The wild duck

by Henrik Ibsen

ACT III.

[Hjalmar Ekdal’s studio. It is morning; daylight streams in through the great panes of glass in the slanting roof; the curtain is drawn back.]

[Hjalmar is sitting at the table busy retouching a photograph; several other portraits are lying in front of him. After a little while Gina comes in from the entrance-door in her hat and cloak; she has a covered basket on her arm.]

Hjalmar. Are you back again, Gina?

Gina. Ah, yes! One must look sharp.

Puts the basket on a chair, and takes off her things.

Hjalmar. Did you look in at Gregers’?

Gina. Yes, I did. It’s in a lovely state; he’s managed to make a mess of it as soon as ever he got in.

Hjalmar. How so?

Gina. Why he wanted to do everything himself, he said. And so he wanted to light the stove too; and then he screwed down the register, so that the whole room was full of smoke. Uh! It stank like——

Hjalmar. Well, I never!

Gina. But the best’s to come; for then he wanted to put out the fire, and so he must needs empty the whole of his water-jug into the stove, so that the room’s like a pig-stye.

Hjalmar. That’s a nuisance.

Gina. I’ve sent the porter’s wife there now, to clean up after him, the pig. But the place’ll not be fit to be in till this afternoon.

Hjalmar. Where’s he gone then in the meantime?

Gina. He was going out, he said.

Hjalmar. I looked in a moment, too—after you’d gone out.

Gina. So I heard. Why, you’ve asked him to lunch.

Hjalmar. Only to a little simple bit of early lunch, you know. It’s his first day—and we couldn’t very well avoid it. You’ve got something in the house, I suppose.

Gina. I’ll try and get something or other.

Hjalmar. But don’t get too little. For I fancy Relling and Molvik are coming up too. I happened to meet Relling on the stairs, you see, and so I couldn’t but——

Gina. Oh! Are we to have those two as well?

Hjalmar. Good Lord—two more or less’ll make no difference.

Ekdal (opening his door and looking in). I say, Hjalmar—— (noticing Gina.) Oh! I see!

Gina. Do you want anything, grandfather?

Ekdal. Oh, no! It’s all right. H’m! (He goes in again.)

Gina (taking up the basket). Take care he doesn’t get out.

Hjalmar. Yes, yes, I’ll see to it—I say, Gina, a little bit of herring-salad’d be very nice—for Relling and Molvik were out on the spree again last night.

Gina. If only they don’t come up too soon for me I——

Hjalmar. Oh! they won’t; take your own time.

Gina. Very good, and you can go on doing a little work meantime.

Hjalmar. Why, I’m sitting here working! Why, I’m working as hard as ever I can!

Gina. Then you’ll have it off your hands, don’t you see.

She goes into the kitchen with the basket. Hjalmar sits a few minutes retouching the photograph; he does it lazily and with disrelish.

Ekdal (peeps in looking around the studio, and says in a whisper). Are you busy?

Hjalmar. Yes, I’m sitting here slaving over these portraits.

Ekdal. All right—God forbid—if you’re so busy, I’ll—h’m——

He goes in again; he leaves the door open.

Hjalmar (goes on for a while in silence; then he puts down the brush and goes to the door). Are you busy, father?

Ekdal (mutters from within). If you’re busy, I’m busy too. H’m!

Hjalmar. All right.

He returns to his work again.

Ekdal (after a little while, coming to the door again). H’m! You see, Hjalmar, I’m not so very busy after all.

Hjalmar. I thought you were sitting there writing.

Ekdal. Deuce take it. Can’t Graberg wait a day or two? It’s not a matter of life and death, I should say.

Hjalmar. No, and you’re not a slave either.

Ekdal. And then what has to be done in there?

Hjalmar. Yes, exactly. Perhaps you’d like to go in? Shall I open the door for you?

Ekdal. That wouldn’t be amiss.

Hjalmar (rising). For then we’d have that off our hands.

Ekdal. Exactly, it must be ready by to-morrow early. For it is to-morrow—— H’m?

Hjalmar. Of course, it’s to-morrow.

Hjalmar and Ekdal push one-half of the door aside. The morning sun is shining in through the sky-lights; many pigeons are flying hither and thither, others are perched cooing on rafters; the hens cackle now and again, at the further end of the loft.

Hjalmar. Now then, get in, father.

Ekdal (going in). Aren’t you coming?

Hjalmar. Yes, d’you know—I almost think—(seeing Gina by the kitchen door). I?—no, no, I’ve no time, I must work—— This is how the mechanism works——

He pulls a string; a curtain falls from within, the lower part of which consists of an old sail, and the rest, the upper part of an out-spread fishing net. The floor of the loft is thus no longer visible.

