IVELLIS- I\OPEf\TS EM poo ft 111" A GAUNTLET The Cover is designed by Mr. Lncien Biichmann A GAUNTLET BEING THE NORWEGIAN DRAMA EN HANSKE BY BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY OSMAN EDWARDS LONDON LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. AND NEW YORK : 1 5 EAST 1 6TH ST. 1894 [All rights reserved] Edinburgh : T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to Her Majesty PREFACE ON January 20, 1894, ' A Gauntlet' was thrown down on the stage of the Royalty Theatre. Its clang evoked responsive ap- plause from no small part of the audience, unanimous disapproval from the critics. To account for their verdict, one need not accredit Mr. H. L. Braekstad with membership of a Moonlight Club. His widely-known transla- tion of the author's first version naturally mis- led his fellow-critics, ignorant of the second, into a supposition that the adaptor had taken the most unlicensed liberties with the text. Admirers of Norwegian drama have a right to know exactly what those liberties were. My own wish was to present the play as it stood, with little or no modification. If London play- goers were equal to Ibsen, undiluted Bjornson would not prove too strong for them. But I had reckoned without the stage-manager. Not satisfied with ruthless omission, this potent VI intermediary interpolated some lines, and so effectually changed others, that the general effect was to turn a grave comedy into a semi- serious farce. The character of Mrs. Ries was soured ; the carefully directed ' curtains ' robbed of effect. In its final shape ' A Gaunt- let ' was sent to the author, who replied that he could not spare time for supervision, and that I must take all responsibility. Reducing the demand for excision to a minimum in view of the late stage of the rehearsals, I was re- fused, and had no option but to submit the play, as ' adapted ' by Mr. George Hawtrey, to its other executioners. It will not surprise me, however, if the inclement veteran (of The Daily Telegraph) and the witty franc-tireur (of The Star} agree for once in regarding Bjornson as his own executioner, since most of their strictures apply to his ' second thoughts,' here faithfully set forth. A complete appreciation of the play is, perhaps, impossible, without some knowledge of its birth, its re-birth, its relationship to other offspring of the same parentage. It was born, then, in Paris in 1883, and had for twin- brother ( Pastor Sang ' (Over .ZEvne). To produce in one year two plays, which challenged so directly the religious and ethical ideas of his countrymen, was characteristic of the author, then at the zenith of his 'second youth,' as Georg Brandes styles the most strenuous decade (1873-83) of Bjornson's life. During that period he turned from the fashioning of exquisite poems, saga-plays, and peasant-tales, from the romantic fatherland of Grundvig and Wergeland, to grapple with social problems in seven dramas of modern life. Of the earlier five, two 'The Editor' and 'The King'- took as their milieu the political world; two ' A Bankruptcy ' and ' The New System ' the commercial ; one, entitled ' Leonarda/ portrayed the duel between an emancipated woman and a bishop-ridden community. If ' Pastor Sang ' may be regarded as in some measure a result of the religious controversy, in which the author engaged before leaving Norway in the autumn of '82, it is equally certain that the atmosphere of Paris was not without effect on the spirit and form of ' A Gauntlet.' Too sure an artist to load his drama with didactic matter, Bjornson un- burdened his soul four years afterwards in a lecture ' Polygamy and Monogamy ' which was delivered in more than sixty Scandinavian towns, and of which more than 80,000 copies were sold in a threepenny edition. He did not mince words about French 'lubricity.' ' Look at the otherwise self-respecting, puncti- lious Frenchman ! when passion seizes him, he loses all those qualities, all power of resistance : an abyss yawns before him, and into it he falls. . . . The great writers of France have at last discovered this abyss, and one may say, that the stench of what is now being drawn from its depths pervades the world.' It had invaded Norway, where Hans Jaeger had made a bid for Zola's laurels by publishing 'From the Kristiania-Boheme,' and the Govern- ment had confiscated Kristian Krog's novel 'Albertine' a plea for the emancipation of Nana from state control. Thus men's minds were ripe for the poet's denunciation of the unrecognised ' polygamy,' which was sapping ' the fine sensibilities of youth, the fertility of talent, family life and national character ' ; for his remedial advocacy of bolder education, greater facility of divorce, the opening of more employments to women, and the equalisation of the sexes. It is well to note how strongly Bjornson, the reformer, sympathises with such ideals as those of which Svava is the champion ; for his sympathies do not prevent Bjornson, the artist, from depicting with impartial power worldly sense and unworldly aspiration, the outraged cynic and the disillusioned girl. His direction to play the comedy lightly, ' as if it had no tendenz,' is of a piece with the supreme naturalness of the characters. Nowhere is the dramatist hampered by the pulpiteer. In 1887 the play was rewritten in the shape, and with the lineaments, which the present translation has endeavoured to reproduce. The first act had been little altered, but the second and third were entirely recast ; one prominent character had been omitted, and the ending was totally changed. It remains, therefore, to append a brief outline of the first version, since comparison of the two sheds interesting light on the author's constructive methods. ACT I Mrs. Ries is discovered in conversation with ' Uncle Nordan,' an old friend of the family, who informs her that Mr. Christensen has advanced money to satisfy Mrs. North, and. will expect repayment from Ries. The ex- posure of the latter is thus prepared from the first, whereas in the second version no hint is vouchsafed, until Mrs. Ries says (in Act II.) : ' I could answer you if I chose. You count on my silence.' The playful and serious scene be- tween Svava and her parents, the talk of the lovers, the revelation of Alf s past by Hoff, are practically identical in both versions. ACT II Svava is successively urged by her mother, father, and Dr. Nordan to forgive Alf. She reproaches the first with inconsistency, and recalls an episode of her childhood, when she had found her mother crying and been told : ' Never give way in what you know to be good and pure, for it always means giving way more and more ! ' Nordan begs her to take time XI and not decide hastily on a ' doubtful question discussed by serious men and women all over the world.' She replies impetuously : ' It only concerns me, and there 's no doubt about it.' Soon after Mr. and Mrs. Christensen call ; a family council is held; the lovers are sent for. Alf is humble and conciliatory, but when the issue is put plainly to him : ' A woman, then, owes a man her past and future, but a man only owes a woman his future ? ' he assents. The indignant girl dashes her glove in his face. NOHDAN That was a gauntlet ! CHRISTEXSEN It is war, then ? Well, I understand a little about war. ACT III Early on the following morning Alf comes haggard and sleepless to Dr. Nordan's house, where he begs permission to remain in order to see Svava. He is followed by his father en route for the palace to be presented with other Xll knights of St. Olaf. Then Mrs. Ries arrives, and a sharp logomachy ensues. To old Christensen's disgust Alf refuses to take up the gauntlet. ' I love her more than ever,' he declares, 'whatever she may think of me.' It appears that Mrs. Ries has written a letter overnight to her daughter, telling her of her father's infidelity. As a result, Svava is more inclined to relent towards Alf, but cannot quite forgive her mother. 'I should have been told before ; when I was old enough to understand.' To his deeply distressed wife and child Ries now enters, full of childish delight in the decoration, which Christensen has procured for him an unexpected move in the family-war. Unable or unwilling to per- ceive their suffering, he goads Svava into the despairing cry : ' You have ruined my home for me; almost every moment of the past seems tainted ! ' The final scene between the lovers ends as follows : May I ask one thing, one thing, with all my heart ? Wait for me ! We two have planned out Xlll our life, and I will carry out the plan . . . alone. Perhaps, one day, when you see how faithful I have been . . . Give me an answer. I must have something to live for ! Give me a sign ! Reach out a hand to me ! [Svava turns and reaches out both hands. He goes. MRS. RIES Did you promise him something ? SVAVA I think so. [Clings to her mother in great agitation. O. E. DRAMATIS PERSONS RIES. MRS. RIES. SVAVA UIKS, their daughter. CHRISTENSEN. MRS. CHRISTENSEN. ALP CHRISTENSEN, their son. HOFF. MARIE, servant in Ries's house. PETER. HANNA, KAMMA, FREDERIKE, and three other young girls. Action takes place in Ries's house. A GAUNTLET THE FIRST ACT A tastefully arranged music-room. In the background, open doors, leading into a park ; on either side of the doors, windows ; busts on the intervening walls. On the right are windows; on the left two doors, of which the first leads into Ries's room; between the doors, rather forward, a piano : in front of it a music-stool. In the foreground, on both sides, sofas ; in front of the right-hand sofa a small table, chairs, a music- cabinet between the windows on the right, etc. THE FIRST SCENE Mrs. Ries ; immediately after, Ries. Mrs. Ries is seated on the right-hand sofa, with her face turned to the park, a magazine in her hand, which she reads from time to time during the following scene. Ries enters from his room. He is in his shirt sleeves, and is fastening his collar. A 2 RIES I haven't seen Svava yet. MRS. RIES Svava has gone out. RIES Gone out ? MRS. RIES To the baths. RIES Oh! [Crosses to the windows on the right, then vanishes again into his room, but comes back at once, and again crosses to the windows, busied all the time with his collar. MRS. RIES Perhaps I can help you ? RIES Oh dear no ! Thanks all the same ! These new shirts give one no end of trouble. I bought them in Paris. MRS. RIES Yes, a whole dozen, wasn't it ? RIES And a half. When did you come home last night ? I did not see you leave. MRS. RIES No, you were playing cards ; we did not wish to disturb you. About one o'clock, I should think. And you ? RIES Not much before half-past two. What a large party it was ! MRS. RIES Yes ; but not on a luxurious scale ; rather stingy, I thought, for a betrothal-party. RIES I am told that was Alf s wish. MRS. RIES Alf is opposed to luxury. Tell me, how do you like him ? Very much. There can't be two opinions about him. \He again vanishes into his room and comes back. 4 Do you know, I 'm racking my brains over a problem ? MRS. RIES It must be very complicated. RIES To be sure, to be sure ! So it is. This collar is simply. . . . There ! at last ! [Goes again into his room and returns, this time with a tie in his hand. What I 'm puzzled by is our dear girl's character. MRS. RIES Svava's character ? RIES Yes ; I 'm wondering what traits she has from you, and what from me ; or, rather, what traits she inherits from your family, and what from mine, and so forth. Svava is a remark- able girl. MRS. RIES She is indeed. RIES Taken as a whole, she is neither you nor I, nor even a combination of both. 5 MRS. RIES No, Svava is something more. RIES Yes : ever so much more. [He vanishes again and returns, this time in his coat, which he brushes from time to time. What do you say ? MRS. RIES Nothing. Only, Svava is like my mother. RIES Well, I must say ! Svava's quiet, pleasant disposition what are you dreaming of ? MRS. RIES Svava can be passionate enough. RIES She never sets convention at defiance, as your mother did. MRS. RIES You never understood my mother. But I dare say they are different in many things. RIES I should think they were ! Now, do you see that I was right to reason with her ever since she was quite little ? Do you see that, now ? you objected at the time. MRS. RIES I objected to your perpetually plaguing her there was no end to it first one thing, then another. RIES Yes, but the result, my love ? the result ? [He begins to hum. MRS. RIES Well, you surely won't say your arguments made Svava what she is ? RIES [Vanishing into his room again.] Not only the arguments but [ from his room] the argu- ments had a great deal to do with it ! Did you notice her yesterday ? She has plenty of savoir vivre. What ? [He comes out again. MRS. RIES Surely, that is not what we prize most in Svava ? RIES No, no ! On the steamboat a man asked me if I were related to the Miss Ries who founded the Orphanage here. Yes, I said,, 