[Who has been gazing at her with folded hands.] Hedda is lovely- lovely-lovely. [Goes up to her, takes her head between both hands, draws it downwards, and kisses her hair.] G.o.d bless and preserve Hedda Tesman-for George"s sake.
HEDDA.
[Gently freeing herself.] Oh-! Let me go.
MISS TESMAN.
[In quiet emotion.] I shall not let a day pa.s.s without coming to see you.
TESMAN.
No you won"t, will you, Auntie? Eh?
MISS TESMAN.
Good-bye-good-bye!
[She goes out by the hall door. TESMAN accompanies her. The door remains half open. TESMAN can be heard repeating his message to Aunt Rina and his thanks for the slippers.
[In the meantime, HEDDA walks about the room, raising her arms and clenching her hands as if in desperation. Then she flings back the curtains from the gla.s.s door, and stands there looking out.
[Presently, TESMAN returns and closes the door behind him.
TESMAN.
[Picks up the slippers from the floor.] What are you looking at, Hedda?
HEDDA.
[Once more calm and mistress of herself.] I am only looking at the leaves. They are so yellow-so withered.
TESMAN.
[Wraps up the slippers and lays them on the table.] Well, you see, we are well into September now.
HEDDA.
[Again restless.] Yes, to think of it!-already in-in September.
TESMAN.
Don"t you think Aunt Julia"s manner was strange, dear? Almost solemn? Can you imagine what was the matter with her? Eh?
HEDDA.
I scarcely know her, you see. Is she not often like that?
TESMAN.
No, not as she was to-day.
HEDDA.
[Leaving the gla.s.s door.] Do you think she was annoyed about the bonnet?
TESMAN.
Oh, scarcely at all. Perhaps a little, just at the moment- HEDDA.
But what an idea, to pitch her bonnet about in the drawing-room! No one does that sort of thing.
TESMAN.
Well you may be sure Aunt Julia won"t do it again.
HEDDA.
In any case, I shall manage to make my peace with her.
TESMAN.
Yes, my dear, good Hedda, if you only would.
HEDDA.
When you call this afternoon, you might invite her to spend the evening here.
TESMAN.
Yes, that I will. And there"s one thing more you could do that would delight her heart.
HEDDA.
What is it?
TESMAN.
If you could only prevail on yourself to say du(3) to her. For my sake, Hedda? Eh?
HEDDA.
No, no, Tesman-you really mustn"t ask that of me. I have told you so already. I shall try to call her "Aunt"; and you must be satisfied with that.
TESMAN.
Well well. Only I think now that you belong to the family, you- HEDDA.
H"m-I can"t in the least see why- [She goes up towards the middle doorway.
TESMAN.
[After a pause.] Is there anything the matter with you, Hedda? Eh?
HEDDA.
I"m only looking at my old piano. It doesn"t go at all well with all the other things.
TESMAN.
The first time I draw my salary, we"ll see about exchanging it.
HEDDA.
No, no-no exchanging. I don"t want to part with it. Suppose we put it there in the inner room, and then get another here in its place. When it"s convenient, I mean.
TESMAN.
[A little taken aback.] Yes-of course we could do that.
HEDDA.
[Takes up the bouquet from the piano.] These flowers were not here last night when we arrived.
TESMAN.
Aunt Julia must have brought them for you.
HEDDA.
[Examining the bouquet.] A visiting-card. [Takes it out and reads:] "Shall return later in the day." Can you guess whose card it is?
TESMAN.
No. Whose? Eh?
HEDDA.
The name is "Mrs. Elvsted."
TESMAN.
Is it really? Sheriff Elvsted"s wife? Miss Rysing that was.
HEDDA.
Exactly. The girl with the irritating hair, that she was always showing off. An old flame of yours I"ve been told.
TESMAN.
[Laughing.] Oh, that didn"t last long; and it was before I met you, Hedda. But fancy her being in town!
HEDDA.
It"s odd that she should call upon us. I have scarcely seen her since we left school.
TESMAN.
I haven"t see her either for-heaven knows how long. I wonder how she can endure to live in such an out-of-the way hole-eh?
HEDDA.
[After a moment"s thought, says suddenly.] Tell me, Tesman-isn"t it somewhere near there that he-that-Eilert Lovborg is living?
TESMAN.
Yes, he is somewhere in that part of the country.
BERTA enters by the hall door.
BERTA.
That lady, ma"am, that brought some flowers a little while ago, is here again. [Pointing.] The flowers you have in your hand, ma"am.
HEDDA.
Ah, is she? Well, please show her in.
BERTA opens the door for MRS. ELVSTED, and goes out herself.
-MRS. ELVSTED is a woman of fragile figure, with pretty, soft features. Her eyes are light blue, large, round, and somewhat prominent, with a startled, inquiring expression.
Her hair is remarkably light, almost flaxen, and unusually abundant and wavy. She is a couple of years younger than HEDDA. She wears a dark visiting dress, tasteful, but not quite in the latest fashion.
HEDDA.
[Receives her warmly.] How do you do, my dear Mrs. Elvsted? It"s delightful to see you again.
MRS. ELVSTED.
[Nervously, struggling for self-control.] Yes, it"s a very long time since we met.
TESMAN.
[Gives her his hand.] And we too-eh?