o a. JX {3 > Little Eyolf Little Eyolf BY HENRIK IBSEN NEW YORK FOX DUFFIELD & COMPANY 1906 COPYRIGHT, 1894, BY STONE AND KIMBALL p Little Eyolf Little Eyolf. THE FIRST ACT. A pretty and richly-decorated garden-room, full of furniture, flowers, and plants. At the back, open glass doors, leading out to a veranda. An extensive view over the fjord. In the dis- tance, wooded hillsides. A door in each of the side walls, the one on the right a folding door, placed far back. In front on the right, a sofa, with cushions and rugs. Beside the sofa, a small table and chairs. In front to the left, a larger table with arm-chairs around it. On the table stands an open hand-bag. It is an early summer morning, with warm sunshine. Mrs. RITA ALLMERS stands beside the table, facing towards the left, engaged in unpacking the bag. She is a handsome, rather tall, well- developed blonde, about thirty years of age, dressed in a light-colored morning-gown. Shortly after, Miss ASTA ALLMERS enters by the door on the right, wearing a light brown summer dress, with hat, jacket, and parasol. Under her arm she carries a rather large locked portfolio. She is slim, of middle height, with dark hair, and deep, earnest eyes. Twenty-five years old. io Little Eyolf. ASTA. [As she enfersJ] Good-morning, my dear Rita. RITA. [Turns her head, and nods to her.~] What ! is that you, Asta? Come out from town so early? All this way? ASTA. [Takes off her things, and lays them on a chair beside the door.'] Yes, such a restless feeling came over me. I felt I must come out to-day and see how little Eyolf was getting on and you too. [Lays the portfolio on tlic table beside the sofa.~] So I took the steamer and here I am. RITA. [Smiling to her.~] And I daresay you met one or other of your friends on board? Quite by chance, of course. ASTA. [Quietly.'] No, I didn't meet a soul I knew. [Sees the l>iig.~] Why, Rita, what have you got tli ere ? RITA. [Sfi/I unpacking.'] Alfred's travelling-bag. Don't you recognize it? Little Eyolf. n ASTA. ) approaching her.~] What ! Has Alfred come home? RITA. Yes, only think he came quite unex- pectedly by the late train last night. ASTA. Oh, then that was what I had a feeling of ! It was that that drew me out here ! And he hadn't written a line to let you know? Not even a post -card? RITA. Not a single word. ASTA. Did n't he even telegraph? RITA. Yes, an hour before he arrived quite curtly and coldly. [LaughsJ\ Don't you think that was like him, Asta? ASTA. Yes ; he goes so quietly about everything. RITA. But that made it all the more delightful to have him again. ASTA. Yes, I 'm sure it would. 12 Little Eyolf. RITA. A whole fortnight before I expected him 1 ASTA. And is he quite well? Not in low spirits? RITA. \_Cfoses the bag with a snap, and smiles at her.] He looked quite transfigured as he stood in the doorway. ASTA. And was n't he the least bit tired either? RITA. Oh, yes, he seemed to be tired enough very tired, in fact. But, poor fellow, you see he had come on foot the greater part of the way. ASTA. And then perhaps the high mountain air may have been rather too keen for him. RITA. Oh, no ; I don't think so at all. I have n't heard him cough a single lime. ASTA. Ah, there you see now ! It wns a good thing, after all. that the doctor talked him into taking this tour. Little Eyolf. 13 RITA. Yes, now that it 's safely over. But I can tell you it has been a terrible time for me, Asta. I 've never cared to talk about it and you so seldom came out to see me, too ASTA. Yes, I daresay that was n't very nice of me but RITA. Well, well, well, of course you had your school to attend to in town. \_Smiling.~] And then our road-maker friend of course he was away too. ASTA. Oh, don't talk like that, Rita. RITA. Oh, very well, then ; we '11 leave the road- maker out of the question. You can't think how I 've been longing for Alfred ! How empty the place seemed ! How desolate ! Ugh, it felt as if there had been a funeral in the house ! ASTA. Why, dear me, only six or seven weeks RITA. Yes ; but you must remember that Alfred has never been away from me before never 14 Little Eyolf. so much as twenty-four hours. Not once in all the ten years. ASTA. No ; but just on that account I really think it was high time he should have a little outing this year. He ought to have gone for a tramp in the mountains every summer he really ought. RITA. [Half smiling.~] Oh, yes, it's all very well for you to talk. If I were as as reasonable as you, I suppose I should have let him go before perhaps. But I positively could n't, Asta ! It seemed to me I should never get him back again. Surely you can understand that ? ASTA. No. But I daresay that 's because I have no one to lose. RITA. [With a teasing smile.'] Really? No one at all ? ASTA. Not that / know of. [ Changing the subject^ But tell me, Rita, where is Alfred? Is he still asleep ? RITA. Oh, not at all. He got up as early as ever to-day. Little Eyolf. 15 ASTA. Then he can't have been so very tired after all. RITA. Yes, he was last night when he arrived. But now he has had little Eyolf with him in his room for a whole hour and more. ASTA. The poor little white-faced boy ! Has he got to be for ever at his lessons again? RITA. \_With a slight shrug]. Alfred will have it so, you know. ASTA. Yes ; but I think you ought to put down your foot about it, Rita. RITA. \_Somewhat impatiently J\ Oh, no come now I really can't meddle with that matter. Al- fred knows so much better about these things than I do. And what would you have Eyolf do? He can't run about and play, you see like other children. ASTA. [ With decision.^ I will talk to Alfred about this. RITA. Yes, do ; I wish you would Oh ! here he is. 1 6 Little Eyolf. [ALFRED ALLMERS, dressed in light summer clothes, enters by the door on the left, leading EYOLF by the hand. He is a slim, lightly- built man of about thirty-six or thirty-seven, with gentle eyes, and thin brown hair and beard. His expression is serious and thoughtful. EYOLF wears a dress cut like a uniform, with gold braid and gilt military buttons. He is lame, and walks with a crutch under his left arm. His leg is shrunken. He is undersized, and looks delicate, but has beautiful intelligent eyes.] ALLMERS. [Drops EYOLF'S hand, goes up to ASTA with an expression of marked pleasure, and holds out both his hands to her."] Asta ! My dearest Asta ! To think of your coming ! To think of my seeing you so soon ! ASTA. I felt I had to. Welcome home again ! ALLMERS. [Shaking her hands."] Thank you for coming. RITA. Does n't he look well ? ASTA. [Gazes fixedly at //////.] Splendid ! Quite splendid ! His eyes are so much brighter ! And I suppose you 've done a groat deal of writing on your travels? [With an outburst of Little Eyolf. 17 foy.~\ I shouldn't wonder if the whole book were finished, Alfred? ALLMERS. [Shrugging his shoulders.'] The book? Oh, the book. ASTA. Yes, I was sure you would find it go so easily when once you got away. ALLMERS. So I thought too. But, do you know, I did n't find it so at all. The truth is, I have n't written a line of the book. ASTA. Not a line? RITA. Oho ! I wondered when I found all the paper lying untouched in your bag. ASTA. But, my dear Alfred, what have you been doing all this time? ALLMERS. [Smiling.] Only thinking and thinking and thinking. RITA. [Puffing her arm round his neck.'] And think- ing a little, too, of those you had left at home ? 1 8 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. Yes, that you may be sure of. I 've thought a great deal of you every single day. RITA. \Taking her arm away.~\ Ah, that's all I care about. ASTA. But you have n't even touched the book ! And yet you can look so happy and contented ! That 's not what you generally do I mean when your work is going badly. ALLMERS. You 're right there. You see, I 've been such a fool hitherto. All the best that 's in you goes into thinking. What you put on paper is worth very little. ASTA. [Exclaiming.] Worth very little ! RITA. \_Laughing.~] Are you out of your senses, Alfred ? EYOLF. \JLooks confidingly up at him^\ Oh, yes, Papa, what you write is worth a great deal ! ALLMERS. [Smiling and stroking his hair.'] Well, well, since you say so But I can tell you, some one will come after me who will do it better. Little Eyolf. 