjaelde. And--and-- + +Hamar. Mr. Holst? + +Tjaelde. No, not Holst. (HAMAR appears greatly astonished. TJAELDE +says to himself:) I can show him now that I have no need of him! +(Suddenly, to HAMAR.) Mr. Holm. (To himself.) Holst's enemy! + +Hamar. Mr. Holm. + +Tjaelde (to himself). Although Holm is a boor. Still, it will +annoy Holst. (Aloud.) The Chief Constable. + +Hamar. The Chief-- + +Tjaelde. No, strike out the Chief Constable. + +Hamar. Chief Constable struck out. + +Tjaelde. Have we got the Vicar down? + +Hamar. He is number one on the list. + +Tjaelde. Of course, yes. + +Hamar. What about the Magistrate? + +Tjaelde. No, he lives too far off. Besides, unless he is the guest +of honour and can talk shop all the time--. No! But, let me see. +Mr. Knutzon--Knutzon with a "z." + +Hamar. Knutzon with a "z." + +Tjaelde. Oh!--and--Knudsen, too! Knudsen with an "s." + +Hamar. Knudsen with an "s." + +Tjaelde. How many have we got? + +Hamar. The Vicar, Ring, Holm, the Chief--oh, no, the Chief +Constable was struck out; Knutzon with a "z," Knudsen with an +"s "--that is one, two, three, four, five, six. + +Tjaelde. And Finne, you, and I make nine. We must have twelve. + +Hamar. What about some ladies? + +Tjaelde. No; ladies are out of place at a business dinner. They +may do the honours afterwards, when we have got to the cigarette +stage. But whom shall we--? + +Hamar. That new lawyer fellow? He's a smart chap--I can't remember +his name? + +Tjaelde. No, he always wants to be speechifying wherever he goes.-- +Ah, Mr. Pram, the custom-house officer! + +Hamar. That man? He always gets drunk! + +Tjaelde. Yes, but he doesn't get noisy with it. He does no harm-- +quite the contrary! Yes, put down Pram. + +Hamar. Mr. Pram. + +Tjaelde. It is a very difficult task, in such a small town, when +you want to get a good set of people together. Ah!--Falbe! I forgot +him. He is very neat, and no opinions. + +Hamar. Neat in his dress, do you mean? + +Tjaelde. Yes, in his dress too-but I meant it more generally. Now, +for the twelfth--Morten Schultz? + +Hamar. Morten Schultz! (Gets up.) No, really, I must take the +liberty of protesting against him! Do you really know what he did +the last time he was here, when you had a lot of guests? In the +middle of dinner he took out his false teeth and began showing them +to his neighbours. He wanted to have them passed round the table! +If that is your idea of a good set of people--well! + +Tjaelde. Yes, he is rather a rough diamond. But he is the richest +man about here. + +Hamar (who has sat down again). Well in that case he really ought +to afford himself a new wig! It is far from pleasant to sit beside +him, I can assure you! + +Tjaelde. Yes, I know he is a pig; but he is wide awake, and this +would flatter him! You see, my young friend, when a man is very rich +you must make certain allowances for him. + +Hamar. I can't understand what _you_ can hope to get out of him. + +Tjaelde. Hm, hm!--No, well, perhaps we had better leave him out? + +Hamar. Certainly! + +Tjaelde (to himself). Although Lind would understand the +significance of Morten Schultz's being here-- + +Hamar. And the things he says! Ladies have to leave the room! + +Tjaelde. Yes, you are right. (Mutters to himself.) And, after all, +I don't need him any longer. (Aloud.) But what about our twelfth, +then? Let me see--. + +Hamar. Christopher Hansen? + +Tjaelde. Oh, Lord! no. We should have to talk politics. No, let me +see--. Yes, I think I might risk it! Hm, hm--yes, just the man! +Jakobsen, the brewery manager. + +Hamar. Jakobsen? + +Tjaelde. Hm, hm! Jakobsen will do very well. I know Jakobsen. + +Hamar. Oh, he is a very good fellow--we all know that, but in +polite society--! + +Tjaelde. Hm, hm, hm!--Put him down! + +Hamar (writing). Jakobsen. There, then! (Gets up.) + +Tjaelde. Now let Skogstad go with the list! Remember, three o'clock +punctually! And be quick! (Calls after HAMAR, who is going out.) +And come back when you have given him the list! There may be +something more to do! (HAMAR goes out by the nearer door. TJAELDE +takes a letter out of his pocket.) Ah, of course! Shall I send the +balance-sheet to Berent? I am independent of the banks now. Still, +I am not out of the wood yet. And, anyway, it is a very pretty +balance-sheet! Holst would be sure to see it, and that might be +useful--and it might annoy him, too. Besides, if I don't send it, +they will think that my promising to send it had put me into a +hole, and that Lind had helped me out of it. I risk least by +sending it. (HAMAR comes back.) Look here, let him take this +letter, too. It is for Mr. Berent, at the Hotel Victoria. + +Hamar. Is this an invitation? Because, if it is, we shall be +thirteen at table. + +Tjaelde. It is not an invitation. Be quick, before he goes. (HAMAR +goes out again.) Oh, if only it succeeds! Lind is the sort of man +one can persuade--and I must, I must persuade him! (Looks at his +watch.) I have four whole hours to do it in. I have never felt so +hopeful--not for a long time. (Is lost in thought; then says +quietly:) After all, sometimes a crisis is a good thing--like a big +wave that carries one on!--They have all had their suspicions +aroused now, and are all ready to get into a panic. (Sighs.) If +only I could get safely out of my difficulties without any one's +suspecting it!--Oh, this anxious fear, night and day!--all this +mystery, these shifts, these concealments, this farce I have to +keep up! I go about my business as if I were in a dream. +(Despairingly.) This shall be the last time--my last performance +of this sort! No more of it!--I only need a helping hand now, and +I have got it! But _have_ I got it? that is the question. Oh! if +only, after this, I could know what it was to have a good night's +sleep and to wake in the morning free from anxiety!--to join them +at meals with an easy conscience!--come home in the evening and +feel that it was all done with! If only I had something to take my +stand upon that I could call my own--really and truly my own! I +hardly dare to believe that there is a chance--I have so often been +disappointed! (HAMAR comes back.) + +Hamar. There--that's done! + +Tjaelde. Good Lord, what about a salute from our cannon? We must +give him a salute! + +Hamar. We have powder. + +Tjaelde. Then send word up at once to Ole to see about it! (They +hurry out. The curtain falls.) + + +ACT II + +SCENE I + +(SCENE.--The same room. The table, which has been drawn to one +side, is covered with bottles of champagne aged dishes of fruit. +MRS. TJAELDE and SIGNE, with a man-servant and a maid, are busy +preparing it. Through the door on the right a lively conversation +can be heard, and occasional bursts of laughter.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (in a tired voice). Now I think it is all ready. + +Signe. They are talking a long time over their dinner. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (looking at her watch). Yes, they will only have half +an hour for their dessert, because Mr. Lind has to leave at five +o'clock. + +Signe. Ah, they have finished at last! Listen, they are getting up +from the table. (Amidst the loud noise of conversation the noise of +chairs being pushed back is audible.) Here they come! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes; let us retreat. (The maid goes out by the +farther door; SIGNE helps MRS. TJAELDE out after her. The +man-servant begins opening the champagne. The guests come in from +the dining-room, headed by LIND escorted by TJAELDE, whom he is +assuring that the dinner was excellent, to which TJAELDE replies +that it is impossible to do much in a small country town. Both look +at their watches, and observe that there is only half an hour left. +TJAELDE vainly endeavours to persuade LIND to stay longer. Close +behind them come HOLM and RING, engaged in an animated dispute +about timber prices, the former maintaining that they will fall +still lower, the latter that they will rise speedily owing to the +fall in the prices of coal and iron, a point of view which the +former vigorously controverts. Immediately behind them comes the +VICAR, escorted by HAMAR, who is a little tipsy. The VICAR is +assuring him that he has no objection to parishioners repudiating +the obligation to attend the services of their own priest, so long +as they are compelled to pay him for those services whether they +avail themselves of them or not; because order, which is an +essential characteristic of the Heavenly Kingdom, must be +maintained. HAMAR tries to get in a word or two about the bay +horse, but without success. At the same time KNUTZON and FALBE are +deep in a discussion about a dancer whom FALBE has seen at Hamburg. +He is maintaining that she can leap six feet into the air, which +KNUTZON ventures to doubt, but FALBE says there is no doubt about +it, and he knows because he has once sat at the same dinner-table +with her. FINNE, KNUDSEN, and JAKOBSEN follow them. JAKOBSEN is +heard challenging any one to contradict him, while the others +eagerly protest that he has entirely misunderstood their meaning. +He affirms stoutly that he doesn't care a damn what they meant, but +that his employer is the greatest business man and the finest +fellow in the world, or at all events in Norway. PRAM comes in by +himself, wrapt in tipsy contemplation. They all talk at the same +time.) + +Tjaelde (rapping on a glass). Gentlemen! (There is a sudden +silence, except for the sound of the voices of FALBE and JAKOBSEN, +who are hushed down by the others.) Gentlemen! I am sorry dinner +has occupied such a long time. + +All (unanimously). No, no! + +Tjaelde. Our distinguished guest has, unfortunately, to leave us in +half an hour, so I should like to take the opportunity of saying a +few words. Gentlemen, we have a prince among us to-day. I say a +prince, because if it is true that it is the financiers that rule +the world--and it is true, gentlemen-- + +Pram (who is standing well forward, supporting himself by the edge +of the table, says solemnly:) Yes. + +Tjaelde. --then our friend here is a prince! There is not a single +important undertaking that he has not initiated, or at any rate +backed with his name. + +Pram (lifting his glass). Mr. Lind, may I have the honour--? + +Voices. Sh! Sh! + +Tjaelde. Yes, gentlemen, his name backs every enterprise. It would +be impossible to carry one through that had not his backing. + +Pram (solemnly). His backing. + +Tjaelde. Am I not right, then, in describing him as a prince? + +Falbe (in a feeble voice). Yes. + +Tjaelde. Gentlemen, to-day his name is once more exercising its +powerful, I might say its creative, influence upon circumstances. +I may say that at this moment the country holds no truer benefactor +than he. + +Pram. Great man. + +Tjaelde. Let us drink his health! May prosperity attend him and +his, and may his name be deathless in Norway! Mr. Lind! + +All. Mr. Lind! Mr. Lind! (They all drink his health effusively.) + +Tjaelde (to HAMAR, whom he pulls forward somewhat roughly, as the +others begin to help themselves to the dessert.) What has become of +the salute? + +Hamar (in consternation).Good Lord, yes! (Rushes to the window, but +comes back.) I have no handkerchief. I must have laid it down in +the dining-room. + +Tjaelde. Here is mine!(Feels in his pocket for it.) One cannot rely +on you for the least thing. The salute will be too late now. It is +disgraceful! (HAMAR goes to the window and waves the handkerchief +madly. At last the report of a cannon is heard. The guests are +standing in a group, holding their dessert plates.) + +Holm. A little bit late! + +Knutzon. Rather behind the moment-- + +Ring. A very important moment, however! + +Holm. A very unexpected one, anyway! + +Knutzon (jestingly). Allow me, amidst the cannon's roar, to +introduce to you a man who has been led by the nose! + +Ring. Oh, Tjaelde knows what he is about! + +Tjaelde. Mr. Lind is kind enough to wish to propose a toast. (They +all compose themselves into respectful silence.) + +Lind. Our worthy host has proposed my health in most flattering +terms. I would merely add this, that wealth is entrusted to those +who have it precisely in order that they may support industry, +genius, and great undertakings. + +Pram (who has never changed his position). Nobly said. + +Lind. I am only an administrator of a trust, and too often a weak +and short-sighted one. + +Pram. Beautiful. + +Lind. But I shall not be mistaken if I say that Mr. Tjaelde's +many-sided activities, which we must all admire, rest upon a sound +foundation; and of that fact no one, at the present moment, is +better able to judge than I. (The guests look at one another in +surprise.) Therefore I have no hesitation in saying that his +activities are an honour to this town, to this district, to our +whole country, and that therefore his genius and his energy deserve +support. I propose the toast of "prosperity to the firm of +Tjaelde!" + +All. Prosperity to the firm of Tjaelde! + +(HAMAR signals again with the handkerchief, and a cannon shot is +heard.) + +Tjaelde. I thank you heartily, Mr. Lind! I am profoundly touched. + +Lind. I said no more than I am convinced of, Mr. Tjaelde!! + +Tjaelde. Thank you! (To HAMAR.) What do you mean by signalling for +a salute for the host? Blockhead! + +Hamar. You said there was to be a salute when a toast was proposed, +didn't you? + +Tjaelde. Oh, you are a--! + +Hamar (to himself). Well, if ever again I--! + +Holm. Then it is an accomplished fact, I suppose? + +Knutzon. _Fait accompli_! That toast represents twenty thousand +pounds, at least. + +Ring. Yes, Tjaelde knows what he is about! I have always said that! +(FALBE is seen drinking ceremoniously with LIND. JAKOBSEN comes +forward, talking to KNUDSEN.) + +Jakobsen (in a low voice). There isn't a word of truth in what you +say! + +Knudsen. But, my dear Jakobsen, you misunderstand me! + +Jakobsen (louder). Hang it, I know my people! + +Knudsen. Don't talk so loud! + +Jakobsen (still louder). What I say any one may hear! + +Tjaelde. (at the same moment). The Vicar wishes to say a few words. + +Knudsen (to JAKOBSEN). Hush! The Vicar wishes to say a few words. + +Jakobsen. Have I got to hush because that damned-- + +Tjaelde (in a voice of authority). The Vicar wishes to speak. + +Jakobsen. I beg your pardon! + +The Vicar (in a feeble voice). As the spiritual adviser of this +household, I have the pleasing duty of invoking a blessing on the +gifts that have been so richly showered upon our host and his +friends. May they be to their souls' present good and eternal +welfare! + +Pram. Amen. + +The Vicar. I am going to ask you to drink the health of our host's +dear children--those lovely girls whose welfare has been the object +of my prayers ever since they were confirmed--ever since that +memorable day when household and religious duties began to walk +side by side. + +Pram. Ah, yes! + +The Vicar. May they always in the future, as they have in the past, +grow in the holy fear of God and in meekness and gratitude towards +their parents! + +All. Miss Valborg, Miss Signe! + +Hamar (in a panic). Am I to signal? + +Tjaelde. Oh, go to--! + +Hamar. Well, if ever again--! + +Tjaelde. Thank you very much, Mr. Vicar. Like you, I hope that +the intimate relations between parent and child that exist here-- + +The Vicar. It has always been a pleasure to me to come into your +most hospitable house. + +Tjaelde. May I have the honour of drinking a glass of wine with +you? (They drink to each other.) + +The Vicar. Excellent champagne, my dear sir! + +Lind (to HOLM). It pains me to hear what you say. Is it possible +that this town, which owes so much to Mr. Tjaelde, repays him +with such ingratitude? + +Holm (in a low voice). One never can quite confidently rely on him. + +Lind. Really? I have heard others sing his praises so loudly, you +know. + +Holm (as before). You misunderstand me. I mean his position-- + +Lind. His position? That must be merely envy! People are often so +unjust towards those whose enterprise has lifted them above the +heads of the crowd. + +Holm. At any rate I assure you it was not from-- + +Lind (coldly). I don't doubt it. (Walks away from him.) + +Jakobsen (with whom TJAELDE has just drunk). Gentlemen! + +Knutzon (to HOLM, in passing). Is that boor really going to be +allowed to make a speech! (Going up to LIND.) May I have the honour +of drinking a glass of wine with you, Mr. Lind? (Several of the +guests begin to talk, ostentatiously indifferent to JAKOBSEN who is +trying to begin his speech.) + +Jakobsen (in a formidable voice). Gentlemen! (Silence ensues, and +he continues in his usual voice.) Permit a common man to say a +word, too, on this festive occasion. I was a poor little boy when I +entered Mr. Tjaelde's employment; but he pulled me out of the +gutter. (Laughter.) I am-what I am, gentlemen! And therefore if +any here is qualified to talk about Mr. Tjaelde, it is I; because I +know him. I know he is a fine fellow. + +Lind (to TJAELDE). Children and drunken men-- + +Tjaelde (laughing). --speak the truth! + +Jakobsen. There are lots of people that will tell you one thing or +another about him--and, of course, he may have his failings like +all of us. But as I find myself in such fine company as this I am +going to say that--that--devil take me if Mr. Tjaelde isn't too +good for the lot of you! (Laughter.) + +Tjaelde. That's enough, Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen. No, it's not enough! Because there is one toast we have +all forgotten, although we have all had such a splendid dinner. +(Laughter. FALBE claps his hands and cries: "Bravo!") Yes, and it +is nothing to laugh at; because it is the toast of Mrs. Tjaelde's +health that we have not drunk! + +Lind. Bravo! + +Jakobsen. There's a wife and mother for you! I can tell you--and +it's true--she goes about the house attending to her duties and +preparing for our entertainment when all the time she is ill, and +she takes the whole thing on her shoulders and says nothing. God +bless her, I say!--and that is all I have to say. + +Several of the Guests (raising their glasses). Mrs. Tjaelde! Mrs. +Tjaelde! + +Pram (grasping JAKOBSEN by the hand). That was fine of you, +Jakobsen! (LIND joins them; PRAM steps aside respectfully.) + +Lind. Will you drink a glass of wine with me, Jakobsen? + +Jakobsen. Thank you, very much. I am only a common man-- + +Lind. But a good-hearted one! Your health! (They drink to each +other. A boat is seen putting in to shore below the verandah. Its +crew of six men stand up and toss their oars in naval fashion. +SANNAES is standing at the helm.) + +Holm (in a whisper, to KNUTZON). Tjaelde knew what he was doing +when he invited Jakobsen! + +Knutzon (whispering). Just look at the boat! + +Ring. Tjaelde is a very clever fellow--a very clever fellow! +(VALBORG, SIGNE and MRS. TJAELDE are seen coming up the verandah +steps.) + +Tjaelde. Gentlemen, the moment of departure is at hand; I see the +ladies coming to take leave of our distinguished guest. Let us take +this last opportunity of gathering around him--round our prince-- +and thanking him for coming! Let us cheer him with three times +three! (Cheers.) + +Lind. Thank you, gentlemen! There is so little time left that I +must confine myself to merely bidding you all good-bye. (To MRS. +TJAELDE.) Good-bye, my dear madam! You should have heard how your +health was proposed and drunk just now. My warmest thanks for +your hospitality, and forgive me for the trouble I have caused you. +(To SIGNE.) Good-bye, Miss Signe. I am sorry time has not permitted +me to have the honour of becoming better acquainted with you; you +seem so full of spirit! But if, as you said, you are soon coming to +Christiania-- + +Signe. I shall then do myself the honour of calling upon your wife. + +Lind. Thank you, thank you--you will be most welcome. (To VALBORG.) +Are you not feeling well, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg. Yes. + +Lind. You look so serious. (As VALBORG does not reply, he continues +somewhat coldly:) Good-bye, Miss Valborg. (To HAMAR.) Good-bye, +Mr.--Mr.-- + +Tjaelde. Mr. Hamar. + +Lind. Ah, the young man that talked to me about a horse--your +future son-in-law! Pray forgive me for not-- + +Hamar. Don't mention it! + +Lind. Good-bye! + +Hamar. A pleasant journey, sir! + +Lind (coldly, to HOLM). Good-bye, Mr. Holm. + +Holm (imperturbably polite). I wish you a very pleasant journey, +Mr. Lind. + +Lind (to PRAM). Good-bye, Mr. Pram. + +Pram (holds his hand, and seems as if he wanted to say something +but could not. At last he finds his voice). I want to thank you +for--for--I want to thank you for--for-- + +Lind. You are an excellent fellow! + +Pram (in a relieved voice). I am so glad to hear it! Thank you. + +Lind (to KNUTZON). Good-bye, Mr.-- + +Knutzon (hastily). Knutzon. + +Pram. With a "z." + +Lind (to KNUDSEN). Good-bye, Mr.-- + +Knudsen. Knudsen, again. + +Pram. With an "s." + +Lind (to FALBE). Mr--? + +Falbe. Falbe. + +Lind. Good-bye, Mr. Falbe! (To RING.) I am delighted to see you +looking so well, Mr. Ring. + +Ring (with a low bow). The same to you, sir! + +Lind. Good-bye, Mr. Vicar! + +The Vicar (holding his hand, impressively). Let me wish you good +luck and happiness, Mr. Lind-- + +Lind. Thank you. (Tries to get away.) + +The Vicar. --in your journey over the perilous seas to foreign +lands! + +Lind. Thank you. (Tries to get away.) + +The Vicar. Let me wish you a safe return, Mr. Lind-- + +Lind. Thank you very much. (Tries to get away.) + +The Vicar. --to our dear fatherland; a land, Mr. Lind, which +possesses in you-- + +Lind. You must excuse me, Mr. Vicar, but time presses. + +The Vicar. Let me thank you for the pleasure of our meeting +to-day, Mr. Lind, for-- + +Lind. Indeed, there is no occasion! Good-bye! (To JAKOBSEN.) +Good-bye, Jakobsen, good-bye! + +Jakobsen. Good-bye, Mr. Lind! I am only a common man, I know; but +that is no reason why I shouldn't wish you a pleasant journey too, +is it? + +Lind. Certainly not, Jakobsen.--Good-bye, Mr. Finne! By the way-- +just a word! (In an undertone.) You said that Mr. Berent--. +(Takes him aside.) + +Tjaelde (to HAMAR). Now, remember the salute this time!--No, no, +no! Don't be in such a hurry! Wait till the boat puts off! You +want to make a mess of it again! + +Hamar. Well, if ever again I--! + +Tjaelde (to LIND, who holds out his hand to him). Goodbye, Mr. +Lind! (In a low voice.) No one has so much reason to thank you +for your visit as I. You are the only one that can understand--. + +Lind (a shade coldly). Don't mention it, Mr. Tjaelde! Good luck to +your business! (In warmer tones.) Good-bye everybody--and thank you +all for your kindness! (The footman, who has for some time been +holding out his hat to him, gives it him, and his coat to SANNAES. +LIND steps on board the boat.) + +All. Good-bye, Mr. Lind, good-bye! + +Tjaelde. One cheer more! (Cheers and a cannon salute are heard +together. The boat glides away. They all wave their handkerchiefs. +TJAELDE hurries into the room.) I have no handkerchief; that +blockhead has--. (Looks at VALBORG.) Why are you not waving? + +Valborg. Because I don't wish to. (TJAELDE looks at her, but says +nothing. He goes into the other room and comes back with a +table-napkin in each hand, and hurries on to the verandah.) + +Tjaelde (waving and shouting). Good-bye! Good-bye! + +Signe. Let us go out to the point and see the last of them! + +All. Yes, yes! (All but TJAELDE and VALBORG hurry off to the +right.) + +Tjaelde (coming into the room). I saw Berent coming! (VALBORG +goes out by the door on the right. TJAELDE comes forward, throws +the napkins on to a table and himself into a chair.) Oh--oh! But +this must be the last time.--I shan't need this sort of thing any +more! Never again! (Gets up wearily.) Ah, I had forgotten. Berent! + +[The Curtain falls.] + +[The interval between this scene and the next should be as short as +possible.] + + +SCENE II + +(SCENE.-TJAELDE'S private office. On the left, a desk strewn with +ledgers and papers. On the right, a stove. An easy chair by the +stove. A table in the foreground to the right; on it an inkstand +and pens. Two armchairs; one at the table facing the audience, the +other at the side of the table. Windows on either side of the desk; +a door beyond the stove. A door in the background, leading to other +offices. A bell-pull hangs down the wall. A chair on either side of +the door. Quite at the back, on the left, a staircase leading +direct to TJAELDE'S bedroom. BERENT and TJAELDE come in from the +back.) + +Tjaelde. You must excuse my receiving you here. But the other +rooms are all upside down; we have had some people to dinner. + +Berent. I heard you had guests. + +Tjaelde. Yes, Mr. Lind from Christiana. + +Berent. Quite so. + +Tjaelde. Won't you sit down? (BERENT lays down his hat and coat +on a chair by the door. He comes slowly forward, sits down at the +side of the table, and takes some papers from his breast-pocket. +TJAELDE sits down at the other chair by the table and watches him +indifferently.) + +Berent. What we now want is some fixed standard by which to make +our valuations, especially of real estate. Have you any objection +to our making your business a basis for arriving at that? + +Tjaelde. None at all. + +Berent. Then may I make my comments on your own figures, and ask +you a few questions about them? + +Tjaelde. By all means. + +Berent. Well, to begin with, let us take your properties +immediately round here; they will give us the best idea of local +values. For instance, take the Mjölstad forest; you have put that +down, I see, at £16,500. + +Tjaelde (indifferently). Have I? + +Berent. You bought it for £10,000. + +Tjaelde. Yes, four years ago. Timber prices ruled low then. + +Berent. And since then you have cut down more than £20,000 +worth of timber there. + +Tjaelde. Who told you so? + +Berent. Mr. Holst. + +Tjaelde. Holst knows nothing about it. + +Berent. We must try to be very accurate, you know. + +Tjaelde. Well, of course, the whole valuation is not my concern; +but those whom it does concern will protest. + +Berent (taking no notice of his objection). So I think we will +reduce the £16,500 to £10,000. + +Tjaelde. To £10,000! (Laughs.) As you please. + +Berent. Calculating by the same standard, we can scarcely put +down the Stav forest at more than £4000. + +Tjaelde. Allow me to say that, if that is the way you are going to +make your valuation, everybody in the place will have to go +bankrupt! + +Berent (with a smile). We will risk that. You have put down your +wharf and its contents at £12,000. + +Tjaelde. Including two ships in course of construction-- + +Berent. --for which it would be difficult to find a purchaser, as +they are so far from completion. + +Tjaelde. Indeed? + +Berent. So I think we cannot put down the wharf and its contents +at a higher figure than £8,000--and I believe even that will turn +out to be too high. + +Tjaelde. If you can find me another wharf as well stocked, and +with the advantages that this one has, I will buy it whenever you +like for £8000; I am certain I should be more than £4000 to the +good over the bargain. + +Berent. May I go on? + +Tjaelde. If you like! I even feel a certain curiosity to view my +possessions under such an entirely new light. + +Berent. As a matter of fact the items that are too highly valued +are just those that comprise this property that you live on--its +land, its gardens, its dwelling houses, warehouses, and quays-not +to mention the brewery and the factory, which I shall come to +later. Even regarded as business premises they seem to me to be +over-valued. + +Tjaelde. Well? + +Berent, Moreover, the luxurious appointments of this house of +yours, which would very probably be superfluous for any one else, +cannot possibly be counted upon to realise their full value in a +sale. Suppose--as is indeed most likely--that it were a countryman +that bought the place? + +Tjaelde. You are reckoning me as turned out of it already, then! + +Berent. I am obliged to base all my calculations on what the +property would fetch if sold now. + +Tjaelde (getting up). What may you happen to value it at then? + +Berent. At less than half your valuation; that is to say at-- + +Tjaelde. You must really forgive me if I use an expression which +has been on the tip of my tongue for some time: this is scandalous! +You force yourself into a man's house, and then, under pretext of +asking for his opinion, you practically--on paper--rob him of his +possessions! + +Berent. I don't understand you. I am trying to arrive at a basis +for values hereabouts; and you said yourself, did you not, that it +is a matter that does not concern you alone? + +Tjaelde. Certainly; but even in jest--if I may be allowed the +expression--one does not take the statement that an honourable +man has voluntarily offered and treat it as a mendacious document. + +Berent. There are many different points of view from which +valuations can be made, obviously. I see nothing more in it than +that. + +Tjaelde. But don't you understand that this is like cutting into my +living flesh? Bit by bit, my property has been brought together +or created by my own work, and preserved by the most strenuous +exertions on my part under terribly trying conditions--it is bound +up with my family, with all that is dear to me--it has become a +part of my very life! + +Berent (with a bow). I understand that perfectly. You have put +down the Brewery at-- + +Tjaelde. No; I refuse to allow you to go on in this way. You must +find some one else's property as a basis for your calculations-- +you must consult some one else, whose idea of business corresponds +somewhat closer to your own ridiculous one. + +Berent (leaning back in his chair). That is a pity. The banks were +anxious to be acquainted with your answers to my observations. + +Tjaelde. Have you sent my statement to the banks? + +Berent. With my remarks and comments on it, and Mr. Holst's. + +Tjaelde. This has been a trap, then? I believed I had to deal with +a gentleman! + +Berent. The banks or I, what is the difference? It comes to the +same thing, as I represent them unreservedly. + +Tjaelde. Such impudent audacity is unpardonable! + +Berent. I would suggest that we avoid hard words--at all events, +for the moment--and rather consider the effect that will be +produced by the balance-sheet sent in. + +Tjaelde. That some of us will see! + +Berent. The banking house of Lind & Co., for instance? + +Tjaelde. Do you mean to say that my balance-sheet, ornamented with +marginal notes by you and Holst, is to be submitted to Mr. Lind's +firm too? + +Berent. When the cannon-salutes and noise of your festivities +enlightened me as to the situation, I took the liberty of making +some inquiries of the banks. + +Tjaelde. So you have been spying here, too? You have been trying to +undermine my business connections? + +Berent. Is your position such, then, that you are afraid? + +Tjaelde. The question is not my position, but your behaviour! + +Berent. I think we had better keep to the point. You have put +down the Brewery at-- + +Tjaelde. No; your conduct is so absolutely underhanded that, as an +honest man, I must refuse all further dealing with you. I am, as I +said before, accustomed to have to deal with gentlemen. + +Berent. I think you misunderstand the situation. Your indebtedness +to the banks is so considerable that a settlement of it may +reasonably be required of you. But to effect that you must work +with us in the matter. + +Tjaelde (after a moment's thought). Very well! But, no more +details--let me know your conclusions, briefly. + +Berent. My conclusions, briefly, are that you have estimated +your assets at £90,800. I estimate them at £40,600. + +Tjaelde (quietly). That is to say, you make me out to have a +deficit of about £30,000? + +Berent. As to that, I must point out that your estimate of your +liabilities does not agree with mine, either. + +Tjaelde (quietly). Oh, of course not! + +Berent. For instance, the dividend that Möller's estate is to +yield to you. + +Tjaelde. No more details! What do you put my total liabilities at? + +Berent. Let me see. Your total liabilities amount, according to +your calculations, to £70,000. I estimate them at £80,000--to be +precise, at £79,372. + +Tjaelde. That puts my deficit at about-- + +Berent. At about £39,400--or, in round figures, £40,000. + +Tjaelde. Oh, by all means let us stick to round figures! + +Berent. So that the difference between your views of your +balance-sheet and mine is that, whereas you give yourself a +surplus of about £20,000, I give you a deficit of about £40,000. + +Tjaelde. Thank you very much.--Do you know my opinion of the whole +matter? (BERENT looks up at him.) That I am in this room with a +madman. + +Berent. I have had the same opinion for some time.--The stock of +timber you hold in France I have not been able to deal with; you +have forgotten to include it in your account. Perhaps it may make +a little difference. + +Tjaelde. It is of no consequence! I have often enough heard people +speak of your callousness and your heartlessness; but their account +of you has come nowhere near the truth. I don't know why I have not +turned you out of my house long before this; but you will have the +goodness to leave it now! + +Berent. We shall both leave presently. But before we do, we must +discuss the question of handing over the house to the Receiver in +Bankruptcy. + +Tjaelde. Ha, ha, ha! Allow me to inform you that at this very +moment a sum is being telegraphed to me which will be sufficient +not only to cover my present liabilities, but to set me straight in +every direction! + +Berent. The telegraph is a useful invention which is open to every +one. + +Tjaelde (after a moment's thought). What do you mean by that? + +Berent. One effect of the noise of your festivities was that I used +the telegraph also. Mr. Lind will receive, on board the boat, a +telegram from his firm--and I doubt if the money you speak of will +be forthcoming. + +Tjaelde. It is not true! You have not dared to do that! + +Berent. The facts are exactly as I state. + +Tjaelde. Give me my balance-sheet; let me look at it again. +(Stretches out his hand to take it.) + +Berent (taking it up). Excuse me! + +Tjaelde. Do you presume to keep back my own balance-sheet in +my own writing? + +Berent. Yes, and even to put it in my pocket. (Does so.) A +fraudulent balance-sheet, dated and signed, is a document of +some importance. + +Tjaelde. You are determined to ruin my private and public +reputation? + +Berent. You have been working for that yourself for a long time. I +know your position. For a month past I have been in correspondence +with all the quarters in which you have business connections, both +here any I abroad. + +Tjaelde. What underhanded deceitfulness an honest man is exposed +to! Here have I been surrounded by spies for the last month! A +plot between my business acquaintances and the banks! A snake +creeping into my house and crawling over my accounts! But I will +break up the conspiracy! And you will find out what it mean, to try +and ruin a reputable firm by underhand devices! + +Berent. This is no time for fine phrases. Do you propose to +surrender your property at once? + +Tjaelde. Ha, ha! I am to surrender it because you have made me +out a bankrupt on your bit of paper! + +Berent. You might conceal the facts for a month, I know. But for +your own sake, and especially for the sake of others, I would +urgently advise you to end the matter at once. That was the reason +of my journey here. + +Tjaelde. Ah, now the truth is out! And you came here pretending a +friendly concern that the tangle should be straightened out! We +were to distinguish between the sound and unsound firms, and you +requested me, most politely, to give you my assistance in the +matter! + +Berent. Exactly. But there is no question of anything unsound here +except your own business and what is bound up with it. + +Tjaelde (when he has controlled himself). So you came into my house +with the hidden design of ruining me? + +Berent. I must repeat that it is not I that am responsible for your +bankruptcy; it is yourself. + +Tjaelde. And I must repeat that my bankruptcy only exists in your +imagination! Much may happen in a month; and I have shown that I +can find a way out of difficulties before now! + +Berent. That is to say, by involving yourself deeper and deeper in +falsehood. + +Tjaelde. Only a man of business can understand such things. But, +if you really understand them, I would say to you: "Give me +£20,000 and I will save the situation entirely." That would be +doing something worthy of your great powers; that would give +you a reputation for penetration in discerning the real state of +affairs; because by so doing you would safeguard the welfare of +more than a thousand people, and ensure a prosperous future for +the whole district! + +Berent. I don't rise to that bait. + +Tjaelde (after a moment's reflection). Do you want me to explain to +you how £20,000 would be sufficient to set the whole complicated +situation straight? Within three months remittances would be coming +in. I can make it its clear as daylight to you-- + +Berent. --that you would be falling from one disillusionment to +another! That is what you have been doing for the last three +years, from month to month. + +Tjaelde. Because the last three years have been bad years--horrible +years! But we have reached the crisis; things must begin to improve +now! + +Berent. That is what every defaulter thinks. + +Tjaelde. Do not drive me to despair! Have you any idea what I have +gone through in these three years? Have you any idea what I am +capable of? + +Berent. Of still further falsehood. + +Tjaelde. Take care!