1 had the honour to be her father. You should have seen the fellow then ! I was quite touched ! MRS. RIES Yes, the Orphanage has been a success from the first. Was it through the Orphanage that she became engaged ? MRS. RIES You had better ask Svava. RIES But you 're not noticing me at all my new suit? MRS. RIES Indeed I am ! RIES Haven't you a word of admiration ? The tout ensemble a harmony in colour, eh? down to the very shoes ! And the pocket- handkerchief to match ! MRS. RIES How old are you, Ries ? Hush ! hush ! Well, how old do you sup- pose people would take me for ? MRS. RIES For forty, of course. RIES ' Of course ' ? As if it were so self-evident ! Let me tell you, this suit is a sort of Festal Overture, composed in Cologne directly I received the telegram about Svava's engage- ment. Think of that ! in Cologne ! not ten hours' journey from Paris ! But I couldn't wait ten hours I was so impressed with my own importance, when I thought that my daughter was about to marry into the richest family in the country. MRS. RIES Did you only buy that suit ? RIES What a question ! Wait till my trunks come from the Custom-house ! MRS. RIES Ah ! then it will be our turn, I suppose ! RIES Your turn ? Very fortunate for papa wasn't it ? to be on his way to Paris at the critical moment ! MRS. RIES Yes : and you nearly missed the party altogether. RIES Oh ! but that was splendid as it turned out the steamer being so late for suddenly as if a magician had waved his wand, there was I in the middle of a fete champetre \ A party in honour of my own, my only daughter where, naturally, I had a most flattering reception. Never in my life had I been so feted before. MRS. RIES Who did you play cards with ? Can you believe it ? I made up a rubber with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ? In other words, with our host, the Minister of State, and my brother, the Director-General. It 's an exceptional honour for a man to lose his money to such distinguished persons, for I invariably lose. What 's that you're reading ? 10 MRS. RIES The Fortnightly. RIES Has there been anything in the last number or two while I was away ? [Begins to hum a tune. MRS. RIES Yes, here is an article on the very subject we 've been discussing, hereditary transmis- sion. RIES Do you know this tune ? [He crosses quickly to the piano.] There 's a rage for it just now. I heard it all over Germany. [He plays and sings a few bars, but breaks off suddenly.] I '11 fetch the music before I forget. [Dives into his room and returns with a piece of music. He seats himself at the piano and continues to play and sing. THE SECOND SCENE The same. Svava enters by second door on the left. RIES [Stops at sight of her and jumps up.~\ Good 11 morning, my dear girl, good morning ! I 've scarcely had a chance of saying ' How do you do ? ' yet. I couldn't get near you at the party. \He kisses her, and advances with her to the foreground. SVAVA Why were you so long returning from abroad? Why don't people give notice when they intend to be engaged ? SVAVA Because they know nothing about it them selves until it happens. Good morning again, mother ! [She kneels beside her. MRS. RIES Ah ! how fresh and sweet you are ! You went into the woods after your bath ? \Rising.~\ Yes, and on my way home I met Alf, who wished me good morning. He'll be here in a minute. [To Ries.~\ And do you know what / 've seen ? Do you know what vessels are in the harbour ? 12 RIES Aha ! have they arrived at last ? My two large yachts ? SVAVA Yes, they 're close to the bridge ! The deck is like the floor of a ball-room. RIES Don't you think one might dance on it ? What a splendid idea ! No one but you thinks of such things ! Fancy ! two large boats side by side, with one deck laid over both, and an awning above And in front a steam tug with a band on board, and then out to the fiord ! Hurrah ! Every one I 've spoken to means to have an awfully jolly time to-morrow. As for me, I feel as excited as a child. RIES To tell the truth which one should always 13 do I had quite given up all idea of ever see- ing our ' little old maid ' so happy. SVAVA Yes, indeed ! so had I. RIES Until this prince came ? Until this prince came. He was a long time coming. RIES Was he ? And did you have to wait all that time ? SVAVA No, certainly not. I never gave him a thought. RIES That sounds mysterious. SVAVA Yes, it is mysterious how two people, who have known one another from childhood, without giving each other a thought, suddenly for that is how it was became totally dif- 14 ferent. Since one particular moment, Alf hasn't seemed the same person to me. RIES While, of course, to the rest of the world he is unchanged ? SVAVA I hope so. RIES AnyTTv r be is much livelier I can see that. Sj I saw you laughing together yesterday. What were you laughing at ? RIES Can't you guess ? At the lady who had the place of honour next his mother. SVAVA AND MRS. RIES [Throwing away the magazine .] Ah! 'the Dragon ' ! RIES Yes. Were they making fun of any one else ? 15 MRS. RIES To me she is the most repulsive person in the world, with her knitting-basket, her pug, and her mischievous tongue. RIES Oh ! but when you 're the richest member of the family, and an old maid, people only think you original. We laughed at everything she said, and thought it very witty. MRS. RIES Well, there was a limit to my patience I came away. RIES Yes, I noticed that. You belong to a dif- ferent cult. Those who worship the Golden Calf have a hard time of it. No one is so dependent as the rich. MRS. RIES \To Svava, mho is looking out of the window .] But what actually passed between you and her? RIES Between you and ' the Dragon ' ? Was any- thing the matter ? 16 SVAVA She was very kind ; she is always kind to me. MRS. RIES Yes, but you left her rather abruptly. She must have said something ? RIES About me ? SVAVA If you must know, she said something dis- agreeable about Alf. RIES About Alf. SVAVA ' Disagreeable ' is not the right word, per- haps. She said, ' If at any time you want to know anything about your fiance, just come to me.' RIES She 's a troll ! a wicked troll ; for there are good trolls too. And, talking of them, let me congratulate you on your new morning dress. Under the circumstances it is really stylish. 17 SVAVA Under the circumstances ? Does that mean, considering you could not be with me to choose it ? Yes : for I should never have chosen this trimming though, under the circumstances, it 's not so bad. And the cut ? Dear me Just wait till my trunks come ! Surprises ? RIES Splendid surprises ! Stop ! I have some- thing here as it is. [Goes into his room. [To Mrs. Ries.~\ He 's very restless, mamma, more than usual. Don't you notice it ? MRS. RIES He 's so pleased, my child ! So delighted to be home again SVAVA But there 's always something so gentle and winning about papa . . . 18 Ries comes back. SVAVA [To him.~\ Do you know what the Minister of State said about you yesterday ? RIES What a man of such high position says must be worth hearing. SVAVA ' Miss Ries, your father is still our man of fashion par excellence ! ' UIES Ah, son excellence a bien dit ! But I can tell you something better than that. You shall make your father decore [He points to his button-hole, SVAVA I? RIES Yes, who else ? Already the Government has been of use to me more than once in various business transactions: but this time 19 I shall accept the order of St. Olaf. [Describes a cross on his breast. SVAVA I congratulate you ! RIES 'When it pours on the pastor, it rains on the clerk/ you know. As father-in-law of our great man SVAVA You are really so uncommonly modest in your new capacity. RIES Am I not ? And now I will appear in the character of a modest Exhibitor of elegant costumes or rather, of designs for costumes a still more modest role I SVAVA Oh no, papa ! Not now ! MRS. RIES Don't let us begin with them till the after- noon ! RIES Really, any one would believe /was the only 20 woman in the house ! Well, as you will. For I have another proposal in two parts. Part 1 : Let 's sit down ! SVAVA We will. [They seat themselves. RIES [To Svava.~\ Now that papa has come home, tell him exactly how it all happened. Explain that mystery, you know ! SVAVA Oh ! indeed ! No, you must excuse me. I can't tell you ! RIES Not with its tender details ! Good heavens ! Who would be so brutal as to ask ? Before you have been engaged a month ! No : I only meant how you came to know each other. SVAVA Oh ! for that I have to thank our precious RIES Your precious Orphanage, you mean ? 21 SVAVA No : we have more than a hundred girls interested in it now. RIES Well, go on : so he came with a subscription ? SVAVA Yes : with several. RIES Aha! SVAVA One day we happened to speak of luxury. We thought it so much better to spend time and money in a good cause than on luxury. RIES Well, but what do you mean exactly by ' luxury ' ? SVAVA We didn't define it, but I said that I con- sidered luxury immoral. RIES Immoral ? luxury ? 22 SVAVA Yes : I know that is not your view, but it is mine. RIES Your mother's, you mean, and your grand- mother's. SVAVA Quite so : but mine too if you have no objection ? RIES Heaven forbid ! SVAVA I was telling him of something we saw in America you, mother, and I don't you remember ? We were at a temperance meet- ing, and saw some ladies drive up, who came to support Moderation ! Those ladies well, we didn't know the amount of their fortunes, but to judge from their horses, toilets, and jewels especially jewels they must have been worth RIES Many thousand dollars ! SVAVA And that is just as much one form of excess as drunkenness is another. RIES Well, and what then ? SVAVA Ah ! you shrug your shoulders. Alf didn't shrug his. He began to tell me of his experiences ... in the large towns. RIES His experiences ? SVAVA Yes : of the gulf between rich and poor, between boundless want and shameless luxury. RIES Really ! . . . I thought . . . Well, go on ! SVAVA He didn't sit unconcerned, trimming his nails RIES I beg your pardon ! SVAVA Pray, don't disturb yourself! No; he prophesied a social revolution, and spoke with the utmost fervour. Then he explained his opinions about private property. It was all so unexpected, so novel to me. You should have seen how noble, how beautiful he looked ! RIES Really? beautiful? SVAVA Yes: at least / thought so. And, so did mother. Didn't you ? MRS. RIES [Continuing to read.] Yes, dear. RIES Mothers are always in love with their daughters' accepted suitors ! But that soon passes off, when they become sons-in-law. SVAVA Is that your experience ? RIES That is my experience. So Alf Christensen has grown beautiful ? I suppose I must agree with you ? 25 SVAVA As he stood there, steadfast, frank, and pure for he must be that too ! RIES What do you mean by ' pure,' my dear girl ? SVAVA I mean what the word means. RIES Exactly : what does it mean ? SVAVA Well, it means, what I hope any one would understand by it when applied to myself. RIES What ? The word has the same meaning to you neither more nor less whether used of a man or a woman ? SVAVA Yes, of course. RIES And you imagine that a son of Christen- sen ? 26 SVAVA [Rising.] Father, you hurt me ! RIES How can Alf s being his father's son hurt you? SVAVA In this point he is not his father's son ! I am not deceived in him ! MRS. RIES I'm just reading about inherited qualities. He need not be an exact copy of his father. RIES Well, well, as you will ! I fight shy of all your air-spun theories. They never carry you any further. SVAVA What do you mean ? RIES f Don't be so excited ! Come and sit down ! Besides, how can you know ? SVAVA How can I know ? What ? 