19 EYOLF. Who can that be ? Oh, tell me ! ALLMERS. Only wait you may be sure, he '11 come and let you hear of him. EYOLF. And what will you do then? ALLMERS. \Seriously. ~\ Then I '11 go to the mountains again RITA. Fie, Alfred ! For shame ! ALLMERS. up to the peaks and the great waste places. EYOLF. Papa, don't you think I '11 soon be well enough for you to take me with you? ALLMERS. \With painful emotion^ Oh, yes, perhaps, my little boy. EYOLF. It would be so splendid, you know, if I could climb the mountains like you. ASTA. \_Changing the subject^ Why, how beauti- fully you 're dressed to-day, Eyolf ! 2O Little Eyolf. EVOLF. Yes, don't you think so, Auntie? AST A. Yes, indeed. Is it in honor of Papa that you 've got your new clothes on ? EYOLF. Yes, I asked Mama to let me. I wanted so to let Papa see me in them. ALLMERS. [/ a low voice, to RITA.] You shouldn't have given him clothes like that. RITA. [/;/ a low rflice.~] Oh. he has teased me so long about them he had set his heart on them. He gave me no peace. EVOLF. And I forgot to tell you. Papa Borgheim has bought me a new bow. And he 's taught me how to shoot with it too. ALLMERS. Ah, there now that 's just the sort of thing for you, Eyolf. EYOLF. And next time he comes, I shall ask him to teach me to swim, too. Little Eyolf. 21 ALLMERS. To swim ! Oh, what makes you want to learn swimming? EYOLF. Well, you know, all the boys down at the beach can swim. I 'm the only one that can't. ALLMERS. \With emotion, taking him in his arms.~] You shall learn whatever you like everything you really want to. EYOLF. Then do you know what I want most of all, Papa? ALLMERS. No ; tell me ? EYOLF. I want most of all to be a soldier. ALLMERS. Oh, little Eyolf, there are many, many other things that are better than that. EYOLF. Ah, but when I grow big, then I shall have to be a soldier. You know that, don't you? ALLMERS. \Clenching his hands together.~\ Well, well, well : we shall see 22 Little Eyolf. ASTA. [Seating herself at the table on the left.~\ Eyolf ! Come here to me, and I '11 tell you something. EYOLF. \_Goes up to her.~\ What is it, Auntie? ASTA. What do you think, Eyolf. I have seen the Rat -Wife. EYOLF. What ! Seen the Rat-Wife ! Oh, you 're only making a fool of me ! ASTA. No ; it 's quite true. I saw her yesterday. EYOLF. Where did you see her? ASTA. I saw her on the road, outside the town. ALLMERS. I saw her, too, somewhere up in the country. RITA. \_Whoissitting on the sofa.~] Perhaps it'll be our turn to see her next, Eyolf. EYOLF. Auntie, isn't it strange that she should be called the Rat-Wife? Little Eyolf. 23 ASTA. Oh, people just give her that name because she wanders round the country driving away all the rats. ALLMERS. I 've heard that her real name is Varg. EYOLF. Varg ! That means a wolf, doesn't it? ALLMERS. [Patting him on the head.~] So you know that, do you? EYOLF. [ Cautiously.] Then perhaps it may be true, after all, that she 's a were-wolf at night. Do you believe that, Papa? ALLMERS. Oh, no ; I don't believe it. Now you ought to go and play a little in the garden. EYOLF. Don't you think I ought to take some books with me? ALLMERS. No, no books after this. You 'd better go down to the beach to the other boys. EYOLF. \_Shy ly.~\ No, Papa, I won't go down to the boys to -day. 24 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. Why not ! EYOLF. Oh, because I have these clothes on. ALLMERS. \_Knitting his bron>s.~\ Do you mean that they make fun of of your pretty clothes? EYOLF. \_Evasiveh^\ No, they dare n't for then 1 would thrash them. ALLMERS. Aha ! then why ? EYOLF. "But they 're so naughty, these boys. And then they say I can never be a soldier. ALLMERS. [ With suppressed indignation^ Why do they say that, do you think? EYOLF. I suppose they 're jealous of me. For you kno\v, Papa, they 're so poor, they have to go about barefoot. ALLMERS. [.S>///!'. with choking roicc.~\ Oh. Rita, how it, wrings rny heart, all this. Little Eyolf. 25 RITA. [Soothingly, rising. ,] There, there, there ! ALLMERS. [Threateningly. ~\ But these boys shall soon find out who 's the master down at the beach ! ASTA. [Listening.] There 's some one knocking. EYOLF. Oh, I'm sure it 's Borgheim ! RITA. Come in. [The RAT-WIFE comes softly and noiselessly in by the door on the right. She is a thin little shrunken figure, old and gray-haired, with keen, piercing eyes, dressed in an old- fashioned flowered gown, with a black hood and cloak. She has in her hand a large red umbrella, and carries a black bag by a loop over her arm.] EYOLF. [Softly, taking hold of ASTA'S dress. .] Auntie ! Tiiat must surely be her ! THE RAT-WIFE. [Courtesying at the door.'] I humbly beg par- don but are your worships troubled with any gnawing things in the house ? ALLMERS. Here? No, I don't think so. 26 Little Eyolf. THE RAT-WIFE. For it would be such a pleasure to me to rid your worships' house of them. RITA. Yes, yes ; we understand. But we 're not troubled with anything of the sort here. THE RAT-WIFE. That 's very unlucky, that is ; for I just hap- pened to be on my rounds now, and goodness knows when I may be in these parts again. Oh, how tired I am ! ALLMERS. [Pointing to a chair.'] Yes, you look tired. THE RAT-WIFE. I know one ought never to get tired of doing good to the poor little things that are hated and persecuted so cruelly. But it takes your strength out of you, it does. RITA. Won't you sit down and rest a little ? THE RAT-WIFE. I thank your ladyship with all my heart. [Scats herself on a chair between tJie lioor and the so/a.'] I Ye been out all night at my work. ALLMERS. Have you indeed? Little Eyolf. 27 THE RAT-WIFE. Yes, over on the islands. [ With a chuckling laitgh.~\ The people sent for me, I can assure you. They did n't like it a bit ; but there was nothing else to be done. They had to put a good face on it, and bite the sour apple. [Looks at EYOLF, and nods.~\ The sour apple, little master, the sour apple. EYOLF. [Involuntarily, a little timidly.~\ Why had they to ? THE RAT-WIFE. What? EYOLF. To bite it ? THE RAT- WIFE. Why, because they could n't keep body and soul together on account of the rats and all the little rat-children, you understand, young master. RITA. Ugh ! Poor people ! Have they so many of them? THE RAT-WIFE. Yes, it was all alive and swarming with them. [Laughs with quiet glee.~\ They came creepy- crawly up into the beds all night long. They plumped into the milk-cans, and they went pit- 28 Little Eyolf. tering and pattering all over the floor, back- wards and forwards, and up and down. EYOLF. [Soft/y, to ASTA.] I shall never go there, Auntie. THE RAT-WIFE. But then I came I, and another with me. And we took them with us, every one the sweet little creatures ! We made an end of every one of them. EYOLF. [ With a shriek.'] Papa look ! RITA. Good Heavens, Eyolf ! ALLMERS. What's the matter? EYOLF. [Pointing.] There 's something wriggling in the bag ! RITA. [At the extreme left, shrieks.] Ugh ! Send her away, Alfred ! THE RAT-WIFE. [Laughing."] Oh, dearest lady, you need n't be frightened of such a little mannikin. Little Eyolf. 29 ALLMERS. But what is the thing? THE RAT-WIFE. Why, it "s only little Mopseman. [Loosening the string of the bag.~\ Come up out of the dark, my own dearest little friend. [A little dog with a broad black snout pokes its head out of the bag.] THE RAT-WIFE. [Nodding and beckoning to EYOLF.] Come along, don't be afraid, my little wounded war- rior ! He won't bite. Come here ! Come here ! EYOLF. [ Clinging to ASTA.] No, I dare n't. THE RAT-WIFE. Don't you think he has a gentle, lovable countenance, my young master? EYOLF. [Astonished, pointing. ~\ That thing there ? THE RAT-WIFE. Yes, this thing here. EYOLF. [Almost under his breath, staring fixedly at the dog.~\ I think he has the horriblest countenance I ever saw. 30 Little Eyolf. THE RAT-WIFE. [Closing the bag.~\ Oh, it'll come it'll come right enough. EYOLF. {Involuntarily drawing nearer, at last goes right up to her, and strokes the bag.~\ But he 's lovely lovely all the same. THE RAT-WIFE. [In a tone of cautionJ\ But now he 's so tired and weary, poor thing. He 's utterly tired out, he is. [Looks at ALLMERS.] For it takes the strength out of you, that sort of game, I can tell you, sir. ALLMERS. What sort of game do you mean? THE RAT-WIFE. The luring game. ALLMERS. Do you mean that it 's the dog that lures the rats? ' THE RAT-WIFE. [Nodding.~\ Mopseman and I we two do it together. And it goes so smoothly for all you can see, at any rate. I just slip a string through his collar, and then I lead him three times round the house, and play on my Pan's- pipes. When they hear that, they 've got to Little Eyolf. 