--It is quite true that I am standing on the +edge of a precipice. It is true that for three years I have done +everything in mortal power to save the situation! I maintain that +there has been something heroic in the fight I have made. And that +deserves some reward. You have unrestricted powers; every one +trusts you. Realise for yourself what your mission is; do not let +it be necessary for me to teach it you! Let me tell you this, +emphatically: it will be a dreadful thing for _you_ if hundreds of +people are to be ruined unnecessarily now! + +Berent. Let us make an end of this. + +Tjaelde. No, devil take me if I give up a fight like this with a +senseless surrender! + +Berent. How do you propose to end it, then? + +Tjaelde. There is no issue to it that I have not turned over in my +thoughts--thousands of times. _I_ know what I shall do! I won't be +a mark for the jeers of this wretched little town, nor triumphed +over by those who have envied me all round the countryside! + +Berent. What will you do, then? + +Tjaelde. You shall see! (Speaking more and more excitedly.) You +won't help me under any conditions? + +Berent. No. + +Tjaelde. You insist that I shall surrender my estate, here and now? + +Berent. Yes. + +Tjaelde. Hell and damnation! You dare do that? + +Berent. Yes. + +Tjaelde (his agitation robbing him of his voice, which all at once +sinks to a hoarse whisper). You have never known what despair is!-- +You don't know what an existence I have endured!-But if the +decisive moment has come, and I have a man here in my office +who _ought_ to save me but will not, then that man shall share +what is in store for me. + +Berent (leaning back in his chair). This is beginning to be +impressive. + +Tjaelde. No more jesting; you might regret it! (Goes to all the +doors and locks them with a key which he takes out of his pocket; +then unlocks his desk, and takes a revolver out of it.) How long do +you suppose I have had this in here? + +Berent. Since you bought it, I suppose. + +Tjaelde. And why do you suppose I bought it?--Do you suppose that +after I have been master of this town and the biggest man in the +district, I would endure the disgrace of bankruptcy? + +Berent. You have been enduring it for a long time. + +Tjaelde. It is in your power now either to ruin me or to wave me. +You have behaved in such a way that you deserve no mercy--and you +shall have none! Report to the banks that they may give me the use +of £14,000 for a year--I need no more than that--and I will save +the situation for good and all. Think seriously, now! Remember my +family, remember how long my firm has been established, remember +the numbers that would be ruined if I were! And do not forget to +think of your own family! Because, if you _don't_ agree to what I +ask, neither of us shall leave this room alive! + +Berent (pointing to the revolver). Is it loaded? + +Tjaelde (putting his finger on the trigger). You will find that out +in good time. You must answer me now! + +Berent. I have a suggestion to make. Shoot yourself first and me +afterwards. + +Tjaelde (going up to him and holding the revolver to his head). I +will soon quiet your pretty wit. + +Berent (getting up, and taking out of his pocket a paper which he +unfolds). This is a formal surrender of your estate to the Receiver +in Bankruptcy. If you sign it, you will be doing your duty to your +creditors, to your family, and to yourself. Shooting yourself and +me would only be adding an acted lie to all your others. Put away +your revolver and take up your pen! + +Tjaelde. Never! I had resolved on this long ago. But you shall +keep me company, now! + +Berent. Do what you please. But you cannot threaten me into a +falsehood. + +Tjaelde (who has lowered the revolver, takes a step back, raises +the revolver and aims at BERENT). Very well! + +Berent (walking up to TJAELDE and looking him straight in the eyes, +while the latter reluctantly lowers the revolver). Do you suppose I +don't know that a man who has for so long shivered with falsehood +and terror in his inmost heart has lots of schemes but no courage? +You _dare_ not do it! + +Tjaelde (furiously). I will show you! (Steps back and raises the +revolver again.) + +Berent (following him). Shoot, and you will hear a report--that is +what you are longing for, I suppose! Or, give up your plan of +shooting, think of what you have done, confess, and afterwards +hold your tongue! + +Tjaelde. No; may the devil take both you and me-- + +Berent. And the horse? + +Tjaelde. The horse? + +Berent. I mean the magnificent charger on which you came galloping +home from the sale of Möller's estate. You had better let some one +shoot you on horseback--on what was your last and greatest piece of +business duplicity! (Goes nearer to him and speaks more quietly.) +Or--strip yourself of the tissue of lies which enfolds you, and +your bankruptcy will bring you more blessing than your riches have +ever done. (TJAELDE lets the revolver drop out of his hand, and +sinks into a chair in an outburst of tears. There is silence for a +moment.) You have made an amazing fight of it for these last three +years. I do not believe I know any one who could have done what you +have done. But you have lost the fight this time. Do not shrink now +from a final settlement and the pain that it must cost you. Nothing +else will cleanse your soul for you. + +Tjaelde (weeping unrestrainedly, with his face buried in his +hands). Oh, oh! + +Berent. You have blamed me for my method of proceeding in the +matter. My answer to that is that I forgive you for yours. (A +pause.) Try now to look the situation in the face, and take it +like a man. + +Tjaelde (as before). Oh! + +Berent. At the bottom of your heart you must be weary of it all; +make an end of it all now! + +Tjaelde (as before). Oh! + +Berent (sitting down beside him, after a moment's pause). Wouldn't +you like to feel your conscience clear again--to be able really to +live with your wife and children? Because I am sure you have not +done that for many a day. + +Tjaelde (as before). Oh! + +Berent. I have known many speculators in my time and have received +many confessions. So I know what you have been robbed of for three +years--never a good night's rest, never a meal eaten with a light +heart. You have scarcely been conscious of what your children were +doing or saying, except when accident brought you together. And +your wife-- + +Tjaelde. My wife! + +Berent. Yes, she has slaved hard enough to prepare these banquets +that were to conceal the nakedness of the land. Indeed, she has +been the hardest worked servant in your house. + +Tjaelde. My patient, good wife! + +Berent. I feel certain you would rather be the humblest labourer +earning your daily bread than live through such suffering again. + +Tjaelde. A thousand times rather! + +Berent. Then can you hesitate to do what will give every man his +due, and bring you back to truthfulness again? Take the paper and +sign it! + +Tjaelde (falling on his knees). Mercy, mercy! You do not know what +you are asking me. My own children will curse me. I have just heard +of a child doing that to her father! And my business friends, who +will be ruined with me--numbers of them--think of their families! +Oh! What is to become of my work-people? Do you know there are more +than four hundred of them? Think of them and their families, robbed +of their livelihood!--Be merciful! I cannot, I dare not, do it! +Save me, help me! It was horrible of me to try and threaten you; +but now I implore you, for the sake of all those that deserve more +than I, but to whom I shall devote the rest of my life in loyal +work! + +Berent. I cannot save you, least of all with money that belongs to +others. What you ask me to do would be disloyalty to them. + +Tjaelde. No, no! Publish my accounts openly--put me under trustees, +if you like; but let me go on with the scheme that I believe will +succeed! Every clear-headed man will see that it must succeed! + +Berent. Come and sit down. Let us discuss it. (TJAELDE sits down.) +Isn't what you are now proposing exactly what you have been trying +to do for the last three years? You _have_ been able to borrow the +means; but what good has it done? + +Tjaelde. Times have been so bad! + +Berent (shaking his head). You have mixed up falsehood and truth +for so long that you have forgotten the simplest laws of commerce. +To speculate during bad times, on the chance of their becoming +better, is all very well for those who can afford it. Others must +leave such things alone. + +Tjaelde. But it is to the advantage of my creditors themselves, and +of the banks too, that my estate should hold together! + +Berent. It is of no advantage to sound firms to prop up unsound +ones. + +Tjaelde. But, surely, to avoid losing their capital--? + +Berent, Oh, perhaps in the Receiver's hands the estate may-- + +Tjaelde (hopefully, half rising from his chair). Yes? Well? + +Berent. But not till you have been removed from the control of it. + +Tjaelde (sinking down again). Not till I have been removed from the +control of it! + +Berent. On _its own_ resources I dare say the estate can hold out +until better times come, but not on borrowed money. + +Tjaelde. Not on borrowed money-- + +Berent. You understand the difference, of course? + +Tjaelde. Oh, yes. + +Berent. Good. Then you must understand that there is nothing left +for you to do but to sign this. + +Tjaelde. Nothing left but to sign-- + +Berent. Here is the paper. Come, now! + +Tjaelde (rousing himself). Oh, I cannot, I cannot! + +Berent. Very well. But in that case the crash will come of itself +in a short time, and everything will be worse than it is now. + +Tjaelde (falling on his knees).Mercy, mercy! I cannot let go of all +hope! Think, after a fight like mine! + +Berent. Tell the truth and say: "I haven't the courage to face the +consequences." + +Tjaelde. Yes, that is the truth. + +Berent. "I haven't the courage to begin an honest life." + +Tjaelde. Yes. + +Berent. You don't know what you are saying, man! + +Tjaelde. No, I don't. But spare me! + +Berent (getting up). This is nothing but despair! I am sorry for +you. + +Tjaelde (getting up). Yes, surely you must be? Try me! Ask me to do +anything you like! Tell me what you-- + +Berent. No, no! Before anything else, you must sign this. + +Tjaelde (sinking back into his chair). Oh!--How shall I ever dare +to look any one in the face again?--I, who, have defied everything +and deceived every one! + +Berent. The man who has enjoyed the respect which he did not +deserve must some day undergo the humiliation which he has +deserved. That is a law; and I cannot save you from that. + +Tjaelde. But they will be crueller to me than to any one else! I +deserve it, I know; but I shall not be able to endure it! + +Berent. Hm! You are remarkably tough; your fight, these last three +years, proves that. + +Tjaelde. Be merciful! Surely your ingenuity--your influence--_must_ +be able to find some way out for me? + +Berent. Yes. The way out is for you to sign this. + +Tjaelde. Won't you even take it over from me by private contract? +If you did that, everything would come right. + +Berent. Sign! Here is the paper! Every hour is precious. + +Tjaelde. Oh! (Takes up a pen; but turns to BERENT with a gesture of +supplication.) Daren't you test me, after what I have just gone +through? + +Berent. Yes, when you have signed. (TJAELDE signs the paper, and +sinks back in his chair with an expression of the keenest anguish. +BERENT takes the paper, folds it, and puts it in his pocket-book.) +Now I will go to the Bankruptcy Court with this, and afterwards to +the telegraph office. Probably the officials of the court will come +this evening to make their inventory. So you ought to warn your +family. + +Tjaelde. How shall I be able to do that? Give me a little time! Be +merciful! + +Berent. The sooner the better for you--not to speak of the +interests of all concerned. Well, I have finished for the present. + +Tjaelde. Don't desert me like this! Don't desert me! + +Berent. You would like your wife to come to you, wouldn't you? + +Tjaelde (resignedly). Yes. + +Berent (taking up the revolver). And this--I will not take it with +me. There is no danger from it now. But I will put it in the desk, +for the sake of the others. Now, if you or yours should need me, +send word to me. + +Tjaelde. Thank you. + +Berent. I shall not leave the town until the worst is over.-- +Remember, night or day, if you need me, send word to me. + +Tjaelde. Thank you. + +Berent. And now will you unlock the door for me? + +Tjaelde (getting up). Ah, of course. Excuse me! + +Berent (taking his hat and coat). Won't you call your wife now? + +Tjaelde. No. I must have a little time first. I have the worst part +of it before me now. + +Berent. I believe you have, and that is just why--. (Takes hold of +the bell-pull and rings the bell.) + +Tjaelde. What are you doing? + +Berent. I want, before I go, to be sure of your wife's coming to +you. + +Tjaelde. You should not have done that! (An office-boy comes in. +BERENT looks at TJAELDE.) Ask your mistress--ask my wife to come to +me. + +Berent. At once, please. (The boy goes out.) Good-bye! (Goes out. +TJAELDE sinks down on to a chair by the door.) + +[The Curtain falls.] + + +ACT III + +(SCENE.-The same as in the preceding act. TJAELDE is sitting alone, +on the chair by the door, in the position he was in when the +curtain fell on the last act. After sitting motionless for a +considerable time, he suddenly gets up.) + +Tjaelde. How am I to begin? After her, there are the children; +after them, all my work-people--and then all the others! If only I +could get away! But the Receiver's men will be here.--I must have +some air! (Goes to the nearest window.) What a beautiful day!--but +not for me. (Opens the window and looks out.) My horse! No, I +daren't look at it. Why is it saddled? Oh, of course I meant, after +my talk with Berent, to--. But now everything is different! (Walks +up and down once or twice, thinking; then says suddenly:) Yes, on +that horse I might reach the outer harbour before the foreign boat +sails! (Looks at his watch.) I can do it! And I shall be able to +put behind me all--. (Stops, with a start, as he hears footsteps on +the stair.) Who is there? What is it? (MRS. TJAELDE comes down the +stair into the room.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You sent for me? + +Tjaelde. Yes. (Watching her.) Were you upstairs? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, I was resting. + +Tjaelde (sympathetically). Ah, you were sleeping, and I woke you +up! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No, I was not asleep. (She has come slowly forward.) + +Tjaelde. You weren't asleep? (Apprehensively, to her.) I suppose +you didn't--? (To himself.) No, I daren't ask her. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What did you want? + +Tjaelde. I wanted--. (Sees her eyes fixed on the revolver.) You are +surprised at my having that out? I got it out because I am going +on a journey. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (supporting herself on the desk). Going on a journey? + +Tjaelde. Yes. Mr. Berent has been here, as I dare say you know. +(She does not answer.) Business, you know. I have to go abroad. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (faintly). Abroad? + +Tjaelde. Only for a few days. So I will only take my usual bag with +a change of clothes and one or two shirts; but I must have it at +once. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I don't think your bag has been unpacked since you +brought it home to-day. + +Tjaelde. So much the better. Will you get it for me? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Are you going away now--at once? + +Tjaelde. Yes, by the foreign boat--from the outer harbour. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You have no time to lose, then. + +Tjaelde. Are you not well? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Not very. + +Tiwlde. One of your attacks? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes!--but I must fetch your bag. (TJAELDE helps +her over to the staircase.) + +Tjaelde. You are not well, my dear--but you will be better some +day. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I only wish _you_ looked better. + +Tjaelde. We all have our burdens to bear. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. If only we could bear more together! + +Tjaelde. But you don't understand my affairs--and I have never +had time to talk about yours. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No--that's it. (Begins to go upstairs slowly.) + +Tjaelde. Shall I help you? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No, thank you, dear. + +Tjaelde (coming forward). Does she suspect? She is always like +that--she takes all my courage away from me. But there is no +other way! Now--about money? I surely have some gold here +somewhere. (Goes to his desk, takes some gold out of a drawer and +counts it; then lifts his head and sees MRS. TJAELDE who has sat +down on the stair half-way up.) My dear, are you sitting down? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I felt faint for a moment. I will go up now. (Gets up +and climbs the stair slowly.) + +Tjaelde. Poor thing, she is worn out. (Pulls himself together.) No-- +five, six, eight, ten--that is not enough. I must have some more. +(Searches in the desk.) And when I run short I have my watch and +chain. Twenty, twenty-four--that is all I can find. Ah, my papers! +I must on no account forget them. The ground is falling away +under me! Isn't she coming back? The bag was packed, surely?-- +Ah, how all this will make her suffer! But it will not be so bad +for her if I am away. People will be more merciful, both to her and +the children. Oh, my children! (Collects himself.) Only let me get +away, away! Thoughts will follow me there, all the same!--Ah, here +she is! (MRS. TJAELDE is seen coming down slowly, with a bag which +is evidently, heavy.) Shall I help you, dear? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Thanks, will you take hold of the bag? + +Tjaelde (takes it; she comes slowly down). It is heavier than it +was this morning. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Is it? + +Tjaelde. I have some papers to put in it. (Opens the bag.) But, my +dear, there is money in this bag. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes--some gold that you have given me at odd times. +I thought it might be useful to you now. + +Tjaelde. There is a large sum. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I don't believe you even know how much you have +given me. + +Tjaelde. She knows everything!--My dear! (Opens his arms.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Henning! (They both burst into tears and fall into +each other's arms. MRS. TJAELDE whispers to him:) Shall I call the +children? + +Tjaelde (in a whisper). No, say nothing--till later! (They embrace +again. He takes up the bag.) Go to the window, so that I can see +you when I mount. (Shuts the bag and hurries to the door, but +stops.) My dear! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes? + +Tjaelde. Forgive me! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Everything! (TJAELDE, as he is hurrying out, meets in +the doorway an office-boy who is bringing him a letter. TJAELDE +takes it, and the boy goes out.) + +Tjaelde. From Berent! (Opens the letter, stands in the doorway and +reads it; then comes back into the room, with his bag in his hand, +and reads it again.) "When I left your house, I saw a horse +standing saddled at your door. To prevent misunderstanding, let +me inform you that your house is watched by the police." + +Mrs. Tjaelde (supporting herself on the desk). You can't go? + +Tjaelde. No. (A pause. He puts down the bag and wipes his +forehead.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Henning, shall we pray together? + +Tjaelde. What do you mean? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Pray--pray to God to help us? (Bursts into tears. +TJAELDE is silent. She falls on her knees.) Come, Henning! You see +that all human ingenuity is of no avail! + +Tjaelde. I know that, only too well. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Well, try once, in this hour of our greatest need! +(TJAELDE appears to be struggling with his emotion.) You never +would! You have never confided in us, or in your God!--never +opened your heart to any one! + +Tjaelde. Be quiet! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. But what you concealed by day, you used to talk +of in the night. We mortals must talk, you know! But I have lain +awake and listened to your distress. Now you know why I am no +longer good for anything. No sleep at night, and none of your +confidence in the daytime. I have suffered even more than you. +(TJAELDE throws himself into a chair. She goes to him.) You +wanted to run away. When we are afraid of our fellow-men, we +have only Him to turn to. Do you think I should be alive now, if +it were not for Him? + +Tjaelde. I have thrown myself imploringly at His feet, but always +in vain! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Henning, Henning! + +Tjaelde. Why did He not bless my work and the fight I was making? +It is all one now. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Ah, there is more to come. + +Tjaelde (getting up). Yes, the worst is before us now-- + +Mrs. Tjaelde. --because it is in our own hearts! (A pause. VALBORG +appears coming down the stair, but stops at the sight of the +others.) What do you want, dear? + +Valborg (with suppressed emotion). From my room I can see the +police watching the house. Are the Receiver's men coming now? + +Mrs. Tjaelde (sitting down). Yes, my child. After a terrible +struggle--how terrible, his God and I alone know--your father has +just sent in his declaration of bankruptcy. (VALBORG takes a step +or two forward, then stands still. A pause.) + +Tjaelde (unable to control himself). Now I suppose you will say +to me just what Möller's daughter said to him! + +Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up). You won't do that, Valborg!--God +alone can judge him. + +Tjaelde. Tell me how cruelly I have wronged you! Tell me that +you will never be able to forgive me--(breaking down)--that I have +lost your respect and your love for ever! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Oh, my child! + +Tjaelde. That your anger and your shame know no bounds! + +Valborg. Oh, father, father! (Goes out by the door at the back. +TJAELDE tries to cross the room, as if to follow her, but can only +stagger as far as the staircase, to which he clings for support. +MRS. TJAELDE sinks back into her chair. There is a long pause. +Suddenly JAKOBSEN cones in from the outer once, dressed as before +except that he has changed his coat. TJAELDE is not aware of his +entrance until JAKOBSEN is close to him; then he stretches out +his hands to him as if in entreaty, but JAKOBSEN goes right up to +him and speaks in a voice choked with rage.) + +Jakobsen. You scoundrel! (TJAELDE recoils.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Jakobsen! Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen (without heeding her). The Receiver's men are here. +The books and papers at the Brewery have been seized. Work is +at a standstill--and the same thing at the factory. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My God! + +Jakobsen. And I had made myself responsible for twice as much +as I possessed! (He speaks low, but his voice vibrates with anger +and emotion.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Dear Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen (turning to her). Didn't I say to him, every time he told +me to sign, "But I don't possess as much as that! It's not right!"-- +But he used to answer, "It is only a matter of form, Jakobsen." +"Yes, but not an honourable form," I used to say. "It is a matter +of form in business," he would say; "all business folk do it." +And all I knew of business, I had learnt from him; so I trusted +him. (With emotion.) And he made me do it time after time. And +now I owe more than I shall ever be able to pay, all my life. I +shall live and die a dishonoured man. What have you to say to +that, Mrs. Tjaelde? (She does not answer him. He turns angrily +upon TJAELDE.) Do you hear? Even _she_ can find nothing to say!-- +Scoundrel! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen (in a voice broken with emotion). I have nothing but the +deepest respect for you, Mrs. Tjaelde. But, you see, he has made +me swindle other people! In his name I shall have ruined numbers +of them. They trusted me, you see; just as I trusted him. I used +to tell them that he was a benefactor to the whole countryside, and +that therefore they ought to help him in these hard times. And now +there will be many an honest family robbed of house and home by our +treachery. And that is what he has brought me to! What heartless +cruelty! (To TJAELDE.) I can tell I feel inclined to--. (Takes a +threatening step towards him.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up). For my sake, Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen (restraining himself). Yes, for your sake, ma'am; because +I have the deepest respect for you. But how am I to face all those +poor creatures that I have ruined? It will do them no good to +explain to them how it has happened; that won't help them to get +their daily bread! How shall I face my own wife! (With emotion.) +She has had such faith in me, and in those I trusted. And my +children, too? It is very hard on children, because they hear so +much talk in the street. It won't be long before they hear what +sort of a father they have got; and they will hear it from the +children of the men I have ruined. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. As you feel how hard it is yourself, that should +make you willing to spare others. Be merciful! + +Jakobsen. I have the deepest respect for you; but it is hard that +in my home we should never again be able to eat a crust that we can +properly call our own--for I owe more than I can ever live to +repay! That is hard, Mrs. Tjaelde! What will become of my evenings +with my children now?--of our Sundays together? No, I mean that he +shall hear the truth from me. (Turns upon TJAELDE.) You scoundrel! +You shan't escape me! (TJAELDE shrinks back in terror and tries to +reach the office door, but at that moment the RECEIVER comes in, +followed by two of his clerks and SANNAES. TJAELDE crosses the +room, staggers to his desk, and leans upon it with his back turned +to the newcomers.) + +The Receiver (coming up behind Tjaelde). Excuse me! May I have your +books and papers? (TJAELDE gives a start, moves away to the stove, +and supports himself on it.) + +Jakobsen (in a whisper, standing over him). Scoundrel! (TJAELDE +moves away from him and sits down on a chair by the door, hiding +his face in his hands.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up and whispering to JAKOBSEN), Jakobsen! +Jakobsen! (He comes towards her.) He has never deliberately cheated +any one! He has never been what you say, and never will be! (Sits +down again.) + +Jakobsen. I have the deepest respect for _you_, Mrs. Tjaelde. But +if _he_ is not a liar and swindler, there is no truth in anything! +(Bursts into tears. MRS. TJAELDE hides her face in her hands as she +leans back in her chair. A short silence. Then a confused noise of +voices is heard without. The RECEIVER and his men stop their work +of sorting and inventorying papers, and all look up.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (apprehensively). What is that? (SANNAES and the +RECEIVER go to one window, and JAKOBSEN to another.) + +Jakobsen. It's the hands from the quay and the brewery and the +factory and the warehouse. All work is stopped until further +orders; but this is pay-day--and there is no pay for them! (The +others resume their work.) + +Tjaelde (coming forward despairingly). I had forgotten that! + +Jakobsen (going up to him). Well, go out and face them, and they +will let you know what you are! + +Tjaelde (in a low voice, as he takes up his saddle-bag). Here is +money, but it is all in gold. Go into the town and get it changed, +and pay them! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, do, Jakobsen! + +Jakobsen (in lower tones). If _you_ ask me to, ma'am, I--So there +is money in this bag? (Opens it.) And all done up in rolls. He +meant to bolt, then!--and with the money his people had lent him. +And yet you say he is not a scoundrel! (TJAELDE gives a groan. The +noise of voices without grows louder.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (in a low voice). Be quick, or we shall have them in +here. + +Jakobsen. I will go. + +The Receiver (interposing). Excuse me, but nothing must be taken +away from here until it has been examined and inventoried. + +Jakobsen. It is pay-day, and this is the money for the wages. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Jakobsen is responsible for it, and will account for +it. + +The Receiver. Oh, that alters the case. Mr. Jakobsen is a man of +integrity. (Goes back to his work.) + +Jakobsen (to MRS. TJAELDE, in a low voice full of emotion). Did you +hear that, Mrs. Tjaelde? He called me a man of integrity--and very +soon not a single soul will call me that! (Goes out past TJAELDE to +whom he whispers as he passes:) Scoundrel! I shall come back again! + +The Receiver (going up to TJAELDE). Excuse me, but I must ask you +for the keys of your private rooms and cupboards. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (answering for her husband). My housekeeper shall go +with you. Sannaes, here is the key of the cupboard. (SANNAES takes +it from her.) + +The Receiver (looking at TJAELDE'S massive watch-chain). Whatever +article of dress can be called a necessary, we have nothing to do +with; but if it happens that it comrises jewellery of any great +value--. (TJAELDE begins to take off the watch-chain.) No, no; keep +it on. But it will have to be included in the inventory. + +Tjaelde. I don't wish to keep it. + +The Receiver. As you please. (Signs to one of his clerks to take +it.) Good-day! (Meanwhile SIGNE and HAMAR have appeared at the +door of the outer office, and have seen what passed. The RECEIVER, +SANNAES, and the clerks try to open the door on the right, but find +it locked.) This door is locked. + +Tjaelde (as if waking from a dream). Ah, of course! (Goes to the +door and unlocks it.) + +Signe (rushing to MRS. TJAELDE and falling on her knees beside +her). Mother! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, dear, the day of our trial has come! And I am +afraid--afraid that it may find us all too weak. + +Signe. Mother, what is to become of us? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. We are in God's hands. + +Signe. I will go with Hamar to his aunt's. We will go at once. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. It is possible that his aunt may not be willing to +have you now. + +Signe. Aunt Ulla! What do you mean? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I mean that you have been the rich man's daughter; +and you do not know what the world is. + +Signe. Hamar, do you think Aunt Ulla would refuse to have me? + +Hamar (after a moment's thought). I don't know. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You hear that, my child. In the next few hours you +will learn more than you have learnt in all your life. + +Signe (in a horrified whisper). Do you mean that even--? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Hush! (SIGNE hides her face in her mother's lap. A +loud burst of laughter is heard outside.) + +Hamar (going to the nearest window). What is that? (SANNAES comes +in through the right-hand door and goes to the other window. +TJAELDE, SIGNE and MRS. TJAELDE get up.) The bay horse! They have +got hold of it. + +Sannaes. They have led it up the steps, and are pretending to sell +it by auction. + +Hamar. They are ill-treating it! (SANNAES runs out. HAMAR snatches +up the revolver from the desk and looks to see if it is loaded.) I +will--! + +Signe. What are you going to do? (As he starts to go out, she +clings to him and prevents him.) + +Hamar. Let me go! + +Signe. Tell me first what you are going to do! Do you mean to go +out among all those men--alone? + +Hamar. Yes. + +Signe (throwing her arms round him). You shan't go! + +Hamar. Take care, this is loaded! + +Signe. What are you going to do with it? + +Hamar (in a determined voice, as he shakes himself free of her). +Put a bullet into the poor beast! It is too good for that crew. It +shan't be put up for auction, either in joke or in earnest! (Goes +to the farther window.) I shall get a better aim from here. + +Signe (following him, with a cry). You will hit some one! + +Hamar. No, I can aim too well for that. (Takes aim.) + +Signe. Father! If they hear a shot from here now-- + +Tjaelde (starting up). The house belongs to my creditors now--and +the revolver too! + +Hamar. No, I am past taking orders from you now! (TJAELDE snatches +at the revolver, which goes off. SIGNE screams and rushes to her +mother. Outside, but this time immediately below the window, two +cries are heard: "They are shooting at us! They are shooting at +us!" Then the noise of breaking glass is heard, and stones fly in +through the windows, followed by shouts and ribald laughter. +VALBORG, who has rushed in from the outer office, stands in front +of her father to protect him, her face turned to the window. A +voice is heard: "Follow me, my lads!") + +Hamar (pointing the revolver at the window). Yes, just you try it! + +Mrs. Tjaelde and Signe. They are coming in here! + +Valborg. You shan't shoot! (Stands between him and the window.) + +Tjaelde. It is Sannaes with the police! (Cries of "Get back, +there!" are heard; then a renewed uproar and a loud voice gradually +dominating it; until at last the noise gradually lessens and +ceases.