Hjalmar (going to the table). That’s it; now, I suppose, I shall have a minute’s peace.

Gina. Is he in there on the rampage again?

Hjalmar. Wasn’t it better than if he’d gone down to Mrs. Ericksen’s? (Sitting down.) Do you want anything? You said——

Gina. I only wanted to ask if you thought we could lay the cloth here?

Hjalmar. Yes, I suppose no one is coming so early——

Gina. No, I don’t expect anyone, except the two sweethearts, who want to be taken together.

Hjalmar. Why the devil couldn’t they be taken together some other day?

Gina. But, dear Ekdal, I arranged for them to come this afternoon, when you’re having your sleep.

Hjalmar. Oh, that’s all right. Yes, then we’ll lunch here.

Gina. Very well! But there’s no need to hurry to lay the cloth yet; you can use the table awhile yet.

Hjalmar. I should think you could see I am sitting here using the table all I can!

Gina. Then you’ll be free later, don’t you see.

She goes into the kitchen again. A short pause.

Ekdal (at the door of loft, the net behind). Hjalmar!

Hjalmar. Well?

Ekdal. Afraid we shall have to move the water-trough, after all.

Hjalmar. Why, that’s what I’ve said all along.

Ekdal. H’m—h’m—h’m!

Goes away from the door again.

Hjalmar (goes on working for a little while, then looks at the loft and half rises. Hedvig comes in from the kitchen. Hurriedly sitting down again). What do you want?

Hedvig. I only wanted to come in to you, father.

Hjalmar (after a short pause). It seems to me you’ve come to poke your nose into things. Are you to keep watch, perhaps?

Hedvig. Oh, no! not at all!

Hjalmar. What’s mother doing in there now?

Hedvig. Oh! Mother’s in the thick of the herring-salad. (She goes up to the table.) Isn’t there any little thing I could help you with, father?

Hjalmar. Oh, no. It’s best I should do it all alone—as long as my strength holds out. There’s no need, Hedvig; if only your father keeps his health—then——

Hedvig. Oh no, father; you mustn’t say such horrid things——

She walks about a little while, stands still by the open door, and looks into the loft.

Hjalmar. I say, what’s he doing now?

Hedvig. It’s surely a new path up to the water-trough.

Hjalmar. He’ll never be able to manage that alone! And yet I’m condemned to sit here——

Hedvig (going up to him). Give me the brush, father; I can do it.

Hjalmar. Oh, nonsense. You’d only spoil your eyes with it.

Hedvig. Not a bit! Come, give me the brush!

Hjalmar (rising). Well, yes, it won’t take more than a minute or two.

Hedvig. Tut! What does it matter? (Taking the brush.) That’s it. (Sitting down.) And I’ve got one here to copy from.

Hjalmar. But don’t spoil your eyes! Do you hear—I will not be answerable; you must take the responsibility upon yourself—I tell you that.

Hedvig (retouching). All right, I don’t mind.

Hjalmar. You’re very quick at it, Hedvig. Only a few minutes, you understand.

He squeezes past the curtain in the loft. Hedvig sits working. Hjalmar and Ekdal are heard discussing within.

Hjalmar (coming from behind the net). Hedvig, just hand me the pincers that are lying on the shelf. And the chisel (turning back). Now you’ll see father. But first let me show you what I mean.

Hedvig takes out the tools asked for from the book-case and hands them in to him.

Hjalmar. That’s it. Thanks! I say, it was a good thing I came.

He goes away from the opening of the door; they are heard carpentering and talking within. Hedvig remains standing and looks at them. After a pause there is a knock at the entrance-door; she takes no notice of it.

Gregers (bareheaded and without a top coat; he enters and stands a little while by the door). H’m!

Hedvig (turning and going up to him). Good morning. Won’t you come in?

Gregers. Thank you (looks towards the loft). You seem to have workingmen in the house?

Hedvig. No, it’s only father and grandfather. I’ll go and tell them.

Gregers. No, no, don’t do that, I’d rather wait a little while.

He sits down on the sofa.

Hedvig. It’s so untidy here.

She is about to clear away the photographs.

Gregers. Oh! don’t trouble. Are they portraits that have to be finished?

Hedvig. Yes, they are; I was going to help father with them.

Gregers. Don’t let me prevent you.

Hedvig. Oh, no.

She moves the things towards her and sits down to work; Gregers watches her for a while in silence.

Gregers. Did the wild duck sleep well last night?

Hedvig. Yes, thank you, I believe so.

Gregers (turning to the loft). It looks quite different in there by daylight from what it did in the moonshine.