27 RIES Why, in each particular case ? SVAVA How do I know if a man, with whom I associate, is a man or a brute ? RIES Ah ! There we have it. You may be mis- taken, my dear Svava. Come and sit down ! No ; I am no more mistaken in him than I am in you, papa, when you tease me with your horrible principles. For, in spite of all you say, you are the most refined and delicate . . . MRS. RIES [Throiving away the magazine '.] Are you going to keep on that dress, my child ? Won't you change it before Alf comes ? SVAVA No, mother, it's no use trying to turn the subject ! Too many of my girl friends have repeated the old story of Beauty and the Beast with this difference. In their case the lover . . . began by being a Fairy Prince, but when they 28 awoke from their dream he was transformed into a beast. I won't have anything like that ! I won't make that mistake. MRS. RIES Well, you needn't speak so vehemently. Alf is an honourable young man. SVAVA Yes, he is. But I have come across so many shocking cases. And only the other day there was that affair of Helga Holm ! MRS. RIES Yes, that was dreadful. RIES What was that ? SVAVA Haven't you heard ? RIES No. SVAVA They are separated. RIES The Holms ? SVAVA For unfaithfulness. She discovered her husband RIES The devil ! Recently ? SVAVA Quite recently. RIES Hm ! Well, well ! SVAVA And now I will tell you something, which I have never spoken of before. Do you know that once long ago I was very nearly en- gaged ? RIES AND MRS. RIES [Rising.] You, Svava ? SVAVA Yes. I won't say to whom ! I was very, very young, and he professed oh ! the noblest principles, the highest aims ! In this respect he was exactly the opposite of papa. To say 30 I loved him would be too little. I worshipped him ! But you must excuse my telling you what I discovered, and how. It was at the time when you all believed I was MRS. RIES Consumptive ? RIES Was it then ? [Svava nods. MRS. RIES [Approaching herJ\ And you never told me a word ? \Ries goes towards the left. Well, it 's all over now ! But one thing is quite certain ; when a woman has once had such an experience, she will not let herself be deceived twice. \Ries has meanwhile disappeared into his room. MRS. RIES Perhaps it was for your happiness, after all. 31 SVAVA Yes, I am convinced of that ! Well ! it 's all over now ! But my sufferings were not en- tirely over until I found Alf. Where is papa ? MRS. RIES Papa ? Here he comes. [Comes out of his room, with his hat on, in the act of drawing on a glove. Now, children, I must go to the Custom House to see after my trunks. Good-bye, my dear girl ! [Kisses SvavaJ\ You have made us very happy, very happy ! But some of your ideas . . . well, well ! [Going o/f.] Good-bye ! MRS. RIES Good-bye ! RIES [Coming back once more, to Svava, while he again draws on his glove. Did you notice that tune I was playing just now? In Germany I heard it everywhere. [He begins to play and sing, but suddenly he jumps up. 32 No, I spoil it. However, there 's the music ; you can learn it for yourself. [He retires to the back, humming. He is delightful ! There is really some- thing so artless about him. Did you notice him yesterday ? He was quite brilliant ! MRS. RIES I wish you could have seen yourself ! SVAVA Yes. I was happy ! Why should I deny it ? Every one was so kind, yes, everybody ! [She embraces her mother. MRS. RIES Now I must look after the housekeeping a little. SVAVA [Accompanying herJ\ Shall I help you ? MRS. RIES No ; stop where you are ! SVAVA Well, I '11 play over papa's tune once or 33 twice it is really pretty and very soon Alf will be here ! [Mrs. Ries passes out of second door on the left. Svava takes her seat at the piano and begins to play. THE THIRD SCENE Svava. Alf enters on the right from the back. ALF [Comes softly up and leans over Svava, so that his face almost touches hers. Thank you for yesterday ! SVAVA Alf! I didn't hear you ring. ALF Your father met me at the door. What a pretty tune that is ! SVAVA Yes. And thank you, thank you so much for yesterday. \They retire to back together. c ALF You can't imagine what a success you were. SVAVA Perhaps I can just a wee bit. ALF Every one is delighted at home. SVAVA So they are here. ALF If even ' the Dragon' thought you 'splendid/ you can judge what an impression you made ! SVAVA Really ? I fancied I had offended her. ALF Oh dear no ! But I saw you left her rather abruptly. SVAVA Oh, that was nothing ! What have you in your hand ? A letter ? ALF Yes. Your maid gave it me. Some sharp 35 fellow has found out that I should come here in the course of the morning. SVAVA You think that was not hard to guess ? ALP Not very. I must go over to see Edward Hansen. SVAVA You can take a short cut through the park. [She points to the left. ALF I know. And as he writes ' urgent,' and underlines the word SVAVA You can have my key. Here ! [Giving it to him. ALF Thanks ! many thanks ! Oh, it 's purely selfish ! I shall have you back again the sooner. 36 ALF I can stop here till noon- SVAVA Oh, longer, much longer can't you ? We have such a lot to say to each other about yesterday. ALF And about to-morrow too. Do you know, I hadn't seen your father's floating ball-room ? SVAVA No ? Did you ever hear of such an idea ? I shall enjoy myself to-morrow ! ALF / sha'n't enjoy myself in the least. SVAVA Is it possible ? Why, everybody will. ALF Except me ; and that is why I do want a talk with you. Couldn't we meet somewhere to-morrow before the party ? Alone ? SVAVA Will you come over here, then ? 37 ALF Yes, but wouldn't it be better if we went out for a row ? SVAVA Just as you like. Ah ! thanks. Quite early, mind. I can't spare you a moment ; and the party only keeps you away from me. Why didn't we find each other sooner ? SVAVA Because we hadn't reached the right stage. How can you tell ? I believe we were meant for one another. We suit each other very well don't you think so ? ALF Uncommonly well ! But we can't be sure that that isn't partly the result of what we were before. 38 SVAVA There ! that's what I said ! ALF Now I must be off: the letter says 'in haste.' [They retire to the back. SVAVA One minute can make no difference ! Do you know, when I saw you yesterday among the others I didn't recognise you ? You were quite changed. You had become some one else. ALF Ah ! that 's always the way, darling ! there are some things one never sees except in con- nection with others. Now I realise for the first time how tall you are, and how, when you bow, you bend the least little bit to one side. Now I know exactly the colour of your complexion, your hair, your neck . . . SVAVA Excuse me, it 's my turn to speak ! ALF Well, then ? [Both, having reached the door at the back, turn round again and advance to the front. When you looked at me and leaned on me just now, I had such a strange sensation; I felt that I was blushing to the roots of my hair. Really? That isn't how I felt. When- ever any one danced with you I felt mad with jealousy. Yes, you may look at me ! I be- grudged you to him yes, I begrudged you to every one ! My God ! I can't bear any one to touch you! {They embrace.] But I've not yet told you what I like best of all. And that is ? This. If I saw you far off, among the others, it might be only a flying gleam of your arm, I loved to think : This arm has clung to my shoulder, to my neck, and to no other in the whole world ! It is mine it belongs to me, and to no one, no one, no one else ! Why, how 's this ? Are we back again already ? This is sorcery ! Well, I must go now. [Moves towards backJ\ Good-bye ! [Lets Svava go, and at once embraces her again. 40 Why was not this happiness mine years ago ? Good-bye ! SVAVA I think I '11 come with you. ALF Yes, do ! SVAVA No : I had better practise this tune until papa comes back. I shall have no time later on. Good-bye, then. [The house bell rings. ALF Here comes some one ! Send him off soon, whoever he is. We want to be alone. [Hastens through the left-hand door at the back. Svava gazes after him. She is just in the act of going to the piano when Marie enters. THE FOURTH SCENE Svava. Marie. Later, Hoff. [From second door on the left.] A man is here who 41 SVAVA Do you know him ? MARIE No. SVAVA What sort of man ? MARIE Well, he is rather . . . rather . . . SVAVA Suspicious-looking ? MARIE Oh clear no ! Quite a respectable man. SVAVA Tell him papa is not at home. MARIE I have told him so ; but he wishes to speak to you, Miss. SVAVA Oh ! ask mother to come. But no, why should she ? Show him in. [Marie goes out through same door by which H off 'now enters. HOFF Have I the honour to address Miss Ries ? Yes, I see you are she. My name is Hoff Karl Hoff, commercial traveller. In iron, Miss, in iron SVAVA Yes ; but what have I ? HOFF Well, you see, if I 'd been an ordinary stay- at-home householder, like other people, a good many things would never have happened ! SVAVA What would never have happened ? [Drams out a pocket-book and takes a letter from it. Will you be so kind so kind as to read this ? Or perhaps you would rather not ? SVAVA Well, how can I tell ? No, of course : you must first . . . if you please [Hands her the letter. 43 SVAVA [Reading.] ' This evening between ten and eleven that is if " the Noodle " doesn't come home I love you with all my soul Put a light in the passage window/ HOFF I am ' the Noodle.' SVAVA But I don't understand HOFF Here is another ! [He /lands her a second letter. ' I am conscience-stricken. Your cough frightens me, and just now, when you are expecting . . .' But what in the world has all this to do with me ? HOFF [After some reflection.] Well, what do you think of it ? SVAVA Is it some one I ought to help ? 44 HOFF No ; she needs no help now, poor creature ! She is dead. SVAVA Dead ? Was it your wife ? HOFF Yes, it was my wife. I found these and one more ... in a little case. At the bottom lay the letters these are not the only ones and just above them was a little wadding in which was a pair of earrings, together with a few trinkets . . . presents from her mother. And then I found these bracelets look ! they are decidedly too expensive for her mother to have given her! SVAVA She died suddenly then, before HOFF Well, I can't say. Consumptive people never think they are going to die, else, no doubt, she would have hidden all this away. Ah ! she was so gentle, so delicate ! May I take a seat ? Pray do ! [Ho ft takes a seat.] Are there any children ? HOFF [After some consideration.^ I believe not. You believe not ? I asked, because I thought you had come about our Orphanage. I need not say this is most painful for me ! HOFF Yes ; so I thought, so I thought ! I 'm not at all sure whether I ... but there ! you don't understand ! SVAVA No, indeed I can't. HOFF No, no, of course not ! I 've heard so much good of you for many years ; and my wife used to praise you too. SVAVA Did she know me ? 46 HOFF She was Maren Tang she was a companion SVAVA To Mrs. Christensen, my future mother-in- law ? So it was she ? Why, she was an edu- cated, quiet, lady-like girl. Surely you have made some mistake ? A few notes without a signature, without even a date ? HOFF Didn't you know the writing ? SVAVA I ? No. It 's disguised, isn't it ? HOFF Yes, but not very much, I think. Had you not a special object in coming to me ? HOFF I had ; but I think I will let it alone. I see well enough you don't understand such things. Perhaps you think my mind is slightly affected. Well, it wouldn't be surprising. 47 SVAVA Still, you must have had an object ? HOFF So I had ! You see, this Orphanage- SVAVA Oh ! it is about that, then ! No, not exactly. But it's owing to the Orphanage that I have thought so highly of you for a long time past and a good many others have done the same. If I may take the liberty of saying so, I never saw any fashionable young lady before occupy herself with something useful. Never before. I am only a poor, broken-down merchant. I have to travel for other firms now, and I 've met with many misfortunes. Perhaps I was to blame for most of them. But you see, I was anxious that you should be spared ! I thought to myself, it 's incumbent on me . . . my positive duty ! . . . But now, when I sit face to face with you ... I only feel that I 'm very miserable. No, I want nothing from you, nothing at all. 48 SVAVA I don't understand you. HOFF You mustn't bother any more about me. I beg your pardon a thousand times, a thousand times ! \He rises to his feetJ\ No, please don't trouble your head about me in the least ! Forget me altogether ! I have not been here. That 'sail! [He meets Alf at the door, just as the latter is entering. When Hoff observes that Svava is looking attentively, he goes hastily out. THE FIFTH SCENE Svava. Alf. Last of all, Ries. Svava, who has remarked the agitation of both men, utters a muffled shriek. She hastens towards Alf, but, as soon as she has looked him in the face, staggers back in sudden horror. Alf tries to support her. Don't touch me. 49 [She hastens through the second door on the left. From the outside is heard the slam- ming of the door and the drawing of a bolt. Then, for a moment only, violent sobbing, somewhat subdued by distance. Outside Ries is heard to hum the same tune as before, and immediately after he enters THE CURTAIN FALLS. THE SECOND ACT The same room. The afternoon. THE FIRST SCENE Mrs. Ries. Marie. MARIE The gardener is here. He wishes to know how soon we are to bring in the flowers and decorate the music-room. MRS. RIES At once! . . . Or rather . . . I 'm not quite sure, Marie. MARIE Well, we can't put it off any longer, m'am, if we 're to have any decorations at all. MRS. RIES Oh ! we have plenty of time by to-morrow afternoon ! 51 MARIE Yes ; but to-morrow there will be so many other things to do. Oh dear, Mrs. Hies, what is the matter ? I saw Miss Svava go out just now looking so unhappy. MRS. RIES Well, she must tell you herself, Marie ! [Sits down and begins to cry. A ring is heard at the door. MARIE Perhaps that is she. [Peeps outJ\ No ; it is the ladies' trio. Must we have them now ? MRS. RIES Oh dear ! They want to practise, I suppose. The trio is to be sung to-morrow at the party if there is to be one. MARIE [Surprised J\ What do you say ? MRS. RIES Svava must tell you herself ! We had better sit up late and do the work, Marie. I can't undertake anything now. [The trio is heard outside. 