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Thank God! We were in great danger. (Sinks into a +chair. A pause.) Henning, where are you? (TJAELDE comes up behind +her, and strokes her head with his hand, but turns away immediately +to hide his deep emotion. A pause.) + +Signe (on her knees by her mother's side). But won't they come +back? Hadn't we better go away from here? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Where to? + +Signe (despairingly). What is to become of us? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What God wills. (A pause. Meanwhile HAMAR, +unobserved, has laid down the revolver on a chair and slipped +out of the room by the door at the back.) + +Valborg (softly). Signe, look! (SIGNE gets up, looks round the +room, and gives a little cry.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What is it? + +Signe. I knew he would! + +Mrs. Tjaelde (apprehensively). What is it? + +Valborg. Every rich family has its tame lieutenant--and ours has +just left us. That's all. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up). Signe, my child! + +Signe (throwing herself into her arms). Mother! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. There will be no more pretence now. Do not let us +regret it! + +Signe (in tears). Mother, mother! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Things are better as they are. Do you hear, dear? +Don't cry! + +Signe. I am not crying! but I feel so ashamed--oh, so ashamed! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. It is I that ought to feel ashamed for never having +had the courage to put a stop to what I saw was folly. + +Signe (as before). Mother! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Soon there will be no one else left to desert us; and +we shall have nothing left that any one can rob us of, either. + +Valborg (comes forward evidently labouring under great emotion). +Yes, there is, mother; _I_ mean to desert you. + +Signe. You, Valborg? Desert us? You? + +Valborg. Our home is going to be broken up, anyway. Each of us +ought to shift for herself. + +Signe. But what am I to do? I don't know how to do anything. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (who has sunk back into her chair). What a bad mother +I must have been, not to be able to keep my children together now! + +Valborg (impetuously). You know we cannot stay together now! You +know we cannot put up with living on the charity of our creditors; +we have done that too long! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Hush, remember your father is in the room. (A pause.) +What do you want to do, Valborg? + +Valborg (after she has regained her self-control, quietly). I want +to go into Mr. Holst's office, and learn commercial work--and keep +myself. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You don't know what you are undertaking. + +Valborg. But I know what I am leaving. + +Signe. And I shall only be a burden to you, mother, because I can't +do anything-- + +Valborg. You _can_! Go out and earn a living; even if it is only as +a servant, what does that matter? Don't live on our creditors--not +for a day, not for an hour! + +Signe. And what is to become of mother, then? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Your mother will stay with your father. + +Signe. But all alone? You, who are so ill? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No, not alone! Your father and I will be together. +(TJAELDE comes forward, kisses the hand she has stretched out to +him, and falls on his knees by her chair, burying his face in her +lap. She strokes his hair gently.) Forgive your father, children. +That is the finest thing you can do. (TJAELDE gets up again and +goes back to the other end of the room. A messenger comes in with a +letter.) + +Signe (turning round anxiously). It is a letter from him! I can't +stand any more! I won't have it! (The messenger hands the letter to +TJAELDE.) + +Tjaelde. I accept no more letters. + +Valborg (looking at the letter). It is from Sannaes? + +Tjaelde. He, too! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Take it and read it, Valborg. Let us get it all over +at once. (VALBORG takes the letter from the messenger, who goes +out. She opens the letter, looks at it, and then reads it with +emotion.) "Sir,--I have owed you everything since I entered your +employment as a boy. Therefore do not take what I am going to say +amiss. You know that about eight years ago I came into a little +legacy. I have used the money to some advantage, having especially +looked out for such investments as would not be affected by the +uncertainties of high finance. The total sum, which now amounts to +about £1400, I beg to offer to you as a token of respectful +gratitude; because, in the end, I owe it to you that I have been +able to make it that sum. Besides, you will be able to make many +times better use of it than I could. If you need me, my dearest +wish is to remain with you in the future. Forgive me for having +seized just this moment for doing this; I could not do otherwise.-- +Your obedient servant, J. SANNAES." (While VALBORG has been +reading, TJAELDE has come gradually forward, and is now standing +beside his wife.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Though out of all those you have helped, Henning, +only one comes to your aid at a time like this, you must feel that +you have your reward. (TJAELDE nods, and goes to the back of the +room again.) And you, children--do you see how loyally this man, a +stranger, is standing by your father? (A pause. SIGNE stands by the +desk, crying. TJAELDE walks up and down uneasily at the back of the +room once or twice, then goes up the staircase.) + +Valborg. I should like to speak to Sannaes. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, do, dear! I couldn't, just now; and I am sure +your father couldn't either. You speak to him! (Gets up.) Come, +Signe, you and I must have a talk; you must open your heart to +me now.--Ah, when have we ever had a real talk together? (SIGNE +goes to her.) Where is your father? + +Valborg. He went upstairs. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (leaning on SIGNE's arm). So he did. I am sure he must +be longing to rest--although he won't find it easy to do that. It +has been a terrible day; but surely God will turn it to our good! +(Goes out with SIGNE. VALBORG goes to the back of the room and +rings the bell. A messenger comes.) + +Valborg. If Mr. Sannaes is out there, please ask him to be so good +as to come in here for a moment. (The messenger goes out.) Perhaps +he won't come, when he hears it is I. (Listens.) Yes, he is coming! + +(SANNAES comes in, but stops short when he sees VALBORG, and +hurriedly puts his hands behind his back.) + +Sannaes. Is it you, Miss Valborg, that want me? + +Valborg. Please come in. (SANNAES takes a few timid steps forward. +VALBORG speaks in a more friendly tone.) Come in, then! (SANNAES +comes further into the room.) + +Valborg. You have written a letter to my father. + +Sannaes (after a moment's pause). Yes. + +Valborg. And made him a most generous offer. + +Sannaes (as before). Oh, well--it was only natural that I should. + +Valborg. Do you think so? It doesn't seem so to me. It is an offer +that honours the man that made it. (A pause.) + +Sannaes. I hope he means to accept it? + +Valborg. I don't know. + +Sannaes (sadly, after a moment's pause). Then he doesn't mean to? +No--I suppose not. + +Valborg. I honestly don't know. It depends on whether he dare. + +Sannaes. Whether he dare? + +Valborg. Yes. (A pause.) + +Sannaes (evidently very shy of VALBORG). Have you any more orders +for me, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg (with a smile). Orders? I am not giving you orders.--You +have offered also to stay with my father for the future. + +Sannaes. Yes--that is to say, if he wishes me to. + +Valborg. I don't know. In that case there would be only he and +my mother and you; no one else. + +Sannaes. Indeed? What about the others, then? + +Valborg. I don't know for certain what my sister means to do--but +I am leaving home to-day. + +Sannaes. Then you are going to-- + +Valborg. --to try and get a clerkship somewhere. So that it will be +a bit lonely for you to be in my father's employment now. (A +pause.) I expect you had not thought of it in that light? + +Sannaes. No--yes--that is to say, your father will have all the +more need of me then. + +Valborg. Indeed he will. But what sort of a prospect is it for you +to bind up your fortunes with my father's? The future is so very +problematical, you know. + +Sannaes. What sort of a prospect--? + +Valborg. Yes, a young man should have some sort of a prospect +before him. + +Sannaes. Yes--of course; that is to say, I only thought that at +first it would be so difficult for him. + +Valborg. But I am thinking of you. Surely you have some plans for +the future? + +Sannaes (embarrassed). Really I would rather not talk about myself. + +Valborg. But I want to.--You have something else in reserve, then? + +Sannaes. Well--if I must tell you--I have some well-to-do relations +in America who have for a long time wanted me to go over there. I +should soon be able to get, a good situation there. + +Valborg. Indeed?--But why haven't you accepted such a good offer +long before this? (SANNAES does not answer.) You must have been +sacrificing your best interests by staying so long with us? +(SANNAES is still silent.) Any! it will be making a still greater +sacrifice to stay with us now-- + +Sannaes (struggling with his embarrassment). I have never thought +of it as being that. + +Valborg. But my father can scarcely accept so much from you. + +Sannaes (in alarm). Why not? + +Valborg. Because it really would be too much.--And, in any case, I +shall try to prevent him. + +Sannaes (almost imploringly). You, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg. Yes. You must not be misemployed any longer. + +Sannaes. Misemployed? In what I _myself_ desire so much? + +Valborg. When I have talked it over with my father, I think he will +see my point. + +Sannaes (anxiously). What do you mean? + +Valborg (after a moment's reflection). --I mean, the reason of your +having made such great sacrifices for us--and of your being willing +to make still greater now. (A pause. SANNAES hangs his head, and is +raising his hands to hide his face, when suddenly he puts them +behind his back again. VALBORG continues, in gentle but firm +tones:) I have taught myself, all my life, to look behind deeds and +words for their motives. + +Sannaes (quietly, without raising his head). You have taught +yourself to be cruelly bitter, hard and unjust. + +Valborg (starts, but collects herself, and says gently:) Don't say +that, Mr. Sannaes! It is not hard-heartedness or bitterness that +makes me think of your future now--and makes me wish to spare you +disappointment. + +Sannaes (with a cry of pain). Miss Valborg! + +Valborg. Be honest with yourself, and you will be able to take a +fairer view of what I have just said. + +Sannaes. Have you any more orders, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg. I give you no orders, as I have told you already. I am +only bidding you good-bye; and I do it with grateful thanks to you +for all your goodness to me--and to us all. Good-bye and good luck, +Mr. Sannaes. (SANNAES bows.)Won't you shake hands? Ah, I forgot--I +offended you. I beg your pardon for that. (SANNAES bows and turns +to go.) Come, Mr. Sannaes--let us at least part as good friends! +You are going to America, and I am going among strangers. Let us go +away wishing one another well. + +Sannaes (moved). Good-bye, Miss Valborg. (Turns to go.) + +Valborg. Mr. Sannaes--shake hands! + +Sannaes (stopping). No, Miss Valborg. + +Valborg. Don't treat me uncivilly; I have not deserved that. +(SANNAES again turns to go.) Mr. Sannaes! + +Sannaes (stopping). You might soil your fingers, Miss Valborg! +(Walks proudly away.) + +Valborg (controlling herself with an effort). Well, we have +offended each other now. But why should we not forgive each other +as well? + +Sannaes. Because you have just offended me for the second time +to-day--and more deeply than the first time. + +Valborg. Oh, this is too much! I spoke as I did, because I owed it +to myself not to be put in a false position, and owed it to you to +spare you future disappointment. And you call that insulting you! +Which of us has insulted the other, I should like to know? + +Sannaes. You have, by thinking such things of me. Do you realise +how cruelly you have spoilt the happiest action of my life? + +Valborg. I have done so quite unintentionally, then. I am only +glad that I was mistaken. + +Sannes (bitterly). You are glad! So it really makes you glad to +know that I am not a scoundrel! + +Valborg (quietly). Who said anything of the kind? + +Sannaes. You! You know the weak spot in my armour; but that you +should on that account believe that I could lay a trap for you +and try to trade on your father's misfortune, Miss Valborg--! +No, I cannot shake hands with any one who has thought so badly +of me as that! And, since you have so persistently insulted me +that I have lost all the timidity I used to feel in your presence, +let me tell you this openly; these hands (stretching out his hands +to her) have grown red and ugly in loyal work for your father, and +his daughter should have been above mocking at me for them! +(Turns to go, but stops.) And, one word more. Ask your father for +_his_ hand now, and hold fast to it, instead of deserting him on +the very day that misfortune has overtaken him. That would be more +to the point than worrying about _my_ future. I can look after that +for myself. (Turns again to go, but comes back.) And when, in his +service--which will be no easy service now--your hands bear the +same honourable marks of work as mine do, and are as red as mine, +then you will perhaps understand how you have hurt me! At present +you cannot. (He goes quickly towards the door of the outer office.) + +Valborg (with a wry smile). What a temper! (More seriously.) And +yet, after all--. (Looks after him. Just as SANNAES gets to the +door TJAELDE'S voice is heard calling him from the top of the +staircase. SANNAES answers him.) + +Tjaelde (coming down the stairs). Sannaes! Sannaes! I can see +Jakobsen coming. (Hurries across the room as if pursued by fear. +SANNAES follows him.) Of course he will be coming back to look for +me again! It is cowardly of me to feel that I cannot stand it; but +I cannot--not to-day, not now! I cannot stand any more! Stop him! +Don't let him come in! I shall have to drink my cup of misery to +the dregs; but (almost in a whisper) not all at one draught! (Hides +his face in his hands.) + +Sannaes. He shan't come; don't be afraid! (Goes quickly out, with +an air of determination.) + +Tjaelde. It is hard--oh, it is hard! + +Valborg (coming to his side). Father! (He looks at her, anxiously.) +You may safely accept the money Sannaes offers you. + +Tjaelde (in surprise). What do you mean by that? + +Valborg. I mean--that, if you do, I will not forsake you either, +but stay here with you too. + +Tjaelde (incredulously). You, Valborg? + +Valborg. Yes, you know I want to learn office work, and business; +and I would rather learn in your office. + +Tjaelde (shyly). I don't understand what you--? + +Valborg. Don't you understand, dear? I believe I could become of +some use in the office. And in that way, you know, we might +begin afresh--and try, with God's help, to pay your creditors. + +Tjaelde (happily, but shyly). My child! Who put such a happy idea +into your head? + +Valborg (putting an arm round his neck). Father, forgive me for +all that I have neglected to do! You shall see how I will try and +make up for it! How hard I shall work! + +Tjaelde (still half incredulous). My child! My child! + +Valborg. I feel--I cannot tell you how deeply--a craving for love +and for work! (Throws both her arms round his neck.) Oh, father, +how I love you!--and how I shall work for you! + +Tjaelde. Ah, that is the Valborg I have waited for, ever since you +were a little child! But we had drifted away from one another, +somehow. + +Valborg. No more about the past! Look forward, father, look +forward! Concerns "that would not be affected by the uncertainties +of high finance,"--weren't those his words? + +Tjaelde. So you were struck by that expression, too? + +Valborg. That may mean a future for us now! We will have a home all +to ourselves--a little house down on the shore--and I shall help +you, and Signe will help mother--we shall know what it is to live, +for the first time! + +Tjaelde. What happiness it will be! + +Valborg. Only look forward, father! Look forward! A united family +is invincible! + +Tjaelde. And to think that such help should come to me now! + +Valborg. Yes, now we are all going to our posts--and all together, +where formerly you stood alone! You will have good fairies round +you; wherever you look, you will see happy faces and busy fingers +all day long; and we shall all enjoy our meals and our evenings +together, just as we did when we were children! + +Tjaelde. That, above everything! + +Valborg. Ha, ha!--it is after the rain that the birds sing +blithest, you know! And this time our happiness can never miscarry, +because we shall have something worth living for! + +Tjaelde. Let us go to your mother! This will cheer her heart! + +Valborg. Ah, how I have learnt to love her! What has happened +to-day has taught me. + +Tjaelde. It is for her that we shall all work now. + +Valborg. Yes--for her, for her. She shall rest now. Let us go to +her! + +Tjaelde. Kiss me first, my dear. (His voice trembles.) It is so +long since you did! + +Valborg (kissing him). Father! + +Tjaelde. Now let us go to your mother. (The curtain falls as they +go out together.) + + + +ACT IV + +(SCENE.--In the garden of TJAELDE'S new home, on the shore of the +fjord, three years later. A view of tranquil sunlit sea, dotted +with boats, in the background. On the left a portion of the house +is seen, with an open window within which VALBORG is seen writing +at a desk. The garden is shaded with birch trees; flower-beds run +round the house, and the whole atmosphere one of modest comfort. +Two small garden tables and several chairs are in the foreground on +the right. A chair standing by itself, further back, has evidently +had a recent occupant. When the curtain rises the stage is empty, +but VALBORG is visible at the open window. Soon afterwards TJAELDE +comes in, wheeling MRS. TJAELDE in an invalid chair.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Another lovely day! + +Tjaelde. Tjaelde. Lovely! There was not a ripple on the sea last +night. I saw a couple of steamers far out, and a sailing ship that +had hove to, and the fisher-boats drifting silently in. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. And think of the storm that was raging two days ago! + +Tjaelde. And think of the storm that broke over our lives barely +three years ago! I was thinking of that in the night. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Sit down here with me. + +Tjaelde. Shall we not continue our stroll? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. The sun is too hot. + +Tjaelde. Not for me. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. You big strong man! It is too hot for me. + +Tjaelde (taking a chair). There you are, then. + +Mrs. Tjaelde (taking off his hat and wiping his forehead). You are +very hot, dear. You have never looked so handsome as you do now! + +Tjaelde. That's just as well, as you have so much time to admire +me now! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Now that I find getting about so difficult, you mean? +Ah, that is only my pretence, so as to get you to wheel me about! + +Tjaelde (with a sigh). Ah, my dear, it is good of you to take it so +cheerfully. But that you should be the only one of us to bear such +hard traces of our misfortune-- + +Mrs. Tjaelde (interrupting him). Do you forget your own whitened +hair? That is a sign of it, too, but a beautiful one! And, as for +my being an invalid, I thank God every day for it! In the first +place I have almost no pain, and then it gives me the opportunity +to feel how good you are to me in every way. + +Tjaelde. You enjoy your life, then? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, indeed I do--and just as I should wish to. + +Tjaelde. Just to be spoiled, and yourself to spoil us? + +Valborg (from the window). I have finished the accounts, father. + +Tjaelde. Doesn't it come out at about what I said? + +Valborg. Almost exactly. Shall I enter it in the ledger at once? + +Tjaelde. Oho! You are glad then, as you seem in such it hurry? + +Valborg. Certainly! Such a good stroke of business! + +Tjaelde. And both you and Sannaes tried your best to dissuade +me from it! + +Valborg. Such a pair of wiseacres! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Ah, your father is your master, my dear! + +Tjaelde. Tjaelde. Oh, it is easy enough to captain a small army +that marches on, instead of a big one that is in retreat. (VALBORG +goes on with her work.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. And yet it seemed hard enough for us to give it up. + +Tjaelde. Yes, yes--oh, yes. I can tell you, I was thinking of that +last night. If God had given me what I begged for then, what state +should we have been in now? I was thinking of that, too. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. It is the fact of the estate being at last wound up +that has brought all these thoughts into your mind, dear? + +Tjaelde. Yes. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Then I must confess that I, too, have scarcely been +able to think of anything else since yesterday, when Sannaes went +into town to settle it up. This a red-letter day! Signe is +wrestling with a little banquet for us; we shall see what an +artist she has become! Here she is! + +Tjaelde. I think I will just go and look over Valborg's accounts. +(Goes to the window. SIGNE comes out of the house, wearing a +cook's apron and carrying a basin.) + +Signe. Mother, you must taste my soup! (Offers her a spoonful.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Clever girl! (Tastes the soup.) Perhaps it would +stand a little--. No, it is very good as it is. You are clever! + +Signe. Am I not! Will Sannaes be back soon? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Your father says we may expect him any moment. + +Tjaelde (at the window, to VALBORG). No, wait a moment. I will come +in. (Goes into the house, and is seen within the window beside +VALBORG.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My little Signe, I want to ask you something? + +Signe. Do you? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What was in the letter you had yesterday evening? + +Signe. Aha, I might have guessed that was it! Nothing, mother. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Nothing that pained you, then? + +Signe. I slept like a top all night--so you can judge for yourself. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I am so glad. But, you know, there seems to me +something a little forced in the gay way you say that? + +Signe. Does there? Well, it was something that I shall always be +ashamed of; that is all. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I am thankful to hear it, for-- + +Signe (interrupting her). That must be Sannaes. I hear wheels. Yes, +here he is! He has come too soon; dinner won't be ready for half an +hour yet. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. That doesn't matter. + +Signe. Father, here is Sannaes! + +Tjaelde (from within). Good! I will come out! (SIGNE goes into +the house as TJAELDE comes out. SANNAES comes in a moment later.) + +Tjaelde and Mrs. Tjaelde. Welcome! + +Sannaes. Thank you! (Lays down his dust-coat and driving gloves on +a chair, and comes forward.) + +Tjaelde. Well? + +Sannaes. Yes--your bankruptcy is discharged! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. And the result was--? + +Sannaes. Just about what we expected. + +Tjaelde. And, I suppose, just about what Mr. Berent wrote? + +Sannaes. Just about, except for one or two inconsiderable trifles. +You can see for yourself. (Gives him a bundle of papers.) The high +prices that have ruled of late, and good management, have altered +the whole situation. + +Tjaelde (who has opened the papers and glanced at the totals). A +deficit of £12,000. + +Sannaes. I made a declaration on your behalf, that you intended to +try and repay that sum, but that you should be at liberty to do it +in whatever way you found best. And so-- + +Tjaelde. And so--? + +Sannaes. --I proferred on the spot rather more than half the amount +you still owed Jakobsen. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Not really? (TJAELDE takes out a pencil and begins +making calculations on the margins of the papers.) + +Sannaes. There was general satisfaction--and they all sent you +their cordial congratulations. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. So that, if all goes well-- + +Tjaelde. Yes, if things go as well with the business as they +promise to, Sannaes, in twelve or fourteen years I shall have paid +every one in full. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. We haven't much longer than that left to live, dear! + +Tjaelde. Then we shall die poor. And I shall not complain! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. No, indeed! The honourable name you will leave to +your children will be well worth it. + +Tjaelde. And they will inherit a sound business, which they can go +on with if they choose. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Did you hear that, Valborg? + +Valborg (from the window). Every word! (SANNAES bows to her.) I +must go in and tell Signe! (Moves away from the window.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. What did Jakobsen say?--honest old Jakobsen? + +Sannaes. He was very much affected, as you would expect. He will +certainly be coming out here to-day. + +Tjaelde (looking up from the papers). And Mr. Berent? + +Sannaes. He is coming hard on my heels. I was to give you his kind +regards and tell you so. + +Tjaelde. Splendid! We owe him so much. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, he has been a true friend to us. But, talking of +true friends, I have something particular to ask _you_, Sannaes. + +Sannaes. Me, Mrs. Tjaelde? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. The maid told me that yesterday, when you went into +town, you took the greater part of your belongings with you. Is +that so? + +Sannaes. Yes, Mrs. Tjaelde. + +Tjaelde. What does that mean? (To his wife.) You said nothing +about it to me, my dear. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Because I thought it might be a misunderstanding. +But now I must ask what was the meaning of it. Are you going away? + +Sannaes (fingering a chair, in evident confusion). Yes, Mrs. +Tjaelde. + +Tjaelde. Where to? You never said anything about it. + +Sannaes. No; but I have always considered that I should have +finished my task here as soon as the estate was finally wound up. + +Tjaelde and Mrs. Tjaelde. You mean to leave us? + +Sannaes. Yes. + +Tjaelde. But why? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Where do you mean to go? + +Sannaes. To my relations in America. I can now, without doing you +any harm, withdraw my capital from the business by degrees and +transfer it abroad. + +Tjaelde. And dissolve our partnership? + +Sannaes. You know that at any rate you had decided now to resume +the old style of the firm's name. + +Tjaelde. That is true; but, Sannaes, what does it all mean? What is +your reason? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Are you not happy here, where we are all so attached +to you? + +Tjaelde. You have quite as good a prospect for the future here as +in America. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. We held together in evil days; are we not to hold +together now that good days have come? + +Sannaes. I owe you both so much. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Good heavens, it is we that owe you-- + +Tjaelde. --more than we can ever repay. (Reproachfully.) Sannaes! + +(SIGNE comes in, having taken off her cooking apron.) + +Signe. Congratulations! Congratulations! Father mother! (Kisses +them both.) Welcome, Sannaes!--But aren't you pleased?--now? +(A pause. VALBORG comes in.) + +Valborg. What has happened? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Sannaes wants to leave us, my children (A pause.) + +Signe. But, Sannaes--! + +Tjaelde. Even if you want to go away, why have you never said a +single word to us about it before? (To the others.) Or has he +spoken to any of you? (MRS. TJAELDE shakes her head.) + +Signe. No. + +Sannaes. It was because--because--I wanted to be able to go as +soon as I had told you. Otherwise it would be too hard to go. + +Tjaelde. You must have very serious grounds for it, then! Has +anything happened to you to--to make it necessary? (SANNAES +does not answer.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. And to make it impossible for you to trust any of +us? + +Sannaes (shyly). I thought I had better keep it to myself. (A +pause.) + +Tjaelde. That makes it still more painful for us--to think that you +could go about in our little home circle here, where you have +shared everything with us, carrying the secret of this intention +hidden in your heart. + +Sannaes. Do not be hard on me! Believe me, if I could stay, I +would; and if I could tell you the reason, I would. (A pause.) + +Signe (to her mother, in an undertone). Perhaps he wants to get +married? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Would his being here with us make any difference to +that? Any one that Sannaes loved would be dear to us. + +Tjaelde (going up to SANNAES and putting an arm round his +shoulders). Tell one of us, then, if you cannot tell us all. +Is it nothing we can help you in? + +Sannaes. No. + +Tjaelde. But can you judge of that alone? One does not always +realise how much some one else's advice, on the experience of an +older man, may help one. + +Sannaes. Unfortunately it is as I say. + +Tjaelde. It must be something very painful, then? + +Sannaes. Please--! + +Tjaelde. Well, Sannaes, you have quite cast a cloud over to-day's +happiness for us. I shall miss you as I have never missed any one. + +Mrs. Tjaelde. I cannot imagine the house without Sannaes! + +Tjaelde (to his wife). Come, dear, shall we go in again? + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes--it is not nice out here any longer. (TJAELDE +takes her into the house. SIGNE turns to VALBORG to go in with her, +but when she comes close to her she gives a little cry. VALBORG +takes her arm, and their eyes meet.) + +Signe. Where have my wits been? (She goes into the house, looking +back at VALBORG and SANNAES. The latter is giving way to his +emotion, but as soon as his eyes fall on VALBORG he recovers +himself.) + +Valborg (impetuously). Sannaes! + +Sannaes. What are your orders, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg (turning away from him, then turning back, but avoiding +his eyes). Do you really mean to leave us? + +Sannaes. Yes, Miss Valborg. (A pause.) + +Valborg. So we shall never stand back to back at our desks in the +same room again? + +Sannaes. No, Miss Valborg. + +Valborg. That is a pity; I had become so accustomed to it. + +Sannaes. You will easily become accustomed to some one else's-- +back. + +Valborg. Ah, some one else is some one else. + +Sannaes. You must excuse me, Miss Valborg; I don't feel in the +humour for jesting to-day. (Turn to go.) + +Valborg (looking up at him). Is this to be our parting, then? (A +pause.) + +Sannaes. I thought of taking leave of you all this afternoon. + +Valborg (taking a step towards him). But ought not we two to settle +our accounts first? + +Sannaes (coldly). No, Miss Valborg. + +Valborg. Do you feel then that everything between us has been just +as it ought? + +Sannaes. God knows I don't! + +Valborg. But you think I am to blame?--Oh, well, it doesn't matter. + +Sannaes. I am quite willing to take the blame. Put anyway, it is +all finished with now. + +Valborg. But if we were to share the blame? You cannot be quite +indifferent as to which of us should take it? + +Sannaes. I confess I am not. But, as I said, I do not wish for any +settling of accounts between us. + +Valborg. But I wish it. + +Sannaes. You will have plenty of time to settle it to your own +satisfaction. + +Valborg. But, if I am in difficulties about it, I cannot do it +alone. + +Sannaes. I do not think you will find any difficulty. + +Valborg. But if _I_ think so?--if I feel myself deeply wronged? + +Sannaes. I have told you that I am willing to take all the blame +upon myself. + +Valborg. No, Sannaes--I don't want charity; I want to be +understood. I have a question to ask you. + +Sannaes. As you will. + +Valborg. How was it that we got on so well for the first year after +my father's failure-and even longer? Have you ever thought of that? + +Sannaes. Yes. I think it was because we never talked about +anything but our work--about business. + +Valborg. You were my instructor. + +Sannaes. And when you no longer needed an instructor-- + +Valborg. --we hardly spoke to one another. + +Sannaes (softly). No. + +Valborg. Well, what could I say or do, when every sign of +friendship on my part went unnoticed? + +Sannaes. Unnoticed? Oh no, Miss Valborg, I noticed them. + +Valborg. That was my punishment, then! + +Sannas. God forbid I should do you an injustice. You had a motive +which did you credit; you felt compassion for me, and so you could +not help acting as you did. But, Miss Valborg, I refuse your +compassion. + +Valborg. And suppose it were gratitude? + +Sannaes (softly). I dreaded that more than anything else! I had had +a warning. + +Valborg. You must admit, Sannaes, that all this made you very +difficult to deal with! + +Sannaes. I quite admit that. But, honestly, _you_ must admit that I +had good reason to mistrust an interest in me that sprang from +mere gratitude. Had circumstances been different, I should only +have bored you cruelly; I knew that quite well. And I had no +fancy for being an amusement for your idle hours. + +Valborg. How you have mistaken me!--If you will think of it, surely +you must understand how different a girl, who has been accustomed +to travel and society, becomes when she has to stay at home and +work because it is her duty. She comes to judge men by an +altogether different standard, too. The men that she used to think +delightful are very likely to appear small in her eyes when it is a +question of the demands life makes on ability or courage or +self-sacrifice; while the men she used to laugh at are transformed +in her eyes into models of what God meant men to be, when she is +brought into close contact with them in her father's office.--Is +there anything so surprising in that? (A pause.) + +Sannaes. Thank you, at all events, for saying that to me. It has +done me good. But you should have said it sooner. + +Valborg (emphatically). How could I, when you misjudged everything +I did or said? No; it was impossible until mistakes and +misunderstandings had driven us so far apart that we could not +endure them any longer (Turns away.) + +Sannaes. Perhaps you are right. I cannot at once recall all that +has happened. If I have been mistaken, I shall by degrees find the +knowledge of it a profound comfort.