31 come up from the cellars, and down from the garrets, and out of their holes, all the blessed little creatures. EYOLF. And does he bite them to death' then ? THE RAT- WIFE. Oh, not at all ! No, we go down to the boat, he and I do and then they follow after us, both the big ones and the little ratikins. EYOLF. [Eagerly. ~\ And what then tell me ! THE RAT-WIFE. Then we push out from the land, and I scull with one oar, and play on my Pan's-pipes. And Mopseman, he swims behind. [ With glittering eyes.'] And all the creepers and crawlers, they follow and follow us out into the deep, deep waters. Ay, for they have to ! EYOLF. Why have they to ? THE RAT-WIFE. Just because they want not to because they 're so deadly afraid of the water. That 's why they 've got to plunge into it. EYOLF. Are they drowned then? 32 Little Eyolf. THE RAT-WIFE. Every blessed one. [More softly ^\ And there it 's all as still, and soft, and dark as their hearts can desire, the lovely little things. Down there they sleep a long, sweet sleep, all they whom the people above hate so and per- secute. [Rises J\ In the old days, I can tell you, I did n't need any Mopseman. Then I did the luring myself I alone. EYOLF. And what did you lure then? THE RAT-WIFE. Men. One most of all. EYOLF. [ With eagerness. .] Oh, who was that one ? Tell me ! THE RAT-WIFE. [Laughing."} It was my own sweetheart, it was, little heart-breaker ! EYOLF. And where is he now, then ? THE RAT-WIFE. [Harshly.'] Down where all the rats are. [Resuming her milder fone.~\ Hut now I must be off and get to business again. Always on the move. [To RITA.] So your ladyship has Little Eyolf. 33 no sort of use for me to-day? I could finish it all off while I 'm about it. RITA. No, thank you ; I don't think we require anything. THE RAT-WIFE. Well, well, your sweet ladyship, you can never tell. If your ladyship should find that there 's anything here that keeps nibbling and gnawing, and creeping and crawling, then just see and get hold of me and Mopseman. Good- by, good-by, a kind good-by to you all. [She goes out by the door on the right.] EYOLF. \_Softly and triumphantly, to ASTA.] Only think, Auntie, now I have seen the Rat-Wife too ! [RiTA goes out upon the veranda, and fans her- self with her pocket-handkerchief. Shortly afterwards, EYOLF slips cautiously and un- noticed out to the right.] ALLMERS. [Takes up the portfolio from the table by the sofa.'} Is this your portfolio, Asta? ASTA. Yes. I have some of the old letters in it. ALLMERS. Ah, the family letters 3 34 Little Eyolf. ASTA. You know you asked me to arrange them for you while you were away. ALLMERS. [Pats her on the head.] And you 've actually found time to do that, dear? ASTA. Oh, yes. I Ve done it partly out here and partly at my own rooms in town. ALLMERS. Thanks, dear. Did you find anything par- ticular in them? ASTA. \_Ligh//y.~\ Oh, you know you always find something or other in such old papers. [Speak- ing lower and seriously.'} It 's the letters to mother that are in this portfolio. ALLMERS. Those, of course, you must keep yourself. ASTA. [ With an effort^} No ; I 'm determined that you shall look through them, too, Alfred. Some time later on in life. But to-day I have n't got the key of the portfolio with me. ALLMERS. It does n't matter, my dear Asta, for I shall never read your mother's letters in any case. Little Eyolf. 35 ASTA. [Fixing her eyes on him.'] Then some time or other some quiet evening I will tell you something of what is in them. ALLMERS. Yes, that will be much better. But do you keep your mother's letters you have n't so many mementos of her? He hands ASTA the portfolio. She takes it, lays it on the chair under her outdoor things. RITA comes into the room again. RITA. Ugh ! I feel as if that horrible old woman had brought a sort of graveyard smell with her. ALLMERS. Yes, she was rather horrible. RITA. I felt almost sick while she was in the room. ALLMERS. However, I can very well understand the sort of spellbound fascination that she talked about. The loneliness of the mountain peaks and of the great waste places has something of the same magic about it. ASTA. [Looks attentively at him.'] Wh;it is it that has happened to you, Alfred? 36 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. [Smi/ing."] To me ? ASTA. Yes, something has happened something seems almost to have transformed you. Rita noticed it too. RITA. Yes, I saw it the moment you came. A change for the better, I hope, Alfred? ALLMERS. It ought to be for the better. And it must and shall come to good. RITA. [ With an outburst] You have had some adventure on your journey ! Don't deny it ! I can see it in your face ! ALLMERS. '[Shaking his head] No adventure in the world outwardly, nothing. But RITA. [Eagerly.] Rut? ALLMERS. It 's true that within me there has been some- thing of a revolution. RITA. Oh, Heavens ! Little Eyolf. 37 ALLMERS. [Soothingly, patting her hand.~\ Only for the better, my dear Rita. That you may be per- fectly certain of. RITA. [Scats herself on the so/a.'] You must tell us all about it, at once tell us everything ! ALLMERS. [Turning to ASTA.] Yes, let us sit down, too, Asta. Then I will try to tell you as well as I can. [He seats himself on the sofa at RITA'S side. ASTA moves a chair forward, and places her- self near him.] RITA. [Looking at him expectantly. ~\ Well ? ALLMERS. [Gazing straight before him.~] When I look back over my life and my fortunes for the last ten or eleven years, it seems to me almost like a fairy-tale or a dream. Don't you think so too, Asta? ASTA. Yes, in many ways I think so. ALLMERS. [Continuing.^ When I remember what we two used to be, Asta we too poor orphan children 3 8 Little Eyolf. RITA. \_Impa tiently.~\ Oh, that 's such an old, old story. ALLMERS. \_Not listening to her.~] And now here I am in comfort and luxury. And I Ye been able to follow my vocation. I Ve been able to work and study to follow out my heart's desire. \JIolds out his ha ml, ~\ And all this great this fabulous good fortune we owe to you, my dearest Rita. RITA. \_Half playfully > half angrily, slaps his hand.] Oh, I do wish you would stop talking like that. ALLMERS. I speak of it only as a sort of introduction. RITA. Then do skip that introduction ! ALLMERS. Rita, you must n't think it was the doctor's advice that drove me up to the mountains. ASTA. Was n't it, Alfred ? RITA. What was it, then, that drove you ? ALLMERS. It was this : I found t he re was no more peace for me, there in my study. Little Eyolf. 39 RITA. No peace ! Why, who disturbed you? ALLMERS. [Shaking his head.~\ No one, from without. But I felt as though I were positively abusing or, say, rather wasting, my best powers frit- tering away the time. ASTA. [ With wide eyes.~] When you were writing at your book? ALLMERS. [Nodding.~\ For I can't think that my powers are confined to that alone. I must surely have it in me to do one or two other things as well. RITA. Was that what you sat there brooding over? ALLMERS. Yes, mainly that. RITA. And so that 's what has made you so discon- tented with yourself of late ; and with the rest of us as well. For you know you were discon- tented, Alfred. ALLMERS. [Gazing straight before /iim.~] There I sat bent over my table, writing day after day, and often half the night too writing and writing 4O Little Eyolf. at the great thick book on " Human Responsi- bility." Hm ! ASTA. [Laying her hand upon his armJ] But, Alfred that book is to be your life-work. RITA. Yes, you Ve said so often enough. ALLMERS. I thought so. Ever since I grew up, I have thought so. [ With an affectionate expression in his eyes.'] And it was you that enabled me to devote myself to it, my dear Rita RITA. Oh, nonsense. ALLMERS. [Smiling to her.~\ you with your gold, and your green forests RITA. [Half laughing, half rexed.~\ If you begin all that rubbish again, I shall beat you. ASTA. [Looking sorrowfully at him.~\ But the book, Alfred? ALLMERS. It began, as it were, to drift away from me. But I was more and more beset by the thought of the higher duties that laid their claims upon me. Little Eyolf. 41 RITA. \Beaming, seizes his hand.'] Alfred ! ALLMERS. The thought of Eyolf, my dear Rita. RITA. [Disappointed, drops his hand.~] Ah of Eyolf ! ALLMERS. Poor little Eyolf has taken deeper and deeper hold of me. After that unlucky fall from the table and especially since we have been assured that the injury is incurable RITA. \_Insis tently.