Hedvig. Yes, it does change so. In the morning it looks different from the afternoon and when it rains it looks different than when it’s fine.

Gregers. Have you noticed it?

Hedvig. Yes, of course I have.

Gregers. Do you, too, like being in there with the wild duck?

Hedvig. Yes, whenever I can manage it I——

Gregers. But no doubt you’ve not much free time. I suppose you go to school.

Hedvig. No, not now; father’s afraid of me spoiling my eyes.

Gregers. Oh! then he reads with you himself.

Hedvig. Father’s promised to read with me, but he’s not had time for it yet.

Gregers. But is there no one else to help you a little?

Hedvig. Yes, there’s Mr. Molvik; but he not always quite—exactly—as——

Gregers. He drinks then?

Hedvig. Yes, indeed.

Gregers. Well, then you’ve plenty of time to do anything. And in there—I suppose that’s a world of itself.

Hedvig. Quite of itself. And then there are so many wonderful things there.

Gregers. Really?

Hedvig. Yes, there are great cupboards full of books, and in some of the books there are pictures.

Gregers. Aha!

Hedvig. And then there’s an old bureau, with drawers and flaps, and a big clock with figures that can come out. But the clock doesn’t go now.

Gregers. So time has stood still—in there with the wild duck.

Hedvig. Yes. And then there’s an old paint-box and so forth; and then all the books.

Gregers. And I suppose you like reading the books?

Hedvig. Oh, yes, when I can get time. But most of them are English, and I don’t understand it. But then I look at the pictures. There’s one great book, called “Harryson’s History of London;” it must be a hundred years old; and there are such an enormous lot of pictures in it. On the front page there’s a picture of Death with an hour-glass, and a young girl. I think that’s horrid. But then there are all the other pictures of churches and palaces, and streets, and great ships sailing on the sea.

Gregers. But tell me, where did you get all these rare things from?

Hedvig. Oh! An old sea-captain once lived here, and he brought them home. They used to call him “The Flying Dutchman.” And that’s odd, for he wasn’t a Dutchman at all.

Gregers. No?

Hedvig. No. But at last he stopped away altogether, and all his things were left here.

Gregers. Listen—just tell me—when you sit in there looking at the pictures, don’t you want to get out, and see the real great world itself?

Hedvig. Oh, no! I want to stop at home always, and help father and mother.

Gregers. Finishing photographs?

Hedvig. No, not only that. What I should like best would be to learn to engrave pictures like those in the English books.

Gregers. H’m! What does your father say to that?

Hedvig. I don’t think father likes it, for father’s so odd in some things. Fancy, he talks about my learning basket-making and straw-plaiting! But I don’t think that’s anything much.

Gregers. Oh, no; neither do I.

Hedvig. But father’s right about one thing, that if I’d learnt to make baskets, I might have made the new basket for the wild duck myself.

Gregers. So you might; and you were the right person to have made it.

Hedvig. Yes, for it’s my wild duck.

Gregers. Yes, so it is.

Hedvig. Oh, yes, she belongs to me. But I lend her to father and grandfather as often as ever they like.

Gregers. Indeed! What do they do with her?

Hedvig. Oh! they arrange things for her, and build for her, and all that.

Gregers. I understand; for I suppose the wild duck’s the most distinguished personage in there.

Hedvig. Of course she is; for she’s a real wild bird. And it’s a pity about her, too, for she has no one to care for, poor thing.

Gregers. She hasn’t a family like the rabbits.

Hedvig. No. The fowls, too, have so many they were chicks with together, but she has been taken right away from all her own. And then it’s all so strange about those wild ducks. No one knows them, and nobody knows where they come from either.

Gregers. And so she has been to the ocean depths.

Hedvig (looks up at him for a moment and smiles). Why do you say “the ocean depths?”

Gregers. What else should I say?

Hedvig. You might have said the “bottom of the sea,” or the “sea bottom.”

Gregers. Oh! mayn’t I just as well say in the ocean depths?

Hedvig. Of course, only it sounds so odd to hear people talk of the depths of the ocean.

Gregers. Why? Tell me why.

Hedvig. No, I won’t, for it’s so silly——

Gregers. I’m sure it’s not. Now, tell me why you smiled?

Hedvig. Well, it’s because when I happen to remember what’s in there—all of a sudden—it always seems to me that the whole room and everything in it should be called the “depths of the ocean”—but that’s so silly.

Gregers. You must not say that.

Hedvig. Yes, for it’s only a loft.

Gregers (looking steadily at her). Are you so sure of that?

Hedvig (astonished). That it’s a loft!

Gregers. Yes. Are you quite certain it is?