--You must excuse me, Miss +Valborg, I have a number of things to see to. (Turns to go.) + +Valborg (anxiously). Sannaes, as you admit that you have judged me +unjustly, don't you think you ought at least to give me--some +satisfaction? + +Sannaes. You may be certain, Miss Valborg, that when I am balancing +our account you shall not suffer any injustice. But I cannot do it +now. All I have to do now is to get ready to go. + +Valborg. But you are not ready to go, Sannaes! You have not +finished your work here yet! There is what I just spoke of--and +something else that dates farther back than that. + +Sannaes. You must feel how painful it is for me to prolong this +interview. (Turns to go.) + +Valborg. But surely you won't go without setting right something +that I am going to beg you to? + +Sannas. What is that, Miss Valborg? + +Valborg. Something that happened a long time ago. + +Sannaes. If it is in my power, I will do what you ask. + +Valborg. It is.--Ever since that day you have never offered to +shake hands with me. + +Sannaes. Have you really noticed that? (A pause.) + +Valborg (with a smile, turning away). Will you do so now? + +Sannaes (stepping nearer to her). Is this more than a mere whim? + +Valborg (concealing her emotion). How can you ask such a question +now? + +Sannaes. Because all this time you have never once asked me to +shake hands with you. + +Valborg. I wanted you to offer me your hand. (A pause.) + +Sannaes. Are you serious for once? + +Valborg. I mean it, seriously. + +Sannaes (in a happier voice). You really set a value on it? + +Valborg. A great value. + +Sannaes (going up to her). Here it is, then! + +Valborg (turning and taking his hand). I accept the hand you offer +me. + +Sannaes (turning pale). What do you mean? + +Valborg. I mean that for some time past I have known that I should +be proud to be the wife of a man who has loved me, and me alone, +ever since he was a boy, and has saved my father and us all. + +Sannaes. Oh, Miss Valborg! + +Valborg. And you wanted to go away, rather than offer me your +hand; and that, only because we had accepted help from you--and you +did not think we were free agents! That was too much; and, as you +would not speak, I had to! + +Sannaes (kneeling to her). Miss Valborg! + +Valborg. You have the most loyal nature, the most delicate mind, +and the warmest heart I have ever known. + +Sannaes. This is a thousand times too much! + +Valborg. Next to God, I have to thank you that I have become what I +am; and I feel that I can offer you a life's devotion such as you +would rarely find in this world. + +Sannaes. I cannot answer because I scarcely realise what you are +saying. But you are saying it because you are sorry for me, now +that I have to go away, and feel that you owe me some gratitude. +(Takes both her hand in his.) Let me speak! I know the truth better +than you, and have thought over it far more than you. You are so +immeasurably above me in ability, in education, in manners--and a +wife should not be able to look down on her husband. At all events, +I am too proud to be willing to be exposed to that. No, what you +are feeling now is only the result of your beautiful nature, and +the recollection of it will hallow all my life. All the pain and +all the happiness I have known have come from you. Your life will +be one of self-renunciation; but, God knows there are many such! +And my burden will be lightened now, because I shall know that your +good wishes will always be with me. (Gets up.) But part we must-- +and now more than ever! For I could not bear to be near you unless +you were mine, and to make you mine would only mean misery for us +both after a little while! + +Valborg. Sannaes--! + +Sannaes (holding her hands and interrupting her). I entreat you not +to say anything more! You have too much power over me; do not use +it to make me sin! For it would be that--a great sin--to put two +honest hearts into a false position, where they would distress one +another, even perhaps get to hate one another. + +Valborg. But let me-- + +Sannas (letting go her hands and stepping back). No, you must not +tempt me. Life with you would mean perpetual anxiety, for I should +never feel equal to what it would demand of me! But now I can part +from you comforted. There will be no bitterness in my heart now; +and by degrees all my thoughts of the past and of you will turn to +sweetness. God bless you! May every good fortune go with you! +Good-bye! (Goes quickly towards the house.) + +Valborg. Sannaes! (Follows him.) Sannaes! Listen to me! (SANNAES +takes up his coat and gloves, and, as he rushes out without looking +where he is going, runs full tilt into BERENT who comes in at that +moment followed by JAKOBSEN.) + +Sannaes. I beg your pardon! (Rushes out to the right.) + +Berent. Are you two playing a game of blind man's buff? + +Valborg. God knows we are! + +Berent. You need not be so emphatic about it! I have had forcible +evidence of it. (Rubs his stomach and laughs.) + +Valborg. You must excuse me! Father is in there. (Points to the +left and goes hurriedly out to the right.) + +Berent. We don't seem to be getting a particularly polite +reception! + +Jakobsen. No, we seem to be rather in the way, Mr. Berent. + +Berent (laughing). It looks like it. But what has been going on? + +Jakobsen. I don't know. They looked as if they had been fighting, +their faces were so flushed. + +Berent. They looked upset, you mean? + +Jakobsen. Yes, that's it. Ah, here is Mr. Tjaelde! (To himself.) +Good Lord, how aged he looks! (Withdraws into the background as +BERENT goes forward to greet TJAELDE, who comes in.) + +Tjaelde (to BERENT). I am delighted to see you! You are always +welcome in our little home--and this year more welcome than ever! + +Berent. Because things are going better than ever this year! I +congratulate you on your discharge--and also on your determination +to pay everything in full! + +Tjaelde. Yes, if God wills, I mean to-- + +Berent. Well, things are going splendidly, aren't they? + +Tjaelde. So far, yes. + +Berent. You are over the worst of it, now that you have laid the +foundations of a new business and laid them solidly. + +Tjaelde. One of the things that have given me the greatest +encouragement has been the fact that I have won your confidence-- +and that has gained me the confidence of others. + +Berent. I could have done nothing unless you had first of all done +everything. But don't let us say any more about it!--Well, the +place looks even prettier than it did last year. + +Tjaelde. We do a little more to it each year, you know. + +Berent. And you are still all together here? + +Tjaelde. So far, yes. + +Berent. Ah, by the way, I can give you news of your deserter. +(TJAELDE looks surprised.) I mean your lieutenant! + +Tjaelde. Oh--of him! Have you seen him? + +Berent. I was on the same boat coming here. There was a very +rich girl on board. + +Tjaelde (laughing). Oh, I see! + +Berent. All the same, I don't think it came to any thing. It is +rather like coming upon a herd of deer when you are stalking; after +your first shot, you don't find it so easy to get another; they +have grown wary! + +Jakobsen (who during this conversation has been screwing up his +courage to address TJAELDE). I--I am a pig, I am! I know that! + +Tjaelde (taking his hand). Oh, come, Jakobsen!-- + +Jakobsen. A great blundering pig!--But I know it now! + +Tjaelde. That's all right! I can tell you I am delighted to be able +to set affairs straight between you and me. + +Jakobsen. I don't know what to answer. It goes to my heart! (Shakes +his hand heartily.) You are a far better man than I,--and I said so +to my wife. "He's a splendid fellow," I said. + +Tjaelde (releasing his hand). Let us forget everything except the +happy days we have had together, Jakobsen! How do things go +at the Brewery? + +Jakobsen. At the Brewery! As long as folk ladle beer into their +stomachs at the rate they do now-- + +Berent. Jakobsen was kind enough to drive me out here. We had a +most amusing drive. He is a character. + +Jakobsen (in an anxious undertone, to TJAELDE). What does he mean +by that? + +Tjaelde. That you are different from most people. + +Jakobsen. Ah!--I didn't feel sure, you know, whether he wasn't +sitting there making game of me, all the way here. + +Tjaelde. How can you think such a thing? (To BERENT.) Do come into +the house. Excuse my going first; but my wife is not always quite +prepared to receive visitors since she has been able to do so +little for herself. (Goes into the house.) + +Berent. I don't think Mr. Tjaelde seems to me to be looking in +quite as good form as I expected? + +Jakobsen. Don't you? I didn't notice anything. + +Berent. Perhaps I am mistaken. I think he meant us to follow him +in, didn't he? + +Jakobsen. So I understood. + +Berent. Then, as you have brought me so far, you must take me +in to Mrs. Tjaelde. + +Jakobsen. I am quite at your service, sir. I have the deepest +respect for Mrs. Tjaelde--(hurriedly)--and of course for Mr. +Tjaelde too. Of course. + +Berent. Yes. Well, let us go in. + +Jakobsen. Let us go in. (He tries anxiously to keep in step with +BERENT'S peculiar walk, but finds it difficult.) + +Berent. I think you had better not try. My step suits very few. + +Jakobsen. Oh, I shall manage--! (They go out to the left. SANNAES +comes hurriedly in from the right, and crosses the stage; looks +around; then comes across to the foreground and leans with his +back against a tree. VALBORG comes in a moment later, comes +forward, sees him, and laughs.) + +Sannaes. There, you see, Miss Valborg; you are laughing at me. + +Valborg. I don't know whether I want to laugh or to cry. + +Sannaes. Believe me, you are mistaken about this, Miss Valborg. +You don't see things as plainly as I do. + +Valborg. Which of us was it that was mistaken to-day?--and had +to beg pardon for it? + +Sannaes. It was I, I know. But this is impossible! A real union of +hearts needs to be founded on more than respect-- + +Valborg (laughing). On love? + +Sannaes. You misunderstand me. Could you go into society with me +without feeling embarrassed? (VALBORG laughs.) You see, the mere +idea of it makes you laugh. + +Valborg (laughing). I am laughing because you are magnifying the +least important part of it into the most important. + +Sannaes. You know how awkward and shy--in fact downright frightened +I am amongst those who--. (VALBORG laughs again.) There, you see-- +you can't help laughing at the idea! + +Valborg. I should perhaps even laugh at you when we were in society +together! (Laughs.) + +Sannaes (seriously). But I should suffer horribly if you did. + +Valborg. Believe me, Sannaes, I love you well enough to be able +to afford to have a little laugh sometimes at your little +imperfections. Indeed, I often do! And suppose we were out in +society, and I saw you weighed down under the necessity for pretty +manners that do not come easy to you; if I did laugh at you, do you +think there would be any unkindness behind my laughter? If others +laughed at you, do you suppose I would not, the very next moment, +take your arm and walk proudly down the room with you? I know what +you really are, and others know it too! Thank God it is not only +bad deeds that are known to others in this world! + +Sannaes. Your words intoxicate me and carry me off my feet! + +Valborg (earnestly). If you think I am only flattering you, let us +put it to the test. Mr. Berent is here. He moves in the very best +society, but he is superior to its littlenesses. Shall we take his +opinion? Without betraying anything, I could make him give it in +a moment. + +Sannaes (carried away). I want no one's opinion but yours! + +Valborg. That's right! If only you feel certain of my love-- + +Sannaes (impetuously). --then nothing else will seem to matter; +and that alone will be able to teach me all that I lack, in a very +short time. + +Valborg. Look into my eyes! + +Sannaes (taking her hands). Yes! + +Valborg. Do you believe that nothing would ever make me ashamed of +you! + +Sannaes. Yes, I believe that. + +Valborg (with emotion). Do you believe that I love you? + +Sannaes. Yes! (Falls on one knee.) + +Valborg. Deeply enough for my love to last all our lives-- + +Sannaes. Yes, yes! + +Valborg. Then stay with me; and we will look after the old folk-- +and replace them when, in God's good time, they are taken from us. +(SANNAES bursts into tears. TJAELDE, who has come to the window to +show BERENT his ledgers, happens to look up and sees VALBORG and +SANNAES.) + +Tjaelde (leaning out of the window, and speaking gently:) Valborg, +what has happened? + +Valborg (quietly). Only that Sannaes and I are engaged to be +married. + +Tjaelde. Is it possible! (To BERENT, who is immersed in the +accounts.) Excuse me! (Hurries away from the window.) + +Sannaes (who, in his emotion has heard nothing). Forgive me! It +has been such a long, hard struggle--and I feel overwhelmed! + +Valborg. Let us go in to my mother. + +Sannws (shrinking back). I can't, Miss Valborg--you must wait a +little-- + +Valborg. Here they come. (TJAELDE comes in wheeling MRS. TJAELDE in +her chair. VALBORG runs to her mother and throws herself into her +arms.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde (softly). God be praised and thanked! + +Tjaelde (going up to SANNAES and embracing him). My son! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. So that was why Sannaes wanted to go away! Oh, +Sannaes! (TJAELDE brings SANNAES up to her. SANNAES kneels and +kisses her hand, then gets up and goes into the background, to +recover himself. SIGNE comes in.) + +Signe. Mother, everything is ready now! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. So are things out here! + +Signe (looking round). Not really? + +Valborg (to SIGNE). Forgive me for never having told you! + +Signe. You certainly kept your secret well! + +Valborg. I kept long years of suffering secret--that was all! +(SIGNE kisses her and whispers to her; then turns to SANNAES.) + +Signe. Sannaes! (Shakes his hand.) So we are to be brother and +sister-in-law? + +Sannaes (embarrassed). Oh, Miss Signe-- + +Signe. But you mustn't call me Miss Signe now, you know! + +Valborg. You must expect that! He calls me "Miss" Valborg still! + +Singe. Well, he won't be able to do that when you are married, +anyway! + +Mrs. Tjaelde (to TJAELDE). But where are our friends? + +Tjaelde. Mr. Berent is in the office. There he is, at the window. + +Berent (at the window). Now I am coming straight out to +congratulate you, with my friend Jakobsen. (Comes out.) + +Valborg (going to TJAELDE). Father! + +Tjaelde. My child! + +Valborg. If we had not known those bad days we should never +have known this happy one! (He gives her a grip of the hand.) + +Tjaelde (to BERENT). Allow me to present to you my daughter +Valborg's fiancé--Mr. Sannaes. + +Berent. I congratulate you on your choice, Miss Valborg--and I +congratulate the whole family on such a son-in-law. + +Valborg (triumphantly). There, Sannaes! + +Jakobsen. May I too, though I am only a stupid sort of chap, say +that this lad has been in love with you ever since he was in his +teens--he hardly could be sooner than that. But I can tell you, +honestly, I should never have credited you with having so much +sense as to take him. (All laugh.) + +Mrs. Tjaelde. Signe is whispering to me that our dinner is getting +cold. + +Signe. May I take my mother's place and ask you to take me in to +dinner, Mr. Berent? + +Berent (offering her his arm). I am honoured!--But our bridal pair +must go first! + +Valborg. Sannaes--? + +Sannaes (whispers, as he gives her his arm). To think that I have +you on my arm! (They go into the house, followed by BERENT +and SIGNE, and by JAKOBSEN.) + +Tjaelde (bending over his wife, as he prepares to wheel her chair +in). My dear, God has blessed our house now! + +Mrs. Tjaelde. My dear man! + +Curtain. + + + +THE KING + +A PLAY IN A PROLOGUE AND FOUR ACTS + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + +The KING. +HARALD GRAN, a rich manufacturer. +KOLL, Chief Magistrate of the district. +FLINK. +CLARA ERNST. +The PRINCESS. +BARONESS MARC. +ANNA, a deaf and dumb girl. +FALBE. +The MAYOR. +NATHALIE, his daughter. +ALSTAD. +VILHELM, his son. +The PARISH PRIEST. +BANG, a rich trader. +VINÄGER. +COUNT PLATEN. +The GENERAL. +MATILDE. +A Ballad Singer. +A Young Beggar. +A Servant of the King's. +Ladies and Gentlemen, Masked Dancers, Work-people, Farmers, etc. + + +THE KING + +PROLOGUE + +(SCENE.--A large gothic hall, brilliantly illuminated, in which a +masked ball is taking place. At the rise of the curtain a ballet is +being performed in the centre of the hall. Masked dancers are +grouped around, watching it. Two of them, women, are conversing on +the right of the stage.) + +First Mask. Have you heard that the King is to be here to-night? + +Second Mask. Yes, and since I heard it I have been imagining I +saw him everywhere. + +First Mask (pointing). That is not he, is it? + +Second Mask. He is taller than that. + +First Mask. That one, then? Look, that one! + +Second Mask. That one has spoken to me. He has too old a voice. + +First Mask. Shall we see if we can find him? + +Second Mask. Yes, come along! + +(A number of girls, wearing similar costumes and all masked, +have meanwhile collected on the left side of the stage.) + +First Girl. Are we all here? + +Second Girl. All but Matilde. + +Matilde. Here I am! Have you heard that the King is to be here? + +All. Really? + +Matilde. I don't know how he is dressed; but one of the masters +of the ceremonies told me he was to be here. + +Several of the Girls. The dear King! (Two masked dancers, dressed +as Cats, pass by.) + +Tom Cat. Do you hear that, my pet? + +Puss. Miau! + +Matilde. Let us try and discover him. + +All. Yes, yes! + +A Mask. And when we have discovered him--? + +Matilde. Let us all dance round him! + +All. Yes! + +Tom Cat (to Puss). You had better look after your virtue, Miss! + +Puss. Miau! + +Tom Cat. Miau! (They pass out of sight.) + +Matilde. Remember that we are all to meet here in a quarter of an +hour! + +All. Yes! (They disperse. The ballet comes to a close amidst +universal applause. Conversation among the dancers becomes general +and animated. The BARONESS MARC, disguised as an Old Woman, comes +forward, talking to another mask dressed as a Donkey.) + +Baroness. I will never forgive you for that, my lord chamberlain. + +The Donkey. But you frighten me clean out of my part, Baroness! + +Baroness. If only I could understand how it happened! + +The Donkey. After all, my dear Baroness, you cannot be expected to +take out all your schoolmistresses and their senior pupils on a +leash! + +Baroness. No, but I have particular reasons for wishing to look +closely after _her_. (All this time she has been persistently +looking round the room.) And in such a whirling crowd as this-- + +The Donkey. Let us lose ourselves in it, then! (He brays as they +go out. The PRINCESS, masked and dressed in a costume of the time +of Louis XV., comes forward accompanied by a Cavalier in a costume +of the same period.) + +Princess (continuing a discussion). And I say that if a king has +such graces of mind and person as ours has, he may do anything he +pleases. + +Cavalier. _Anything_, Princess? + +Princess. Anything that his mind prompts, provided that he do it +beautifully. (A GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING, dressed in a costume of the +same period, approaches them.) + +Gentleman-in-Waiting. I cannot discover him, your Royal Highness! + +Princess. But he is here. He is _here_. And for a lady's sake. I am +certain I am right. + +Cavalier. But I asked one of the masters of the ceremonies, and +he knew nothing about it. + +Princess. Then it must have been one that has not been let into +the secret. + +Cavalier. But, your Royal Highness-- + +Princess. Don't keep calling me "your Royal Highness," but get +me a description of the costume he is wearing. (The GENTLEMAN- +IN-WAITING bows and goes away.) And you and I will go on hunting-- + +Cavalier. --for the noble huntsman-- + +Princess. --who is being hunted himself! (Moves away, but stops +suddenly.) Who is that? (CLARA ERNST, masked and in peasant +costume, comes forward followed by a masked figure wearing a +domino. He is whispering to her over her shoulder. She keeps +glancing about, as if looking for some one.) + +The Domino. --and there, in the enchanted castle, buried deep in +the wooded park-- + +Clara. Let me alone! + +The Domino. --there we shall be greeted by a babbling fountain of +water--a nymph, holding the cup of joy high above her head-- + +Clara (anxiously). What can have become of her? + +(Meanwhile one of the masked dancers has been following them, +and now turns back to join others.) + +A Masked Dancer (pointing to the DOMINO). That is the King! + +Another (quickly). But who is _she_? + +The Domino. --on both sides, shady alleys leading to the doors of a +secret retreat; and there-- + +Clara (turning round). I despise you! (The dancing and music +suddenly stop. General consternation.) + +The Baroness (starting forward as she hears CLARA voice.) Clara! + +The Domino (taking CLARA's hand and leading her apart from the +others). Do you know who it is that you despise? + +Clara (greatly agitated). Yes, I know who you are!--and that is +why, from the bottom of my heart, I despise you! (The music +begins afresh, covering the general consternation that has spread +among the dancers. The BARONESS comes forward with a cry of +"Clara!" CLARA bursts into tears and throws herself into her arms. +Curtain.) + + + +ACT I + + +SCENE I + +(SCENE.--A large hall in Gran's factory. The walls are bare. On the +left, about half-way forward, is a small platform. A meeting of the +shareholders of a railway company is in progress. Facing the +platform are seated the gentry; the common herd, mainly farmers and +work-people, are sitting and standing about wherever they can find +room. On the right, large windows are standing open; through these +another crowd can be seen, listening from outside. GRAN is standing +in front of the platform, speaking to the meeting.) + +Gran. And, as it was found impossible for the main 1ine of the +railway to touch our town, we determined, rather than allow all our +exertions to be wasted, to construct a branch line on our own +account. I had the honour to be elected chairman of the board of +directors of this undertaking. No directors ever had more +unrestricted powers than were given to us--possibly because there +were no two opinions as to the route the line should take the +natural formation of the ground indicated it unmistakably. It was +only when we approached the question of the purchase of our +rolling-stock that any dissension arose--not among the directors, +but among the shareholders. As the majority of the latter are +farmers and work-people, we had decided on buying only one class of +railway carriage of a type slightly more comfortable than the +ordinary third-class carriage. That is the extent of our misdeeds! +To-day's meeting will probably show what the general sense on the +matter is. Our powers being unlimited, we were under no obligation +to consult any one in the matter; but, notwithstanding that, we +decided to call a meeting of the shareholders and submit the +question to them. And, on the directors' behalf, I must thank the +shareholders for having attended in such numbers; young and +old, men and women, I dare say quite a third of the total number +of shareholders are present. The meeting will now proceed to +elect a chairman. (Sits down.) + +The Mayor (after a pause). I beg to move that Mr. Koll, our chief +magistrate, whom it is a great pleasure to see honouring this +meeting with his presence, have the further kindness to take the +chair. + +Gran. The motion before the meeting is that the Chief Magistrate +shall take the chair. Shall I assume it to be carried? (Silence +follows.) + +The Mayor. Yes. (Laughter.) + +Gran. The meeting should preferably elect some one who may be +considered to be unaffected by considerations of party. + +Alstad (half rising, with his glasses in his hand). Then we shall +have to send for some one that does not live in these parts! There +is no one of that sort left here! (Sits down, amidst laughter.) + +The Priest. All authority springs from on high. Obedience to those +set in authority over us is obedience to the Almighty. But it is +against this very obedience that people are rebelling nowadays. + +Gran. It is precisely some one to be in authority over us that we +want to elect. At present we have no one. + +The Priest. No, that's just it. Every meeting nowadays seems to +claim authority on its own account. Let rather show our respect +to actual authority--such respect as we would show to our fathers. +(Sits down.) + +Gran. Then, as far as I can grasp the situation, the Chief +Magistrate has been proposed and seconded? + +The Priest. Yes. + +Gran. Does any one wish to propose any one else? (Silence.) + +Alstad. May I request the Chief Magistrate to take the chair? + +Koll (getting up). I don't know that it is any great compliment to +be elected in this way; but I will take the chair, for the sole +reason of enabling the meeting to proceed to business. (Takes his +place on the platform, and raps on the table with a mallet.) I +declare the meeting open. + +Gran (getting up). Mr. Chairman! + +Koll. Mr. Gran will address the meeting. + +Gran. The motion proposed by the directors is this: "That only +one class of railway carriage shall be purchased, slightly more +comfortable than the ordinary third-class carriage." (Gives the +motion in writing to the chairman, and sits down.) + +Koll. The following is the motion submitted to meeting. (Reads it +out.) Who wishes to speak on the motion? (Silence.) Come, some one +must speak on it--or I shall have to put it to the vote forthwith. +(Silence, followed by laughter here and there.) + +The Priest. Mr. Chairman! + +Koll. The Priest will address the meeting. + +The Priest. I see, in this assembly, a number of young men, even +a number of maidens; and I feel bound to ask whether young men, and +even maidens, are to be allowed to take part in these proceedings? + +Koll. Any shareholder that is of age has the right to. + +The Priest. But St. Paul expressly tells us that women are not to +speak in public places. + +Koll. Well, they can hold their tongues, then. (Laughter.) + +The Priest. But even the fact of voting at a railway meeting does +not seem to me to be in accordance with the humility and modesty +that both Nature and the Scriptures indicate as characteristic of +woman. I believe it to be the first step on a wrong road. The +apostle says-- + +Koll. We must leave them to decide the matter for themselves. Does +any one wish to--? + +The Priest (interrupting him). Mr. Chairman, if you will not +permit me to quote the apostle, allow me at all events to say that +the spectacle of a young man voting against his father, or a +woman voting against her husband-- + +Koll. Will you tell me who could prohibit it? Does any one wish +to speak--? + +The Priest (interrupting). The Scriptures prohibit it, Mr. +Chairman!--the Scriptures, which we are all bound to obey, even-- + +Gran (getting up and interrupting him). Mr. Chairman! + +Koll. Mr. Gran will address the meeting. + +Gran. I only want to ask whether-- + +The Priest. But _I_ was addressing the meeting! + +Koll. Mr. Gran will address the meeting. + +The Priest. I protest against that ruling! + +Alstad (half rising). Our worthy Priest must obey authority. (Sits +down amidst laughter.) + +The Priest. Not when it does an injustice! I appeal to the meeting! + +Koll. Very good!--Will those in favour of the Priest addressing the +meeting kindly stand up? (No one gets up; and those who were +previously standing bob down. Laughter.) Carried unanimously, that +the Priest do not address the meeting. (The PRIEST sits down.) Mr. +Gran will address the meeting. + +Gran (getting up). I withdraw from my right! (Renewed laughter.) + +The Mayor (getting up). Mr. Chairman! + +Koll. The Mayor will address the meeting. + +The Mayor. I am one of many to whom this proposal of the directors +seems extraordinary, to say the least of it. Do they propose that +the ladies of my family--I will leave myself out of the question, +for as a public man I have to rub shoulders with all sorts of +people--do they propose, I say, that ladies who have been +delicately brought up shall travel with any Tom, Dick and Harry?-- +perhaps with convicts being conveyed to gaol, or with journeymen +labourers? Is his honour the Chief Magistrate, who is a Commander +of a noble Order of Knighthood, to travel side by side with a +drunken navvy? Supposing the King were to pay a visit to this +beautiful district, which has acquired such a reputation since so +many of the best people from town have taken villas here; is his +Majesty to make the journey in one of these third-class carriages, +with the chance of travelling in company with tradesman stinking of +stale cheese?--with folk who, moreover--well, perhaps in common +decency I ought not to go on, as ladies are present. (Laughter.) +"Economy," I hear some one suggest. That word is in great favour +nowadays. But I should like to know what economy there is getting +your clothes soiled? (Laughter.) Does a first-class carriage wear +out sooner than a third class? It costs more to build, no doubt, +but that is soon made up by the higher fares charged. I can +discover no reasonable ground for this proposal, look at it how you +will from the commercial point of view. One has to look at the +_political_ aspect of the matter, to understand it; and I am +reluctant to drag in politics. I will only say, in conclusion, that +it must be those who have framed this proposal that expect to +derive some profit from it; the railway certainly would derive +none. (Sits down.) + +Koll. That last remark was a little like an accusation-- + +The Mayor (getting up). I only alluded to what is in every one's +mind. (Sits down.) + +Koll. A speaker is not in order in making accusations, even though +they be assumed to be in every one's mind.--I see that Mr. Alstad +wishes to speak. + +Alstad. Human nature is frail. That seems to me a sufficient +explanation of how such a proposal came to be laid before us. But +honestly--for we all ought to be honest!--it seems to me that any +material advantage it might bring would be more than counterbalanced +by loss of esteem. (Uproar.) There has been quite a different +spirit in the place of late years--what with the factories, and the +stranger workmen, and the summer visitors. We never used to have so +much unrest or to hear so much of this talk about "equality." And +now, if we are to give the impression that there is only one social +class here--and that a third class--I know that I shall be by no +means alone in feeling offended. We certainly don't want to sit on +our work-people's laps; and, equally, we don't want to have them +sitting on ours. (Sits down.) + +Gran. Our friend the Mayor is very fond of talking of his loyalty; +but I must say I am surprised at his dragging the King even into +this matter. As for the matter of the railway carriage in which one +of so high degree would travel here--well, if our carriages are not +good enough, surely his Majesty's private saloon can be used on our +line as well as on the main line. And as for any of us ordinary +mortals who are afraid of mixing with the common herd, surely they +can sit together in carriages by themselves. The carriages would be +separate; they would only be of the same kind. I think there would +be little fear of their being exposed to intrusion on the part of +our country-folk. _They_ are much more apt to be more timidly shy +than is even desirable. On all small lines--even on many of the +bigger ones--it is the less luxurious carriages, the second and +third class, that for the cost of the more luxurious ones; it is +the third class that pays for the first. But that some passengers +should travel comfortably at the expense of those who travel less +comfortably, is what we wish to avoid. (Applause.) An old resident +of the yeoman class has reproached us with wishing to alter our +customs. Well, if one of our old customs is the aristocratic one +which makes the gulf that separates masters and men wider than it +already is, all I can say is that the sooner it is abolished the +better; for it is not a good custom; it is even a dangerous one. +(Murmurs.) And as for the political aspect of the question-- + +Koll. Don't you think we should leave politics out of the question? + +Gran (bows, with a laugh). That is just what I was going to say, +Mr. Chairman; that we ought to leave politics out out of the +question. (Sits down, amidst laughter applause. The audience, first +the younger men and then the older farmers, begin arguing the +matter with one another, more and more loudly.) + +Koll. I must beg the meeting to keep quiet, as long as this +business is under discussion. The Mayor wishes to speak. + +The Mayor. I admit that I am loyal-- + +Koll. Those people outside must be quiet! + +Alstad (going to the window). You must keep quiet! + +The Mayor. I admit I am loyal! I count it a point of honour, as a +native of the place, to show his Majesty that our first thought +when we planned this railway was, at that important moment, that +his Majesty might possibly be pleased to manifest a desire to pay +us a visit. "Let him use his own private saloon," we are told! No, +Mr. Chairman, that is not the way to speak when we are speaking +of his Majesty! And what about his Majesty's suite? Are they to +travel third class? What I say is that we are casting a slight on +his Majesty if we cast a slight on his railway carriage--I should +say, on his suite. And I go farther than that. I say that his +Majesty's functionaries are his Majesty's representatives, and that +it is casting an additional slight upon his Majesty not to show a +proper respect for them. I know that this jars upon the ears of +many present; they do not consider that a man who holds a public +office should be shown any more respect than any one else. The +majority rules, and the majority only thinks of its own interests +and those of its servile supporters. But even in this community of +ours there is a minority that bears the burden of its affairs and +represents its honour; and we will never consent to be dragged down +into the mire of this "equality" into which you want to plunge each +and every one of us! (Uproar.) + +Koll. The honourable speaker appears to me to be trenching upon +politics-- + +The Mayor. Possibly I am, Mr. Chairman; but what honest man can +shirk the truth? Only compare the present state of things in this +community with what was the case when everything here was as it +should be; when the King and his officials were respected; when +public affairs were in the hands of those who knew how to direct +them; when we used to have singing competitions, shooting +competitions, and other festal meetings of that kind. And--yes-- +well--compare, I say, the conditions in those days with our +conditions to-day--that is to say, with all this talk of "the +people;" as, for instance-- + +Koll. It is railway carriages that we are discussing. + +The Mayor. Quite so! But what is it that is at the bottom of this +proposal, Mr. Chairman? Does it not spring from that passion for +destruction, for a universal levelling which aims at abolishing the +monarchy, at destroying authority-- + +The Priest. And the Church too, my friend! + +The Mayor. --and the Church, it is quite true! Yes, it is because +they desire the Church and-- + +Koll. It is railway carriages that we are discussing. + +The Mayor. Exactly. But an old public official like myself, who +once was held in respect, when he sees the pillars of society +tottering and feels the keenest pang of sorrow at-- + +Koll. For the last time, it is railway carriages that we are +discussing! + +The Mayor (overcome by his feelings). I have no more say. (Sits +down.) + +Koll. Mr. Alstad wishes to speak. + +Alstad (getting up). The question before the meeting is itself a +small matter; but it is the consequences of it that I fear. We may +expect any proposal of the same kidney now. Never let it be said +that our community was eager to range itself under this banner of +"equality!" It bears too old and honoured a name for that! But +there is one thing I want to say. We have always, before this, felt +it an honour and a privilege to have the richest man in these parts +living amongst us. But when we see him one of the most eager in +support of a "popular" proposal of this sort, then it appears, to +me at all events, to be absolutely unaccountable how--oh, well, I +won't run the risk making what our chairman calls "accusations"; I +will sit down and hold my tongue. I have the right to do that at +all events. (Sits down.) + +Koll. Mr. Gran will address the meeting. + +Flink. Three cheers for Mr. Gran! (Almost the whole meeting cheers +lustily. KOLL shouts at them and hammers on the table with his +mallet in vain.) + +Koll (when peace is restored). I must ask the meeting to show some +respect for its chairman. If not, I will leave the chair.