~\ But you take all the care you possibly can of him, Alfred. ALLMERS. As a schoolmaster, yes ; but not as a father. And it is a father that I want henceforth to be to Eyolf. RITA. [Looking at him and shaking her head.~\ I don't think I rightly understand you. ALLMERS. I mean that I will try with all my might to make his misfortune as painless and easy to him as it can possibly be. 42 Little Eyolf. RITA. Oh, but, dear thank Heaven, I don't think he feels it so deeply. ASTA. [ With emotion.~\ Yes, Rita, he does. ALLMERS. Yes, you may be sure he feels it deeply. RITA. [Impatiently. .] But, Alfred, what more can you do for him? ALLMERS. I will try to perfect all the rich possibilities that are dawning in his childish soul. I will foster all the noble germs in his nature make them blossom and bear fruit. \}\'ith more and more warmth, rising.~\ And I will do more than that ! I will help him to bring his desires into harmony with what lies attain- able before him. That is just what at present they are not. All his longings are for things that must remain unattainable to him all his life long. But I will create a conscious happi- ness in his mind. [He goes once or twice up and down the room. ASIA and RITA follow him with their eyes.] Little Eyolf. 43 RITA. You should take these things more quietly, Alfred ! ALLMERS. [Stops beside the table on the left, and looks at thetn.~] Eyolf shall carry on my life-work if he wants to. Or he shall choose one that is altogether his own. Perhaps that would be best. Well, at all events, I shall let mine rest as it is. RITA. \_Rising.~] But, Alfred dear, can't you work both for yourself and for Eyolf? ALLMERS. No, I cannot. It 's impossible ! I can't divide myself in this matter, and therefore I efface myself. Eyolf shall be the complete man of our race. And it shall be my new life- work to make him the complete man. ASTA. \_Has risen and now goes up to him.~\ This must have cost you a terribly hard struggle, Alfred? ALLMERS. Yes, it has. At home here, I should never have conquered myself, never brought myself to the point of renunciation. Never at home ! 44 Little Eyolf. RITA. Then that was why you went away this summer? ALLMERS. [ With shitting eyes.'] Yes ! I went up into the infinite solitudes. I saw the sunrise gleam- ing on the mountain peaks. I felt myself nearer the stars I seemed almost to be in sympathy and communion with them. And then I found the strength for it. ASTA. [Looking sadly at him.~\ But you will never write any more of your book on " Human Re- sponsibility " ? ALLMERS. No, never, Asta. I tell you I can't split myself up between two vocations. But I will act out my " human responsibility " in my own life. RITA. [ With a smile.'] Do you think you can live up to such high resolves at home here? ALLMERS. [Taking her ham/.'] With you to help me, I can. [Holds out the other hand.~\ And with you too, Asta. Little Eyolf. 45 RITA. [Drawing her hand away.~] With both of us, then ! So, after all, you can divide yourself. ALLMERS. Why, my dearest Rita ! [RiTA moves away from him and stands in the garden doorway. A light and rapid knock is heard at the door on the right. Engineer BORGHEIM enters quickly. lie is a young man of a little over thirty. His expression is bright and cheerful, and he holds himself erect.] BORGHEIM. Good-morning, Mrs. Allmers. [Stops with an expression of pleasure on seeing ALLMERS. J Why, what's this? Home again already, Mr. Allmers ? ALLMERS. [Shaking hands with him.~\ Yes, I arrived last night. RITA. \_Gayly.~] His leave was up, Mr. Borgheim. ALLMERS. No, you know it was n't, Rita RITA. [Approaching.'] Oh, yes, but it was, though. His furlough had run out. 46 Little Eyolf. BORGHEIM. I see you hold your husband well in hand, Mrs. Allmers. RITA. I hold to my rights. And besides, every- thing must have an end. BORGHEIM. Oh, not everything I hope. Good-morn- ing, Miss Allmers ! AST A. \_Holding aloof from him.~\ Good-morning. RITA. [Looking at BORGHEIM.] Not everything, you say? BORGHEIM. Oh, I 'in firmly convinced that there are some things in the world that will never come to an end. RITA. I suppose you 're thinking of love, and that sort of thing. P.OKGHEIM. [Warmly ^ I'm thinking of all that is lovely ! RITA. And that never comes to an end. Yes, let us think of that, hope for that, all of us. Little Eyolf. 47 ALLMERS. [Coming up to themJ\ I suppose you'll soon have finished your road-work out here ? BORGHEIM. I Ve finished it already finished it yester- day. It has been a long business, but, thank Heaven, that has come to an end. RITA. And you are beaming with joy over that? BORGHEIM. Yes, I am indeed ! RITA. Well, I must say BORGHEIM. What, Mrs. Allmers? RITA. I don't think it 's particularly nice of you, Mr. Borgheim. BORGHEIM. Indeed? Why not? RITA. Well, I suppose we sha'n't often see you in these parts after this. BORGHEIM. No, that 's true. I had n't thought of that. 48 Little Eyolf. RITA. Oh, well, I suppose you '11 be able to look in upon us now and then all the same. BORGHEIM. No, unfortunately that will be out of my power for a very long time. ALLMERS. Indeed? How so? BORGHEIM. The fact is, I Ve got a big piece of new work that I must set about at once. ALLMERS. Have you indeed? [Pressing his han(?.~\ I 'm heartily glad to hear it. RITA. I congratulate you, Mr. Borgheim. BORGHEIM. Hush, hush I really ought n't to talk openly of it as yet ! But I can't help coming out with it ! It 's a great piece of road-making up in the north with mountain ranges to cross, and the most tremendous difficulties to overcome ! [ With an outburst of gladness. ~] Oh, what a glorious world this is and what a joy it is to be a road- maker in it ! Little Eyolf. 49 RITA. [Smiling and looking teasingfy at him.~\ Is it road-making business that has brought you out here to-day in such wild spirits? BORGHEIM. No, not that alone. I 'm thinking of all the bright and hopeful prospects that are opening out before me. RITA. Aha, then perhaps you Ve got something still more exquisite in reserve ! BORGHEIM. [Glancing towards ASTA.] Who knows ! When once happiness comes to us, it 's apt to come like a spring flood. \_Turns to ASTA.] Miss Allmers, would n't you like to take a little walk with me ? As we used to ? ASTA. [ Quickly, ,] No no, thank you. Not now. Not to-day. BORGHEIM. Oh, do come ! Only a little bit of a walk ! I have so much I want to talk to you about before I go. RITA. Something else, perhaps, that you must n't talk openly about as yet? 4 50 Little Eyolf. BORGHEIM. Hm, that depends RITA. But there 's nothing to prevent your whisper- ing, you know. \Half aside^\ Asta, you must really go with him. ASTA. But, my dear Rita BORGHEIM. [Imploringly. ~\ Miss Asta remember it is to be a farewell walk the last for many a day. ASTA. [Takes her hat and parasol.~\ Very well, suppose we take a stroll in the garden then. BORGHEIM. Oh, thank you, thank you ! ALLMERS. And while you 're there you can see what Eyolf 's doing. BORGHEIM. Ah, Eyolf, by the bye ! Where is Eyolf to- day? I Ve got something for him. ALLMERS. He 's out playing somewhere. Little Eyolf. BORGHEIM. Is he really ! Then he has begun to play now? He used always to be sitting indoors over his books. ALLMERS. There 's to be an end of that now. I 'm going to make a regular open-air boy of him. BORGHEIM. Ah, now, that 's right ! Out into the open air with him, poor little fellow ! Good Lord, what can we possibly do better than play in this blessed world ? For my part, I think all life is one long playtime ! Come, Miss Asta ! [BORGHEIM and ASTA go out on the veranda and down through the garden.] ALLMERS. [Stands looking after them.'] Rita do you think there 's anything between those two? RITA. I don't know what to say. I used to think there was. But Asta has grown so strange to me so utterly incomprehensible of late. ALLMERS. Indeed ! Has she? While I Ve been away? RITA. Yes, within the last week or two. 52 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. And you think she does n't care very much about him now? RITA. Not seriously ; not utterly and entirely ; not unreservedly I am sure she does n't. \_Looks searchingly at him.'] Would it displease you if she did? ALLMERS. It would n't exactly displease me. But it would certainly be a disquieting thought RITA. Disquieting? ALLMERS. Yes ; you must remember that I 'm respon- sible for Asta for her life's happiness. RITA. Oh, come responsible ! Surely Asta has come to years of discretion? I should say she was capable of choosing for herself. ALLMERS. Yes, we must hope so, Rita. RITA. For my part, I don't think at all ill of Borgheim. ALLMERS. No, dear no more do I quite the con trary. But all the same Little Eyolf. 