52 MARIE Shall I tell the gardener he had better bring the flowers to-night ? MRS. RIES Yes, do, Marie. [Marie goes out. THE SECOND SCENE Mrs. Ries. The Ladies' Trio. Six girls enter, each with a bouquet in her hand, led by Peter, tripping in waltz measure. Peter hastens at once to the piano and begins the accompaniment. The girls advance to Mrs. Ries, and move about her in waltz-time, while one couple dances round and round her. When they come to the words: 'Hand in hand now turning, turning,' they form a close circle round her. The dance is repeated. WALTZ Dawn, brightly breaking, Blissful awaking, When Love is born, like a flower set free, When, in high splendour, 53 Magical, tender, Venus soars up from the heart of the sea. Rich to completeness, Spring scatters sweetness ; Airs with glad greeting teem, Beckon with scent and gleam, Harmonies falling, Beauties enthralling, Blend, reeling forth in a riotous stream. Hand in hand now turning, turning, Steals through every maid a yearning ; Captive we by dreams enclosen, Each is dreaming of her chosen, Dreams of wedding and of wooing, Love's obtaining, Love's undoing. Fetterless forces Lie at Life's sources, Fires, that must mingle in madness of strife, Till, by their roaring Currents' out-pouring Mightily moulded, at last blossoms life. Twine the wreath busily, Speed the dance dizzily, Swiftly desire to fulfilment is winging. Lovers ! Love guide you, Dream-like, beside you, On ever on to the sound of our singing ! ALL Good-morning, auntie ! How are you, auntie ? How jolly it was yesterday ! HANNA Just fancy, auntie, we kept it up until five this morning ! KAMMA and FREDERIKE We went into the woods and sang. HANNA We haven't been to bed at all. THE OTHERS No : not one of us ! SEVERAL We have been together all this morning ! FREDERIKE Yes, and we saw the pleasure-boats, too ! HANNA and KAMMA We went on board ALL And danced ! 55 HANNA Oh, it was splendid ! FREDERIKE Ah ! how jolly it will be to-morrow ! ALL O auntie ! KAMMA And now we '11 practise the trio for to morrow. Isn't the new waltz charming? MRS. RIES Yes, indeed. PETER We shall have a pretty practice to-day ! KAMMA Peter is as cross as a bear to-day. HANNA Yes, odious ! ALL THE OTHERS Simply odious, auntie ! KAMMA You know in the waltz it says : ' Blissful 56 awaking, when Love is bom, like a flower set free ? ' Well, every time he roars out ' Painful awaking ! ' ALL Ha, ha, ha ! HANNA He's as dull as ditch water ! FREDERIKE He 's only tired, poor fellow ! He 's so blase ! It was a shame to keep him up all night. ALL Poor thing ! PETER Thank you ! I appreciate your sympathy, if I am blase. HANNA Where is Svava, auntie ? MRS. RIES She has gone out. KAMMA With herjiance ? 57 MRS. RIES No, alone. SEVERAL Alone ? PETER Ha, ha, ha ! FREDERIKE and KAMMA Be quiet ! HANNA I can guess where she is ! ANOTHER So can I ! HANNA She is at Helga Holm's, auntie ! FREDERIKE Isn't it shocking about Helga ? MRS. RIES Indeed it is, child. HANNA To be so deceived in her husband ! 58 ALL Shocking ! MRS. RIES Still, I wasn't altogether surprised. FREDERIKE Why ? Was he always like that ? KAMMA Before he was married ? MRS. RIES Yes. And, as the French say, 'Qui boit, boira.' ALL There, you hear that, Peter? You hear that ? PETER It may be true of Holm, but not of every- body. I think you are all crazy ! MRS. RIES No, of course it is not true of everybody. There are exceptions. PETER There, you hear that ? You hear that ? SOME We didn't say ' everybody ' ! PETER Yes, you did, you little geese ! ALL ' Little geese/ auntie ! MRS RIES There are exceptions. But, as a rule, I find that either a man is faithful to one woman on principle, or else, his principles allow him to be unfaithful. At any rate, that 's my opinion. SEVERAL Peter, Peter, you hear that ? HANNA You must always be faithful, do you under- stand ? PETER Fiddle-de-dee ! To whom, if I 'm not married ? 6o HANNA To yourself, stupid ! PETER Ah! Rubbish! ALL [Except HannaJ\ Did you hear, auntie ? Peter says ' Rubbish ! ' THE THIRD SCENE As before. Svava enters hastily from the Park; on seeing the others wishes to turn back. PETER Here 's Svava ! ALL Here's Svava ! [They go to meet her, draw her in with them, and all talk at otice.] Here 's a bouquet for you ! How charming you were yesterday ! We have not been to bed all night ! We have been singing in the wood. We have been about together all day. Now we are going to practise the trio. 61 HANNA Why, Svava, what is the matter with you ? KAMMA Is there anything wrong ? MRS. RIES Don't you see, she has just come from Helga Holm ? ALL [Except Hanna.] Of course she has ! MRS. RIES Helga is her bosom friend, you know. SEVERAL [In an undertone^ So she is. How lovely the flowers are ! Thank you, thank you very much ! Shall we put them in water at once, mother ? MRS. RIES Yes, I will see to it. [She touches a bell. The maid appears, and, at a sign from her mistress , brings a basin, while Mrs. Ries busies herself in arranging the flowers during the following dialogue. 62 SVAVA How fresh and sweet they are ! We must take great care of them, else they '11 die, too, very soon! Yes, you're quite right ; I have been with Helga Holm. Where else should I have been ? KAMMA Isn't it shocking ? The whole town is talk- ing about it. Really ? SEVERAL The whole town ! SVAVA Well, there '11 be still more to talk about ! HANNA Will there ? SEVERAL Will there ? SVAVA Yes. But that's splendid, that the whole town should be talking about it ! That is as it should be ! Eveiy one should talk about it ! . . . Oh, I think I must go out into the air again ! MRS. RIES [ Who is tying up the stalks and putting the flowers in a glass. Take off your hat, darling ! SVAVA Ah ! yes : I didn't think of that. HANNA You look so strange, Svava ! ALL Yes, she does. SVAVA Do I ? Well, I must have been out more than two hours, and all that time I have heard nothing but ' Tell me, tell me, tell me ! ' I couldn't bear it any longer ! MRS. RIES [Goes /tastily up to Svava.] Come with me, come to your room, dear ! You want rest. 64 Rest ? Now ? If only I could scream or cry ! When you have been deceived MRS. RIES [Quickly interrupting.] Like Helga Holm ? Like Helga Holm? Yes, Helga Holm! Ah ! no : I must speak out. All this time I have scarcely said a dozen words. My God ! MRS. RIES Hush ! Come with me, then, come and tell me ! SVAVA No, you don't understand. I didn't mean that. What I have heard shall never pass my lips. No ! I must say something to warn these girls. There is one thing we women never learn HANNA What is that ? SVAVA How easily and how often we deceive our- selves ! The greatest precaution is no use. 65 We are mistaken, again and again ! A man folds his arm round you and says : ' I can't bear any one else to touch you ! ' Gazing into your eyes, as he walks beside you, he says : ' When I see in the ball-room only a flying gleam of your arm, I think, This arm has clung to my neck, and to no other no other in the whole world ! ' [ With rising emotion.'] Can she believe, then, that his arm has embraced . . . that he ... [She bursts into tears. MRS. RIES Listen to me, Svava ! SVAVA Don't believe him ! He '11 only make a fool of you too ! [She draws back. MRS. RIES You have had a dreadful shock, darling. Don't speak of it again. PETER There '11 be no party here to-morrow, you '11 see! SEVERAL Oh, hold your tongue ! 66 PETER I can see it in her face. She is in no mood for giving a party. FREDERIKE But Svava ? [She looks round for Svava, who has stepped aside. HANNA [To Mrs. Ries.] Auntie, is it true ? KAMMA [To Mrs. Ries.] Won't there be a party ? ALL [Coming near.] Oh yes ! Oh yes ! MRS. RIES I hope so. [Surrounding Svava.] What about the party : ALL i SVAVA What do you say ? PETER You 're not in the mood for giving a party here to-morrow, are you ? 67 SVAVA Oh ! the party ! Must we give one to- morrow ? [Goes up to Mrs. Ries. PETER There ! you see ! MRS. RIES Of course there will be a party. Of course ! SVAVA Yes, of course ! ALL There will be a party ! there will be a party ! Hurrah ! PETER Hurrah ! So much for their sympathy with Helga Holm ! Hurrah ! FREDERIKE Take care, Peter ; you shall pay for that ! ALL Come : let 's throw him out ! [They rush at Peter. PETER No, no : I've an idea. 68 HANNA What is it ? PETER Let's sing the waltz to Svava. It will put her in good spirits. ALL Yes! MRS. RIES Oh no, children ! don't ! Why not take a boat instead, and sing it out there on the water ? ALL THE GIRLS and PETER Oh yes ! yes ! PETER But we '11 sing it here, too, that Svava may hear how well it goes already ! \He goes to the piano, the girls with him, while the music is distributed. SVAVA [To Mrs Ries, who is again busy with the jlon>ers.~\ Send them away, do send them away ! 69 MRS. RIES Very well ! SVAVA [As before.] There can be no party here to- morrow ! MRS. RIES Just wait a little ! , [All the girls march out in pairs, led by Peter, in waltz-time, and pass, singing, by Svava and Mrs. Ries. Mrs. Ries makes a sign to Peter to lead the procession out, which he does. The song is heard out- side. SVAVA Oh, my head, my head ! I feel as if it were splitting ! And yet I 've scarcely said a word until just now. MRS. RIES You are too excited. You must control yourself, my child ! You can't stand this ! SVAVA I shall never have peace again ! MRS. RIES Where have you been ? 70 SVAVA Oh, didn't you guess ? And you talk of a party ! You looked so shocked, that you made me say ' yes ' too ! There can be no question of a party here. Besides, why should we give one now ? MRS. RIES You surely wouldn't have sent all those children away with such a rebuff? I was on thorns. SVAVA Well, it makes no difference to me ! Nothing can make any difference now ! MRS. RIES Yes ; but we can't put off the party. We owe it to ourselves as much as to the Christen- sens ! Here comes papa ! Papa too ! Well, let him come ! . . . though I feel so weak, so dizzy ! I can't begin a fight now : but I know well enough what he wants. 71 THE FOURTH SCENE As before. Ries enters from the back. RIES [To Svava.] Oh! are you there? Why, Svava, what are you thinking of? [He comes nearer.] Now listen, my dear girl ! Let me tell you, that Mr. Christensen has just tele- phoned to my office, asking if I am at home. [He looks at his watch.] In a minute he will be here. SVAVA I won't speak to him ! [She makes as if to go away. RIES Very well ! But you must stop here and speak to me \ Wait a moment ! I 'm only going into my room to put away my new hat. I 'm rather dusty, too. [Goes into his room. MRS. RIES Of course Mr. Christensen will come ! I quite expected him. If you break off your 72 engagement with Alf, and for no other reason than this, you will involve the Christensens in a very great scandal. Haven't you realised that? SVAVA So it is / who will cause the scandal ? That 's very fine ! It's all my fault ! MRS. RIES The scandal doesn't consist in the thing itself, but in its exposure. SVAVA Exactly ! exactly ! MRS. RIES Don't think that so unimportant ! One day you will know what it means. It is not so easy to reform the world. I have no wish to reform it. I only wish to protect myself that is all ! RIES [Coming back.] Of course, the moment I get home I come in for a bother of this kind. Well, I suppose it couldn't be helped. Indeed, 73 that's your only excuse. Oh! by the way, I just met a man in the street who was at the party last night. He was talking about it. The chief clerk at ... what 's his name ? [To Svava.] You know him. He owns that charming little place along the fiord the place you liked so much? [To Mrs. Ries.] With the Moorish dovecot . . . ? MRS. HIES Klinger ? RIES Ah ! Klinger, Klinger. It seems he is anxious to sell it. Oh ! and he said : ' You may well feel flattered at your daughter's reception last night ; it was a perfect triumph. I pictured her on a high throne, with the whole Christensen family including " the Dragon " drawing her chariot.' I assure you, those were his very words. Think of the honour you reflect on us, child ! And what a splendid position you will have ! . . . And so you want to jump down from your pedestal ? Well, you won't get much by that. You will simply fall smash ! before you know where you are. Do you imagine that any well-to-do family anywhere would submit to such an insult, such a slur upon their favourite 74 child ? Eh ? If you hadn't been suffering from intense excitement, I should have thought you out of your wits to say what you did. And if you take no thought for your own welfare, at least consider ours ! On my word, I might just as well have taken a passage to America ! I did think of it when I passed the quay and saw the Angela lying ready to sail ! SVAVA [ Who has hitherto been leaning on the piano, during the following scene alternately moves a few steps towards the back of the stage, and sinks into an easy chair before the piano, keeping her face towards the audience and letting her arms fall over the back of the chair. We had better go to America ! RIES Better go to America ? go to America ? A grand idea, isn't it ? Such ridiculous nonsense ! You seem to think it's as easy to cross the Atlantic as to cross the street. Whatever folly Alf Christensen may have committed I know nothing about it it can't have been so very bad ! [Svava changes her position at the piano.] Come, for God's sake, Svava ! 