--Mr. Gran +will address the meeting. + +Gran. The plan that we are proposing is no new one. It has been in +practice for a long time. In America-- + +The Priest, Alstad, and others. Yes, in America! + +The Mayor (getting up). Mr. Chairman, are we to have politics, +after all? + +Koll. I cannot see that to mention America is to talk politics. + +The Mayor. Then what is politics, if America isn't? + +Koll. To talk politics is--for instance--to use the arguments your +worship did. Mr. Gran will proceed. + +Gran. I see that the Priest wishes to speak. I shall be happy to +give way. + +Koll. The Priest will address the meeting. + +The Priest. I see here, in this assembly, a number of those whom I +am accustomed to address in more solemn surroundings. My dear +parishioners, it was for your sake that I came here. You have heard +for yourselves--the whole question is a political one; and, dear +fellow Christians, let me entreat you to shun politics! Did not our +Lord Himself say: "My kingdom is not of this world"? This freedom, +this equality, of which they talk is not the soul's freedom, not +that equality which-- + +Koll. I would suggest to the reverend speaker that he should +postpone his remarks until the next time he gets into the pulpit. +(Slight laughter.) + +The Priest. One should be instant in season and out of season; +therefore-- + +Koll. I forbid you to continue. + +The Priest. It is written: "Thou shalt obey God rather than man"! +My dear parishioners, let us all leave this meeting! Who will +follow his priest? (Takes a few steps towards the door, but no one +follows him. Laughter. He sighs deeply, and sits down again.) + +Koll. If no one else wishes to speak-- + +Vinäger. Mr. Chairman! + +Koll. Mr. Vinäger wishes to speak. + +Vinäger. These proceedings remind me of China, and of the Chinese +mandarins who will not allow any one of lesser degree to come near +them--although at moments I have felt as if I were still in Europe +in the presence of a still greater power, greater even than the +Grand Turk--I mean this democratic envy which grudges others what +it has not got itself. To reconcile both parties I should like to +make the following suggestion. Build the carriages, as is often +done, in two stories. Then those who wish to ensure their privacy +can do so by sitting upstairs; and the others will be satisfied +too, because they will all be in the same carriage after all. +(Loud laughter.) + +Koll. If no one else wishes to speak (looks at GRAN, who shakes his +head) I shall proceed to put the question to the vote. The motion +submitted by the directors, which is now before the meeting, is as +follows-- + +The Mayor. Excuse me, but what of my motion wit h regard to a +saloon for his Majesty? + +Koll. I did not understand your worship to mean your suggestion +as a formal motion. + +The Mayor. I did, though. + +Koll. Then I will put it to the vote after the director, motion has +been voted upon. + +The Mayor. A motion that concerns the King should take precedence +of all others. + +Koll. Even the King is subject to the rules of logic. The +directors' motion is: "That only one class of railway carriage +shall be purchased, of a type slightly more comfortable than the +ordinary third-class carriage." Will those in favour of the motion +kindly go to the left--on this side of the room; those against the +motion, to the right. (Nearly all go to the left. Cheers are heard +outside, and are gradually taken up by those inside. KOLL hammers +with his mallet.) Order, please! (The cheering ceases, but an +animated conversation goes on.) The directors' motion is carried! + +The Mayor (shouting). I am sure every one did not understand the +method of voting! + +Koll (hammering with his mallet). Order, order. (Quiet is gradually +restored.) What did your worship say? + +The Mayor. That some people must have misunderstood the way of +voting; because I see my daughter Natalie, who is a shareholder +too, on the other side of the room. Of course she has made a +mistake. + +Natalie. Oh no, father, I haven't. (Loud laughter, and applause.) + +The Priest. Ah, my poor deluded parishioners, I shall pray for you! + +The Mayor. Order!--The Mayor's motion-- + +Alstad. I would suggest that the Mayor should withdraw it. We know +what its fate would be in such a meeting as this. + +Koll. As long as I occupy the chair, I shall not permit any +derogatory expressions to be applied to the meeting. Does the Mayor +still insist on his motion being put? (Whispers to him: "Say no!") + +The Mayor. No. + +Koll. Then, as no one else wishes to speak, I declare the meeting +at an end. (Every one begins to move about and discuss affairs +vigorously.) + +Alstad (to his son VILHELM). So you have the face to vote with +these--these Americans, against your old father, have you? + +Vilhelm. Well, father, I honestly think-- + +Alstad. Just you wait till I get you home! + +Vilhelm. Oh, that's it, is it? Then I shan't go home--so there! I +shall stay here and get drunk, I shall. + +Alstad. Oh, come, come! + +Vilhelm. Yes, I shall! I shall stay here and get drunk! + +Alstad. But, Vilhelm, listen to me! (Takes him by the arm. Meantime +a STRANGER has taken KOLL and GRAN by the arm, to their manifest +surprise, and brought the forward away from the crowd. He stands +for a moment, looking them in the face, till suddenly KOLL gives a +start and cries out: "The King!") + +The King. Hush! + +Gran. It really is--! + +The King (to GRAN). You are at home here; take up into a room--and +give us some champagne. My throat is as dry as a lime-kiln! + +Curtain + + +SCENE II + +(SCENE.--A room built in Gothic style, comfortably furnished and +decorated with trophies of the chase. GRAN ushers in the KING and +KOLL.) + +Gran. We can be quite alone here. (ANNA, a deaf and dumb girl of +about fifteen, brings in some bottles of champagne, and, during +the following dialogue, sets out glasses, refreshments, cigars, and +pipes. She is quick and attentive to render the slightest service +required of her; when not employed, she sits on a stool in the +background. She talks to GRAN on her fingers, and receives orders +from him in the same manner.) + +The King. Ah, this is like old times! I know the setting: "Gothic +room in mediaeval style, decorated with trophies of the chase. +Furnished with an eye to bachelor comfort!" You always had bachelor +habits, you know, even when you were quite a boy. (To KOLL.) We +never called him anything but "the Bachelor" on board ship. He +never had a love affair in all the three years our cruise lasted; +but the rest of us had them in every port we touched at! + +Koll. He is just the same in that respect now. + +Gran (offering the KING some champagne). Allow me! + +The King. Thanks; I shall be glad of it. (To KOLL.) Your health, my +former tutor! (To GRAN.) And yours! (They drink.) Ah, that has done +me good!--Well now, let me ask you this: isn't it true that, all +through the meeting, you were talking nothing but republicanism, +although you didn't actually mention the word? + +Koll (laughing). You are not far wrong. + +The King. And you, who in the old days were considered to be too +advanced in your opinions to be retained as my tutor, are now not +considered advanced enough! They nearly--threw you over, didn't +they? + +Koll. Yes! That shows you, if I may say so, the result of +government by a minority. + +The King. And the result of mixing with such people as our +excellent friend the millionaire here, I suppose? + +Gran. It is always a mistake to lay the blame of public opinion on +individuals. + +The King. I quite agree with you. And now it is time you knew the +reason of my coming here--in the strictest incognito, as you see. +By the way, I hope no one recognised me? + +Gran and Koll. Not a soul! + +(FLINK comes in.) + +Flink. Ah, here you are! (Comes forward, rubbing his hands +delightedly.) Well, what did you think of the meeting, my boys? + +The King (aside to GRAN). Who is that? + +Gran (to the KING). We will get rid of him. (To FLINK.) Look here, +old chap--! + +Flink (catching sight of the KING). Oh, I beg your pardon, I +thought we were-- + +Gran (obliged to introduce him). Let me introduce Mr.--? Mr.--? +(Looks at the KING inquiringly.) + +The King. Speranza. + +Flink. An Italian? + +The King. In name only. + +Gran (completing the introduction). Mr. Flink. + +The King. Surely not A. B. Flink? + +Gran. Yes. + +The King (interested). Our peripatetic philosopher? (Shakes hands +with him.) I have read one or two of your books. + +Flink (laughing). Really? + +The King. Are you meditating another expedition? + +Flink. That's it. + +The King. And on foot? + +Flink. Always on foot. + +The King. Upon my word, I don't believe there is a man in the +country that can gauge popular opinion as accurately as you! Let +us sit down and have a chat. Do you drink champagne? + +Flink. Yes--when I can't get anything better! + +The King (lifting his glass to FLINK). Your health, (They all +drink, and then seat themselves.) What part the country were you in +last? + +Flink. I have just been shooting with our friend here. + +The King. So he is your friend? He is mine, too! My best friend, +ever since I was a boy. (He stretches out his hand; GRAN gets up +and grasps it in both of his.) + +Koll (to FLINK, who is looking astonished). Mr. Speranza was a +naval cadet at the same time as Gran. + +Flink. Really! Were they on the same ship? + +The King. Yes, we were on a cruise round the world together-- + +Flink. Do you mean the time when the Prince went on account of his +lungs?--the present King, I mean? + +The King. The Prince that afterwards became King--yes. + +Flink. There is quite a royal flavour about our little gathering, +then! Here is the King's shipmate, and here is his tutor in +jurisprudence-- + +Koll. You are forgetting yourself! You are the King's tutor's +tutor, you know-- + +The King. Were you Koll's tutor? Really? + +Flink (with a laugh). Yes, I had that misfortune! + +The King. You hadn't so great a misfortune in your pupil as he had +in his! + +Koll. The King was a very apt pupil. + +Flink (jestingly). He has shown traces of it in his reign, hasn't +he! + +Koll. Don't speak ill of the King, please. + +Flink (ironically). Heaven forbid! (Takes a pinch of snuff.) I +know all about his talent--his great talent, his genial talent! +(Offers his snuff-box to the KING.) + +Gran. But it was public opinion we were talking about, Flink; is +it very much like what we heard to-day? + +Flink. I wouldn't say that; your opinions are rather advanced in +these parts. + +The King. Is the tendency republican, rather than monarchical? + +Flink. That depends how you look at it. The King has just been +paying some visits in the country districts; he is, so to speak, +the commercial traveller for his firm--as all kings and crown +princes are. Of course he was cheered everywhere. But go and +ask the agricultural classes if they set great store by the pomp +and circumstance of royalty; they will unanimously answer: "It +costs an infernal lot to keep up!" Ha, ha, ha! + +Gran. Your farmer is a realist. + +Flink. A brutal realist! Ha, ha, ha! Self-government is cheaper. +He has it all at his fingers' ends, the scoundrel! + +The King. He is not a republican by conviction, then + +Flink. Not universally, no. At least, not _yet_. But things are +moving that way; and our reactionary government is helping the +movement--that, and the letter they get from America. + +The King. The letters they get from America? + +Koll. Letters from their relations in America. + +Gran. There is scarcely a family in the country now that has not +relations in America. + +The King. And they write home about self-government?--about +republican principles? + +Flink. And republican institutions. That is the situation! + +The King. Have you read any of these letters? + +Flink. Lots! + +The King. This is excellent champagne! (Drinks.) + +Gran. Let me fill your glasses. (They all drink.) + +Flink. It doesn't really agree with me. + +The King. But suppose the King were to establish democratic +government? Suppose he were to live like an ordinary citizen in +every way? + +Flink. In every way? What do you mean by that? + +The King. Kept house like an ordinary citizen--were married like +an ordinary citizen--were to be found in his office at regular +hours like any other official? + +Gran. And had no court, I suppose? + +The King. No. (KOLL and GRAN exchange glances.) + +Flink (shrugging his shoulders). It would be the last sensation +left for him to try. + +The King (who did not observe his shrug, eagerly). That is so, +isn't it? You agree with me as to that? I am delighted to have had +this talk with you, Mr. Flink. + +Flink. The same to you, Mr.--Mr.--. (In an undertone, to KOLL.) Is +he a republican? + +The King (who has overheard him). Am I a republican? I have had too +much experience not to be! Ha, ha! (Takes up his glass.) Devilish +good champagne, this! + +Flink (drinking). But, you know, Mr.--Mr. Republican--ha, ha!-- +(smiles and whispers)--the King simply would not be allowed to +do what you suggest. Ha, ha! + +The King. What do you mean? + +Gran (aside to KOLL, who gets up). Are you sure this is right? + +Koll. It will do him good, anyway, to hear all sides. + +Flink (who has got up and gone to the table on the other side to +get a pipe). He simply would not be allowed to, poor chap! What is +monarchy, I ask you? Nothing more or less than an insurance +business in which a whole crew of priests, officials, noblemen, +landed proprietors, merchants and military men hold shares? And, +goodness knows, _they_ are not going to give their director leave +to commit any such folly! Ha, ha, ha! + +The King (getting up). Ha, ha, ha! + +Flink (vociferously, to him). Don't you think that is true? + +The King. Good Lord!--perfectly true! Ha, ha ha! + +Flink (who has cleaned and filled a pipe, but forgotten to light +it, going up to the KING). And what do they insure themselves +again, these beauties? (More seriously.) Against the great mass of +the people--against _his_ people! (The KING looks at him and makes +a movement of dislike.) + +Gran. Look here, Flink; suppose we go out into the garden for a +little? These spring evenings are so lovely. + +Flink. Compared to a political talk, the loveliest spring evenings +have no attraction for me--no more than warm water, offered me in +place of fine cooling wine, would have. No, let us stay where we +are. What is the matter with this pipe? (ANNA signs that she will +put it right for him, but he does not understand.) + +Gran. Give her your pipe; she will put it right. + +Koll. What I have always said is that, if the King had an +opportunity of understanding the situation, he would interfere. + +Flink. The King? He doesn't care a brass farthing about the +whole matter! He has something else to do! Ha, ha! + +The King. Ha, ha, ha! + +Koll. The King is an unusually gifted man; he would not remain +indifferent in the long run. + +Flink. He has so many unusual gifts that have gone to the devil--! + +The King. Tralalla! Tralalalalala! Tralala! It feels quite odd to +be with you fellows again! (Drinks.) + +Flink (in an undertone, to GRAN). Is he drunk? + +The King (sitting down). Give me a cigar--! And let us discuss the +matter a little more seriously. (KOLL and GRAN sit down.) + +Gran. As a matter of fact, it is not a thing that can be discussed. +It must be tried. If, one day, the King were to say: "I mean to +live a natural life among my people, and to withdraw my name from +the old-established royal firm, which has lost all its reputation +for honesty"--that day everything else would follow of itself. + +Flink. Yes, that day, I dare say! + +Gran. Remember you are the guest of a man who is a friend of the +King's! + +The King. Don't play the domestic despot--you who are a republican! +Let us have free discussion! + +Flink. I certainly don't intend to insult the King. He has never +done me any harm. But surely you will allow me to doubt whether he +is really the shining light you make him out to be? + +The King. That is true enough! + +Flink (eagerly). You agree with me as to that, then? + +The King. Absolutely! But--leaving him out of the question--suppose +we _had_ a king who made himself independent of others, and, as a +necessary consequence, rose superior to questions of party--? + +Flink (interrupting him). It is a vain supposition, my dear fellow! +A king bound to no party? (Puffs at his pipe.) It wouldn't work! +(Puffs again.) It wouldn't work!--It wouldn't work!--Falsehood is +the foundation of constitutional monarchy. A king superior to +questions of party? Rubbish! + +Gran. It would be expecting something superhuman of him, too. + +Flink. Of course it would! + +The King. But the president of a republic is even less independent +of party, isn't he? + +Flink (turning to hint). He doesn't make any pretence that he +isn't. Haha! That's the difference! (Comes forward, repeating to +himself.) It is the falsehood that makes the difference. + +Koll. Oh, there are falsehoods enough in republics too, +unfortunately! + +Flink. I know; but they are not old-established institutions! Ha, +ha! + +The King. That is an idea you have got from Professor Ernst's +writings. + +Flink (eagerly). Have you read them? + +The King. I have scarcely read anything else for the last few +months. (KOLL and GRAN exchange glances.) + +Flink. Indeed?--Then there is no need for me to say anything more. + +Koll. But, after all this talk, we have got no further. Our friend +(pointing to the KING) wants to know, I think, whether a real, +serious attempt at what one might call "democratic monarchy" +could not reckon on being understood and supported-- + +The King (breaking in, eagerly). Yes, that's just it! + +Koll. --understood and supported by the most enlightened section of +the people, who are weary of falsehood and long for a generous but +secure measure of self-government. + +The King. That's just it! + +Flink (who was just going to sit down, jumps up again, lays down +his pipe and stands with arms akimbo, as he says:) But what sort of +ridiculous ideas are these? Aren't you republicans, then? + +Koll. I am not. + +Gran. I am; but that does not prevent my being of opinion that the +change of government should be made gradually and gently-- + +Flink. That would be treason! + +Gran. Treason! + +Flink. Treason against the truth--against our convictions! + +Koll. Don't let us use big words! Monarchy is strongly rooted in +the existing order of things. + +Flink (with a laugh). In the insurance company! + +Koll. Well, call it so if you like. It _exists_; that is the point. +And, since it exists, we must make it as honest and as serviceable +as we can. + +The King. Your health, Koll! (Drinks to him.) + +Flink (moving away from them). No true republican would agree with +you. + +Gran. You are wrong there. (FLINK gives a start of surprise.) + +The King (who has seen FLINK's surprise, gets up). Listen to me! +Suppose we had a king who said: "Either you help me to establish a +democratic monarchy--purged of all traces of absolutism, purged of +falsehood--or else I abdicate--" + +Flink. Bah! + +The King. I only say, "suppose"! You know quite well that the +cousin of the present king, the heir apparent, is a bigoted-- + +Koll (who has been exchanging glances with GRAN while the KING was +speaking, breaks in hurriedly). Don't go on! + +The King (with a laugh). I won't!--And his mother, who rules him-- + +Flink. --is even worse! + +The King. What would be your choice, then? Would you help the king +to establish a democratic monarchy or--? + +Flink (impetuously). I would ten thousand times rather have the +bigoted prince, with all his own and his mother's follies!--the +madder the better! + +Gran. No, no, no, no! + +The King (to GRAN and KOLL). We see his true colours now! (Moves +away from them.) + +Koll (to FLINK). That is the way you republicans always ride your +principles to death. + +Gran. Patriotism ought to come before-- + +Flink. --before truth? No; a short sharp pang of agony is better +than endless doubt and falsehood, my friend! That is true +patriotism. + +Koll. Oh, these theories!--these phrases! + +Gran. I am a republican as well as you, and, I think, as sincere a +one. But I should have no hesitation-- + +Flink. --in playing the traitor? + +Gran. Why do you use such words as that? + +Flink. Words! Do you think it is nothing but words? No, my friend, +if you did what--what I did not allow you to say--I should come +here one day to call you to account. And if you refused to fight +me, I should shoot you like a dog! + +Gran (gently). You would not do that. + +Flink (heatedly). Not do it?--Have I given you the deepest +affection of which my heart is capable, only for you to turn +traitor to it? Am I to see the man whose character is the crowning +achievement of my life, betraying our cause--and, by reason of his +great personal prestige, dragging thousands down with him? On the +head of all the disillusionments I have suffered, am I to have this +one in the evening of my life--? (Stops, overcome by his emotion. A +pause.) You shouldn't jest about such things you know. (Walks away. +ANNA has placed herself in front of GRAN, as if to protect him.) + +Koll. I think we had better change the subject, and go out for a +little! + +The King (aside, to him). Yes, get him away! + +Flink (in the background, as if he were addressing an invisible +audience). We must have discipline in the ranks! + +Koll. Gran, ask your maid to hurry up with the supper. + +Gran. Yes, I will. + +Koll (to the KING). What do you say to a turn in the garden, +meanwhile? + +The King. By all means! + +Flink (coming forward to GRAN). This friendship of yours with the +King--to which I had attached no particular importance--I hope it +has not altogether--(Stops short.) + +Gran. --not altogether corrupted me, you mean? + +Flink. Exactly. + +The King (laughing). Politically? + +Flink. Politics are not unconnected with morals, sir! + +The King. But why get so heated, sir? We know that the present King +is a-- + +Koll (breaking in hurriedly). Don't say any more! + +The King (with a laugh). You said yourself that he doesn't care a +brass farthing about the whole matter--he has something else to +do! And so the whole thing ends in smoke! + +Flink (more amiably). I dare say you are right. + +The King. Of course I am. You are all agreed that, under his rule, +republican sentiments are growing in real earnest. + +Flink. You are right! He couldn't help things on better if he were +a republican himself, I assure you! + +The King. Perhaps he _is_ a republican? + +Flink (animatedly). Perhaps he _is_! Splendid! And works against +his own interests--! + +The King. A sort of commercial traveller working for the downfall +of his own firm! + +Flink (excitedly). For the downfall of his own firm! Splendid! +Props up his reactionary rule by means of royal pronouncements, +confidential communications, public speeches-- + +The King. --in a suicidal manner! + +Flink. Splendidly suicidal! Ah, that makes you laugh, does it? + +Koll. Hush, some one might hear us! + +Flink. I don't care who hears us! (The KING bursts out laughing.) +But you ought, as one of the King's officials, to stop _his_ +laughing! (Points to the KING.) It's shocking!--It's high treason! + +Koll. Listen to me! + +Flink. You ought to arrest him for laughing like that! Suppose the +King-- + +Gran. That _is_ the King! (The KING goes on laughing. FLINK looks +from him to the others, and from the others to him.) + +The King. This is too much for me! (Sits down. FLINK rushes out.) + +Koll. That was very bad of you. + +The King. I know it was; but forgive me! I couldn't help it! Ha, +ha, ha, ha, ha! + +Koll. For all his queer ways, he is too good a fellow to be made a +fool of. + +The King. Yes, scold me; I deserve it. But, all the same--ha, ha, +ha, ha! + +Gran. Hush!--he is coming back. (The KING gets up as FLINK comes in +again.) + +Flink. Your Majesty may be assured that I would never have +expressed myself as I did in your Majesty's presence if I had been +fairly treated and told whom I was addressing. + +The King. I know. The fault is mine alone. + +Flink. The fault is that of others--my so-called friends. + +The King (earnestly). By no means! It is mine--mine alone. I have +had a scolding for it!--And in your presence I ask my friends' +pardon; I have put them in a false position. And, in the next +place, I ask for your forgiveness. My sense of humour got the +better of me. (Laughs again.) + +Flink. Yes, it was extremely amusing. + +The King. It really was! And, after all, what have you to complain +of? You had an opportunity of speaking your mind, any way! + +Flink. I certainly did! + +The King. Very well, then!--And when you wanted to show any +respect, _I_ prevented you. So I think we are quits. + +Flink. No, we are not. + +The King (impatiently). Indeed?--What do you want from me, then? + +Flink (proudly). Nothing! + +The King. I beg your pardon! I did not mean to offend you. + +Flink. You have done so to a degree that you are naturally +incapable of appreciating. (Goes out.) + +The King. This is a nice business! (Laughs. Then notices GRAN, who +is standing at his desk with his back to the KING, and goes up to +him.) You are angry with me. + +Gran (looking up slowly). Yes. + +The King. Why didn't you stop me? + +Gran. It all happened too quickly. But to think that you could have +the heart to do it--in my own house--to a man who was my father's +oldest friend, and is mine--! + +The King. Harald! (Puts his arm round his shoulders.) Have I ever +asked you for anything that you have not given me? + +Gran. No. + +The King. Then I ask you now to admit that you know that, if I +had thought this would hurt you, I would never have done it--not +for worlds! Do you still believe as well of me as that? + +Gran. Yes. + +The King. Thank you. Then I will admit to you, in return, that for +months past I have lived in a state of horrible tension of mind; +and that is why I jump too easily from one extreme to the other. +So, my friends, you must forgive me! Or finish my scolding some +other time! Because now I must talk to you of the matter which +induced me to come here. You are the only ones I can turn to; so +be good to me!--Shall we sit down again? + +Koll. As you please. + +The King (moving towards the table). I know you both want to ask +me the same question: why I have never come before now. My answer +is: because I have only now arrived at a clear conception of my own +position. Some months ago some hard words that were used to me lit +a fire in my heart and burnt out a heap of rubbish that had +collected there. (ANNA fills their glasses.) Won't you send that +girl away? + +Gran. She is deaf and dumb. + +The King. Poor girl! (Sits down.) When I came back from my cruise +round the world, the old king was dead. My father had come to the +throne, and I was crown prince, and I went with my father to the +cathedral to attend a thanksgiving service for my safe return. + +Gran. I was there. + +The King. The whole thing was a novelty to me, and a solemn one. I +was overcome with emotion. Seeing that, my father whispered to me: +"Come farther forward, my boy! The people must see their future +king praying." That finished it! I was not born to be a king; my +soul was still too unsullied, and I spurned such falsehood with the +deepest loathing. Just think of it!--to come back from three years +at sea, and begin my life in that way--as if perpetually in front +of a mirror! I won't dwell on it. But when my father died and I +became king, I had become so accustomed to the atmosphere of +falsehood I lived in that I no longer recognised truth when I saw +it. The constitution prescribed my religion for me--and naturally I +had none. And it was the same with everything--one thing after +another! What else could you expect? The only tutor I valued--you, +Koll--had been dismissed; they considered you to be too freethinking. + +Koll (smilingly). Oh, yes! + +The King. The only real friend that dated from my happier days-- +you, Harald, had been sent to the right about; you were a +republican. It was while I was in despair over that loss that I +fell really in love for the first time--with your sister, Harald. +Banishment, again. What then? Why, then the craving that every +healthy youth feels--the desire for love--was turned into dissolute +channels. (Drinks.) + +Gran. I understand, well enough. + +The King. Well, put all those things together. That was what my +life was--until just lately. Because lately something happened, my +dear friends. And now you must help me! Because, to make a long +story short, either I mean to be the chief official in my country +in a peaceful, citizenlike, genuine way, or--as God is above me--I +will no longer be king! (Gets up, and the others do so.) + +Koll. Ah, we have got it at last! + +The King. Do you think I don't know that our republican friend +there spoke what is every thoughtful man's verdict upon me? (They +are silent.) But how could I possibly undertake my task, as long as +I believed everything to be make-believe and falsehood, without +exception? Now I know the root of the falsehood! It is in our +institutions; he was quite right. And one kind of falsehood begets +another. You cannot imagine how ludicrous it appeared to me--who up +till then had led such a sinful, miserable existence--when I saw +honourable men pretending that I was a being of some superior +mould! I! (Walks up and down, then stops.) It is the state--our +institutions--that demand this falsehood both on their part and on +mine. And that for the security and happiness of the country! +(Moves about restlessly.) From the time I became crown prince they +kept from me everything that might have instilled truth into me-- +friendship, love, religion, a vocation--for my vocation is quite +another one; and it was all done in the name of my country! And now +that I am king, they take away all responsibility from me as well-- +all responsibility for my own acts--the system demands it! Instead +of an individual, what sort of a contemptible creature do they make +of me! The kingly power, too?--that is in the hands of the people's +representatives and the government. I don't complain of that; but +what I do complain of is that they should pretend that _I_ have it, +and that everything should be done in _my_ name; that I should be +the recipient of petitions, cheers, acclamations, obeisances--as if +the whole power and responsibility were centred in _my_ person! In +me--from whom, in the interests of all, they have taken away +everything! Is that not a pitiful and ludicrous falsehood? And, to +make it credible, they endow me into the bargain with a halo of +sanctity! "The King is sacred;" "Our Most Gracious Sovereign," +"Your Majesty!" It becomes almost blasphemous! + +Gran. Quite true. + +The King. No, if that cannot be done away with, I can do away with +myself. But it must be possible to do away with it! It cannot be +necessary for a people, who are marching on the eternal path +towards truth, to have a lie marching at the head of them! + +Koll. No, it is not necessary. + +The King (eagerly). And that is what you will help me to show them. + +Koll. I have no objection! There is life in the country yet! + +The King (to Gran). And you, my friend? Are you afraid of being +shot by a mad republican if you help me? + +Gran. I am not particularly afraid of death, any way. But the maid +is telling us that supper is served. + +The King. Yes, let us have supper! + +Koll. And then, to our task! + +Curtain + + + +ACT II + +(SCENE.--A park with old lofty trees. In the foreground, to the +right, an arbour with a seat. The KING is sitting, talking to BANG, +who is a man of gross corpulence.) + +Bang. And I felt so well in every way that, I assure your Majesty, +I used to feel it a pleasure to be alive. + +The King (drawing patterns in the dust with his walking stick). I +can quite believe it. + +Bang. And then I was attacked by this pain in my heart and this +difficulty in breathing. I run round and round this park, on an +empty stomach, till I am absolutely exhausted. + +The King (absently). Couldn't you drive round, then? + +Bang. Drive?--But it is the exercise, your Majesty, that-- + +The King. Of course. I was thinking of something else. + +Bang. I would not mind betting that I know what your Majesty was +thinking of--if I may say so without impertinence. + +The King. What was it, then? + +Bang. Your Majesty was thinking of the socialists! + +The King. Of the--? + +Bang. The socialists! + +The King (looking amused). Why particularly of them? + +Bang. I was right, you see! Ha, ha, ha! (His laughter brings on a +violent fit of coughing.) Your Majesty must excuse me; laughing +always brings on my cough.--But, you know, the papers this morning +are full of their goings on! + +The King. I have not read the paper. + +Bang. Then I can assure your Majesty that the way they are going on +is dreadful. And just when we were all getting on so comfortably! +What in the world do they want? + +The King. Probably they want to get on comfortably too. + +Bang. Aren't they well off as it is, the beasts? Excuse me, your +Majesty, for losing my temper in your Majesty's presence. + +The King. Don't mention it. + +Bang. You are very good. These strikes, too--what is the object of +them? To make every one poor? Every one can't be rich. However, I +pin my faith to a strong monarchy. Your Majesty is the padlock on +my cash-box! + +The King. I am what? + +Bang. The padlock on my cash-box! A figure of speech I ventured to +apply to your Majesty. + +The King. I am much obliged! + +Bang. Heaven help us if the liberals come into power; their aim is +to weaken the monarchy. + +(A BEGGAR BOY comes up to them.) + +Beggar Boy. Please, kind gentlemen, spare a penny! I've had nothing +to eat to-day! + +Bang (taking no notice of him). Aren't there whispers of the sort +about? But of course it can't be true. + +Beggar Boy (pertinaciously). Please, kind gentlemen, spare a penny! +I've had nothing to eat to-day. + +Bang. You have no right to beg. + +The King. You have only the right to starve, my boy! Here! (Gives +him a gold coin. The BEGGAR Boy backs away from him, staring at +him, and gripping the coin in his fist.) + +Bang. He never even thanked you! Probably the son of a socialist!-- +I would never have opened this park to every one in the way your +Majesty has done. + +The King. It saves the work-people a quarter of am hour if they can +go through it to get to their work. + +(The GENERAL appears, driving the BEGGAR BOY before him with his +stick.) + +The General (to the BEGGAR). A gentleman sitting on a seat gave it +you? Point him out to me, then! + +Bang (getting up). Good morning, your Majesty! + +The King. Good morning! (Looks at his watch.) + +The General. That gentleman, do you say? + +The King (looking up). What is it? + +The General. Your Majesty? Allow me to welcome you back! + +The King. Thank you. + +The General. Excuse me, sir; but I saw this fellow with a gold coin +in his hand, and stopped him. He says your Majesty gave it to him--? + +The King. It is quite true. + +The General. Oh--of course that alters the case! (To the BEGGAR.) +It is the King. Have you thanked him? (The boy stands still, +staring at the KING.) + +The King. Are you taking a morning walk on an empty stomach because +of a weak heart, too? + +The General. Because of my stomach, sir--because of my stomach! It +has struck work! + +The Beggar Boy. Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! (Runs away.) + +The General. I am astonished at your Majesty's having thrown this +park open to every one. + +The King. It saves the work-people a quarter of an hour if they can +go through it to get to their work.--Well, General, it seems you +have become religious all of a sudden? + +The General. Ha, ha, ha! Your Majesty has read my Order of the Day, +then? + +The King. Yes. + +The General (confidentially). Well, sir, you see things couldn't go +on any longer as they were. (Whispers.) Debauchery in the ranks! I +won't say anything about the officers; but when the men take to +such courses openly--! + +The King. Oho! + +The General. My brother the bishop and I, between us, composed an +Order of the Day on the subject of the necessity of religion-- +religion as the basis of discipline. + +The King. As a matter of fact the bishop was the first person I +met here to-day.--Is he suffering from a disordered stomach, too? + +The General. More so than any of us, Sir! Ha, ha, ha! (The KING +motions to him to sit down.) Thank you, Sir.--But, apart from that, +I have had it in my mind for some time that in these troublous days +there ought to be a closer co-operation between the Army and the +Church-- + +The King. In the matter of digestion, do you mean? + +The General. Ha, ha, ha!--But seriously, Sir, the time is +approaching when such a co-operation will be the only safeguard +of the throne. + +The King. Indeed? + +The General (hurriedly). That is to say, of course, the throne +stands firm by itself--God forbid I should hint otherwise! But +what I mean is that it is the Army ants the Church that must +supply the monarchy with the necessary splendour and authority-- + +The King. I suppose, then, that the monarchy has no longer any +of its own? + +The General (jumping up). Heaven forbid that I should say such +a thing! I would give my life in support of the monarchy! + +The King. You will have to die some day, unfortunately (Laughs +as he gets up.) Who is that coming this way? + +The General (putting up his eyeglass). That? It is the Princess +and Countess L'Estoque, Sir. + +The King. Is the Princess suffering from indigestion too? + +The General (confidentially). I fancy your Majesty knows best +what the Princess is suffering from. (The KING moves away from +him.) I made a mess of that! It comes of my trying to be too +clever.--He is walking towards her. Perhaps there is something in +it, after all? I must tell Falbe about it. (Turns to go.) Confound +it, he saw that I was watching them! (Goes out. The KING returns to +the arbour with the PRINCESS on his arm. The COUNTESS and one of +the royal servants are seen crossing the park in the background.) + +The Princess. This is a most surprising meeting! When did your +Majesty return? + +The King. Last night.--You look very charming, Princess! Such +blushing cheeks!--and so early in the morning! + +The Princess. I suppose you think it is rouge?--No, Sir, it is +nothing but pleasure at meeting you. + +The King. Flatterer! And I went pale at the sight of you. + +The Princess. Perhaps your conscience--? + +The King. I am sorry to say my conscience had nothing to do with +it. But this morning I have been meeting so many people that are +suffering from indigestion that, when I saw your Highness walking +quickly along-- + +The Princess. Make your mind easy! My reason for my morning walk is +to keep my fat down. Later in the day I ride--for the same reason. +I live for nothing else now. + +The King. It is a sacred vocation! + +The Princess. Because it is a royal one? + +The King. Do you attribute your sanctity to me? Wicked Princess! + +The Princess. Both my sanctity and any good fortune I enjoy. It +is nothing but my relationship to your Majesty that induces the +tradespeople to give me unlimited credit. + +The King. You don't feel any awkwardness about it, then? + +The Princess. Not a bit! The good folk have to maintain many worse +parasites than me!--By the way, talking of parasites, is it true +that you have pensioned off all your lords-in-waiting and their +hangers-on? + +The King. Yes. + +The Princess. Ha, ha, ha! But why did you make the special +stipulation that they should live in Switzerland? + +The King. Because there is no court in Switzerland, and-- + +The Princess. And so they could not fall into temptation again! +I have had many a good laugh at the thought of it. But it has its +serious side too, you know; because your Majesty cannot dispense +with a court. + +The King. Why not? + +The Princess. Well, suppose some day you are "joined in the bonds +of holy matrimony," as the parsons so beautifully put it? + +The King. If I were, it would be for the sake of knowing what +family life is. + +The Princess. Like any other citizen? + +The King. Precisely. + +The Princess. Are you going to keep no servants? + +The King. As many as are necessary--but no more. + +The Princess. Then I must secure a place as chambermaid in your +Majesty's household as soon as possible. Because if my financial +circumstances are inquired into there will be nothing else left for +me but that! + +The King. You have too sacred a vocation for that, Princess! + +The Princess. How pretty! Your Majesty is a poet, and poets are +allowed to be enthusiastic about ideals. But the people are poets +too, in their way; they like their figure-head to be well gilded, +and don't mind paying for it. That is their poetry. + +The King. Are you certain of that? + +The Princess. Absolutely certain! It is a point of honour with +them. + +The King. Then I have to weigh my honour against theirs! And +my honour forbids me--for the honour of my people and their +poetry--to keep up my palaces, my guards, and my court any +longer! _Voilà tout_! + +The Princess. My dear King, certain positions carry with them +certain duties! + +The King. Then I know higher duties than those!--But, Princess, +here are we two seriously discussing-- + +The Princess. Yes, but there is something at the bottom of it that +is not to be laughed away. All tradition and all experience +proclaim it to be the truth that a king--the kingly majesty--should +be a dignity apart; and should be the ultimate source of law, +surrounded with pomp and circumstance, and secure behind the +fortified walls of wealth, rank, and hereditary nobility. If he +steps out of that magic circle, the law's authority is weakened. + +The King. Has your Royal Highness breakfasted yet? + +The Princess. No. (Bursts out laughing.) + +The King. Because, if you had, I should have had great pleasure +is giving you a lesson in history; but on an empty stomach that +would be cruel. + +The Princess. Do you know--you used to be such an entertaining +king, but this last year you have become so tedious! + +The King. Most beautiful of princesses! Do you really mean to say +that I rise and fall in your estimation according as I have my +pretty royal gew-gaws on or not? + +The Princess. In my estimation? + +The King. Or in any one's? You know the story of "The Emperor's New +Clothes"? + +The Princess. Yes. + +The King. We don't keep up that pretence any longer. + +The Princess. But will every one understand? + +The King. You understand, don't you? + +The Princess. The people or I--that is all the same, I suppose! +You are very flattering. + +The King. Heaven forbid that I should lump your Royal Highness +together with the common herd; but-- + +The Princess. We have already had proof of the fact that your +Majesty does not hold the same place in _every one's_ estimation +that you do in mine, at all events! + +The King. If I occupy a place of honour in your Royal Highness's +heart, your Royal Highness may be certain that-- + +The Princess. I will interrupt you to save you from speaking an +untruth! Because the way to attain to a place of honour in your +Majesty's heart is not to admire you as I do, but, on the contrary, +to shout out: "I despise you!"--Au revoir! + +The King. You wicked, terrifying, dangerous-- + +The Princess. --omniscient and ubiquitous Princess! (Makes a deep +curtsey, and goes away.) + +The King (calling after her). In spite of everything, my heart goes +with you-- + +The Princess. --to show me the door! I know all about that! (To +the COUNTESS.) Come, Countess! (Goes out. FALBE, an old gentleman +in civilian dress, has come in from the side to which the KING'S +back is turned.) + +The King. How the devil did she--? + +Falbe (coming up behind him). Your Majesty! + +The King (turning quickly). Ah, there you are! + +Falbe. Yes, sir--we have been walking about in the park for some +time; your Majesty was engaged. + +The King. Not engaged--I was only deadening thoughts by gossiping. +My anxiety was too much for me. So they have come?--both of them? + +Falbe. Both of them. + +The King. Can I believe it! (Appears overcome.) But--you must wait +a moment! I can't, just at this moment--. I don't know what has +come over me! + +Falbe. Are you unwell, sir? You look so pale. + +The King My nerves are not what they should be. Is there any water +near here? + +Falbe (pointing, in astonishment). Why, there is the fountain, +Sir! + +The King. Of course! Of course!--I don't seem able to collect my +thoughts. And my mouth is as dry as--. Look here, I am going that +way (points); and then you can--you can bring the ladies here.--She +is here! She is here! (Goes out to the left, and turns round as he +goes.) Don't forget to lock the gates of the inner park! + +Falbe. Of course not, Sir. (Goes out to the right, and returns +bringing in the BARONESS MARC and CLARA.) His Majesty will be +here in a moment. (Goes out to the right.) + +Clara. You must stay near enough for me to be able to call you. + +Baroness. Of course, my dear. Compose yourself; nothing can happen. + +Clara. I am so frightened. + +Baroness. Here is the King! (The KING comes in and bows to them.) + +The King. Excuse me, ladies, for having kept you waiting. I am +very grateful to you both for coming. + +Baroness. We only came upon your Majesty's solemn promise-- + +The King. --which shall be inviolable. + +Baroness. I understand that you wish to speak to Miss Ernst alone? + +The King. Your ladyship need only go up to the top of that little +slope. (Points.) I can recommend the view from there. + +Baroness. The interview will not be a long one, I suppose? + +The King. If it is, I give your ladyship permission to come and +interrupt us. (The BARONESS goes out. The KING turns to CLARA.) May +I be permitted to thank you again--you especially--for having been +so good as to grant me this interview? + +Clara. It will be the only one. + +The King. I know that. You have not condescended to answer one +of my letters-- + +Clara. I have not read them. + +The King. --so there was nothing left for me but to address myself +to the Baroness. She was _obliged_ to listen to me, Miss Ernst. + +Clara (trembling). What has your Majesty to say to me? + +The King. Indeed, I can't tell it you in a single sentence. Won't +you sit down? (CLARA remains standing.) You must not be afraid +of me. I mean you no harm; I never could mean you any harm. + +Clara (in tears). Then what do you call the persecution that I +have endured for more than a year? + +The King. If you had condescended to read a single one of my long +and many letters you would have known I call it a passion that is +stronger than--. (CLARA turns to go. The KING continues anxiously.) +No, Miss Ernst, by everything you hold dear, I beg you not to leave +me! + +Clara. Then you must not insult me! + +The King. If that is an insult your terms are very hard. + +Clara. Hard? No, but what you have done to me is hard! (Bursts into +tears.) + +The King. Don't cry, Miss Ernst! You don't know how you hurt me! + +Clara (angrily). Do you know what it means to try and ruin a young +girl's reputation? + +The King. I repeat that you are doing me an injustice + +Clara. An injustice?--Good God! Do you know who I am? + +The King (taking of his hat respectfully). You are the woman I +love. + +Clara (quietly and with dignity). Your Majesty has solemnly +promised not to insult me. + +The King. As sure as there is a heaven above us I will not, and +could not, insult you! But I will obey your wishes. + +Clara. When a king says such a thing as--as you did just now, to a +poor little governess, it is more than an insult! It is so +cowardly, so base! And to think that you could have the heart to do +it after what you have done to my father! + +The King. Your father?--I? + +Clara. Do you really not know who I am? + +The King I don't understand-- + +Clara. Whose daughter I am, I mean? + +The King. I only know that your father's name is Ernst. (Suddenly.) +Surely your father is not--? + +Clara. Professor Ernst. + +The King. The republican? + +Clara (slowly). Yes. (A pause.) I may remind your Majesty that he +was sentenced for high treason. And why? Because he warned the +young men at the university against the bad example set by the +King! (A pause.) He was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. +In escaping from his prison he broke both his legs; and now he +lives in exile--a cripple--supported by what money I am able to +earn. (A pause.) You have ruined his life--and now you are trying +to ruin mine too! + +The King. I beg of you--! + +Clara. I am ashamed of my tears. It is not compassion for myself +or for my father that makes them flow; it is the heartless +injustice of it all that overcomes me. + +The King. God knows, if only I could atone for the injustice--! +But what can I do? + +Clara. You can let me alone, so that I may do my work in peace; +that is what you can do! Neither he nor I ask for more than that-- +of you! + +The King. I must do more than that! + +Clara. No! Can you not understand that a girl who is persecuted +by the king's attentions cannot be a governess? All you will +achieve will be to rob me and my father of our bread!--Oh, God! + +The King. But my intention is not to-- + +Clara (interrupting him). And you are not even man enough to be +ashamed of yourself! + +The King. Yes, you may say what you please to me! + +Clara. I have nothing more to say to you. I have said what I have +to say. (Turns to go.) + +The King. No, don't go! You have not even heard me yet. You don't +even know what I want to beg of you! + +Clara. My dishonour. + +The King (vehemently). You misunderstand me utterly! If you had +only read a single one of my letters you would have known that +there is standing before you a man whom you have humbled. Ah, don't +look so incredulous! It is true, if there is any truth in anything. +You don't believe me? (Despairingly.) How am I to--! A man who has +risked your contempt for more than a year, and has been faithful to +you without even being allowed to see you or exchange a word with +you--who has had no thought for anything or any one else--is not +likely to be doing that out of mere idleness of heart! Do you not +believe that, either? + +Clara. No. + +The King. Well, then, there must surely be some general truths that +you, as Ernst's daughter, cannot refuse to believe! Let me ask you +if you can understand how a man becomes what I was at the time when +I repeatedly insulted you. You must know, from your father's books, +in what an unnatural atmosphere a king is brought up, the soul-destroying +sense of self-importance which all his surroundings foster, until, +even in his dreams, he thinks himself something more than human; +the doubtful channels into which his thoughts are forced, while any +virtues that he has are trumpeted abroad, and his vices glossed +over with tactful and humorous tolerance. Don't you think that a +young king, full of eager life, as I was, may plead something in +excuse of himself that no other man can? + +Clara. Yes, I admit that. + +The King. Then you must admit that the very position he has to +assume as a constitutional monarch is an acted lie. Think what a +king's vocation is; _can_ a vocation of that sort be hereditary? +Can the finest and noblest vocation in the world be that? + +Clara. No! + +The King. Then suppose that he realises that himself; suppose that +the young king is conscious, however dimly and partially, of the +lie he is living--and suppose that, to escape from it, he rushes +into a life of pleasure. Is it not conceivable that he may have +some good in him, for all that? And then suppose that one morning, +after a night of revelling, the sun shines into his room; and he +seems to see upon the wall, in letters of fire, some words that +were said to him the night before--true words (CLARA looks up at +him in surprise)--the words: "I despise you!" (CLARA gives a +start.) Words like that can burn out falsehood. And he, to whom +they are said, may long to hear again the tones of the voice that +spoke them. No man has ever hated what has given him new life. If +you had read a single one of the letters which I felt impelled to +write even if they were refused acceptance--you would not have +called it persecution. (CLARA does not answer.) And, as for my +persecution of your father--I am not going to make any excuses for +myself; I will only ask you to remember that a king has no control +over the law and its judgments. I feel the sincerest respect for +your father. + +Clara. Thank you. + +The King. And it is just part of the falsehood I was speaking of, +that he should be condemned for saying of me what I have said a +thousand times of myself! + +Clara (softly). Dare I believe that? + +The King. Ah, if only you had read one of my letters! Or even the +little book of poems I sent you last! I thought that, if you would +not receive my letters, perhaps a book-- + +Clara. I do not accept anonymous gifts. + +The King. I see you are on your guard--although I don't admit that +the poems were mine! May I read it to you? + +Clara. I don't understand--. + +The King. One that I marked--for you. It will prove to you what +you refuse to believe. + +Clara. But if the poem is not yours? + +The King. The fact that I have marked it shows that its sentiments +apply to me. Will you let me read it to you? (CLARA looks up.) Do +not be too much surprised, Miss Ernst! (Takes a slim volume from +his pocket.) I found this somewhere. (Turns over the leaves.) It +won't take long to read. May I? + +Clara. If only I understood-- + +The King. --why I want to read it? Simply for the reason that you +have forbidden me to speak to you--or to write to you; but not, as +yet, to read to you! (CLARA smiles. A pause.) Do you know--a little +event has just happened in my life?--and yet not such a little one, +after all! + +Clara. What is that? + +The King. I have seen you smile for the first time. + +Clara. Your Majesty! + +The King. But, Miss Ernst, is it an insult, too, to see you smile? + +Clara (smiling). If I consent to hear the poem, shall not the +Baroness-- + +The King. --hear it also? With pleasure; but not at the same time! +Please! Because I am a very bad reader. You can show it to the +Baroness afterwards, if you like. (CLARA smiles.) May I? + +Clara. You are sure there is nothing in it that-- + +The King. You can interrupt me, if you think fit. It is called "The +Young Prince;" and it is about--no, I won't tell you what it is +about unless you will be so good as to sit down, so that I can sit +down too. If I stand up I shall be sure to begin declaiming, and I +do that shockingly badly!--You can get up again when you like, you +know! (CLARA smiles and sits down. The KING sits down beside her.) +Now, then! "The Young Prince." (To himself.) I can scarcely +breathe. (He begins to read.) + + Full fed with early flattery and pride-- + +(Breaks off.) Excuse me, Miss Ernst! I don't feel-- + +Clara. Is your Majesty not well? + +The King. Quite well! It is only--. Now, then! + + Full fed with early flattery and pride, + His sated soul was wearied all too young; + Honour and kingly pomp seemed naught to him + But whimsies from the people's folly sprung. + + From such pretence he fled to what was real-- + Fair women's arms, laughter and love and pleasure, + All the mad joy of life; whate'er he craved, + He found was given him in double measure. + + Whate'er he craved--until one day a maiden + To whom he whispered, like a drunken sot, + "I'd give my life to make thee mine, my sweeting!" + Turned from him silently and answered not. + + He sought by every means to win her to him; + But when his love with cold _contempt_ was met, + It was as if a judgment had been spoken + Upon his life, and doom thereon were set. + + His boon companions left him; in his castles + None seemed to be awake but he alone, + Racked with remorse, enshrouded in the darkness + Of dull despair, yet longing to atone. + + Then through the darkness she appeared! and humbly, + Emboldend by her gentleness of mien, + He sued once more: "If only thou wouldst listen! + If still 'twere not too late--" + +(His emotion overcomes him, and he stops suddenly, gets up, and +walks away from CLARA. She gets up, as he comes back to her.) +Excuse me! I had no intention of making a scene. But it made me +think of--. (Breaks of again overcome by emotion, and moves a +little way from her. There is a pause as he collects himself before +returning to her.) As you can hear, Miss Ernst, it is nothing much +of a poem--not written by a real poet, that is to say; a real poet +would have exalted his theme, but this is a commonplace-- + +Clara. Has your Majesty anything more to say to me? (A pause.) + +The King. If I have anything more to say to any one, it is to you. + +Clara. I beg your pardon. + +The King. No, it is I should beg yours. But I am sure you do not +wish me to lie to you. + +Clara (turning her head away). No. + +The King. You have no confidence in me. (Control, his emotion.) +Will you ever, I wonder, come to under stand that the only thing I +crave for now is--one person's confidence! + +Clara. Any one who speaks as your Majesty has done to-day surely +craves for more than that. + +The King. More than that, yes; but, first of all, one person's +confidence. + +Clara (turning away). I don't understand-- + +The King (interrupting her, with emotion). Your life has not been +as empty and artificial as mine. + +Clara. But surely you have your task here to fill it with? + +The King. I remember reading once about the way a rock was +undermined, and the mine filled with gunpowder with an electric +wire leading to it. Just a slight pressure on a little button and +the great rock was shattered into a thousand pieces. And in the +same way everything is ready here; but the little pressure--to +cause the explosion--is what I am waiting for! + +Clara. The metaphor is a little forced. + +The King. And yet it came into my mind as unconsciously as you +broke off that twig just now. If I do not get what I lack, nothing +can be accomplished--there can be no explosion! I shall abandon the +whole thing and let myself go under. + +Clara. Go under? + +The King. Well, not like the hero of a sensational novel--not +straight to the bottom like a stone--but like a dreamer carried off +by pixies in a wood, with one name ever upon my lips! And the world +would have to look after itself. + +Clara. But that is sheer recklessness. + +The King. I know it is; but I am reckless. I stake everything upon +one throw! (A pause.) + +Clara. Heaven send you may win. + +The King. At least I am daring enough to hope that I may--and there +are moments when I almost feel certain of victory! + +Clara (embarrassed). It is a lovely morning-- + +The King. --for the time of year; yes. And it is lovelier here than +it is anywhere else! + +Clara. I cannot really understand a course of action which implies +a want of all sense of responsibility-- + +The King. Every one has their own point of view. A scheme of life, +to satisfy me, must have its greatest happiness hidden away at its +core; in my case that would be to have a house of my own--all to +myself, like any other citizen--from which I should go away to my +work, and come back to as to a safe refuge. That is the button on +the electric wire, do you understand? It is the little pressure on +it that I am waiting for. (A pause.) + +Clara. Have you read my father's book, _Democratic Monarchy_? + +The King. Yes. + +Clara. He wrote it when I was a child; and so I may say that I grew +up amongst ideas like--like those I have heard from you to-day. All +the friends that came to our house used to talk to me about it. + +The King. Then no doubt you heard the crown prince talked about, +too! + +Clara. I think I heard his name oftener mentioned at home than any +one's. I believe the book was written expressly for you. + +The King. I can feel that when I read it. If only I had been +allowed to read it in those days! Do you remember how in it your +father maintains, too, that all reform depends on the beating down +of the hedge that surrounds royalty?--on a king's becoming, as he +says, "wedded to his people" in the fullest sense of the word, not +irregularly or surreptitiously? No king can share his people's +thoughts if he lives apart from them in a great palace, married to +a foreign princess. There is no national spirit behind a +complicated court life of outlandish ceremonial. + +Clara (turning away her head). You should have heard how vehemently +my father used to assert those ideas. + +The King. And yet he abandoned them. + +Clara. Became a republican, you mean? + +The King. Yes. + +Clara. He was so disappointed. (A pause.) + +The King. I sometimes wonder every one isn't a republican! It must +come to that in the end; I can see that. If only royalties nowadays +thought seriously enough about it to realise it! + +Clara. It is made so difficult for them by those who surround them. + +The King. Yes, you see, that is another reason why any such reform +must begin at home. Do you think that a king, who went every day to +his work from a home that was in every respect like that of one of +his people, could fail in the long run? + +Clara. There are so many different kinds of homes. + +The King. I mean a home that holds love instead of subservience-- +comfort instead of ceremony-truth instead of flattery; a home +where--ah, well, I need not teach a woman what a home means. + +Clara. We make them what they are. + +The King. Surely; but they are especially what women make them. (A +pause.) + +Clara. The sun is quite strong now. + +The King. But it can scarcely pierce through the screen of leaves +here. + +Clara. When the sun shines down like this and the leaves tremble-- + +The King. The sunshine seems to tremble too. + +Clara. Yes, but it makes one feel as if everything were trembling-- +even deep down into our hearts! + +The King. That is true.--Yes, its homes are the most precious +things a nation makes. Their national characteristics mean +reverence for their past and possibilities for their future. + +Clara. I understand better now what you meant. + +The King. When I said I wanted to begin at the beginning? + +Clara. Yes. (A pause.) + +The King. I cannot do otherwise. My heart must be in my work. + +Clara (smiling). My father had his heart in his work, too. + +The King. Forgive me--but don't you think it was just the want of +an object in his life that led your father to push his theories too +far?--an object outside himself, I mean? + +Clara. Perhaps. If my mother had lived--. (Stops.) + +The King. --he might have taken it differently; don't you think so? + +Clara. I have sometimes thought so. (A pause.) + +The King. How still it is! Not a sound! + +Clara. Yes, there is the fountain. + +The King. That is true; but one ends by hardly hearing a continuous +sound like that. + +Clara. There is a tremulousness in _that_ too. (Looks round her.) + +The King. What are you looking for? + +Clara. It is time to look for the Baroness. + +The King. She is up on that slope. Shall I call her? Or--perhaps +you would like to see a fine view? + +Clara. Yes. + +The King. Then let us go up to her together! (They go.) + + + +ACT III + + +SCENE I + +(SCENE. An open place in the town. It is evening, and the square is +badly lit. On the right is the club, a large building, standing +alone; lights are shining from all its windows. Steps lead from the +door, above which is a balcony. The square is full of people. In +the background, standing on the lowest step of the pedestal of an +equestrian statue, is a BALLAD SINGER, singing to the accompaniment +of his guitar. Cigars, oranges, and other wares are being sold by +hawkers. The singer's voice is heard before the curtain rises. The +crowd gradually joins him in the refrain which he repeats after +each verse of his ballad.) + +The Ballad Singer (sings). + + The Princeling begged and begged and begged + Her love, on bended knee. + The Maid said craftily, "Nay, nay, + I doubt your high degree!" + + Refrain. + + She knew the might, the might, the might + Of love's distracting hour; + How royalty, with all its pomp, + Will curtsey to its power. + + The Princeling said: "Consent, my dear, + And you shall marry me." + The Maiden answered mockingly, + "Over the left, maybe!" + + "Nay, as my Queen, enchanting maid, + And that this very day!" + The Maiden answered him, "Gadzooks!" + And fainted right away. + + Recovering, she sighed, "My Lord, + Princesses will be wroth; + On every side they sit and wait + To plight to you their troth." + + He answered, "Bosh!"--"But what of those + Who counselled you before?" + "Whom do you mean?"--"Your ministers!" + "I'll show them to the door!" + + "But think, my dear--your generals, + Your nobles, court, and priest; + They'll try to drag you from my side + Or shun us as the pest." + + "Nay, be not feared! I'll make you more + By dozens at a word, + Who'll bow and grovel if they be + To rank and place preferred." + + "But think of the republicans! + My father!--what if he--?" + "The cock that crows the loudest, then, + Prime minister shall be!" + + "Suppose the people stoutly swear + They'll none of me?"--"Nay, nay, + An order here, a title there, + And all will homage pay." + + "Then I am yours!"--"Hurrah!" He holds + Her tight his arms between; + "Nay, not so fast, my kingly love! + Not till I am your Queen!" + + She knew the might, the might, the might + Of love's distracting hour; + How royalty, with all its pomp, + Will curtsey to its power. + +An Old Gentleman (to another). What is going on here? + +Second Old Gentleman. I don't know. I have only just come. + +A Workman. Why, the King is coming past here with her! + +First Old Gentleman. Coming past here with her? To hold a court +at the palace? + +The Workman. Yes. + +Second Old Gentleman (taking a pinch of snuff). And I suppose those +fellows in the club mean to make a demonstration?--hiss them, or +something of that sort? + +The Workman. So they say. + +First Old Gentleman. Have they decided not to attend the court +then? + +A Dandy. Unanimously decided. + +A Woman. It's filthy! + +The Dandy. I beg your pardon? + +The Woman. I say that those fellows in there will condescend to +seduce our daughters, right enough; but they won't condescend to +marry them. But, you see, the King does. + +The Workman. I am not sure it wouldn't be better if he didn't. + +The Woman. Well, I know people who say that she is quite a +respectable person. + +The Dandy. I imagine that you have not read the newspapers? + +First Old Gentleman. Hm!--one has to be a little careful as to how +far one believes the newspapers. + +Second Old Gentleman (offering him his snuff-box). I am delighted +to hear you say that! There is such a lot of slander flying about. +That bawdy ballad just now; for instance. + +The Woman. Yes, that's poking fun at _him_--I know that. + +The Dandy. You had better take care what you are saying, my good +woman! + +The Woman. Ah, I only say what I know. + +(FLINK appears on the steps of the statue beside the BALLAD +SINGER.) + +Flink. Stop your stupid songs! I want to speak! + +Voice in the Crowd. Who is that? + +Flink. You don't know me. I have never made public speeches--and +least of all to street mobs. + +Voice in the Crowd. Why are you doing it now, then? + +Flink. Because I have been charged with a message to you! (The +members of the club rush to the windows and on to the balcony +and steps. Uproar.) + +Voice in the Crowd. Be quiet! Let us hear him! + +Flink. Listen to me, good people! You don't know me. But you used +to know a tall chap, with long white hair and a big hat, who often +made speeches to you. I mean Professor Ernst. + +Voice in the Crowd. Three cheers for Professor Ernst. (Cheers.) + +Flink. He was sent to prison, as you know, for high treason; +escaped from prison, but broke his legs. Now he is living in exile, +hopelessly crippled. + +Voice in the Crowd. He got a pardon. + +Another. No one knows where he is. + +Flink. I know where he is. He has charged me to deliver a message +to you to-day. + +Voices from the Club. Bravo! + +Voices from the Crowd. Has he! Bravo, Ernst! + +Voices from the Club. Be quiet, down there! + +Flink. He made me promise that, on the day on which his daughter +was to be presented at the palace as the King's betrothed, I would +stand up in some public place where she would pass by, and say that +it was being done against her father's will and in spite of his +urgent entreaties and commands. (Loud cries of "Bravo!" from the +club. A voice in the crowd: "That is just what we thought!") I am +charged to announce publicly that he despises her for it and sends +her his curse! (Fresh cries of "Bravo!" from the club. Voices in +the crowd: "That's shocking!"--"No, he was quite right;" etc., etc. +Uproar.) Quiet, good people! + +A Young Man in the Crowd. May I be allowed to ask a question? +(Shouts of "Yes!" and "No!" and laughter are heard.) + +Flink. By all means. + +The Young Man. Did not Professor Ernst himself advocate a king's +doing just what our King has done? + +Voices in the Crowd. Hear, hear! + +Flink. Yes, and in return was thrown into prison and is now an +incurable cripple. No one has been more cruelly treated by the +King's hirelings. And now here is his daughter willing to become +Queen! + +Count Platen (from the club balcony). I don't see why you want to +blame her! No; what I say is, that it is our dissolute King's fault +altogether! (Renewed uproar. Cries of: "Turn him out!" from the +club.) + +Flink. I had something more to say about those who--. But make +those fellows at the club be quiet first. + +A Voice. They are fighting over there! (Laughter. Wild uproar is +heard from the club, amidst which COUNT PLATEN'S voice is heard +shouting: "Let me be! Let me alone!"--and other voices: "Don't let +him go out!"--"He is drunk!" Eventually COUNT PLATEN comes out on +to the steps, hatless and dishevelled.) + +Count Platen. I'm going to make a speech to you! I am better than +that crew in there! (Cries of "Bravo!") What I say is, that the +King is coming past here directly with a woman. (Applause, and +laughter. Every one crowds towards him. The police try to pull him +down. A free fight ensues.) Hiss them when they come! (Cries of +"Throw him down!"--"Bravo!"--"Hurrah!") I, Count Platen, tell you +to do so! Hiss him, howl at him, make a regular hullabaloo when he +comes! I, Count Platen, tell you to! (Cries of "Three cheers for +Count Platen!" are mingled with cries of "Three cheers for the +King!" There is a general tumult. COUNT PLATEN is hustled up and +down the steps, and tries to go on making his speech every time he +comes up.) He is defiling the throne!--He wants to marry a +traitor's daughter! Shame! I, Count Platen, say so! Here I stand--! +(A trumpet-call is heard; then cries of "Here is the King!"--"No, +it's the cavalry!"