53 RITA. [Continuing.'] And I should be very glad indeed if he and Asta were to make a match of it. ALLMERS. [Annoyed. ~\ Oh, why should you be ? RITA. [ With increasing excitement.~\ Why, for then she would have to go far, far away with him ! And she could never come out here to us, as she does now. ALLMERS. [Stares at her in astonishment^ What ! Can you really want to get rid of Asta ? RITA. Yes, yes, Alfred ! ALLMERS. Why in all the world ? RITA. [Throwing her arms passionately round his neck.~] For then, at last, I should have you to myself alone ! And yet not even then ! Not wholly to myself ! [Bursts into convulsive weeping.~\ Oh, Alfred, Alfred I cannot give you up ! ALLMERS. [Gently releasing himself J\ My dearest Rita, do be reasonable ! 54 Little Eyolf. RITA. I don't care a bit about being reasonable ! I care only for you ! Only for you in all the world ! [Again throwing her arms round his ncck.~\ For you, for you, for you ! ALLMERS. Let me go, let me go you 're strangling me ! RITA. [Letting him go.~\ How I wish I could ! [Looking at him with flashing eycs.~\ Oh, if you knew how I have hated you ! ALLMERS. Hated me ! RITA. Yes, when you shut yourself up in your room and brooded over your work till long, long into the night. [Plaintively.^ So long, so late, Alfred. Oh, how I hated your work ! ALLMERS. But now I have done with that. RITA. [With a cutting laugh.'} Oh, yes! Now you 're taken up with something worse? ALLMERS. [Shocked."] \Yorse ! Do you call our child something worse? Little Eyolf. 55 RITA. \_Vehemen //)'.] Yes, I do. As he comes between you and me, I call him so. For the book the book was dead, but the child is a living being. [ With increasing iinpetuosity.~\ But I won't endure it, Alfred ! I won't endure it I tell you so plainly ! ALLMERS. [Looks steadily at her, and says in a low voice, .] I am often almost afraid of you, Rita. RITA. [Gloomily.'] I am often afraid of myself. And for that very reason you mustn't awa^e the evil in me. ALLMERS. Why, good Heavens, do I do that? RITA. Yes, you do when you tear to shreds the holiest bonds between us. ALLMERS. \Urgently ^\ Think what you're saying, Rita. It is your own child our only child, that you are speaking of. RITA. The child is only half mine. [ With another oittburstJ\ But you shall be mine alone ! You 56 Little Eyolf. shall be wholly mine ! That I have a right to demand of you ! ALLMERS. [Shrugging his shoulders.'} Oh, my dear Rita, it 's of no use demanding anything. Everything must be freely given. RITA. [Looks anxiously at him.~\ And that you cannot do henceforth? ALLMERS. No, I cannot. I must divide myself between Eyolf and you. RITA. But if Eyolf had never been born? What then? ALLMERS. [Evasively."] Oh, that would be another matter. Then I 'd have only you to care for. RITA. [Softly, her voice guwering.~] Then I wish he had never been born. ALLMERS. [ Flax/ling flitt.~\ Rita ! You don't know what you 're saying ! RITA. [Trembling unth emotion.'} It was in pain unspeakable that I brought him into the world. Little Eyol 57 But I bore it all with joy and rapture for your sake. ALLMERS. [ Warmly, ,] Oh, yes, I know, I know. RITA. \With decision.^ But there it must end. I will live my life together with you wholly with you. I cannot go on being only Eyolfs mother only his mother and nothing more. I will not, I tell you ! I cannot ! I will be all in all to you ! To you, Alfred ! ALLMERS. But that 's just what you are, Rita. Through our child RITA. Oh vapid, nauseous phrases nothing else. No, Alfred, I 'm not to be put off like that. I was fitted to become the child's mother, but not to be a mother to him. You must take me as I am, Alfred. ALLMERS. And yet you used to be so fond of Eyolf. RITA. I was so sorry for him because you troubled yourself so little about him. You kept him reading and grinding at books. You scarcely ever saw him. 58 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. {Nodding slowly ^\ No ; I was blind. The time had not yet come for me RITA. [Looking in his facc.~\ But now, I suppose, it has come ? ALL.MERS. Yes, at last. Now I see that the highest task I can have in the world is to be a true father to Eyolf. RITA. And to me ? what will you be to me ? ALLMERS. \_Gentfy, ~\ I will always go on caring for you with quiet tenderness. \_He tries to take her hands ^ RITA. [Avoiding him.'] I don't care a bit for your quiet tenderness. I want you utterly and en- tirely and alone! Just as I had you in the first, rich, beautiful days. [ / 'chcniciitly ami harshly ^\ Never in this world will I consent to be put off with scraps and leavings, Alfred ! ALLMERS. [Conciliatorih ^\ I should have thought there was happiness in plenty for all three of us, Rita. Little Eyolf. 59 RITA. [Scornfully. ~\ Then you 're easily contented. [Seats herself at the table on the left.] Now listen to me. ALLMERS. [Approaching.] Well, what is it? RITA [Looking up at him with a veiled glow in her eyes.'] When I got your telegram yesterday evening ALLMERS. Yes? What then? RITA. then I dressed myself in white ALLMERS. Yes, I noticed you were in white when I arrived. RITA. I had let down my hair ALLMERS. Your sweet masses of hair RITA. so that it flowed down my neck and shoulders ALLMERS. I saw it, I saw it. Oh, how lovely you were, Rita! 60 Little Eyolf. RITA. There were rose-tinted shades over both the lamps. And we were alone, we two the only waking beings in the whole house. And there was champagne on the table. ALLMERS. I did n't drink any of it. RITA. [Looking bitterly at him."} No, that 's true. [Laughs harshfy.~\ " There stood the cham- pagne, but you tasted it not " as the poet says. [She rises from the armchair, goes with an air of weariness over to the sofa, and seats herself, half reclining upon it.] ALLMERS. [Crosses the room and stands before her."} I was so taken up with serious thoughts. I had made up my mind to talk to you of our future, Rita and first and foremost of Eyolf. RITA. [Smiling."} And so you did ALLMERS. No, I had n't time to for you began undress. RITA. Yes, and meanwhile you talked about Eyolf. Little Eyolf. 61 Don't you remember? You wanted to know all about little Eyolfs digestion. ALLMERS. [Looking reproachfully at her.~\ Rita ! RITA. And then you got into your bed, and slept like a log. ALLMERS. {Shaking his head.~] Rita Rita ! RITA. [Lying at full length and looking up at himJ\ Alfred? ALLMERS. Yes? RITA. "There stood your champagne, but you tasted it not." ALLMERS. [Almost harshly. ,] No. I did not taste it. [He goes away from her and stands in the garden doorway. RITA lies for some time motionless, with closed eyes.] RITA. [Suddenly springing up.~\ But let me tell you one thing, Alfred. ALLMERS. \Turningin the doorway J\ Well? 62 Little Eyolf. RITA. You should n't feel quite so secure as you do ! ALLMERS. Not secure? RITA. No, you shouldn't be so indifferent ! Not so certain of your property in me ! ALLMERS. [Drawing nearer.'] What do you mean by that? RITA. \_With trembling ///^~.] Never in a single thought have I been untrue to you, Alfred ! Never for an instant. ALLMF.RS. No, Rita, I know that I, who know you so well. RITA. [ With sparkling cycsj\ But if you disdain me ! ALLMERS. Disdain ! I don't understand what you mean ! RITA. Oh, you don't know all that might rise up within me, if ALLMERS. If? Little Eyolf. 63 RITA. If I should ever see that you did n't care for me that you did n't love me as before. ALLMERS. But, my dearest Rita, years bring a certain change with them and that must one day occur even in us as in every one else. RITA. Never in me ! And I will not hear of any change in you either I could not bear it, Alfred, I want to keep you to myself alone. ALLMERS. [Looking at her with concern^ You have a terribly jealous nature RITA. I can't make myself different from what I am. \_Threateningly. ~\ If you go and divide yourself between me and any one else ALLMERS. RITA. Then I '11 take my revenge on you, Alfred ! ALLMERS. How " take your revenge " ? 64 Little Eyolf. RITA. I don't know how. Oh, yes, I know well enough ! ALLMERS. Well? RITA. I '11 go and throw myself away ALLMERS. Throw yourself away, do you say ! RITA. Yes, that I will. I '11 throw myself straight into the arms of of the first man that comes in my way ! ALLMERS. [Looking tenderly at her and shaking his head.