75 SVAVA Pray, don't drag God's name into it ! Why not ? I should have thought the matter quite serious enough. Doesn't the commandment run : ' Little children, forgive one another ' or something like it ? I am not sure of the exact words. We ought to for- give one another; we ought to help one who has gone astray. It's our duty. Help him to become better ... by degrees ! MRS. RIES Ahem ! RIES Well, it's not my business to preach mor- ality; it sits badly on me, I know. It's very seldom I do. But, all the same, you can't do away with one eternal truth : the woman's duty is to be forbearing to the man, to win him by gentleness and love, in short, by for- bearance. And I don't know any one so admir- ably adapted for such a work as yourself, Svava. You seem especially gifted. Then again, you have had so much experience I 76 mean with children. For it's the same sort of thing. In fact, I consider it woman's noblest vocation ! SVAVA [Who has taken up her old position at the piano. What ? RIES What . . . ? Haven't you been paying atten- tion ? Why to ... to ... to .. . you surely don't need to ask? to exert an ennobling influence through marriage, to make her husband's life spotless, like . . . SVAVA Like soap ? RIES Soap ? Who the devil is talking about soap? MRS. RIES Ha, ha, ha ! [To his wife.'] Oh, you find that witty ? 77 It comes to this, then. Marriage is a huge laundry for men, where we girls are to stand ready, each, I suppose, at her wash-tub, and each with her piece of soap. Is that what you mean ? MRS. RIES Ha, ha, ha ! RIES I don't think it 's a subject for laughter. MRS. RIES Ha, ha, ha ! RIES Really, I think these violent attacks on marriage should be left to the more licentious sections of society. SVAVA To the men, do you mean ? MRS. RIES Ha, ha, ha ! 78 RIES Men more licentious than women ? Take the women you see at a ball, for instance ! With their shoulders bared to the public gaze ! And who is the most successful with them ? Why, your Don Juans unquestionably ! They find such men ' so delightful ' ! ' so piquant ' ! Of course! Don't confine your censures to men ! You are so taken up with this modern Lamen- tation over Men, that you forget what the world is like. You forget your own natures. I assure you, you do. [To Mrs. Ries.~\ This is all your fault. MRS. RIES Mine ? SVAVA [ Who has been walking tip and down, stands still. Mother's fault? RIES [To his wife.~\ It is the same nonsense your mother always talked. Just the same ! And now you have put it into Svava's head ! This babble about a 'beast of prey/ and about man's 'freedom to prey on woman/ hindering all other freedom ! Is that never going to die out? 79 MRS. RIES I could answer you if I chose. You count on my silence. RIES Well, help me, then, confound it! It's a matter of life and death for us. We shall all be turned into the streets if she doesn't mind. MRS. RIES It's not quite so bad as that; although it is serious, as I told Svava. RIES Oh, I'm glad of that. And, pray, how am I to answer Christensen ? That 's what worries me. For, with all his elegance and polish, there's not a more revengeful tiger in the whole town. His bite is even worse than ' the Dragon's.' They are not related for nothing. Am I to say : ' Pardon me, my dear Mr. Christensen, but my daughter is very sensitive on this point ; she cannot reconcile herself to the idea that your son actually ventured to love some one else before he knew her.' Is that what I'm to say? God knows how I came to be the father of such a paragon of virtue ! 80 SVAVA Bravo ! I only beg leave to correct one word. RIES Well ? SVAVA I think you said 'love.' RIES Well? SVAVA I never reproached Alf with loving another woman. RIES No? SVAVA No, certainly not ! RIES Oh ah! I understand! He was associated with another woman. Unhappy man ! He was associated with another woman before he had the honour and good fortune to know of your existence ! 81 SVAVA With one other ? RIES Well, say with two ! SVAVA With two ? RIES Deuce take it ! with several, then ! How everything is buzzed round in this accursed town ! MRS. RIES Ha, ha, ha ! RIES Yes : laugh away ! But I ask you in all seriousness for my part, I find this matter very serious [To Svava] would any one but you be so absurdly unreasonable ? A young man is not to be allowed to take a fancy to any one, until you appear on the scene in all your majestic virtue ? I never met with such arrogance in my life ! Never ! SVAVA Arrogance ? To claim from another what is expected of yourself ? 82 MRS. RIES Ah ! that 's the point ! RIES Yes : that is the point ! Precisely ! You claim the same from man and woman ! Woman, who for centuries has been treated as a man's private property. Of course with men it has been very different ! No : I can't imagine more consummate arrogance ! What the Ger- mans call hochmuth, the French hauteur, the English MRS. RIES My dear Ries, what is ' marriage ' in Turkish ? ' Marriage ' in Turkish ? Oh, I see ! Now I ask you : Is this helping me ? Well, I make you responsible solely responsible ! MRS. RIES For ruining her life ? RIES Whose ? Svava's ? 83 SVAVA [Who has been seated, rises J] Do you really wish me to make my home with a man like that ? RIES What in the world do you mean ? SVAVA Do you suppose I don't know what it is ? Mothers often come to our Orphanage, who need help more than the children. And the tales they tell ! To hear them is like gazing down into a black, bottomless hell. Think of what it means, to admit such a pest into a home ! RIES What are you dreaming of, Svava ? Can't you believe that all that sort of thing ceases at marriage ? Can't you believe a man's word of honour ? MRS. RIES Ha, ha, ha ! RIES Well, well and if a little slip does occur 84 so long as they love each other, . . . and you do love him, don't you, Svava ? You can't deny it. Well, then, simply trust your parents ! [Svava breaks away to the left. At the same moment the door bell rings. MRS. RIES [Rising.] That 's Christensen ! I 'm going ! [She tries to follow Svava. RIES No : you are not going ! You mustn't go ! Not both of you ! All right ! Then I shall go too ! [Approaches her. MRS. RIES [Holding him back.~\ I have nothing to say to Christensen ! RIES And have I ? Have I any part in all this virtue ? MRS. RIES Oh ! as to virtue Christensen and you you and Christensen are really partie egale ! [She goes out. 85 RIES De la haute morale ! [He turns round and advances to the front.'] Yes : a pretty moral, to leave me alone to eat up what they've cooked. It 's not my fault. I '11 be obtuse, I '11 know nothing about it. Yes : that 's what I '11 do ! If he shows his teeth, I '11 show mine ! I shall say straight out : ' I know nothing at all, haven't heard a word about it ! ' I '11 say : ' The thing can't possibly go any further if no one has mentioned it even to me.' Yes : I '11 say that ; that 's what I '11 do ! [The door bell rings againJ\ Hullo ! He 's still outside ! Ho, ho ! I sha'n't open the door to you, my dear friend ! Stop ! I '11 say : ' Let the young folk make it up ! We needn't mind what a woman says when she has lost her temper. Let them make it up themselves ! ' Yes ; that 's the way to look at it ! That 's the best thing. I 'm quite a diplomatist ! [He goes to the piano and plays an ingratiat- ing air. 86 THE FIFTH SCENE Ries. Christensen. CHRISTENSEN [Enters slowly, and stands still for a moment in the background. Bravo, bravo ! RIES Ah ! pardon me ! I didn't see you, never heard you come in ! CHRISTENSEN Pray, don't mention it ! Your playing is delightful. There 's nothing wrong, then ? RIES Eh ? What do you mean ? What should be wrong ? Oh ! you mean that affair of this morning ? That unfortunate business with that clumsy Hoff ? Bah ! mere woman's chatter ! What a woman says or writes on the impulse of the moment needn't be taken aupied de lettre eh ? We know, that 's soon over. Won't you take a seat ? 87 CHRISTENSEN Thanks. To-day I 've just a twinge in my foot again . . . nothing serious . . . merely a touch . . . RIES Gout ? CHRISTENSEN Confound you ! don't call it ! It will come at once. There 's no danger, then ? RIES Not so far as I know ! Let the young folk make it up themselves. Don't you think so ? CHRISTENSEN Where are the ladies ? RIES I don't know. CHRISTENSEN In-deed ? I suppose they knew that I was coming ? RIES No or rather, yes ! I expect I told them. Aren't you thirsty after your walk ? 88 CHRISTENSEN No, thank you. Ahem ! ahem ! Can it have passed over so quickly ? HIES Passed over ? What ? Oh ! you mean that affair of this morning ? Well, really, I know nothing about it. CHRISTENSEN I thought we should have an open rupture, a scandal, and all that ! RIES Ah ! Ha, ha, ha ! CHRISTENSEN Well, I 'm very glad. You are so confident, Mr. Ries. I can't share your feeling at all. These things are dangerous especially the first time, you know. RIES Yes, between married people. CHRISTENSEN Oh ! between engaged people they 're even more dangerous. Once you 're married well, 89 of course, you are married. But in this case don't you see ? And if there 's danger for Alf, well, then, there may be danger for others as well ! RIES For others ? CHRISTENSEN Yes ... If such a very strong light is thrown on my son's window, no doubt some of the rays will fall on mine too. That light what do painters call it ? RIES Reflected light ? CHRISTENSEN Reflected light ! Exactly ! RIES Ho, ho ! CHRISTENSEN Yes, laugh away ! You must have your joke. But, between you and me, what are these ideas that your daughter has ? RIES Shall I tell you exactly ? 90 CHRISTENSEN By all means. RIES She thinks that a man ... a man should live the same life . . . CHRISTENSEN Well! well! RIES As a girl ! a young girl ! CHRISTENSEN A man live as strict a life as a young girl ? A man ? RIES Just so ! CHRISTENSEN Is she as silly as all that ? RIES Indeed, she is. CHRISTENSEN Ha, ha ! 91 RIES Ho, ho ! CHRISTENSEN You must have your joke ! You 're making fun of me ! RIES Not at all ! CHRISTENSEN But the girls of the present day seem to wish just the opposite ? RIES I've no objection. CHRISTENSEN Neither have I. Not that I should care to marry one. RIES Whew ! No, thank you ! CHRISTENSEN But now, with regard to your daughter, Mr. Ries. She has been confirmed, hasn't she ? And, I suppose, she has been to school, too what ? They learn all sorts of things at 92 school. Her parents' house, of course, has long been recognised as a pattern of good morals. But still, isn't she old enough to read French ? Or, in any case, our own literature ? These Scandinavian authors don't write for the nursery. And, then, there 's this Orphanage, which your daughter founded didn't she ? She must hear all kinds of stories told there by the mothers? And travelled too, hasn't she? RIES A good deal. CHRISTENSEN Well, there you are ! And not with her eyes shut. She had you with her. So she must know a little about life, anyhow ! RIES Yes : and what she didn't know before, she must have learnt by now . . . since she became acquainted with your family. CHRISTENSEN You mean, that she is in a position to com- pare . . . ? Theory with practice. She couldn't have had a better opportunity. CHRISTENSEN Hadn't she that already ? Well, I 'm afraid her reforms will encounter obstacles. Why, you might as well forbid people to eat and drink eh ? Ha, ha ! CHRISTENSEN Ha, ha ! Can you imagine, my dear Mr. Ries, the finest and most capable young men in the country (for they are most concerned in this matter) expelled in future from society, and branded as a separate class ! All, who well, who don't endorse your daughter's theory ? People demand so much nowa- days in the name of morality, that in the end what they demand becomes itself immoral ! RIES I quite agree with you ! CHRISTENSEN I knew you would. If people were to take things too seriously marriage, for example well, to take only one instance, all the great cities would be ruined. They would collapse, for want of air, like a squeezed india-rubber ball ! No, let us make no mistake, my dear Mr. Ries, if your daughter behaves like this, and causes unpleasantness then well, then RIES What then ? CHRISTENSEN Then it will be my turn. I shall begin. RIES You ? What do you mean ? CHRISTENSEN She shall have tit for tat. RIES You '11 tell her your ideas ? I don't under- stand. CHRISTENSEN Not only my ideas. I '11 take care it isn't only on my windows that the what 's the painter's name for it ? 