Hedvig looks at him in silence, open-mouthed. Gina comes in with the table-cloth, etc., from the kitchen.

Gregers (rising). I’ve come in too early, I fear?

Gina. Well, you had to stop somewhere—and it’s almost ready now. Clear the table, Hedvig.

Hedvig clears away the things; she and Gina go on laying the table during the following conversation. Gregers sits down in the arm-chair and turns over the leaves of an album.

Gregers. I hear you can retouch, Mrs. Ekdal.

Gina (with a side glance). Yes, I can.

Gregers. That was a lucky coincidence.

Gina. How, lucky?

Gregers. As Ekdal went in for photography, I mean.

Hedvig. Mother can take photographs, too.

Gina. Oh, yes! I’ve had plenty of opportunity to teach myself that art.

Gregers. Then, perhaps, it’s you really that attend to the business?

Gina. Yes, when Ekdal hasn’t time himself, I——

Gregers. No doubt, his time’s a great deal taken up with his old father. I understand that.

Gina. Yes, and then it’s not the thing for a man like Ekdal to take portraits of anybody and everybody.

Gregers. So I think, but still, since he has taken it up—I——

Gina. Mr. Werle, I’m sure, can understand that Ekdal is not an ordinary photographer.

Gregers. Of course not—— But—— (A shot is fired within the loft, he starts.) What’s that?

Gina. Up there they are shooting again!

Gregers. Do they shoot too?

Hedvig. They go a-hunting.

Gregers. What hunt? (Going towards the door of the loft.) Are you hunting, Hjalmar?

Hjalmar (behind the net). Are you here? I didn’t know—I was so taken up—— (To Hedvig.) And you didn’t tell us——

Comes into the studio.

Gregers. Do you go a hunting in the loft?

Hjalmar (showing a double-barreled pistol). Oh! only with this.

Gina. Yes, you and grandfather’ll have an accident one of these days with that pigstol.

Hjalmar (vexed). I think I’ve told you, that this kind of fire-arm is called a pistol.

Gina. Well, I don’t think that’s any better.

Gregers. So you too have turned hunter; you too, Hjalmar?

Hjalmar. Only a little rabbit shooting now and again. Chiefly for father’s sake, you understand.

Gina. Men folk are such queer creatures; they must always have something to divide themselves with.

Hjalmar (angrily). Yes, yes, of course, we must always have something to divide ourselves with.

Gina. Why that’s exactly what I’m saying.

Hjalmar. Well, h’m! (To Gregers.) And then luckily you see the loft is so situated that no one can hear us shooting. (Putting the pistol on the top shelf of the case.) Don’t touch the pistol, Hedvig! The one barrel’s loaded, remember.

Gregers (looking in through the net). Oh, you’ve a fowling-piece too, I see.

Hjalmar. That’s father’s old gun. You can’t shoot with it now, for there’s something wrong with the lock. But it’s very amusing to have it, all the same, because we can take it all to pieces, and oil it, and then screw it together again. Of course its mostly father who muddles about with such things.

Hedvig (going up to Gregers). Now you can see the wild duck properly.

Gregers. I was just looking at it. One of her wings drops a little it seems to me.

Hjalmar. Well, that’s not so remarkable; you know she was wounded.

Gregers. And she seems a little lame in one foot, isn’t she?

Hjalmar. Perhaps just a very little bit.

Hedvig. Yes, for the dog bit her in that foot.

Hjalmar. But she hasn’t another fault or blemish; and that is really remarkable for a creature that has had a discharge of shot into its body, and has been between a dog’s teeth.

Gregers (with a glance at Hedvig). And who has been to the depths of the ocean?

Hedvig (smiling). Yes.

Gina (setting the table). Oh! that blessed wild duck! You’ll be falling down and worshipping her next.

Hjalmar. H’m—is the lunch nearly ready?

Gina. Yes, in a moment. Hedvig, you must come and help me now.

Gina and Hedvig go out into the kitchen.

Hjalmar (in a lower voice). I don’t think you’d better stand there looking at father; he doesn’t like it. (Gregers moves away from the door of the loft.) And I’d better shut up before the others come in. (Shooing with his hands.) S’h! s’h! Get away with you! (He pulls up the curtain and shuts the doors.) These contrivances are my own inventions. It’s really very amusing to have something like that to arrange, and to mend when it gets broken. And besides, it is quite necessary, too, you see, for Gina doesn’t like having the rabbits and fowls in the studio.

Gregers. No, of course not; and, perhaps, it’s your wife who manages the business?

Hjalmar. I usually leave every-day business to her, for then I can seek refuge in the sitting-room, and think over more important matters.

Gregers. What sort of matters, Hjalmar?