~\ That you '11 never do my loyal, proud, true-hearted Rita ! RITA. [Putting her arms round his neck.'] Oh, you don't know what I might come to be if you if you did n't love me any more. ALLMERS. Didn't love you, Rita? Oh, how can you say such a thing ! RITA. \_HaIf laughing, lets him go."] Why should n't I spread my nets for that that road-maker man that hangs about here? Little Eyolf. 65 ALLMERS. [Relieved. ~\ Oh, thank goodness you 're only joking. RITA. Not at all. He would do as well as any one else. ALLMERS. Ah, but I suspect he 's more or less taken up already. RITA. So much the better ! For then I should take him away from some one else ; and that 's just what Eyolf has done to me. ALLMERS. Can you say that our little Eyolf has done that ? RITA. [Pointing with her forefinger.^ There, you see ! You see ! The moment you mention Eyolf's name, you grow tender and your voice quivers! [Threateningly, clenching her hands. ~\ Oh, you almost tempt me to wish ALLMERS. [Looking at her anxiously.'] What do I tempt you to wish, Rita? RITA. [Vehemently, going away from him.~\ No, no, no I won't tell you that ! Never ! 5 66 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. [Drawing nearer to her.'] Rita ! I implore you for my sake and for your own don't let yourself be tempted into evil. [BORGHEIM and ASTA come up from the gar den. They both show signs of restrained emotion. They look serious and dejected, ASTA remains out on the veranda. BOR- GHEIM comes into the room.] BORGHEIM. So that 's over Miss Allmers and I have had our last walk together. RITA. [Looks at him with surprise.^ Ah ! And there 's no longer journey to follow the walk ? BORGHEIM. Yes, for me. RITA. For you alone ? BORGHEIM. Yes, for me alone. RITA. [Glances darkly at ALLMERS.] Do you hear that? [Turns to BORGHEIM.] I '11 wager it's some one with the evil eye that has played you this trick. BORGHEIM. [Looks at her.~\ The evil eye? Little Eyolf. 67 RITA. [.Nodding.'] Yes, the evil eye. BORGHEIM. Do you believe in the evil eye, Mrs. Allmers? RITA. Yes. I 've begun to believe in the evil eye. Especially in a child's evil eye. ALLMERS. [Shocked, whispers.] Rita how can you ? RITA. It 's you that makes me so wicked and hate- ful, Alfred. [Confused cries and shrieks are heard in the distance, from the direction of the fjord.] BORGHEIM. [Going to the glass door.~\ What noise is that? ASTA. [In the doorway^] Look at all those people running down to the pier ! ALLMERS. What can it be ? [Looks out for a moment^] I have no doubt it 's those street urchins at some nischief again. BORGHEIM. [Calls, leaning over the veranda railings. ~] I say, you boys down there ! What 's the matter? [Several voices are heard answering indis- tinctly and confusedly.] 68 Little Eyolf. RITA. What do they say? BORGHEIM. They say it 's a child that 's drowned. ALLMERS. A child drowned? ASTA. [Uneasily.~\ A little boy, they say. ALLMERS. Oh, they can all swim, every one of them. RITA. [Shrieks in terror.~\ Where is Eyolf? ALLMERS. Keep quiet quiet. Eyolf is down in the garden, playing. ASTA. No, he was n't in the garden RITA. \_With outstretched arms.'] Oh, if only it is n't he ! BORGHEIM. [Listens, and calls down.~\ Whose child is it do you say? [Indistinct voices are heard. BORGIIF.IM and ASTA utter a suppressed cry, and rush out through the garden.] Little Eyolf. 69 ALLMERS. [In an agony of dread.] It is n't Eyolf ! It isn't Eyolf, Rita. RITA. [On the veranda, listening] Hush! Be quiet ! Let me hear what they 're saying ! [RiTA rushes back with a piercing shriek, into the room.] ALLMERS. [Following her.] What did they say? RITA. [Sinking down beside the armchair on the left.'] They said : " The crutch is floating ! " ALLMERS. [Almost paralyzed.'] No ! No ! No ! RITA. [Hoarsely.] Eyolf! Eyolf! Oh, but they must save him ! ALLMERS. [Half distracted.'] They must, they must ! So precious a life ! [He rushes down through the garden.] 70 Little Eyolf. THE SECOND ACT. [A little narrow glen by the water-side on ALL- MER'S property. On the left, lofty old trees overarch the spot. Down the slope in the background a brook comes leaping, and loses itself among the stones on the margin of the wood. A path winds along by the brook-side. To the right there are only a few single trees, between which the fjord is visible. In front is seen the corner of a boat-shed with a boat drawn up. Under the old trees on the left stands a table with a bench and one or two chairs, all made of thin birch-wood. It is a heavy, damp day, with driving mist-wreaths. ALFRED ALLMERS, dressed as before, sits on the bench, leaning his arms on the table. His hat lies before him. He gazes absently and immovably out over the water. Presently ASTA ALLMERS comes down the wood path. She is carrying an open umbrella. ASTA. [Goes quietly and cautiously up to him.\ You should n't sit down here in this gloomy weather, Alfred. ALLMF.RS. [Nods slowly without answering^ Little Eyolf. 71 ASTA. [Closing her umbrella.~\ I Ve been search- ing for you such a long time. ALLMERS. [Without expression^ Thank you. ASTA. [Mores a chair and seats herself close to him.~\ Have you been sitting here long? All the time? ALLMERS. [Does not answer at first. Presently he says.~\ No, I cannot grasp it. It seems so utterly impossible all this. ASTA. [Laying her hand compassionately on his arm,~\ Poor Alfred ! ALLMERS. . [Gazing at her.~\ Is it really true then, Asta? Or have I gone mad? Or am I only dreaming? Oh, if it were only a dream ! Just think, if 1 were to waken now ! ASTA. Oh, if I could only waken you ! 72 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. [Looking out over the water."] How pitiless the fjord looks to-day, lying so heavy and drowsy leaden-gray with splashes of yellow and reflecting the rain-clouds. ASTA. [Imploringly. ~\ Oh, Alfred, don't sit staring out over the fjord ! ALLMERS. [Not heeding her.~\ Over the surface, yes. But in the depths there sweeps the rushing undertow ASTA. [/;/ terror.~] Oh, for God's sake, don't think of the depths ! ALLMERS. [Looking gently at hcr.~\ I suppose you think he's lying close outside here? But he isn't, Asta. You mustn't think that. You must remember how fiercely the current sweeps out here straight to the open sea. ASTA. [Throws herself forward against tJic table, and, sobbing, buries )icr face in her hands.~\ Oh, God ! Oh, God ! Little Eyolf. 73 ALLMERS. [Heavily.'} So you see, little Eyolf has passed so far far away from us now. ASTA. [Looks imploringly up at him.~\ Oh, Alfred, don't say such things ! ALLMERS. Why, you can reckon it out for yourself you that are so clever. In eight-and-twenty hours nine-and-twenty hours Let me see ! Let me see ! ASTA. [Shrieking and stopping her ears.~\ Alfred ! ALLMERS. [Clenching his hand firmly upon the table. ,] Can you conceive the meaning of a thing like this? ASTA. [Looks at him. ~\ Of what? ALLMERS. Of this that has been done to Rita and me. ASTA. The meaning of it ? 74 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. [Impatiently.] Yes, the meaning, I say. For, after all, there must be a meaning in it. Life, existence destiny, cannot be so utterly meaningless. ASTA. Oh, who can say anything with certainty about these things, my dear Alfred. ALLMERS. [Laughs bitterly, .] No, no ; I believe you 're right there. Perhaps the whole thing goes simply by hap hazard taking its own course, like a drifting wreck without a rudder. I dare- say that 's how it is. At least, it seems very like it. ASTA. [Thoughtfully^ What if it only seems ? ALLMERS. [Vehemently. ~] Ah? Perhaps you can un ravel the mystery for me? I certainly can't [Mare gently.~\ Here is Eyolf, just entering upon conscious life : full of such infinite pos sibilities splendid possibilities perhaps: he would have filled my life with pride and glad- ness. And then a crazy old woman has only to come this way and show a cur in a bag Little Eyolf. 75 ASTA. But we don't in the least know how it really happened. ALLMERS. Yes, we know. The boys saw her row out over the fjord. They saw Eyolf standing alone at the very end of the pier. They saw him gazing after her and then he seemed to turn giddy. [Quivering.'] And that was how he fell over and disappeared. ASTA. Yes, yes. But all the same ALLMERS. She has drawn him down into the depths that you may be sure of, dear. ASTA. But, Alfred, why should she? ALLMERS. Yes, that is just the question ! Why should she? There's no retribution behind it all no atonement, I mean. Eyolf never did her any harm. He never called names after her ; he never threw stones at her dog. Why, he had never set eyes either on her or her dog till yes- terday. So there 's no retribution ; the whole thing is utterly groundless and meaningless, Asta. And yet the order of the world requires it. 76 Little Eyolf. ASTA. Have you spoken to Rita of these things ? ALLMERS. [Shakes his head.