95 HIES The reflected light. CHUISTENSEN Yes ; I '11 take care the reflected light doesn't only fall on my windows ! RIES On whose, then ? ' CHRISTENSEN I won't say. RIES You 're as fond of a joke as ever. CHRISTENSEN We both are. However, if you wish to treat it as a joke, you can ! RIES At whose expense ? CHRISTENSEN I won't say. RIES Well, I can't help what your son did. If you ask me, I think he had better have left it 96 alone, and so had my daughter, instead of making such a stir. For my part, I shall be best pleased if all ends quietly. And that is most likely to happen, in my opinion, if we parents take no more trouble about it. CHRISTENSEN You really think so ? RIES I do. CHRISTENSEN Can you guarantee that ? RIES Guarantee it ? How can I ? CHRISTENSEN Well, that 's your affair. I must have some security, and, for various reasons, I choose you. Me? CHRISTENSEN There 's no peace for the wicked. After the banquet, the bill. Don't you see ? 97 RIES No, I don't! Such wit is beyond me. And the moral ? CHRISTENSEN Why, in this bad world innocent people often have to suffer, you know. That is the moral. Do you happen to know Mrs. North ? RIES Mrs. . . . Mrs. . . . s . . s . . s . . ? No ! CHRISTENSEN Ah ! think again ! The pretty young widow the Englishwoman with the pale mother. What ? You really can't remem- ber her ? And yet I used to see you play duets with her ! RIES Oh ! that woman ! of course I know her. I couldn't remember the name, and couldn't quite understand how you came to speak of her just now. Why did you ? CHRISTENSEN A little while ago she fell into some money difficulties such as may happen to the best of 98 us. She is rather gay, you know lives in great style and at that time she did me the honour to pay me a visit. You were not at home just then. I ? I never had anything to do with Mrs. North's money-matters. CHRISTENSEN I only wished to pay you a compliment. Your gallantry to ladies is so widely recognised, you know, that, had you been in the town, of course she would have come to you with whom she used to play duets not to me. That was all I meant. What did you think I meant ? Mean what you like ! What have Mrs. North's money-matters to do with me ? CHRISTENSEN She is going abroad ! RIES Indeed ! CHRISTENSEN She 's coming here to say good-bye. 99 RIES [Springs upj\ Coming here ? CHRISTENSEN Yes. She used to come here often enough ... at one time. When you used to play duets together. RIES Not latterly. CHRISTENSEN I wasn't aware of that. She said nothing to me about it. We made an appointment to meet she and I here. RIES You and Mrs. North ? To meet here ? Now ? CHRISTENSEN She is going on board to-night. The Angela is lying ready to sail. Of course I shall be pleased to see Mrs. North. It can't matter to me. I have nothing against her. But I don't see why 100 my wife should meet her here, if she doesn't wish it. And she certainly doesn't. Therefore Mrs. North can't come. It is im- possible. CHRISTENSEN Well, but your wife isn't at home ? Surely you can receive her ? Impossible ! Suppose my wife came in ? They mustn't meet on any account. CHRISTENSEN Well, shall I . . . ? RIES Oh dear no ! But, of course, if Mrs. North does come, you won't mind my going out to induce her to go away ? CHRISTENSEN Of course not. [He rises.] So you, too, are afraid of the reflected light ? RIES Not in the least. I am simply considering my wife. 101 CHRISTENSEN That 's really very nice of you. It isn't every one who does that. [The door bell rings.] There she is I believe already. RIES Mrs. North ? Impossible ! [He rushes to the window. CHRISTENSEN I Ve often noticed how punctual she is. English, you know ! \_He goes to the other window. RIES [At the window.'] Yes,, by Jove ! there she is ! CHRISTENSEN Of course you will let her in at once. RIES Excuse me ! On no account. I must prevent it. [He hastens to the door. CHRISTENSEN [At the window.] Hallo ! why, your wife is at home. RIES [Standing still.] My wife ? Where is she ? 102 CHRISTENSEN Down there ! She is just meeting Mrs. North. RIES My wife ? Mrs. . . . ? CHRISTENSEN Yes ! there she goes, full sail ! RIES Really ! really ! Is she at home, after all ? Dear me ! What will happen next ? [Mutter- ing.] An earthquake ? CHRISTENSEN [As before.] Why, your daughter is at home too ! RIES My daughter too . . . where ? CHRISTENSEN Down there as well. Your wife has stepped forward a little, your daughter is stopping still. Won't you convince yourself? Oh no! Thank you, thank you ! No! Let's leave them alone ! Let's leave them alone ! I 103 shall enter a monastery ! A monastery 's the place for me ! No. I '11 go to the piano in- stead ! I '11 plunge head over heels into a waltz ! [Flings himself on the stool in front of the piano, and plays a furious waits. THE SIXTH SCENE As before. Mrs. Ries, white as a sheet and speech- less, enters hastily from the back. CHRISTENSEN We are having a little music, Mrs. Ries. MRS. RIES Mrs. North is here. RIES [Without leaving o/f.] Oh, is that you ? [He begins to sing. CHRISTENSEN Your husband has a fine touch. And a good voice, too ! 104 MRS. RIES Mrs. North is here ! RIES What? Who? Oh ah ! Mrs. North! [He rises.] In half a minute, I '11 . . . My dear, what can she want here ? [He goes to the door, but turns back.] Oh ! my hat ! I beg your pardon ! [Goes into his room. At this moment the Trio is heard in the distance. He comes back.] Ah ! the Trio ! How lovely music sounds on the water ! Now what can this woman want from me? [Retires by right to the back. CHRISTENSEN [To Mrs Ries.] How lucky that I was able to see you ! Your husband had no idea you were at home ! MRS. RIES [Goes up to him.] This is your work ! CHRISTENSEN What do you mean ? MRS. RIES Mrs. North's visit. 105 CHRISTENSEN To say good-bye ? MRS. RIES You know the secret of this house. And you intend to use it against us. [She bursts into tears. Svava enters quickly, and in great astonishment, by the right, from the back, as though to seek an ex- planation, but stops still when she observes that Christensen is still there, and sees that Mrs. Ries is crying; she withdraws noiselessly, through the second door on the left. CHRISTENSEN I and mine wish for nothing better than to live on good terms with you and yours. You know that quite well. But if your daughter persists in bringing disgrace, perhaps calamity, on all of us for my son takes the matter greatly to heart why, in that case, Mrs. Ries, in that case . . . MRS. RIES You are a wicked man ! 106 CHRISTENSEN And a good man. Both together. I only wish to say this : If you expose my son, I '11 expose your husband ! MRS. RIES What barbarity ! [Svava is heard to utter a shriek.] Svava ! [She sinks into a chair. CHRISTENSEN [After a pause.] I didn't wish that ! I didn't intend that ! [In going out] However, enfin ! l [Passes by the right to the back. THE SEVENTH SCENE Mrs. Ries. Svava enters slowly from the left. MRS. RIES [Moves a Jew steps forward, then slops still.] Listen to me, before you judge, listen to me ! 1 At the representation in Christiania the Second Act closes with the Sixth Scene, with Christensen's ' Enfin ! ' 107 [ Waves her aside with a gesture of the hand and head, goes straight to the table, sits down before it, lays her arm on the table, and leans her head on her arm, while she stares ^fixedly in front of her. This is too much in one day ! MRS. RIES Let me explain to you. Let me tell you [She stops short. SVAVA Oh no ! Let me be alone ! [Mrs. Ries goes out silently, after looking back several times. MEANWHILE THE CURTAIN FALLS. THE THIRD ACT The same room on the next morning, decorated with flowers for the party. The table on the right is laid for breakfast for two persons. THE FIRST SCENE Mrs. Ries and Mrs. Christensen enter from the back ; the latter in a hat and with a shawl over her arm, which Mrs. Ries takes from her. Enter later, Marie. MRS. CHRISTENSEN It was extremely kind of you to see me. I am sure you must be very busy. MRS. RIES And I am so grateful to you for coming. I wanted to have a talk with you. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Well, what do you say to our having the party here to-day after all ? Do you know, I 'm sure it 's the best thing to do ? If the engagement is to be broken off, at any rate, it mustn't be in this way. 109 MRS. RIES I thoroughly agree with you. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Think of the gossip it would cause ! Two days after the engagement had been an- nounced ! MRS. RIES Still, it is very trying for Svava. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Of course. But she need only show her- self and say she is unwell. By the way, your husband asked to be remembered to you. MRS. RIES Has he been round to see you already ? MRS. CHRISTENSEN He came expressly to fetch Alf. What an amusing man your husband is ! MRS. RIES And your son had no objection ? MRS. CHRISTENSEN How can you ask ? If we 're to have the party, of course the young folk must have a talk together first ! no MRS. RIES So we thought ! MRS. CHRISTENSEN Of course ! She takes it more sensibly, I hear, to-day. MRS. RIES As regards the party, yes. Won't you sit down ? MRS. CHRISTENSEN [Seats herself.] Thank you. What does she say, Mrs. Ries ? MRS. RIES I've scarcely spoken to her myself. I've not had a chance yet ; I 've so much depending on me to-day. What a blessing it is that we still have old Marie with us ! [Marie enters at this moment with the chocolate. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Good morning, Marie ! MARIE Good morning, Mrs. Chris tensen ! Ill MRS. CHRISTENSEN How is Miss Ries ? MARIE Thank you, she was not at all well yester- day after Mr. Christensen called. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Christensen ?> Did he call yesterday ? MARIE Yesterday evening. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Yesterday evening ? My husband ? MRS. RIES He just dropped in to see Ries. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Indeed ? He said nothing about it. MARIE [While she fills the cups.~\ I think she takes it more sensibly to-day. She cries a good deal still ; but she went for her bath, and ate a little breakfast. Now she 's out for a walk. 112 MRS. RIES Pray, help yourself! MRS. CHRISTENSEN [Leans forward.] Thanks ! What does she say, Marie ? MARIE She doesn't say much. But she 's more resigned to the idea of the party. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Is she ? MARIE She thinks the party cannot be put off. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Of course not ! MARIE She quite sees that. I told her so myself. MRS. RIES Won't you try this cake ? It 's a specialty. MRS. CHRISTENSEN [Taking it.~\ Thanks very much ! What does she say about Alf ? MARIE She said to-day : ' Perhaps I Ve been un- just to him.' MRS. CHRISTENSEN Ah, indeed she has, Marie. So she sees that now ? MARIE And then she began to cry. I didn't like to bother her any more. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Thank you, Marie, thank you ! [Marie goes out.] Aren't you pleased ? You hear what Marie says ? MARIE [Turns round.] What ? MRS. CHRISTENSEN I didn't call you : I only mentioned your name. MARIE Oh, I see ! [She goes out. 114 MRS. CHRISTENSEN You are upset, Mrs. Ries. I should so like to have a little talk with you. We mothers understand these things so much better than men. MRS. RIES I thought that too. MRS. CHRISTENSEN May I? MRS. RIES [Helping herJ\ I beg your pardon ? I 'm forgetting everything ! MRS. CHRISTENSEN Your cake is delicious. As to what hap- pened yesterday, of course it was awfully unpleasant that affair with Hoff. To think that he should have the impertinence ! This is how it came about : Miss Tang I think you knew Miss Tang ? used to live with us. But Christensen is so strict: he won't have anything of that sort in the house. So we had to send Alf away and she got married. I assure you, Mrs. Ries, no one was any the wiser. Alf is so discreet in these matters 115 you wouldn't believe how discreet he is. If Hoff hadn't found those tiresome letters, he would never have known anything. And Christensen will soon put that to rights, you may be quite sure ! No one knows a word about it : that 's the great thing, Mrs. Ries. Men will be men, and we can't alter them. MRS. RIES Ah, if Mrs. HofTs were the only case ! MRS. CHRISTENSEN But surely there are no others ? MRS. RIES Indeed there are. Yesterday afternoon Svava went straight off to Miss Honoria Christensen. MRS. CHRISTENSEN To ' the Dragon ' ? My dear Mrs. Ries, what a thing to do ! MRS. RIES And there she learned a great deal. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Oh ! but you mustn't believe her, Mrs Ries. Every one knows ' the Dragon.' Once she 116 was taken in herself, and she has made a dead set at all engagements ever since ; it 's a well- known fact ! She has made a good deal of mischief before now ; she 's a spiteful woman. MRS. RIES Spiteful she may be, but she 's not a liar. MRS. CHRISTENSEN The Christensens are not in the habit of lying. But, Mrs. Ries, .... she may be misinformed by others ! MRS. RIES All this has shocked my daughter terribly. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Of course. Isn't ' the Dragon ' detestable ? She almost hates Alf and do you know why ? Because he has such a good reputation. MRS. RIES Yes, he has. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Indeed he has ! 117 MRS. RIES Still, he has been rather wild, hasn't he, however discreet? . . . And, if a man doesn't resist temptation early in life, but gives way time after time, you can't expect him to have much character, can you ? MRS. CHRISTENSEN No : you 're quite right ! [She reaches across the tabled] You must forgive me ! I have had no breakfast yet. I have got into the bad habit of lying very late in the morning. MRS. RIES Please help yourself ! I didn't say that because I expect any more from your son than from others. MRS. CHRISTENSEN No, most young men are alike. Just fancy, Mrs. Ries, I knew nothing about such things when I married. MRS. RIES We didn't know much in those days ; or, if we did, we thought no more about it. How- ever, many of us had all the more to learn afterwards, Mrs. Christensen. 118 MRS. CHRISTENSEN Don't speak of it ! MRS. RIES I think we ought to speak of it more than ever, for it 's just that which concerns us now. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Oh, I must tell you something ! The other day I was looking through a history belonging to my daughter she 's a student, you know. I read there that the bridal costume the white robe, the veil, and all that is nothing but the old sacrificial dress, handed down from the time when human beings were offered up to Moloch. The same is true of the wreath, worn by the innocent victims. It made me cry, Mrs. Ries. [Marie comes in with a small bottle of champagne.] O my dear Mrs. Ries ! MRS. RIES I'm told that now and then at breakfast you 119 MRS. CHRISTENSEN True. But why should you take so much trouble ? Still, you wouldn't believe what good champagne does, when you have had no sleep. And, I expect, neither you nor I slept particularly well last night. [Marie, who meanwhile has poured out the champagne and Jilled up the glasses, goes out. MRS. RIES [Offering a glass to Mrs. Christensen.] Allow me. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Let's drink this toast: That all may come right again ! MRS. RIES Yes : I could wish for nothing better. If only MRS. CHRISTENSEN Oh, you may be quite easy. Alf has such a refined nature. MRS. RIES Is he true ? 120 MRS. CHRISTENSEN True as steel ! {They drink.] You must drink it all ! Else it won't do you good. MRS. RIES Yes, I really think [She empties her glass and Jills up Mrs. Christensen's. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Of course, one mustn't be unjust, either I mean, to men. For, after all, such men generally make the best husbands, Mrs. Ries. We can't deny that. MRS. RIES They make us comfortable, do you mean ? MRS. CHRISTENSEN Yes, and treat their wives with respect. It is so, as a rule. MRS. RIES They are very obliging. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Most obliging, and much more attentive than other husbands. Let us give them their due. 121 MRS. RIES Still, it is not right of wives to condone- MRS. CHRISTENSEN No, it's not right. But so it is, whether we like it or not. If I may, I '11 take another piece of cake. It is really delicious. MRS. RIES Do ! May I fill up your glass ? MRS. CHRISTENSEN Thanks, only a little. We women have so much to put up with, so much, that taxes our strength. [She drinks.] Still, on the other hand, we have many consolations, too. A man may have faults, and yet be a real treasure in other respects don't you think ? MRS. RIES Yes. Only my mother said once to ... well, to a friend of mine (it's a long while ago now) . . . she said : ' Let him be the ablest man in the whole town : you will be none the happier, if he isn't faithful.' MRS. CHRISTENSEN You are so upset to-day, Mrs. Ries. You have had no sleep. Come, drink a little more 122 wine, to keep me company. It will do you good. May I ? [She takes the bottle and pours the rest of the wine into Mrs. Ries's glass and her own.~\ The chaplain very often calls about this time in the morning. And then we sit and chat together, just as you and I are doing now. [She takes her glass.] Well, may everything end happily, Mrs. Ries ! \Th e y drink. MRS. RIES I can't finish it. MRS. CHRISTENSEN No ? Then if you '11 excuse me I will. One so soon feels at home with you, Mrs. Ries. You must come to see me oftener. About this time is the best. I suppose you go to hear the chaplain's sermons, don't you? MRS. RIES No ; I haven't cared about going to church lately. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Oh ! but you should. If we hadn't the con- solation of religion, Mrs. Ries ! I 'm sure, very often, I don't know where . . . 123 THE SECOND SCENE ^4* before. Ries. RIES [Comes in from the back with a furled flag in his hand, which he puts down on the right, and then steps to the front. Look here ! MRS. CHRISTENSEN Back already ? RIES Yes, and I brought Alf : I only waited till he had finished dressing. I wished him to come before Svava returns. It is best they should meet out of doors. She can't help speaking to him then ; she can't very well run away from him. MRS. CHRISTENSEN You are quite right. In fact, you generally are. RIES Thank you, much obliged. [To his wife.] Do you hear that ? 124 MRS. CHRISTENSEN This meeting between our dear children is of great importance to us all. RIES Of the greatest importance ! But I 'm dis- turbing you. MRS. CHRISTENSEN Not at all, not at all ! I was only anxious that we mothers might have a little chat together. Of course we have had most experience. RIES Naturally. MRS. CHRISTENSEN I tell your wife that marriage doesn't con- sist only of love, but of many other things as well. Am I right ? RIES I should think so ! And a marriage with your son MRS. CHRISTENSEN Oh, I never said that ! 125 RIES Why shouldn't you ? It is only word for word what I was saying yesterday. I can tell you that without flattering you or your son. MRS. CHRISTENSEN When you think it is a choice between making such a match well, as your daughter can make and becoming an embittered old maid like ' the Dragon ' ! Ugh ! Ugh ! Do you know a favourite saying of mine ? : If virtue is not to decay, it must be preserved by matrimony. Just as fruit . . . MRS. CHRISTENSEN Ha, ha, ha ! I never thought we should laugh to-day. Let's take it for a good omen ! May we often meet and laugh together in future ! Good-bye ! for I really must go now. The whole family is assembled in our house. RIES So I hear. MRS. CHRISTENSEN We shall come in ever so many boats, with singing and playing, for we have a whole 126 orchestra amongst us. Pray, don't give your- selves the trouble ! No, really I can't allow it ! \Ries and Mrs. Hies follow her out. RIES [Coming back at once.] Truly, I 'm as tired ... of all this worry and suspense, as if I had spent the whole morning on the treadmill and the whole night too ! [Mr*. Kies comes bach, and passes Hies without looking at him. Ries stands considering a moment, then goes towards his room, but stops still before the door. I bought a large new flag to-day. And I carried it home myself. Here it is. \Hc fetches it. After a pause :] Isn't it time for us to dress ? MRS. RIES I have put out everything ; I can be ready in a few minutes. RIES So have I, only . . . \He moves a step, then stands still again.'] Oh ! did 1 tell you that Klinger wishes to sell his villa out there ? Or did I forget ? 127 MRS. RIES No ; you told me. RIES To-day I telephoned to ask how much he would sell it for. There is a garden attached, and a little wood quite a small one. He wants 30,000 kroner. That 's not dear what ? MRS. RIES No ; not if one had the means RIES Well, but we have the means. MRS. RIES We have? What should rve want with a place out there ? RIES Not ourselves, perhaps. Svava might like it. MRS. RIES Svava ? RIES You know she has taken a great fancy to that house and the situation is splendid ! We shall pass the place to-day. Still, if you don't 128 care for the idea, of course 1 have got my trunks at last. You really ought to look at them now. I mean at my presents. No ? Oh ! well then, I'll go and dress ! [Goes out. THE THIRD SCENE Mrs. Ries. Svava comes in by the left near the foreground. MRS. RIES [Startled.] Are you there ? They said you had gone out. Have you met no one ? Whom should I have met ? [Mrs. Ries is silent. Svava takes off her hat and puts it on the piano, then goes forward and seats herself on a low chair on the left and begins to draw off her gloves. I haven't felt able to talk to any one least of all to you. But now I would like so much to try, if you don't mind? 129 MRS. RIES No. [Pause. SVAVA I don't quite know how to begin ; there 's so much to say. But, I wish I wish, first of all, to ask one question : How long have you known this ? [Mrs. Ries is silent. Gently ;] I 'm sorry I asked. Only you can't wonder at my feeling upset. How could I be so terribly mistaken ? Once before, and now again. I seem to have been brought up to make mistakes. I don't mean that as a reproach ; I only mean that I 'm not to blame myself. And yet, when I think how grandly I talked, and how severe I was ! How could you let me ? How could you be so cruel ? MRS. RIES I gave you several hints, but they only made you more excited. As lately as yesterday . . . SVAVA I 'm beginning to see many things since yesterday. Perhaps this, too, will become cleai-, 130 . . . one day. I only know that since yester- day everything at home here has grown bitter to me everything even the sound of the piano ! [Pause.] This is what you meant, then, when you warned me not to be so arrogant. I was to stoop as low as I could. You must stoop very low to be on a level with life. MRS. RIES O Svava ! SVAVA There is one safe rule. Do as the rest of the world ! Then we have no right to com- plain. MRS. RIES No; but ... SVAVA [As before.] To think that I never under- stood that before ! I was like a simple child. I stood before a high mountain and wanted to push it away with my hands. MRS. RIES Yes. 131 SVAVA Still, one can go right away from it all. One can always do that. Why didn't you, mother ? Since yesterday I understand what you have suffered, and yet you didn't go away. Why didn't you at once the same day ? That first day must have been the hardest of all. I shall never understand. MRS. RIES Don't say that, Svava ! SVAVA I shall never understand ! You are thinking of papa ? Ah ! . . . he is so kind-hearted, so lovable ! No ; I cannot speak of papa. [She bursts into tears. MRS. RIES No one can realise it who hasn't had the experience ! I mean, what it is possible to en- dure, when a house rests, like ours, on a secret. And the ingenuity which must be employed to conceal it ! Oh, if you only knew to what I have descended ! At last all one's ambition is swallowed up in a single aim : to know that the secret is well guarded. All else is nothing. 132 SVAVA But why act as you did ? I don't wish to utter a word of reproach, but had it been the one whom / loved most in the world, then I could have borne it least of all ! MRS. RIES You don't know what you are saying. SVAVA Don't I ? If he were even more, if he were the best, the noblest . . . oh, no ! it would have been simply impossible ; in such a case the discovery would have driven me mad. MRS. RIES Suppose I only bore it for the sake of my child. SVAVA [As though a light suddenly struck her, throws herself into her mother's arms. O mother II..*. MRS. RIES Hush ! You were quite little then, and I didn't dare alone . 133 SVAVA Hush, hush ! [Mrs. Ries sinks into a chair, Svava kneels down before her, and buries her head in her lap. THE FOURTH SCENE As before. Ries. RIES [Comes out of his room in frock-coat and white tie, and approaches them, with back half turned towards them. I say, this coat doesn't seem to fit well, does it ? At the side here ? Or, perhaps, the back 's not quite right just here ? What do you think ? Is the lower part all right ? The idea of a famous Parisian firm turning out an article of this sort ! What are we coming to ? And I was so certain of my bargain ! It never does to be so confident. [He notices Svava, who has risen and moved towards the left.] Are you there ? I thought you had gone out. I sent Alf to meet you. They said you had gone down to the shore. So you hadn't, after 134 all ? By the way, Svava ! I was just speaking to mother about . . . don't you remember that villa of Klinger's ? We shall pass it to- day we shall pass it to-day. However, we can talk about that later. [Goes to the back.] But now I must really use the little time we have left to show you what I brought with me from Paris. [While he enters his room.] I have all the things ready, so it won't take more than a second. I will bring them all at once. [He goes out. SVAVA I am going. MRS. RIES * No : don't go ! SVAVA But I can't bear it. MRS. RIES Svava! what do you think I have had to bear ? [From the next room.] Here I come ! [He comes out with a huge garden-hat on his head, and two shawls over his shoulders. 