--"The cavalry are coming!"--"Clear the square!" +A shot is heard, followed by a scream; the people take to their +heels as another trumpet-call is heard. Curtain.) + + +SCENE II + +(SCENE.--A room in the BARONESS' house. The BARONESS is sitting +reading. A MAID enters and brings her a card.) + +Baroness (looking at the card). The Minister of the Interior!-- +Show him in! (GRAN comes in.) I am glad to see you back, your +Excellency!--You have found him, then? + +Gran. Yes, we have discovered him. + +Baroness. And spoken to him? + +Gran. Yes. + +Baroness. May I send for his daughter? + +Gran. For heaven's sake + +Baroness. What is the matter? + +Gran. He is a dying man. + +Baroness. What! + +Gran. The King desires me to tell you that he has ordered a special +train to be ready at 10 o'clock, so that as soon as the court is +over she can go to her father. The King will accompany her. + +Baroness. That is kind of him! + +Gran. Then you will get ready everything that she needs for a +night's journey? + +Baroness. Yes. + +Gran. And without her being aware of it? The King does not wish her +to know anything of her father's condition till after the court. + +Baroness. The court is to be held, then? + +Gran. The court is to be held. After it is over, His Majesty will +tell her the news himself. + +Baroness. I am thankful for that.--But what did Professor Ernst +say? Why has he not answered his daughter's letter? Why has he +hidden from her? Is he really irreconcilable? + +Gran. Irreconcilable? He hates her! + +Baroness. Good heavens! + +Gran. And not only her, but every one that has made common cause +with the King--every one! + +Baroness. I suppose it was to be expected.--But won't you sit down? + +Gran (bows, but remains standing). I had a talk with his doctor +before I saw him. He had some hesitation about letting me in. It +was a fortnight since his patient had been able to move. But when I +told him my errand, and that I had come from the King, he let me +see him. + +Baroness. How did he look? He was a fine man once. + +Gran. He was sitting in a big chair, a mere paralysed wreck of a +man. But when he saw me and realised who I was--and probably, too, +what my errand was--he found the strength not only to move, but to +seize both his crutches and raise himself on them! I shall never +forget his gaunt ashen-grey face, the feverish gleam in his sunken +eyes, his unkempt hair and beard-- + +Baroness. He must have looked terrible! + +Gran. He was like a creature from beyond the grave--with an +eternity of hatred in his eyes! + +Baroness. Oh, my God! + +Gran. When at last I could find my voice, I gave him his daughter's +greeting, and asked if she might come and see him. A dark look came +into his eyes, and his face flushed for a moment, as he gasped out: +"May she be--." He could not finish the sentence. His crutches +slipped from his grasp and he fell down, blood pouring from his +mouth. The doctor rushed to him; and for a long time we thought he +was dead. + +Baroness. But he came round? + +Gran. I waited an hour or two before I started back. Then the +doctor told me that he had recovered consciousness, but that the +end could certainly not be far off--perhaps not twenty-four hours. + +Baroness. It must have been a shock to you. + +Gran. It was. + +Baroness. But what did he mean by: "May she be--" + +Gran. That is what I have been wondering. + +Baroness. He cannot do her any harm, can he? + +Grad. He may give her the same reception that he gave me; if she +goes. + +Baroness, Even if the King is with her? + +Gran. All the more then! + +Baroness. Oh, that would be horrible! But it won't prevent her +going. + +Gran. Let us hope so! + +Baroness. I am certain of it! She has extraordinary strength of +character--just like her father's. + +Gran. Yes, that is the one thing I rely on. + +Baroness. What do you mean? Your words sound so despondent! + +Gran. I mean what is perfectly true--that everything will depend +upon her strength of character. + +Baroness. What about the King, then? + +Gran. I could say a great deal on that topic, Baroness; but (bows) +you must excuse me--I haven't time now. + +Baroness. How are the elections going? + +Gran. They are going well--if nothing happens now? + +Baroness. What could happen? + +Gran. The situation is very strained; one must expect anything. + +Baroness. Are you anxious, your Excellency? + +Gran. I must beg leave to retire now. (A MAID comes in.) + +Maid (to GRAN). The Inspector of Police, who came with your +Excellency, wishes to know if he may speak to your Excellency. + +Gran. I will come at once. (To the BARONESS.) There is rioting +going on in the town, not far from here--in front of the club. + +Baroness (in alarm). What?--Isn't the King coming along that way? + +Gran. Don't be afraid! We have taken our precautions--Good-bye! +(Goes out.) + +Baroness. --He has quite alarmed me--everything seems to come at +the same time! She has had a suspicion that there was something +amiss with her father; I have noticed that, but she hasn't wanted +to speak about it. (CLARA comes in, dressed for the court.) Ah, +there you are, my dear! Quite ready? + +Clara. Quite. + +Baroness (looking at her). Well, I daresay there have been royal +brides more elaborately dressed, but I am sure there has never +been one more charming. (Kisses her.) + +Clara. I think I hear a carriage? + +Baroness. I expect it is the King! + +Clara. I am afraid it is too early yet--but all the same I hope it +is he! + +Baroness. Do you feel afraid? + +Clara. No, no--it is not that at all; it is something--something +that you don't--a kind of feeling as if--as if some one were +haunting me; and I know who it is. I only feel secure when the King +is with me. I hope it may be he coming. (Goes to the window.) + +(The MAID comes in.) + +Maid. A lady wishes to speak to you, Miss Ernst-- + +Baroness. A lady? + +Clara. Didn't she give her name? + +Maid. She is veiled--and very handsomely dressed. + +Clara (with decision). No! I can see no one. + +Baroness. No one that we do not know. (To the MAID.) You ought +to know that. + +Maid (hesitatingly). But I think it is--. (The door opens and the +PRINCESS comes in.) + +Baroness. What does this mean? Clara! leave us, my dear. + +Princess (drawing aside her veil). Do you know me? + +Clara and Baroness. The Princess! + +Princess. Are you Clara Ernst? + +Clara. Yes. + +Princess (haughtily, to the BARONESS). Leave us alone! (The +BARONESS goes out.) Before going to the palace I wanted to come +here--even at the risk of meeting the King. + +Clara. He has not come yet. (A long pause.) + +Princess. Have you thought well over what you are going to do? + +Clara. I think so. + +Princess. I don't think you have. Have you read what the papers say +about it--every one of them--to-day? + +Clara. No. The King has advised me not to. + +Princess. But the letters that have been sent to you? I know +letters have been written to you. + +Clara. The King has advised me not to read them either. He takes +all the letters. + +Princess. Do you know that they are rioting in the streets close to +here? + +Clara (in alarm). No! + +Princess. You will be received with hisses, hooting--perhaps with +stone throwing. You didn't expect anything like that, did you? + +Clara. No. + +Princess. What shall you do? + +Clara (after a moment, quietly). I shall go with the King. + +Princess. A nice road you are dragging him along, truly! And I +assure you that the farther you go along it, the worse it will +become. You cannot possibly have prepared yourself for all that you +will have to go through. + +Clara. I think I have. + +Princess (in surprise). What do you mean? How? + +Clara (bending her head). I have prayed to God. + +Princess. Pshaw! I mean that you cannot have considered the misery +into which you are dragging the King--and the disgrace and trouble +you are bringing upon all his people. (CLARA is silent.) You are +young still; your heart cannot be altogether hardened yet, whatever +your past may have been. + +Clara (proudly). I have no reason to be ashamed of my past. + +Princess. Indeed? What sort of a past has it been, then? + +Clara. One full of suffering, princess--and of work. (A pause.) + +Princess. Do you know what the King's past has been? + +Clara (drooping her head). Ah, yes. + +Princess. Yours will be tarred with the same brush--no matter what +it really has been. + +Clara. I know that. He has told me so. + +Princess. Really!--After all, is it a sacrifice you are making for +his sake? Do you love the King? + +Clara (faintly). Yes. + +Princess. Then listen to me. If you loved the King, you would have +made a _real_ sacrifice for him. We are women, you and I; we can +understand these things without many words. But such a sacrifice +does not consist in consenting to be his queen. + +Clara. It is not I that wished it. + +Princess. You have allowed yourself to be persuaded?--Well, you are +either deceiving yourself, my girl, or you are deceiving him. +Perhaps you began with the one and are ending with the other. +Anyway, it is time you had your eyes opened as to which of you it +is that is making the sacrifice. Do you not know that, on your +account, he is already the target for general contempt? (CLARA +bursts into tears.) If that makes you repent, show it--show it by +your deeds! + +Clara. I repent of nothing. + +Princess (in astonishment). What state of mind are you in, then? + +Clara. I have suffered terribly. But I pray God for strength to +bear it. + +Princess. Don't talk nonsense! The whole thing is a horrible +confusion of ideas--half remorse and half cant--the one so mixed up +with the other in your mind that you cannot disentangle them. But, +believe me, others feel very sure that sacred things and--and what +I won't call bluntly by its name, go very ill together! So don't +waste those airs on me; they only irritate me! + +Clara. Princess, don't be cruel to me. I _am_ suffering, all the +same. + +Princess. Why on earth do you want to go any farther with the +affair? If you aren't clear about it, take advice! Your father is +opposed to it, isn't he? + +Clara. Yes. (Throws herself into a chair.) + +Princess. He has hidden himself away from you. You don't know where +he is, or how he is--though you know he is crippled and ill. And, +meanwhile, here you are in full dress, with a rose in your hair, +waiting to set out to a court at the palace! Are you willing to +pass through contemptuous rioting crowds, and over your sick +father's body, to become queen? What callous levity! What a +presumptuous mixture of what you think is love, duty, sacrifice, +trial--with an unscrupulous ambition--! The King? Are you depending +on him? He is a poet. He loves anything unusual or sensational. +Resistance stimulates him; and that is what drives him into +believing that his love will be unending. When you have been +married a week, it will be all over. If he had not met with +resistance, it would have been all over before this. I know the +King better than you; for I know his faithlessness. It is like his +love--unending! It hurts you to hear that, does it? Well, it hurts +one's eyes to look at the sun. But I can tell you about these +things. The only reason I had for coming was to tell you what I +know. And now that I have seen you, I can tell you that I know one +thing more--and I will tell you what it is. If you actually allow +the King, with his ardent temperament, to stray into a path which +will lead to the ruin of his career, your action will, in the +fullness of time, recoil so appallingly upon your own head that it +will kill you. I know you are one of those that faithlessness, +remorse and contempt _would_ kill.--Don't look so beseechingly at +me; I cannot retract a word of what I have said. But I can tell you +now what I had decided upon before I came. _I_ will look after your +future. I am not rich; but, as sure as I stand here before you, you +shall live free from care--you shall have everything that you need-- +for the rest of your life. I want no thanks! I do it for the sake +of the King, and for the sake of the country to which I belong. +It is my duty. Only get up now and come with me to my carriage. +(Offers CLARA her hand.) + +Clara. If it were as easy as that, I should have done it long, long +ago. + +Princess (turns away. Then comes back). Get up. (Pulls her on to +her feet.) Do you love the King? + +Clara. Do I love him? I am a motherless child, and have lived alone +with a father who has been constantly persecuted on account of his +principles; I shared his ideals from a very early age, and I have +never abandoned them since. Then one day I was given the chance of +making these ideals real. "What _I_ long to do, _you_ shall +accomplish!" he said. There is something great about that, +Princess--something all-powerful--a call from God Himself. Of that +I am certain. + +Princess. It is merely a rhapsody of the King's--nothing else! + +Clara. Then I will make it real and live it! I have given my whole +soul to it, and have strengthened his to the same end. It has been +my ideal all my life. + +Princess. And you believe that it will last? + +Clara. Yes. + +Princess. Then let me beg you to believe this, too--it will last +until he has attained his end. + +Clara. If you mean our marriage, let me tell you that _that_ is not +our end. + +Princess (in surprise). What is, then? + +Clara. Our end is to accomplish something together. That task shall +be consecrated and ennobled by our love. Yes, you may look at me! +Those were his own words. + +Princess. That answer!--That thought!--But what certainty have you? + +Clara. Of what? + +Princess. That you did not put the thought into his mind?--and that +the fire in his soul may not flicker out? + +Clara. If I needed any assurance, I should find it in the fact that +he changed his whole life for my sake; he waited for me for more +than a year. Has he ever done that for any one before? I am sure +he has never needed to! (The PRINCESS winces.) It is those who have +seduced that "ardent" temperament of his--you called it that +yourself--that are to blame, and not I, Princess! (A pause.) I +checked him to the best of my power when he came to me as he was +wont to go to others. (A pause.) Indeed it is no sacrifice to +become his wife. When one loves, there is no question of sacrifice. +But the position in which I now stand exposes me to more suspicion +than the humblest of his subjects, to more scorn than if I were his +mistress. Think how you have spoken to me to-day yourself, +Princess! (A pause.) It is no sacrifice to endure such things for +the man one loves. It was not I that used the word "sacrifice," +either; and as for the sacrifice you implied that I ought to have +made, I don't wish to understand what you meant by that, even +though I am a woman as well as you! But if you knew, Princess, how +hard a fight I have been through before I found the strength to +cast in my lot with his, against my father's wish and against you +all--you would not have spoken to me about making a sacrifice. At +all events you would not have spoken to me as you have done to-day; +because you are not cruel, and I know that at bottom you mean me +well. (A longer pause.) + +Princess. This is more serious than I knew.--Poor child, your +disappointment will be all the more serious. + +Clara. Not with him! + +Princess (half to herself). Is it possible he can be so changed? +Was that what was needed to secure a hold on him--? (To CLARA.) +Is he coming here to fetch you? + +Clara. Yes. + +Princess. What does he want to hold this court for? What is the +good of throwing down this challenge to all the dignitaries of his +kingdom?--especially if, after all, he means to live the life of an +ordinary citizen? + +Clara. He wished it. + +Princess. An exciting episode in his rhapsody! Why did you not +dissuade him? + +Clara. Because I agree with him. + +Princess. Perhaps you don't fully realise what it means?--what +humiliation the King will have to undergo? + +Clara. I only know that it seems to me that these things should +be done openly, and that he has plenty of courage. + +Princess. That is mere bravado. Are you going in that dress?--to +court in that dress? (CLARA is silent.) I say it is mere bravado. + +Clara. I have no better dress. + +Princess. What do you mean? Surely the King can--? Are you jesting? + +Clara (shyly). I do not allow the King to give me anything; not +until--. + +Princess. Doesn't he pay your expenses here, then? (Looks round the +room.) + +Clara. No. + +Princess. It is the Baroness? + +Clara. She and I. We are both poor. + +Princess. Ah, yes--she has lost her post now, hasn't she? + +Clara. On my account--yes. And you, Princess, who have known her-- +for she was once your governess--can you really suppose that she +would have been faithful to me if she did not trust me and feel +that this was right? You treated her so contemptuously when you +came in. + +Princess. I seem to have broken in upon the most incomprehensible +romance!--Then you love the King? (CLARA nods her head.) He knows +how to love, and make a woman happy! He is a dazzling creature!--We +shall see now whether you are to suffer for all the hearts he has +broken. You are not the first woman he has loved. + +Clara. Princess! + +Princess. Yes, let that sink into your mind! Your happiness is +embroidered with tears! + +Clara. It is cruel of you to reproach me with it. + +Princess. Forgive me! I really did not mean that.--But there is +still time to put on a more suitable dress. If you dare accept no +gifts from the King--you might from some one else? A King's bride +is a King's bride after all, you know! + +Clara. He told me I should not need anything more than this. + +Princess. Not in his eyes, I dare say. But we women know a little +better!--If it were only a necklace? Will you accept this one? +(Begins to unfasten hers.) + +Clara. I knew you were kind.--But I daren't. + +Princess. Why not? + +Clara. Because--because people would think that--. (Bursts into +tears. A pause.) + +Princess. Listen, my child. The whole thing is sheer lunacy; but-- +as it cannot be altered--as soon as the court assembles I shall +take my place at your side and not leave you till it is all over. +Tell the King that! Good-bye! + +Clara (going towards her). Princess! + +Princess (kisses her, and whispers). Haven't you allowed him to +kiss you, either? + +Clara (in a whisper). Yes, I have. + +Princess (kissing her once snore). Love him! (The sound of carriage +wheels is heard. The BARONESS comes in.) + +Baroness. I hear the King's carriage. + +Princess. I don't wish to meet him. (Stretches out her hand to the +BARONESS.) Baroness! (Points to the door through which the BARONESS +has come in.) Can I get out that way? + +Baroness. Yes. (She takes the PRINCESS out. A moment later the MAID +ushers in the KING, who is dressed in plain clothes and wearing no +decorations.) + +The King. Clara! + +Clara. My friend! (They embrace.) + +The King. What does it mean? + +Clara. What? + +The King. The Princess' carriage here? + +Clara. She told me to greet you. She has just gone, and-- + +The King. And--? + +Clara. She said as soon as the court assembled she would take her +place beside me and stay there till we left the palace. + +The King. Is it possible? + +Clara. It is _true_. + +The King. You have conquered her! I know she could be conquered-- +she has a heart, as well as a head! It is a good omen!--So she +offered to do _that_! What will our precious nobility have to say +to that? + +Clara. They are about the streets, aren't they? + +The King. Ah, then you know? + +Clara. I know, too, that there has been rioting outside the club. + +The King. You know that too?--and are not afraid? + +Clara. Perhaps I might have been--but there is something else that +I am more afraid of. (Draws closer to the KING.) + +The King. What is that? + +Clara. You know. (A pause.) + +The King. Have you been uneasy about him to-day too? + +Clara. All day--incessantly. Something must have happened. + +The King. Well, now I can tell you where he is. + +Clara (eagerly). At last! Have you found him? + +The King. Gran has been to see him. + +Clara. Thank God! Is it far from here? + +The King. This evening, immediately after the court, you and I +will both start for there in a special train. We shall be there +early to-morrow. + +Clara (throwing her arms round his neck). Thanks, thanks! How +good you are! Thanks! How is he? Is he ill! + +The King. Yes. + +Clara. I knew it? And implacable? + +The King. Yes. + +Clara. I feel it! (Nestles closer in his arms.) + +The King. Are you afraid? + +Clara. Yes! + +The King. Dear, when you see him perhaps your fear will go. + +Clara. Yes, only let me see him! Whatever he says, let me see him! + +The King. Within twelve hours from now you shall! And I shall be +with you. + +Clara. The finest thing about you is your kindness. Oh, I am so +glad you have come! I could not endure my fears any longer. + +The King. There are dissensions going on about you! + +Clara. Oh!--(Nestles in his arms again.) + +The King. Bear up!--It will soon be over. + +Clara. I believe it will. Yes, I know it will.--Let me walk about a +little! (The KING walks up and down with her.) + +The King. And turn our thoughts to something else! Do you know +where I have come from? + +Clara. Where? + +The King. From our little house in the park. + +Clara. Why, we drove past it yesterday! + +The King. You will feel only _one_ person's presence there! +Wherever you go, you will be surrounded by the thoughts I have had +of you there. If you look out of the window, or go out on to the +balcony--on every rock, by each turn of the stream--on the lawns, +under the trees, among the bushes--everywhere you will find a +thousand thoughts of you hidden. Breathe the words "my darling +girl," and they will all come clustering round you!--Let us sit +down. + +Clara. It is all like a fairy tale. + +The King. And I am the latest fairy prince! (He sits down and draws +her on to his knee.) And you are the little maid who comes, led by +good fairies, to the enchanted castle to wake him. He has been kept +asleep by wicked spells for many, many years. + +Clara. For many, many years! + +The King. I am not really _I_, nor you _you_. The monarch was +bewitched long ago. He was turned into a wild beast who gave reign +to his passion by night and slept by day. And now the maiden of +humble degree has become a woman and freed him from the spells. + +Clara. Really! Ah, you are so clever at inventing things to cheat +my fears away from me. And you always succeed. But after all, you +know, I have no strength and no courage; I am so weak. + +The King. You have more strength than I!--more than any one I +have ever known. + +Clara. No, don't say that; but--you may be sure of this!--if I did +not feel that I had _some_ strength I would never try to throw in +my lot with yours. + +The King. I will explain to you what you are! Some people are +tremendously more spiritual, more delicately constituted than +others; and they are a hundred times more sensitive. And they +fancy that is weakness. But it is just they who draw their strength +from _deeper_ sources, through a thousand imperceptible channels. +You will often find them with heads erect and valiant when others +have gone under; they merely bend before the storm, with supple +strength, when others break under it. You are like that! + +Clara. You are very ingenious when you start explaining me! + +The King. Well, listen to this! At the time when I was behaving so +badly to you, your terror, every time I approached you, was so +piteous that it was always before my eyes and rang in my ears +like a cry of agony from a wounded heart. It is true! It filled me +with terror, too. Do you call that weakness, to feel things so +intensely that another person is influenced by your feelings +against his will? + +Clara. No. + +The King. And then, when I found you again--the way you listened to +me-- + +Clara (stopping him with a kiss). Don't let us talk about it now! + +The King. What shall we talk about, then? It is a little too early +to start yet.--Ah, I have it! We will talk about the impression you +will make this evening when you come forward through the brightly +lit rooms, radiant against the background of ugly calumny! That was +prettily put, wasn't it? "Is _that_ she?" they will think. And then +something will come into their eyes that will cheat them into +thinking that pearls and gold are strewn over your hair, over your +dress, over your-- + +Clara (putting her hand over his mouth). No, no, no! Now I am +going to tell you a little story! + +The King. Tell away! + +Clara. When I was a child, I saw a balloon being filled one day, +and there was a horrible smell from the gas. Afterwards, when I +saw the gleaming balloon rising in the air, I thought to myself: +"Ah, that horrid smell was something burning; they had to burn it +for the balloon to be able to rise." And after that, every time I +heard anything horrid said about my father, I felt as if something +was burning inside me, and I thought of the balloon and imagined I +could smell the smell. And then all at once I imagined I saw it +rising; the horrid part was burnt, and it was able to mount aloft! +I assure you that balloon was a good genius to me. And now, years +afterwards, when I have been a target for calumny myself--and +you for my sake--I have felt just the same thing. Every word has +burned; but I have got over it in a moment, and risen high, high +above it all! I never seem to breathe so pure an atmosphere as a +little while after something cruel has been said of me. + +The King. I shall certainly set to work and abuse you at once, if +it has such delightful results! I will begin with a selection from +to-day's papers: "You Aspasia! You Messalina! You Pompadour! You +Phylloxera, that are eating into our whole moral vine-crop! You +blue-eyed curse of the country, that are causing panics in the +money-market, overthrowing ministries, and upsetting all +calculations in the elections! You mischievous hobgoblin, who are +pouring gall into the printers' ink and poison into the people's +coffee, filling all the old ladies' heads with buzzing flies, and +the King's Majesty with a million lover's follies!" Do you know +that, besides all the harm you are doing to-day, you are hastening +a revolution by ten years? You are! And no one can be sure whether +you haven't been pursuing the same wicked courses for the last +hundred years or more! All our royal and noble ancestors are +turning in their graves because of you! And if our deceased queens +have any noses left-- + +Clara (interrupting him). The Baroness! (They get up. The BARONESS +comes in wearing a cloak over her court dress and carrying CLARA'S +cloak over her arm.) + +Baroness. I must take the liberty of disturbing you. Time is up! + +The King. We have been killing it by talking nonsense. + +Baroness. And that has put you in a good humour? + +The King (taking his hat). In the best of humours! Here, my darling +(fastens CLARA'S cloak about her shoulders), here is the last +scandalous bit of concealment for you! When we take it off again, +you shall stand radiant in the light of your own truth. Come! +(Gives her his arm, and they go trippingly up to the back of the +room. Suddenly the phantom of an emaciated figure leaning on +crutches appears in their path, staring at them. His hair and +beard are in wild disorder, and blood is pouring from his mouth. +CLARA gives a terrified scream.) + +The King. In Heaven's name, what is it? + +Clara. My father! + +The King. Where? (To the BARONESS.) Go and see! (The BARONESS +opens the doors at the back and looks out). + +Baroness. I can see no one. + +The King. Look down the corridor! + +Baroness. No--no one there, either! (CLARA has sunk lifelessly into +the KING'S arms. After one or two spasmodic twitchings of her +hands, her arms slip away from him and her head falls back.) + +The King. Help, help! + +The Baroness (rushing to him with a shriek). Clara! + +Curtain. + + + +ACT IV + +(SCENE.--A room in GRAN's house; the same as in Act I, Scene II. +GRAN is standing at his desk on the right. FLINK comes in carrying +a pistol-case, which he puts down upon the table.) + +Gran. You? + +Flink. As you see. (Walks up and down for a little without +speaking.) + +Gran. I haven't seen you since the day the King was here. + +Flink. No.--Have you taken your holidays? + +Gran. Yes; but, anyway, I am likely to have perpetual holidays +now! The elections are going against us. + +Flink (walking about). So I hear. The clerical party and the +reactionaries are winning. + +Gran. That would not have been so, but for her unhappy death--. +(Breaks off, and sighs.) + +Flink. A judgment from heaven--that is what the parsons say, and +the women, and the reactionaries-- + +Gran. --and the landlords. And they really believe it. + +Flink (stopping). Well, don't you believe it? + +Gran (after a pause). At all events I interpret it differently from-- + +Flink. --from the parson? Naturally. But can any one doubt the fact +that it was the finger of fate? + +Gran. Then fate assumed her father's shape? + +Flink. Whether her father appeared to her at the moment of his +death or not (shrugs his shoulders) is a matter in which I am not +interested. I don't believe in such things. But that she was +suffering pangs of conscience, I do believe. I believe it may have +brought painful visions before her eyes. + +Gran. I knew her pretty well, and I will answer for it she had no +guilty conscience. She was approaching her task with enthusiasm. +Any one that knew her will tell you the same. With her the King was +first and foremost. + +Flink. What did she die of, then? Of enthusiasm? + +Gran. Of being overwrought by the force of her emotions. Her task +was too great for her. The time was not ripe for it. (Sadly.) Our +experiment was bound to fail. + +Flink. You condemn it when you say that!--But with her last breath +she called out: "My father!" And, just at that moment, he died, +fifty miles away from her. Either she _saw_ him, or she _imagined_ +she saw him, standing before her. But his bloodstained, maltreated, +crippled form standing in the way of her criminal advance towards +the throne--is that not a symbol of maltreated humanity revolting +against monarchy at the very moment when monarchy wishes to atone! +Its guilt through thousands of years is too black. Fate is +inflexible. + +Gran. But with what result? Are we rid of monarchy yet? + +Flink. We are rid of that treacherous attempt to reconcile it with +modern conditions. Thank God it emerges, hand in glove with the +parsons and reactionaries, none the worse for its temporary +eclipse. + +Gran. So everything is all right, I suppose? + +Flink. For the moment--yes. But there used to exist here a strong +republican party, which enjoyed universal respect, and was making +extraordinary progress. Where is it now? + +Gran. I knew that was why you came. + +Flink. I have come to call you to account. + +Gran. If I had been in your place I would not have acted so, +towards a defeated and wounded friend. + +Flink. The republican party has often been defeated--but never +despised till now. Who is to blame for that? + +Gran. None of us ever think we deserve contempt. + +Flink. A traitor always deserves it. + +Gran. It is but a step from the present state of things to a +republic; and we shall have to take that step in the end. + +Flink. But at least we can do so without treachery. + +Gran. I honestly believe that what we did was right. It may have +miscarried the first time, and may miscarry a second and a third; +but it is the only possible solution. + +Flink. You pronounced your doom in those words. + +Gran (more attentively). What do you mean by that? + +Flink. We must make sure that such an attempt will not be made +again. + +Gran. So that is it.--I begin to understand you now. + +Flink. The republican party is broken up. For a generation it will +be annihilated by contempt. But a community without a republican +party must be one without ideals and without any aspirations +towards truth in its political life--and in other respects as well! +That is what you are responsible for. + +Gran. You pay me too great a compliment. + +Flink. By no means! Your reputation, your personal qualities and +associations are what have seduced them. + +Gran. Listen to me for a moment! You used to overrate me in the +hopes you had of me. You are overrating me now in your censure. You +are overrating the effects of our failure--you never seem to be +able to do anything but overshoot your mark. For that reason you +are a danger to your friends. You lure them on. When things go well +you lure them on to excess of activity; when things go ill, you +turn their despondency into despair. Your inordinate enthusiasm +obscures your wits. _You_ are not called upon to sit in judgment +upon any one; because you draw the pure truths that lie hidden in +your soul into such a frenzied vortex of strife that you lose sight +of them; and then they have so little of truth left in them that in +your hands they can be answerable for crimes. + +Flink. Oh, spare me your dialectics!--because any skill you have in +them, _I_ taught you! You cannot excuse your own sins by running +over the list of mine; that is the only answer I have to make to +you! I don't stand before you as the embodiment of truth; I am no +braggart. No; but simply as one who has loved you deeply and now is +as deeply offended by you, I ask this question of your conscience: +What have you done with the love we had for one another? Where is +the sacred cause we both used to uphold? Where is our honour--our +friends--our future? + +Gran. I feel respect for your sorrow. Can you not feel any for +mine? Or do you suppose that I am not suffering? + +Flink. You cannot act as you have done without bringing unhappiness +upon yourself. But there are others to be considered besides you, +and we have the right to call you to account. Answer me! + +Gran. And is it really you--you, my old friend--that propose to do +that? + +Flink. God knows I would sooner some one else did it! But none can +do it so fitly as I--because no one else has loved you as I have. I +expected too much of you, you say? The only thing I wanted of you +was that you should be faithful! I had so often been disappointed; +but in you and your quiet strength I thought I had splendid +security that, as long as you lived, our cause would bear itself +proudly and confidently. It was your prestige that brought it into +being; your wealth that supported it. It did not cry aloud for the +blood of martyrs!