~\ I feel as if I can talk better to you about them. [Drawing a deep breath.'} And about everything else as well. [AsTA takes sewing-materials and a little paper parcel out of her pocket. ALLMERS sits looking on absently.] ALLMERS. What have you got there, Asta? ASTA. [Taking his hat.~\ A little black crape. ALLMERS. Oh, what 's the use of that? ASTA. Rita asked me to put it on. May I? ALLMERS. Oh, yes ; as far as I 'm concerned [She sews the crape on his haf.~\ ALLMERS. [Sifting and looking at hrr.~\ Where is Rita ? ASTA. She 's walking about in the garden a little, I think. Borgheim is with her. Little Eyolf. 77 ALLMERS. [Slightly surprised.'] Indeed ! Is Borgheim out here to-day again ? ASTA. Yes. He came out by the mid-day train. ALLMERS. I did n't expect that. ASTA. [Sewing.~] He was so fond of Eyolf. ALLMERS. Borgheim is a faithful soul, Asta. ASTA. {With quiet warmth.} Yes, faithful he is, indeed. That 's certain. ALLMERS. [Fixing his eyes upon her.~\ You're really fond of him. ASTA. Yes, I am. ALLMERS. And yet you can't make up your mind to ? ASTA. [Interrupting.'] Oh, my dear Alfred, don't talk of that f 7 8 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. Yes, yes ; tell me why you can't? ASTA. Oh, no ! Please ! You really must n't ask me. You see, it 's so painful for me. There now ! The hat is done. ALLMERS. Thank you. ASIA. And now for the left arm. ALLMERS. Am I to have crape on it? ASTA. Yes, that 's the custom. ALLMERS. Well as you please. [She moves close up to him and begins to sew.] ASTA. Keep your arm still then I won't prick you. ALLMERS. [With a half -smile.'} This is like the old days. ASTA. Yes, don't you think so ? Little Eyolf. 79 ALLMERS. When you were a little girl you used to sit just like this, mending my clothes. The first thing you ever sewed for me that was black crape, too. ASTA. Was it? ALLMERS. Round my student's cap at the time of father's death. ASTA. Could I sew then ? Fancy, I Ve forgotten it. ALLMERS. Oh, you were such a little thing then. ASTA. Yes, I was little then. ALLMERS. And then, two years afterwards when we lost your mother then again you sewed a big crape band on my sleeve. ASTA. I thought it was the right thing to do. ALLMERS. [Patting her hand.~] Yes, yes, it was the right thing to do, Asta. And then when we 8o Little Eyolf. were left alone in the world, we two Are you done already? ASTA. Yes. [Putting together her sewing- materials. .] It was really a beautiful time for us, Alfred. We two alone. ALLMERS. Yes, it was though we had to toil so hard. ASTA. You toiled. ALLMERS. [ With more lifc^\ Oh, you toiled too, in your way, I assure you [Smiling.] my dear, faithful Eyolf. ASTA. Oh you must n't remind me of that stupid nonsense about the name. ALLMERS. Well, if you 'd been a boy, you would have been called Eyolf. ASTA. Yes, if ! But when you began to go to college [Smiling involuntarily] I won- der how you could be so childish. ALLMERS. Was it I that was childish? Little Eyolf. 81 ASTA. Yes, indeed, I think it was, as I look back upon it. You were ashamed of having no brother only a sister. ALLMERS. No, no, it was you, my dear you were ashamed. ASTA. Oh, yes, I too, perhaps a little. And some- how or other I was sorry for you ALLMERS. Yes, I believe you were. And then you hunted up some of my old boy's clothes ASTA. Your fine Sunday clothes yes. Do you remember the blue blouse and knickerbockers? ALLMERS. [His eyes dwelling upon her.~\ How well I remember you when you put them on and walked about in them. ASTA. Yes, but only when we were at home, alone. ALLMERS. And how serious we were, dear, and how mightily pleased with ourselves. I always called you Eyolf. 6 82 Little Eyolf. ASTA. Oh, Alfred, I hope you Ve never told Rita this? ALLMERS. Yes, I believe I did once tell her. ASTA. Oh, Alfred, how could you do that? ALLMERS. Well, you see one tells one's wife every- thing very nearly. ASTA. Yes, I suppose one does. ALLMERS. [As if awakening, clutches at his forehead and starts up.\ Oh, how can I sit here and ASTA. [Rising, looks sorrowfully at hun.~\ What is the matter? ALLMERS. He had almost passed away from me. He had passed quite away. ASTA. Eyolf ! Little Eyolf. 83 ALLMERS. Here I sat, living in my memories and he had no part in them. ASTA. Yes, Alfred little Eyolf was behind it all. ALLMERS. No, he was not. He slipped out of my memory out of my thoughts. I didn't see him for a moment as we sat here talking. I utterly forgot him all that time. ASTA. But surely you must take some rest in your sorrow. ALLMERS. No, no, no ; that 's just what I won't ! I mustn't I have no right and no heart for it, either. [ Going in great excitement towards the right.~] I can't rest anywhere, except out there where he lies drifting in the depths 1 ASTA. {Following him and holding him back^\ Alfred Alfred ! Don't go to the fjord ! ALLMERS. I must go out to him? Let me go, Asta? I '11 take the boat. 84 Little Eyolf. ASTA. [In terror.~\ Don't go to the fjord. I say ! ALLMERS. [ Yielding.'] No, no I won't. Only let me alone. ASTA. [Leading him back to the table.~\ You must rest from your thoughts, Alfred. Come here and sit down. ALLMERS. [Making as if to seat himself on the bench.~\ Well, well as you please. ASTA. No, I won't let you sit there. ALLMERS. Yes, let me. ASTA. No, don't. For then you '11 only sit looking out - [Forces him down upon /he chair, with his back to the right. ~\ There now. Now that 's right. [Seats herself upon the bench.~\ And now we can talk a little again. ALLMERS. [Drawing a deep breath audibly. ~\ It was good to deaden the sorrow and heart-ache for a moment. Little Eyolf. 85 ASTA. You must do so, Alfred. ALLMERS. But don't you think it 's terribly weak and unfeeling of me to be able to do so ? ASTA. Oh, no I 'm sure it 's impossible to keep circling for ever round one fixed thought. ALLMERS. Yes, for me it 's impossible. Before you came to me, here I sat, torturing myself unspeakably with this crushing, gnawing sorrow ASTA. Yes? ALLMERS. And would you believe it, Asta ? Hm ASTA. Well? ALLMERS. In the midst of all the agony I found myself speculating what we should have for dinner to-day. ASTA. [Soothingfy."] Well, well, if only it rests you to 86 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. Yes, just fancy, dear it seemed as if it did give me rest. [Holds out his hand to her across the table.^ How good it is, Asta, that I have you with me. I 'm so glad of that. Glad, glad even in my sorrow. ASTA. \_Looking earnestly at him.~\ You ought most of all to be glad that you have Rita. ALLMERS. Yes, of course I should. But Rita is no kin to me it is n't like having a sister. ASTA. [Eagerly, .] Do you say that, Alfred ? ALLMERS. Yes, our family is a thing apart. [Half- jestingly.~\ We 've always had vowels for our initials. Don't you remember how often we used to speak of that? And all our relations all equally poor. And we have all the same color of eyes. ASTA. Do you think I have ? ALLMERS. No, you take entirely after your mother. You 're not in the least like the rest of us not even like father. But all the same Little Eyolf. 87 ASTA. All the same ? ALLMERS. Well, I believe that living together has, as it were, stamped us in each other's image mentally, I mean. ASTA. [ With warm emotion.~\ Oh, you must never say that, Alfred. It is I alone that have taken my stamp from you ; and it 's to you that I owe everything every good in the world. ALLMERS. \_Shaking his head.^ You owe me nothing, Asta. On the contrary ASTA. I owe you everything ! You must never doubt that. No sacrifice has been too great for you ALLMERS. [Interrupting^ Oh, nonsense sacrifice! Don't talk of such a thing. I have only loved you, Asta, ever since you were a little child. [After a short pause.~\ And then it always seemed to me that I had so much injustice to make up to you for. ASTA. [Astonished^ Injustice ? You ? 