You should have used it then.
HEDDA.
Take it-and do you use it now.
LOVBORG.
[Puts the pistol in his breast pocket.] Thanks!
HEDDA.
And beautifully, Eilert Lovborg. Promise me that!
LOVBORG.
Good-bye, Hedda Gabler. [He goes out by the hall door.
[HEDDA listens for a moment at the door. Then she goes up to the writing-table, takes out the packet of ma.n.u.script, peeps under the cover, draws a few of the sheets half out, and looks at them. Next she goes over and seats herself in the arm-chair beside the stove, with the packet in her lap.
Presently she opens the stove door, and then the packet.
HEDDA.
[Throws one of the quires into the fire and whispers to herself.] Now I am burning your child, Thea!-Burning it, curly-locks! [Throwing one or two more quires into the stove.] Your child and Eilert Lovborg"s. [Throws the rest in.] I am burning-I am burning your child.
ACT FOURTH.
The same rooms at the TESMANS". It is evening. The drawing- room is in darkness. The back room is light by the hanging lamp over the table. The curtains over the gla.s.s door are drawn close.
HEDDA, dressed in black, walks to and fro in the dark room.
Then she goes into the back room and disappears for a moment to the left. She is heard to strike a few chords on the piano. Presently she comes in sight again, and returns to the drawing-room.
BERTA enters from the right, through the inner room, with a lighted lamp, which she places on the table in front of the corner settee in the drawing-room. Her eyes are red with weeping, and she has black ribbons in her cap. She goes quietly and circ.u.mspectly out to the right. HEDDA goes up to the gla.s.s door, lifts the curtain a little aside, and looks out into the darkness.
Shortly afterwards, MISS TESMAN, in mourning, with a bonnet and veil on, comes in from the hall. HEDDA goes towards her and holds out her hand.
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, Hedda, here I am, in mourning and forlorn; for now my poor sister has at last found peace.
HEDDA.
I have heard the news already, as you see. Tesman sent me a card.
MISS TESMAN.
Yes, he promised me he would. But nevertheless I thought that to Hedda-here in the house of life-I ought myself to bring the tidings of death.
HEDDA.
That was very kind of you.
MISS TESMAN.
Ah, Rina ought not to have left us just now. This is not the time for Hedda"s house to be a house of mourning.
HEDDA.
[Changing the subject.] She died quite peacefully, did she not, Miss Tesman?
MISS TESMAN.
Oh, her end was so calm, so beautiful. And then she had the unspeakable happiness of seeing George once more-and bidding him good-bye.-Has he not come home yet?
HEDDA.
No. He wrote that he might be detained. But won"t you sit down?
MISS TESMAN.
No thank you, my dear, dear Hedda. I should like to, but I have so much to do. I must prepare my dear one for her rest as well as I can. She shall go to her grave looking her best.
HEDDA.
Can I not help you in any way?
MISS TESMAN.
Oh, you must not think of it! Hedda Tesman must have no hand in such mournful work. Nor let her thought dwell on it either-not at this time.
HEDDA.
One is not always mistress of one"s thoughts- MISS TESMAN.
[Continuing.] Ah yes, it is the way of the world. At home we shall be sewing a shroud; and here there will soon be sewing too, I suppose-but of another sort, thank G.o.d!
GEORGE TESMAN enters by the hall door.
HEDDA.
Ah, you have come at last!
TESMAN.
You here, Aunt Julia? With Hedda? Fancy that!
MISS TESMAN.
I was just going, my dear boy. Well, have you done all you promised?
TESMAN.
No; I"m really afraid I have forgotten half of it. I must come to you again to-morrow. To-day my brain is all in a whirl. I can"t keep my thoughts together.
MISS TESMAN.
Why, my dear George, you mustn"t take it in this way.
TESMAN.
Mustn"t-? How do you mean?
MISS TESMAN.
Even in your sorrow you must rejoice, as I do-rejoice that she is at rest.
TESMAN.
Oh yes, yes-you are thinking of Aunt Rina.
HEDDA.
You will feel lonely now, Miss Tesman.
MISS TESMAN.
Just at first, yes. But that will not last very long, I hope. I daresay I shall soon find an occupant for Rina"s little room.
TESMAN.
Indeed? Who do you think will take it? Eh?
MISS TESMAN.
Oh, there"s always some poor invalid or other in want of nursing, unfortunately.
HEDDA.
Would you really take such a burden upon you again?
MISS TESMAN.
A burden! Heaven forgive you, child-it has been no burden to me.
HEDDA.
But suppose you had a total stranger on your hands- MISS TESMAN.
Oh, one soon makes friends with sick folk; and it"s such an absolute necessity for me to have some one to live for. Well, heaven be praised, there may soon be something in this house, too, to keep an old aunt busy.
HEDDA.
Oh, don"t trouble about anything here.
TESMAN.
Yes, just fancy what a nice time we three might have together, if-?
HEDDA.
If-?
TESMAN.
[Uneasily.] Oh nothing. It will all come right. Let us hope so-eh?
MISS TESMAN.
Well well, I daresay you two want to talk to each other. [Smiling.] And perhaps Hedda may have something to tell you too, George. Good-bye! I must go home to Rina. [Turning at the door.] How strange it is to think that now Rina is with me and with my poor brother as well!
TESMAN.
Yes, fancy that, Aunt Julia! Eh?
[MISS TESMAN goes out by the hall door.
HEDDA.
[Follows TESMAN coldly and searchingly with her eyes.] I almost believe your Aunt Rina"s death affects you more than it does your Aunt Julia.
TESMAN.