--You were the happiness of my life; my soul +renewed its strength from yours. + +Gran. Old friend--! + +Flink. I was old, and you were young! Your nature was a harmonious +whole--it was what I needed to lean upon. + +Gran. Flink, my dear old friend--! + +Flink. And now, here you stand--a broken man, and our whole cause +broken with you; all our lives broken--at least mine is-- + +Gran. Don't say that! + +Flink. You have destroyed my faith in mankind--and in myself, for I +see what a mistake I made; but it will be the last I shall make! I +took you to my heart of hearts--and now, the only thing I can do is +to call you to account! + +Gran. What do you want me to do? Tell me! + +Flink. We must stand face to face--armed! You must die! (A pause.) + +Gran (without seeming greatly surprised). Of the two of us, it will +go hardest with you, old friend. + +Flink. You think your aim will be the surer of the two? (Goes +towards the table.) + +Gran. I was not thinking of that--but of what your life would be +afterwards. I know you. + +Flink (opening the pistol-case). You need not be anxious! My life +afterwards will not be a long one. What you have done has robbed me +of anything to live for in this generation, and I don't aspire to +live till the next. So it is all over and done with! (Takes up the +pistols.) + +Gran. Do you mean _here_--? + +Flink. Why not? We are alone here. + +Gran. The King is asleep in the next room. (Points to the door near +his desk.) + +Flink. The King here? + +Gran. He came here to-night. + +Flink. Well, it will wake him up; he will have to wake up some +time, any way. + +Gran. It would be horrible! No! + +Flink. Indeed? It is for his sake you have betrayed me. You did +that as soon as ever you met him again. He has bewitched you. Let +him hear and see what he has done! (Holds out the pistols.) Here! + +Gran. Wait. What you have just said brings a doubt into my mind. Is +not revenge, after all, the motive for what you are doing? + +Flink. Revenge? + +Gran. Yes. Don't misunderstand me; I am not trying to shuffle out +of it. If I were free to choose, I would choose death rather than +anything else. The King knows that, too. But I ask because there +ought to be some serious reason for anything that may happen. I am +not going to stand up and face a sentiment of revenge that is so +ill-grounded. + +Flink (laying the pistols down). I hate the man who has led you +astray--that is true. When I was giving you the reasons why I took +upon myself the task of calling you to account, perhaps I forgot +that. I hate him. But the instrument that carries out a sentence is +one thing; the sentence itself is quite another. You arc sentenced +to death because you have betrayed our cause--and because you say +that you were right to do so. The world shall learn what that +costs. It costs a man's life. + +Gran. So be it! + +Flink. The pistols are loaded. I loaded them myself. I imagine that +you still have trust in my honour? + +Gran (with a smile). Indeed I have. + +Flink. One of them has a blank cartridge in it; the other is fully +loaded. Choose! + +Gran. But what do you mean? Suppose I were to--? + +Flink. Don't be afraid! Heaven will decide! _You_ will not choose +the fully loaded one!--We shall stand face to face. + +Gran. You are settling everything--the sentence, the challenge, the +choice of weapons, the regulations for the duel--! + +Flink. Are you dissatisfied with that? + +Gran. By no means! You are quite welcome! We are to have no +seconds? So be it. But the place? + +Flink. The place? Here! + +Gran. Horrible! + +Flink. Why? (Holds out the two pistols to him. The door to the left +is opened softly. ANNA looks in, sees what is going on, and rushes +with a pitiful attempt at a scream to GRAN, putting her arms round +him protectingly, and caressing him with every sign of the utmost +terror.) + +Gran (bending down and kissing her). She is right! Why should I die +for the sake of dull theories, when I can hold life in my arms as I +do now? A man who is loved has something left, after all. I won't +die! + +Flink. If you were not loved, my friend, you might be allowed to +live. A cry of sorrow will be heard throughout the land, from the +King's palace to the meanest hovel, when you have been shot. And +that is just why I must do it! The louder the cry of sorrow, the +greater will be the silence afterwards. And in that silence is to +be found the answer to the question "Why?" The people will not +allow themselves to be cheated any longer. + +Gran. Horrible! I won't do it! (Lifts ANNA in his arms as if she +were a child.) + +Flink (going up to him). It is no mere theory that you are facing. +Look at me! + +Gran. Old friend--_must_ it be? + +Flink. It _must_. I have nothing else left to do. + +Gran. But not here. + +Flink. Since it cannot be here, then come out into the park. (Puts +the pistols into their case.) You owe me that. + +Gran (to ANNA). You must go, my dear! + +Flink (putting the pistol-case under his arm). No, let her stay +here. But you come! (They all three move towards the door. ANNA +will not let GRAN go, and there is a struggle until he, half +commanding and half entreating, persuades her to stay behind. The +two men go out, shutting the door after them. She throws herself +against the door, but it has been locked on the outside. She sinks +down to the floor in despair, then gets up, as if struck by a +sudden idea, rushes into the room on the right, and almost +immediately re-appears, dragging the KING after her. He is only +half-dressed and has no shoes on.) + +The King. What is it? (A shot is heard.) What is it? (ANNA pulls +him to the door. He tries to open it, but in vain. She rushes to +the window, with the KING after her. Meanwhile the door is opened +from outside, and FALBE comes in, evidently overcome with emotion.) +What is it, Falbe? (ANNA runs out.) + +Falbe. His Excellency the Minister of the Interior-- + +The King. Well, what of him? + +Falbe. --has been assassinated! + +The King. The Minister of the Interior?--Gran? + +Falbe. Yes. + +The King. Gran?--What did you say? + +Falbe. He has been assassinated! + +The King. Gran? Impossible!--Where? Why? I heard his voice only +just now, here! + +Falbe. That fellow shot him--the grey-haired fellow--the republican + +The King. Flink? Yes, I heard his voice here too! + +Falbe. It was in the park! I saw it myself! + +The King. Saw it yourself? Wretch! (Rushes out.) + +Falbe. How could I prevent a madman--? (Follows the KING. The door +stands open, and through it a man is seen running past, calling +out: "Where?" Others follow him, and amidst the sound of hurrying. +feet, cries are heard of "Good God!"--"In the park, did you say?"-- +"A doctor! Fetch a doctor!"--"Who did it?"--"That fellow running +towards the river!"--"After him! After him!"--"Fetch a barrow from +the works!"--After a while the KING returns alone, looking +distracted. He stands motionless and silent for some time.) + +The King. What a happy smile there was on his face! Just as she +smiled!--Yes, it must be happiness! (Hides his face in his hands.) +And he died for me too! My two only--. (Breaks down.) So that is +the price they have to pay for loving me!--And at once! At once!-- +Of course! Of course! (The sound of the crowd returning is heard, +and cries of: "This way!"--"Into the blue room!" Women and children +come streaming in, all in tears, surrounding ANNA and the men that +are carrying GRAN'S body, and follow them into the room on the +left. Cries are heard of: "Why should he die?"--"He was so good!"-- +"What had he done to deserve it!"--"He was the best man in the +world!") + +The King. "He was the best man in the world!" Yes. And he died for +my sake! That means something good of me!--the best possible! Are +they two together now, I wonder? Oh, let me have a sign!--or is +that too much to ask? (The crowd come out again, sobbing and +weeping, and cries are heard of: "He looks so beautiful and +peaceful!"--"I can't bring myself to believe it!" When they see the +KING, they hush their voices, and all go out as quietly as they +can. When they have gone out, the MAYOR's voice is heard asking: +"Is he in here?" and an answer: "No, in the blue room, over there." +Then the GENERAL'S voice: "And the murderer escaped?"--An answer: +"They are looking for him in the river!"--The GENERAL'S voice: "In +the river? Did he jump into the river?"--The PRIEST's voice: +"Shocking!" A few moments later the GENERAL with BANG, the MAYOR, +and the PRIEST come in from the other room. They stop on seeing the +KING, who is standing at the desk with his back to them, and +whisper.) + +The General. Isn't that the King? + +The Others. The King? + +The Mayor. Is the King back? He must have come in the night! + +Bang. Let me see!--I know him personally. + +The General (holding him back). Of course it is the King. + +The Mayor. Really? + +Bang. I recognise him by his agitation! It is he. + +The General. Hush! Let us go quietly out again! (They begin to move +off.) + +The Mayor. He is grieved. Naturally. + +Bang. First of all her death; and then this--! + +The Priest. It is the judgment of heaven! + +The King (turning round). Who is that? What? (Comes forward.) Who +said that? (They all stop, take off their hats and bow.) Come back! +(They come back hastily.) Who said: "It is the judgment of heaven"? + +The General. Your Majesty must forgive us--we were just taking a +little stroll; I am here to spend Christmas with my friend Mr. +Bang, who has a factory here--a branch of his works--and we +happened to meet the Mayor and the Priest, and we joined company-- +and were strolling along when we heard a shot. A shot. We did not +think anything more about it till we came nearer here and saw +people running, and heard a great outcry and disturbance. Great +disturbance--yes. We stopped, of course, and came to see what it +was. Came to see what it was, of course. And they told us that the +Minister of the Interior-- + +The King. What is all that to me! (The GENERAL bows.) Who said: "It +is the judgment of heaven"? (No one speaks.) Come, answer me! + +The Mayor. It was the Priest--I fancy. + +The King (to the PRIEST). Haven't you the courage to tell me so +yourself? + +The General. Probably our reverend friend is unaccustomed to find +himself in the presence of royalty. + +The Priest. It is the first time that--that I have had the honour +of speaking to your Majesty--I did not feel self-possessed enough, +for the moment, to-- + +The King. But you were self-possessed enough when you said it! What +did you mean by saying it was "the judgment of heaven"?--I am +asking you what you meant by it. + +The Priest. I really don't quite know--it slipped out-- + +The King. That is a lie! Some one said: "First of all her death, +and then this." And you said: "It is the judgment of heaven." + +The Mayor. That is quite right, your Majesty. + +The King. First of all _her_ death? That meant the death of my +betrothed, didn't it? + +Bang and The Priest. Yes, your Majesty. + +The King. "And then _this_" meant my friend--my dear friend! (With +emotion.) Why did heaven condemn these two to death? (A pause.) + +The General. It is most regrettable that we should, quite +involuntarily, have disturbed your Majesty at a moment when your +Majesty's feelings are, naturally, so overcome-- + +The King (interrupting him). I asked you why heaven condemned these +two to death. (To the VICAR.) You are a clergyman; cudgel your +brains! + +The Priest. Well, your Majesty, I was thinking that--I meant that-- +that heaven had in a miraculous way checked your Majesty-- + +The General. "Ventured to check" would be more suitable, I think. + +The Priest. --from continuing in a course which many people thought +so unfortunate--I mean, so fatal to the nation, and the church; had +checked your Majesty-- + +The General (in an undertone). Ventured to check. + +The Priest. --by taking away from your Majesty the two persons +who--the two persons who--in the first place the one who-- + +The King. The one who--? + +The Priest. Who was-- + +The King. Who was--? A harlot that wanted to sit on the throne? + +The Priest. Those are your Majesty's word, not mine. (Wipes his +forehead.) + +The King. Confess that they express what you meant! + +The Priest. I confess that I have heard--that people say--that-- + +The King. Pray to heaven that for a single day your thoughts may +be as pure as hers were every day. (Bursts into tears. Then says +impetuously.) How long have you been a clergyman? + +The Priest. Fifteen years, your Majesty. + +The King. Then you were already ordained at the time when I was +leading a dissolute life. Why did you never say anything to me +then? + +The Priest. My most gracious King-- + +The King. God is the only "most gracious King"! Do not speak +blasphemy! + +The Priest. It was not my duty to-- + +The General. Our friend is not a court chaplain. He has merely a +parish in the town here-- + +The Mayor. And his work lies chiefly among the factory hands. + +The King. And so it is not your duty to speak the truth to me--but +to attack my dear dead friends by prating about heaven's judgment +and repeating vile lies? Is that your duty? + +The Mayor. I only had the honour to know one of the--the deceased. +Your Majesty honoured him with your friendship; the greatest honour +a subject can enjoy. I should like to say that one would rarely +find a nobler heart, a loftier mind, or more modest fidelity, than +his. + +The General. I should like, if I may make so bold, to make use of +the opportunity chance has afforded me of associating myself with +my sovereign's sorrow, a sorrow for which his whole people must +feel the deepest respect, but especially those who, in consequence +of their high position, are more particularly called upon to be the +pillars of the monarchy; to use this opportunity, I say--and to do +so, I know, as the representative of many thousands of your +Majesty's subjects--to voice the sympathy, the unfeigned grief, +that will be poured forth at the news of this new loss which has +wrung your Majesty's heart--a loss which will reawaken consternation +in the country and make it more than ever necessary to take the +severest possible measures against a party to which nothing is +sacred, neither the King's person nor the highest dignities of +office nor the inviolability of the home--a party whose very +existence depends on sedition and ought no longer to be tolerated, +but ought, as the enemy of the throne and of society, to be visited +with all the terrors of the law, until-- + +The King. What about compassion, my friend? + +The General. Compassion? + +The King. Not for the republicans--but for me! + +The General. It is just the compassion which the whole nation will +feel for your Majesty that compels me, in spite of everything, to +invoke the intervention of justice at this particular crisis! +Terror-- + +The King. --must be our weapon? + +The General. Yes! Can any one imagine a more priceless proof of the +care that a people have for their King, than for the gravely +anxious tones of their voice to be heard, at this solemn moment, +crying: Down with the enemies of the throne! + +The King (turning away). No, _I_ haven't thews and sinews for that +lie! + +The Mayor. I must say I altogether agree with the General. The +feeling of affection, gratitude, esteem-- + +The General. --the legacy of devotion that your Majesty's ancestors +of blessed memory-- + +The King (to the Priest). You, sir--what does my ancestors being +"of blessed memory" mean? + +The Priest (after a moment's thought). It is a respectful manner of +alluding to them, your Majesty. + +The King. A respectful lie, you mean. (A pause. ANNA comes out of +the room on the left and throws herself at the KING'S feet, +embracing his knees in despairing sorrow.) Ah, here comes a breath +of truth!--And you come to me, my child, because you know that we +two can mourn together. But I do not weep, as you do; because I +know that for a long time he had been secretly praying for death. +He has got his wish now. So you must not weep so bitterly. You must +wish what he wished, you know. Ah, what grief there is in her eyes! +(Sobs.) + +(The GENERAL signs to the others that they should all withdraw +quietly, without turning round. They gradually do so; but the KING +looks up and perceives what they are doing.) + +The General. Out of respect for your Majesty's grief, we were going +to-- + +The King. Silence! With my hand on the head of this poor creature, +who used to trust so unassumingly and devotedly to his goodness of +heart, I wish to say something in memory of my friend. (ANNA clings +to him, weeping. The others come respectfully nearer, and wait.) +Gran was the richest man in the country. Why was it that he had no +fear of the people? Why was it that he believed that its salvation +lay in the overthrow of the present state of affairs? + +Bang. Mr. Gran, with all his great qualities, was a visionary. + +The King. He had not inherited all of his vast fortune; he had +amassed a great part of it himself. + +Bang. As a man of business, Mr. Gran was beyond all praise. + +The King. And yet a visionary? The two things are absolutely +contradictory.--You once called me "the padlock on your cash-box." + +Bang. I allowed myself, with all respect, to make that jest--which, +nevertheless, was nothing but the serious truth! + +The King. Why did he, who has met his death, consider that the +security for _his_ cash-box came from those _below_ him, as long as +he did what was right, and not from those above him? Because he +understood the times. No question of selfishness stood in the way +of his doing that.--That is my funeral oration over him!--(To +ANNA.) Get up, my dear! Did you understand what I was saying? Do +not weep so! (She clings to him, sobbing.) + +The Priest. He was a very great man! When your Majesty speaks so, I +fully recognise it. But your Majesty may be certain that, though we +may not have been so fortunate as to see so far ahead and so +clearly--though our mental horizon may be narrow--we are none the +less loyal to your Majesty for that, nor less devoted! It is our +duty as subjects to say so, although your Majesty in your heaviness +of heart seems to forget it-seems to forget that we, too, look for +everything from your Majesty's favour, wisdom and justice. +(Perspires freely.) + +The King. It is very strange! My dear friend never said anything +like that to me. (A pause.) He had the most prosperous business in +the country. When I came to him and asked him to abandon it, he did +so at once. And in the end he died for me. That is the sort of man +he was. (To ANNA.) Go in to him, my dear! You are the very picture +of dumb loyalty. Although I do not deserve to have such as you to +watch by my side, still, for the sake of him who is dead, I shall +have you to do so when I too--. (Breaks off.) Yes, yes, go in there +now! I shall come. Do you understand? I shall come. (ANNA moves +towards the other room.) There, that's it! (He repeats his words to +her every time she looks back as she goes.) Yes, directly!--That's +it!--In a very little while! Go now! + +Bang. Excuse me, your Majesty, but it is terribly hot in here, and +the affection of my heart which troubles me is attacking me +painfully. Will your Majesty be pleased to allow me to withdraw? + +The Mayor. With all respect, I should like to be allowed to make +the same request. Your Majesty is obviously very much upset, and I +am sure we are all unwilling that our presence--which, indeed, was +unintentional and unsought by us--should augment a distress of mind +which is so natural in one of your Majesty's noble disposition, and +so inevitable considering the deep sense of gratitude your Majesty +must feel towards a friend who-- + +The King (interrupting him). Hush, hush! Let us have a little +respect for the truth in the presence of the dead! Do not +misunderstand me--I do not mean to say that any of you would lie +wilfully; but the atmosphere that surrounds a king is infected. +And, as regards that--just a word or two. I have only a short time. +But as a farewell message from me-- + +The Priest. A farewell message? + +The King. --give my greeting to what is called Christianity in this +country. Greet it from me! I have been thinking a great deal about +Christian folk lately. + +The Priest. I am glad to hear it! + +The King. Your tone jars on me! Greet those who call themselves +Christians--. Oh! come, come--don't crane your necks and bend your +backs like that, as if the most precious words of wisdom were about +to drop from my lips! (To himself.) Is it any use my saying +anything serious to them? (Aloud.) I suppose you are Christians? + +The General. Why, of course! Faith is invaluable-- + +The King. --in preserving discipline? (To the Mayor.) How about +you? + +The Mayor. I was taught by my parents, of blessed memory-- + +The King. Oh, so they are "of blessed memory" too, are they? Well, +what did they teach you? + +The Mayor. To fear God, honour the King-- + +The King. --and love the brotherhood! You are a public official, +Mr. Mayor. That is what a Christian is, nowadays. (To BANG.) And +you? + +Bang. Of late I have been able to go so little to church, because +of my cough. And in that unwholesome atmosphere-- + +The King. --you go to sleep. But you are a Christian? + +Bang. Undoubtedly! + +The King (to the Priest). And you are one, of course? + +The Priest. By the grace of God I hope so! + +The King (snapping his fingers). Yes, that is the regulation +formula, my good fellow! You all answer by the card! Very well, +then--you are a community of Christians; and it is not my fault if +such a community refuses to take any serious interest in what +really affects Christianity. Tell it from me that it ought to keep +an eye on the monarchy. + +The Priest. Christianity has nothing to do with such things. It +concerns only the souls of men! + +The King (aside). That voice. (Aloud.) I know--it does not concern +itself with the air a patient breathes, but only with his lungs! +Excellent!--All the same, Christianity ought to keep an eye on the +monarchy. Ought to tear the falsehood away from it! Ought not to go +in crowds to stare at a coronation in a church, like apes grinning +at a peacock! I know what I felt at that moment. I had rehearsed it +all once that morning already--ha, ha! Ask your Christianity if it +may not be about time for it to interest itself a little in the +monarchy? It seems to me that it scarcely ought any longer to allow +monarchy, like a seductive harlot, to keep militarism before the +people's eyes as an ideal--seeing that that is exactly contrary to +the teachings of Christianity, or to encourage class divisions, +luxury, hypocrisy and vanity. Monarchy has become so all-pervading +a lie that it infects even the most upright of men. + +The Mayor. But I don't understand, your Majesty! + +The King. Don't you? You are an upright man yourself, Mr. Mayor--a +most worthy man. + +The Mayor. I do not know whether your Majesty is pleased to jest +again? + +The King. In sober earnest, I say you are one of the most upright +of men. + +The Mayor. I cannot tell your Majesty how flattered I am to hear +your Majesty say so! + +The King. Have you any decorations? + +The Mayor. Your Majesty's government has not, so far, deigned to +cast their eyes on me. + +The King. That fault will be repaired. Be sure of that! + +The General (to the Mayor). To have that from his Majesty's own +mouth is equivalent to seeing it gazetted. I am fortunate to be +able to be the first to congratulate you! + +Bang. Allow me to congratulate you also! + +The Priest. And me too! I have had the honour of working hand in +hand with you, Mr. Mayor, for many years; I know how well deserved +such a distinction is. + +The Mayor. I feel quite overcome; but I must beg to be allowed to +lay my thanks at your Majesty's feet. I trust I shall not prove +unworthy of the distinction. One hesitates to make such +confessions--but I am a candid man, and I admit that one of the +chief aims of my ambition has been to be allowed some day to +participate in-- + +The King (interrupting him). --in this falsehood. That just points +my moral. As long as even upright men's thoughts run in that mould, +Christianity cannot pretend to have any real hold on the nation. As +for your decoration, you are quite sure to get one from my +successor.--In a word, Christianity must tackle monarchy! And if it +cannot tear the falsehood from it without destroying it, then let +it destroy it! + +The General. Your Majesty! + +The King (turning to him). The same thing applies to a standing +army, which is a creation of monarchy's. I do not believe that +such an institution--with all its temptations to power, all its +inevitable vices and habits--could be tolerated if Christianity +were a living thing. Away with it! + +The Priest. Really, your Majesty--! + +The King (turning to him). The same applies to an established +church--another of monarchy's creations! If we had in our country a +Christianity worth the name, that salvation trade would stink in +men's nostrils. Away with it! + +The Mayor (reproachfully). Oh, your Majesty! + +The King (turning on him). The same applies to the artificial +disparity of circumstances that you prate about with tears in +your eyes! I heard you once. Class distinctions are fostered by +monarchy. + +Bang. But equality is an impossibility! + +The King. If _you_ would only make it possible--which it can be +made--even the socialists would cease to clamour for anything +else. I tell you this: Christianity has destroyed ideals. +Christianity lives on dogmas and formulas, instead of on ideals. + +The Priest. Its ideals lead us away from earth to heaven-- + +The King. Not in a balloon, even if it were stuffed full of all the +pages of the Bible! Christianity's ideals will lead to heaven only +when they are realised on earth--never before. + +The Priest. May I venture to say that Christianity's ideal is a +pious life. + +The King. Yes. But does not Christianity aim at more than that, +or is it going to be content with making some few believers? + +The Priest. It is written: "Few are chosen." + +The King. Then it has given up the job in advance? + +The Mayor. I think our friend is right, that Christianity has never +occupied itself with such things as your Majesty demands of it. + +The King. But what I mean is, could it not bring itself to do so? + +The Priest. If it did, it would lose sight of its _inner_ aim. The +earliest communities are the model for a Christian people! + +The King (turning away from him). Oh, have any model you like, so +long as it leads to something! + +The General. I must say I am astonished at the penetration your +Majesty slows even into the deepest subjects. + +Bang. Yes, I have never heard anything like it! I have not had the +advantage of a university education, so I don't really understand +it. + +The King. And to think that I imagined that I should find my +allies, my followers, in Christian people! One is so reluctant to +give up _all_ hope! I thought that a Christian nation would storm +the strongholds of lies in our modern, so-called Christian +communities--storm them, capture them!--and begin with monarchy, +because that would need most courage, and because its falsehood +lies deepest and goes farthest. I thought that Christianity would +one day prove to be the salt of the earth. No, do _not_ greet +Christianity from me. I have said nothing, and do not mean it. I am +what men call a betrayed man--betrayed by all the most ideal powers +of life. There! Now I have done! + +The General. But what does your Majesty mean? Betrayed? By whom? +Who are the traitors? Really--! + +The King. Pooh! Think it over!--As a matter of fact I am the only +one that has been foolish. + +Bang. Your Majesty, just now you were so full of vigour--! + +The King. Don't let that astonish you, my friend! I am a mixture of +enthusiasm and world-weariness; the scion of a decrepit race is not +likely to be any better than that, you know! And as for being a +reformer--! Ha, ha! Well, I thank you all for having listened to me +so patiently. Whatever I said had no significance--except perhaps +that, like the oysters, I had to open my shell before I died.-- +Good-bye! + +The General. I really cannot find it in my heart to leave your +Majesty when your Majesty is in so despondent a humour. + +The King. I am afraid you will have to try, my gallant friend!-- +Don't look so dejected, Mr. Mayor!--Suppose some day serious-minded +men should feel just as humiliated at such falsehoods existing as +you do now because you have not been allowed to participate in +them. I might perhaps be able to endure being king then! But as +things are now, I am not strong enough for the job. I feel as if I +had been shouldered out of actual life on to this strip of carpet +that I am standing on! That is what my attempts at reform have +ended in! + +The Mayor. May I be allowed to say that the impression made on my +mind by the somewhat painful scene we have just gone through is +that your Majesty is overwrought. + +The King. Mad, you mean? + +The Mayor. God forbid I should use such a word of my King! + +The King. Always punctilious!--Well, judging by the fact that every +one else considers themselves sane, I must undoubtedly be the mad +one. It is as simple as a sum in arithmetic.--And, in all +conscience, isn't it madness, when all is said and done, to take +such trifles so much to heart?--to bother about a few miserable +superannuated forms that are not of the slightest importance?--a +few venerable, harmless prejudices?--a few foolish social customs +and other trumpery affairs of that sort? + +The General. Quite so! + +The Mayor. Your Majesty is absolutely right! + +Bang. I quite agree! + +The Priest. It is exactly what I have been thinking all the time. + +The King. And probably we had better add to the list certain +extravagant ideas--perhaps even certain dangerous ideas, like mine +about Christianity? + +The Priest (hastily and impressively). Your Majesty is mistaken +on the subject of Christianity. + +The Mayor. Christianity is entirely a personal matter, your +Majesty. + +The General. Your Majesty expects too much of it. Now, as a comfort +for the dying--! + +The King. And a powerful instrument of discipline. + +The General (smiling). Ah, your Majesty! + +Bang (confidentially). Christianity is no longer such a serious +matter nowadays, except for certain persons--. (Glances at the +PRIEST.) + +The King. All I have to say on the head of such unanimous approval +is this: that in such a shallow society, where there is no +particular distinction between lies and truth, because most things +are mere forms without any deeper meaning--where ideals are +considered to be extravagant, dangerous things--it is not so _very_ +amusing to be alive. + +The General. Oh, your Majesty! Really, you--! Ha, ha, ha! + +The King. Don't you agree with me?--Ah, if only one could grapple +with it!--but we should need to be many to do that, and better +equipped than I am. + +The General. Better equipped than your Majesty? Your Majesty is the +most gifted man in the whole country! + +All. Yes! + +The General. Yes--your Majesty must excuse me--I spoke +involuntarily! + +The Mayor. There was a tone running through all your Majesty said +that seemed to suggest that your Majesty was contemplating--. +(Breaks off.) + +The King. --going away? Yes. + +All. Going away? + +The General. And abdicating? For heaven's sake, your Majesty--! + +Bang. That would mean handing us over to the crown prince--the +pietist! + +The Priest (betraying his pleasure in spite of himself). And his +mother! + +The King. You are pleased at the idea, parson! It will be a sight +to see her and her son prancing along, with all of you in your best +clothes following them! Hurrah! + +The General. Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! + +Bang. Ha-ha-ha! (Coughs.) I get such a cough when I laugh. + +The King (seriously). I had no intention of provoking laughter in +the presence of death. I can hear the sounds of mourning through +the open door. + +The Mayor. With all due respect to the church--the vast majority of +the nation have no desire for things to come to _that_--to the +accession of a pietist to the throne. If your Majesty threatens to +abdicate you will have us all at your feet. + +The General (with decision). The accession of a new king just now +would be universally considered a national calamity. I will wager +my life on that! + +Bang. And I too! + +The King. My excellent friends--you must take the consequences of +your actions! + +The Mayor (despairingly). But _this_! Who ever imagined such a +thing? + +The General and Bang. No one--no one! + +The King. So much the worse. What is it you are asking me to do? To +stay where I am, so as to keep another man down? Is that work for a +man? Shame! + +The Mayor (in distress). We ask more than that! Your Majesty is +making a fatal mistake! The whole of your Majesty's dissatisfaction +springs from the fact that you believe yourself to be deserted by +your people because the elections are going contrary to what your +Majesty had hoped. Nothing is further from the truth! The people +fight shy of revolutionary ideas; but they love their King! + +Bang. They love their King! + +The King. And that white dove, who came confidently to my hand--she +had some experience of what their love was! + +The Mayor. The King's associates may displease the people; ideas +may alter; but love for their King endures! + +The Others. Endures! + +The King. Cease! Cease! + +The General (warmly). Your Majesty may command us to do anything +except refrain from giving utterance to a free people's freely +offered homage of devotion, loyalty, and love for its royal house! + +The Mayor (emotionally). There is no one who would not give his +life for his King! + +Bang, The General, and The Priest. No one! + +The General. Try us! (They all press forward.) + +The King. Done with you! (Takes a revolver from his pocket.) Since +yesterday I have carried this little thing in my pocket. (They all +look alarmed.) + +The Priest. Merciful heavens! + +The King (holding out the revolver to him). Will you die for me? If +so, I will continue to be King. + +The Priest. I? What does your Majesty mean? It would be a great +sin! + +The King. You love me, I suppose? + +All (desperately). Yes, your Majesty! + +The King. Those who love, believe. Therefore, believe me when I say +this: If there is a single one of you who, without thinking twice +about it, will die for his King now--here--at once--then I shall +consider that as a command laid upon me to go on living and +working. + +The Mayor (in a terrified whisper). He is insane! + +The General (whispers). Yes! + +The King. I can hear you!--But I suppose you love your King, even +if he is insane? + +All (in agitated tones). Yes, your Majesty! + +The King. Majesty, majesty! There is only One who has any majesty +about Him--certainly not a madman! But if I have been driven mad by +the lies that surround me, it would be a holy deed to make me sound +again. You said you would die for me. Redeem your words! That will +make me well again!--You, General? + +The General. My beloved King, it would be--as our reverend friend +so aptly put it--a most dreadful sin. + +The King. You have let slip a splendid opportunity for showing your +heroism.--You ought to have seen that I was only putting you to the +test!--Good-bye! (Goes into the room on the left.) + +The General. Absolutely insane! + +The Others. Absolutely. + +The Mayor. Such great abilities, too! What might not have been made +of him! + +Bang. The pity of it! + +The Priest. I got so alarmed. + +Bang. So did I! (A loud pistol-shot is heard.) + +The Priest. Another shot? (A pitiful woman's cry is heard from the +other room.) + +The Mayor. What on earth was that? + +Bang. I daren't think! + +The Priest. Nor I! (An old woman rushes out of the room on the +left, calling out: "Help!--Help!--The King!" and hurries out at the +back, calling: "The King! Help, help!" The GENERAL and the MAYOR +rush into the other room. Voices are heard outside asking: "The +King?--Was it the King?" The confusion and uproar grows. In the +midst of it ANNA comes stumbling out of the other room, her hands +stretched out before her, as if she did not know where she was +going. The noise and confusion grows louder every minute, and +crowds of people come rushing into the room from outside as the +Curtain falls.) + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THREE DRAMAS *** + +This file should be named 83dram10.txt or 83dram10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 83dram11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 83dram10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext05 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext05 + +Or /etext04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, +91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + + PROJECT GUTENBERG LITERARY ARCHIVE FOUNDATION + 809 North 1500 West + Salt Lake City, UT 84116 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/83dram10.zip b/old/83dram10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3b695c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/83dram10.zip |