88 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. Not precisely on my own account. But ASTA. [Eagerly.] But ? ALLMERS. On father's. ASTA. [Half rising from the bench] On father's ! [Sitting doivn again.] What do you mean by that, Alfred? ALLMERS. Father was never really kind to you. ASTA. [ Vehemently] Oh, don't say that ! ALLMERS. Yes, it's true. He didn't love you not as he ought to have. ASTA. [Evasively] No, perhaps not as he loved you. That was only natural. ALLMERS. [Continuing] And he was often hard to your mother, too at least in the last years. Little Eyolf. ASTA. [Softly.'] Mother was so much, much younger than he remember that. ALLMERS. Do you think they were not quite suited to each other? ASTA. Perhaps not. ALLMERS. Yes, but still . Father, who in other ways was so gentle and warm-hearted so kindly towards every one ASTA. \_Quietty.~] Mother, too, was not always as she ought to have been. ALLMERS. Your mother was n't ! ASTA. Perhaps not always. ALLMERS. Towards father, do you mean? ASTA. Yes. ALLMERS. I never noticed that. 90 Little Eyolf. ASTA. [Struggling with her tears, rises.] Oh, my dear Alfred let them rest those who are gone. [She goes towards the right.] ALLMERS. [Rising.] Yes, let them rest. [ Wringing his hands .] But those who are gone it 's they that won't let us rest, Asta. Neither day nor night. ASTA. [Looks warmly at him.~\ Time will make it all seem easier, Alfred. ALLMERS. [Looking helplessly at her,~\ Yes, don't you think it will? But how I am to get over these terrible first days [Hoarsely.] that 's what I can't imagine. ASTA. [Imploringly, laying her hands on his shoul- ders.^ Go up to Rita. Oh, please do ALLMERS. [ Vehemently, withdrawing from her.] No, no, no don't talk to me of that! I cannot, I tell you. [Afore calmly. ~\ Let me remain here, with you. Little Eyolf. 91 ASTA. Well, I won't leave you. ALLMERS. [Seizing her hand and holding itfast.~] Thank you for that ! \_Looks out for a time over the fjord.~\ Where is my little Eyolf now? [Smiling sadly to her.~] Can you tell me that my big, wise Eyolf ? [Shaking his head.~\ No one in all the world can tell me that. I know only this one terrible thing that he is gone from me. ASTA. [Looking up to the left, and withdrawing her hand.~\ Here they are coming. [Mrs. ALLMERS and Engineer BORGHEIM come down by the wood-path, she leading the way. She wears a dark dress and a black veil over her head. He has an um- brella under his arm.] ALLMERS. [Going to meet her.~] How is it with you, Rita? RITA. [Passing him.~\ Oh, don't ask. ALLMERS. Why do you come here ? RITA. Only to look for you. What are you doing? 92 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. Nothing. Asta came down to me. RITA. Yes, but before Asta came ? You Ve been away from me all the morning. ALLMERS. I Ve been sitting here looking out over the water. RITA. Ugh, how can you ? ALLMERS. [Impatiently."} I like best to be alone now. RITA. [Moving restlessly about^\ And then to sit still ! To stay in one place ! ALLMERS. I have nothing in the world to move for. RITA. I can't bear to be anywhere long. Least of all here with the fjord at my very feet. ALLMERS. It 's just the nearness of the fjord Little Eyolf. 93 RITA. \_To BORGHEIM.] Don't you think he should come back with the rest of us? BORGHEIM. \To ALLMERS.] I believe it would be better for you. ALLMERS. No, no ; let me stay where I am. RITA. Then I '11 remain with you, Alfred. ALLMERS. Very well ; do so, then. You remain too, Asta. ASTA. [ Whispers to BORGHEIM.] Let us leave them alone ! BORGHEIM. fj With a glance of comprehension^ Miss Allmers, shall we go a little further along the shore? For the very last time? ASTA. \Taking her umbrella.^\ Yes, come. Let us go a little further. [ASTA and BORGHEIM go out together behind the boat-shed. ALLMERS wanders about for a little. ( Then he seats himself on a stone under the trees on the left.] 94 Little Eyolf. RITA. [Comes up and stands before him, her hands folded and hanging i.~\ When you are gone ? ALLMERS. Yes. For that will at least give you some- thing to fill your life with and something you must have. 158 Little Eyolf. RITA. \_Firmly and decidedly] There you are right I must. But can you guess what I will set about when you are gone ? ALLMERS. Well, what? RITA. \_Slowfy and with resolution] As soon as you are gone from me, I will go down to the beach, and bring all the poor neglected children home with me. All the mischievous boys ALLMERS. What will you do with them here? RITA. I will take them to my heart. ALLMERS. You! RITA. Yes, I will. From the day you leave me, they shall all be here, all of them, as if they were mine. ALLMERS. [Shocked.] In our little Eyolfs place? RITA. Yes, in our little KyolPs place. They shall live in Eyolfs rooms. They shall read his Little Eyolf. 159 books. They shall play with his toys. They shall take it in turns to sit in his chair at table. ALLMERS. But this is sheer madness of you ! I don't know a creature in the world that 's less fitted for anything of that sort than you. RITA. Then I shall have to educate myself for it ; to train myself; to discipline myself. ALLMERS. If you are really in earnest about this about all you say then there must indeed be a change in you. RITA. Yes, there is, Alfred and for that I have you to thank. You have made an empty place within me ; and I must try to fill it up with something with something that is a little like love. ALLMERS. [Stands for a moment lost in thoitght ; then looks at herJ\ The truth is, we have n't done much for the poor people down there. RITA. We have done nothing for them. 160 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. Scarcely even thought of them. RITA. Never thought of them in sympathy. ALLMERS. We, who had " the gold and the green forests " RITA. Our hands were closed then. And our hearts too. ALLMERS. \_Nods.~] Then it was perhaps natural enough, after all, that they should n't risk their lives to save little Eyolf. RITA. \_Softfy.~] Think, Alfred ! Are you so cer- tain that that we would have risked ours ? ALLMERS. [ With a restless gesture of repulsion.'] You must never doubt that. RITA. Oh, we are children of earth. ALLMERS. What do you really think you ran do with all these neglected children? Little Eyolf. 161 RITA. I suppose I must try if I cannot lighten and and ennoble their lot in life. ALLMERS. If you can do that then Eyolf was not born in vain. RITA. Nor taken from us in vain, either. ALLMERS. [Looking steadfastly at her.~\ Be quite clear about one thing, Rita it is not love that is driving you to this. RITA. No, it is not at any rate, not yet. ALLMERS. Well, then what is it? RITA. \_Half-evasively ?\ You have so often talked to Asta of human responsibility ALLMERS. Of the book that you hated. RITA. I hate that book still. But I used to sit and listen to what you told her. And now I will try to continue it in my own way. ii 1 62 Little Eyolf. ALLMERS. [Shaking his headJ\ It is not for the sake of that unfinished book RITA. No, I have another reason as well. ALLMERS. What is that ? RITA. [Softfy, with a melancholy smilc.~\ I want to make my peace with the great, open eyes, you see. ALLMERS. [Struck, fixing his eyes upon her.~\ Perhaps, I could join you in that ? And help you, Rita ? RITA. Would you ? ALLMERS. Yes if I were only sure I could RITA. [Hesitatingly. ~\ But then you would have to remain here. ALLMERS. [Softly. ~\ Let us try if it could not be so RITA. [Almost inaudibly.~\ Yes, let us, Alfred. [Both are silent. Then ALI.MKRS goes up to the flagstaff and hoists the flag to the top RITA stands beside the summer-house and looks at him in silence.] Little Eyolf. 163 ALLMERS. [Coming forward again.~\ We have a heavy day of work before us, Rita. , RITA. You will see that now and then a Sabbath peace will descend on us. ALLMERS. [Quietly, with emotion^ Then, perhaps, we will know that the spirits are with us. RITA. [Whispering^ The spirits? ALLMERS. [As before.~\ Yes, they will perhaps be around us those whom we have lost. RITA. [ Nods slowly ^\ Our little Eyolf. And your big Eyolf, too. ALLMERS. [ Gazing straight before him.'] Now and then, perhaps, we may still on the way through life have, as it were, a glimpse of them. RITA. Where shall we look for them, Alfred ? ALLMERS. [Fixing his eyes upon her.~\ Upwards. 164 Little Eyolf. RITA. [Nods in approval^ Yes, yes upwards. ALLMERS. Upwards towards the peaks. Towards the stars. And towards the great silence. RITA. [ Giving him her hand.~] Thanks ! THE END. PRINTED BY R. R. DONNELLEY AND SONS COMPANY, AT THE LAKESIDE PRESS, CHICAGO, ILL. u <: J^N 33 }~ S J s J? < ^* a ~ IV^ ^iBAlNfi-3^ o ^, 3\ i- ? iwirn^' '& <