135 Two fans with long cords hang from his button-hole. He carries under his arms several parcels, in his hands bundles of dress materials and more parcels. Now, you really can't say I think only of myself when I travel. If any one imagines that all these things are to be had at one and the same shop well, he knows nothing at all about them. No, they deserve long and care- ful inspection. What do you say to this garden-hat ? [He takes it from his head.] A smart fellow, isn't he ? [He lays it aside :] But now in these parcels [Opening them.] ' Beware of thine heart, for out of the heart come vain thoughts ' isn't that how it ftms ? two, elegant, elegant look ! [He ex- hibits two ladies' hats.] Mother and daughter ! Here is the mother [He holds one of them up.] soft in tone, serious, like a moss rose with closed petals ; the daughter, dazzling, fresh, and a little giddy. Can't you imagine these two hats, jesting together in a box at the theatre ? Between the acts of ' On ne badine pas avec 1' amour' ? And these two fans eh ? A discreet accompaniment to the ladies' thoughts. This, in colour and movement, conveys a certain suggestion of motherly pride so ! [He fans himself] And this protests with some little vehemence against 'his' 136 having the assurance to pay attentions to another lady so ! [He fans himself.] Imagine it 's a warm summer evening ! Such a fan as this is as expressive as a guitar piano, pizzi- cato ! [He fans himself J\ But, now, what do you say to my dress-materials ? With a dress made of this [He names colour and material^ mother will look like a day in early September the loveliest and most temperate season in the whole year. [Svava can suppress her feelings no longer. He packs his things hastily together and carries as much as can be dragged into his room. MRS. RIES 4 You mustn't take it to heart so ! Or I shall give way too ! [Begins to cty. SVAVA No, I '11 try ! I '11 try ! But- [Again bursts into tears. MRS. RIES This will never do ! SVAVA I will control myself soon ! 137 MRS. RIES If you can't, we must put off the party. SVAVA No, no ! Anything rather than that. Trust to me. [Comes out of his room.] I see Alf coming. [ With a glance at Svava.] Shall I ask him to go away ? MRS. RIES I don't think it is necessary. RIES He may come, then ? [Svava nods assent.] Oh thank you, darling ! [He involuntarily takes a few steps towards Svava, then stops still, and withdraws silently through the door on the right. MRS. RIES I will put everything out for you, and then send Marie to help you. [Svava goes up to her.] Try now to control yourself. [She goes out by the second door on the left. 138 THE FIFTH SCENE Svava. Alf in frock-coat, etc., enters on the right. Last of all, Ries. Svava draws back to the extreme left. ALF [Goes a few steps towards herJ\ I suppose you know why I have come ? If it rested with me, I would gladly have spared you. But if we are to be together at the party, we had better settle what line to take. SVAVA Yes. I thought, if you have no objection, I would help your father to receive the guests. I could be a kind of steward, or something of that sort, so as to superintend the party from the first. Your father likes the idea. In that way I should be fully occupied, and we need seldom meet. Have you any objection ? 139 No. ALF If, however, we are forced to meet, I'll soon remember something or other which has been forgotten. But I can't release you from the first dance. SVAVA No. that is clear. ALF I will try not to prolong your suffering. I will even try to be amusing ! SVAVA Yes, you must have a double share of good spirits. ALF In such a case one can generally carry it through. I will do my best. But you must try as well. SVAVA It 's not quite the same for me. 140 ALF I propose that you simply copy me, and put off the serious part until after the party. SVAVA Haven't we done with that ? Is there still more to come ? ALF Yes ; I certainly wish to defend myself ! You surely won't condemn me unheard ? SVAVA I have heard. At any rate I wish to hear no more. ALF I dare say you don't wish to hear, but you must, for all that. Even a criminal is not sentenced without a hearing. SVAVA I had no intention of sentencing any one. ALF You have passed sentence, I can see. 141 SVAVA In that case my sentence has evidently done you no harm. You seem as unabashed as ever ! ALF Of course you expected me to appear before you in the character of a penitent sinner? To fall at your feet with tears and contrition, and ask your forgiveness? You must really excuse me ! That would simply be admitting that you had confided in one who is unworthy of you, and that slight I will not inflict on you or myself. I certainly do not believe that I am unworthy of you. Had I thought so I would never have come here. SVAVA You have come here, then, with nothing on your conscience ? ALF I won't say that; I may have had many things on my conscience. But at present they lie behind me ; my hands are clean. SVAVA Really ! Since when, may I ask ? 142 ALF That is no business of yours. But I can tell you of one day in my life which had tremendous consequences for me, and that was the day when I met you. SVAVA No doubt I ought to feel flattered. You have nothing on your conscience, then. No- thing to explain. Plenty to explain ! But, as I said before, we had better drop the subject for the pre- sent. SVAVA I think so too : we will drop the subject. ALF Until you learn what is involved in this question. SVAVA No, at once ! ALF Yes, for you don't understand in the least. 143 This is not a question simply of myself or any other individual ; therefore, you have no right to pass sentence. Least of all, can you put all the blame on me. That would be the most glaring injustice. Besides, it can't be helped : we must accept facts, as they are. I see you don't understand. However, when you have learnt to look into the question (and now it is your duly to look into it), then, and not before, it will be time enough for me to relate to you this little episode of mine, if you insist. I know beforehand that you will then trouble yourself no more about it. It 's not that which troubles me now. You have quite misunderstood me. I am ashamed that you should have thought I meant that ! If I have hurt your feelings, I beg you to remember that I feel hurt too. SVAVA You? I suppose, because I won't put up with it ? 144 ALF You have nothing to put up with. If my past were not honourable, I should not stand here. SVAVA We differ on that point. And you have known that from the first. ALF Oh, that 's it ! I have deceived you, have I ? Been false to you ? Perhaps I have been laughing at you in my sleeve all laong ? SVAVA Is that all you can say ? ALF You interfere in my private aftairs; I feel hurt. You mistrust me ; that hurts me too. . . . But, I beg you, let us postpone all this ! SVAVA If it had been I ? If / had come to you under similar circumstances ? ' My private affairs.' 'I feel hurt.' 'You mistrust me, and that hurts me too.' Suppose I had be- haved as you have, lived the life you have lived ? 145 RIES [Outside.] I see the boats putting in. We shall have them here in a minute ! [He enters.] How are things going, children ? SVAVA Exactly as they ought. RIES No; really ? It's all being cleared up ? SVAVA Completely. RIES No ? I am glad ! You both look in high spirits, too. I was sure you only wanted a few words together. Besides, who can doubt a man's word of honour ? [He plunges on to the stool in front of the piano, plays a few rapid bars of a Triumphal March, then rushes into his room. ALF This is too bad ! You know quite well that there was no question of such theories when we were engaged. I thought as little of my past as you of yours. Ever since our first long talk together we have belonged to 146 each other. You know it was so. I see you can't deny it. As for my past, it can't have been veiy dreadful. It can't have left any deep traces ; else you you especially would have avoided me instinctively. Instead of that you felt drawn to me more strongly than to any other. I have it from your own lips ; you told me so yourself. Our present relations are unnatural ; you are not yourself; we are both in a false position. If only I might speak to you, as I believe I can speak, I should convince you on the spot. SVAVA Do you think so ? ALF Do I think so ? I'm sure of it ! Else I should not have been so confident from the first nor so confident now. If I trusted you too implicitly well, that is a fault, which you must try to forgive ! But my trust was not misplaced ; I know you too well. Although we have only been such a short time together, I know you as well, nay, better than any one else in the whole world ! You told me that, too, with your own lips. [Svava is moved.] I see you remember! What is the matter with you, Svava ? 147 SVAVA You have not answered my question. O God ! O God ! ALF Let us keep to the point. You must answer me first. How can any one, who knows you as thoroughly as L, wish to deceive you, to be false to you? You ought to have more faith in me. SVAVA This is too much ! If it had been I would you have had faith in me ? ALF How can I tell ? You wouldn't have been yourself but some one else. SVAVA Well, that is just what you have become some one else ! That is the dreadful part of it ! ALF Hush, hush ! You shall soon see that I am the same, just the same ! And besides, 148 you wouldn't feel it so deeply if you really thought me different. [The Trio is heard in the distance. RIES [Comes out of his room and speaks in a whisper.] The Trio ! Do you hear it ? I have forgotten the flag. [He quickly crosses the room, takes the furled flag, and hastens out by leftJ\ I hope I shall be able to unfurl the thing easily, else . . . [Goes out. Svava takes up her hat and gloves. ALF You 're not going ? Just when the music reminds us of all our happiness during the last few days ? Think of what really brought us together. Surely that was no mistake. The work we resolved to carry on together ; the work we talked over so often. Can you live without it ? / can't ; and I see you can't either. Let us devote our future to it. In that work I find my real self. You once told me so, and you were quite right. SVAVA How can I reconcile the two ? As long as I live, I shall never understand how a man can be so double. It is horrible ! 149 ALF Haven't we all two natures, then ? SVAVA Two ? ALF Yes ; you, as much as I. Why do you look at me like that ? I know what I 'm saying. We were attracted to each other by natural affinity, an affinity so strong as to annul any tendencies in which we differed. Did you ever shrink from me? No: you felt drawn towards me. Now you are hiding your real self, and that is why you are misled. You ought to be on your guard against these absurd theories, not against me. SVAVA No no, this is too much ! Even if it were true, you have no right to use such words to me. I have not two natures, and I will never belong to a man who can stoop to be so double. [Both come more and more to the front. ALF Don't you suppose that whenever I drew you to me I could tell how willing you were ? A 150 man cannot help knowing what influence he has over a woman. SVAVA Not another word ! ALF Yes ; you can't deny it ! To renounce your own nature now would be as great a sin as any I have committed SVAVA You revolt me ! ALF Are you still so deeply stirred by a word from me? You see how entirely you are mine ! I know it, you know it yourself. Only yesterday SVAVA Do you dare to remind me of yesterday ? ALF Dare ? Only yesterday here, on this very spot you proved to me that you have two natures ; you changed colour ; you trembled, when I said that your arm had clung to my neck, and to no other, no other in the whole world ! 151 SVAVA Yes ! and yours to a hundred others ! \Sheflitigs her glove in his face and rushes off' towards the left. A If stands dazed for a moment and then hastens off by the right to the back. RIES [Coming out of his roomj\ I congratulate you ! I congratulate you ! \He stands astonished, moves forward, and casts a puzzled look on all sides. As he turns round. THE CURTAIN FALLS. Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to Her Majesty, at the Edinburgh University Press. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 Box 951388 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. JANi/r 1 52004 ,.. U .?.?PUT Unive So 1