Hjalmar. I wonder you’ve not asked about that before? Or, perhaps, you’ve not heard about the invention?

Gregers. Invention? No.

Hjalmar. Really? You’ve not? Ah! well, up there in the woods and wilds——

Gregers. So you’ve made an invention!

Hjalmar. Well, I’ve not exactly made it yet, but I’m working at it. Surely you can understand that when I decided to sacrifice myself to photography, it wasn’t in order to take likenesses of all sorts of commonplace people.

Gregers. No, no, that was what your wife was just saying.

Hjalmar. I vowed that if I did devote my powers to this manual labor I would at least raise it so high that it should be both an art and a science. And so I made up my mind to make this remarkable invention.

Gregers. And in what does the invention consist? What is it to do?

Hjalmar. Why, my dear fellow, you mustn’t ask for such details yet. It takes time, you see. And you mustn’t believe that I am inspired by vanity. Truly, I’m not working for my own sake. Oh, no! It is my life—a mission that I see before me night and day.

Gregers. What life-mission is that?

Hjalmar. Have you forgotten the old man with the silver hair?

Gregers. Your poor father; but what can you really do for him?

Hjalmar. I can invoke his self-respect from the dead, by raising up the name of Ekdal to honor and respect again.

Gregers. So that is your life-mission.

Hjalmar. Yes. I will save the shipwrecked man. For he did suffer shipwreck when the storm burst forth over him. Even while those terrible investigations were going on he was no longer himself. That pistol there—that we used to shoot rabbits with—it has played a part in the tragedy of the house of Ekdal.

Gregers. The pistol! Indeed?

Hjalmar. When the sentence was pronounced and he was to be put in gaol—he had that pistol in his hand——

Gregers. He had!

Hjalmar. Yes, but he did not dare. He was afraid. So demoralized, so lost even then was his spirit. Ah! Can you understand that? He a soldier; he who had shot nine bears, the descendant of two lieutenant-colonels—one after the other, of course. Can you understand it, Gregers?——

Gregers. Yes, I understand it very well.

Hjalmar. I do not. And then the pistol played a part too in another incident in the history of our house. When he had donned the gray dress, and was set under lock and key—ah! believe me that was a terrible time for me. I had pulled down the blinds of both my windows. When I looked out, I saw that the sun was shining as was its wont. I could not understand. I saw men walking about the streets, laughing and gossipping of indifferent matters. I could not understand. I thought all the universe must be standing still as at an eclipse of the sun.

Gregers. I felt so when my mother died.

Hjalmar. In that same hour Hjalmar Ekdal turned the pistol towards his own breast.

Gregers. So you, too, thought of that!

Hjalmar. Yes.

Gregers. But you did not fire?

Hjalmar. No. In that decisive moment I gained the victory over myself. I went on living. But, believe me, it needed courage to choose life under such conditions.

Gregers. It depends on the point of view.

Hjalmar. Yes, entirely. But it was better so; for now I shall soon make the invention; and then Doctor Relling believes, as I do, myself, that father will get leave to wear his uniform again. I shall ask this as my sole reward.

Gregers. So it’s the uniform that he——?

Hjalmar. Yes; it is that that he most hankers and pines after. You can not imagine how this cuts me to the heart for his sake. Whenever we have a little family feast here—such as Gina’s and my wedding-day, or anything of that sort—the old man comes in here dressed in his lieutenant uniform of happier days. But as soon as there’s a knock at the door—for he mustn’t show himself before strangers you know—he hurries off to his room again as fast as his old legs will carry him. It lacerates a filial heart to see that!

Gregers. And when do you think your invention’ll be ready?

Hjalmar. Now, really you mustn’t ask me about such details as to time. An invention is a thing which doesn’t allow a man to be wholly and solely master of himself. It depends a good deal on inspiration—on an idea—and it’s well-nigh impossible to calculate beforehand when that will come.

Gregers. But it’s making progress?

Hjalmar. Of course it’s making progress. I work every blessed day at the invention, which fills my whole being. Every afternoon when I’ve dined, I lock myself up in my sitting-room, there I can ponder in peace. Only I mustn’t be driven, for that is no earthly use whatever; Relling says so, too.

Gregers. And don’t you find that all those contrivances in there in the loft, take you away and distract you too much?

Hjalmar. No, no, no; quite the contrary. You mustn’t say that. Surely, I can’t always go about brooding over the same exhausting ideas. I must have something to fill up the time spent in expectancy. Inspiration, ideas, you see—if they’re coming they’ll come anyhow.

Gregers. My dear Hjalmar, I almost think there’s something of the wild duck in you.

Hjalmar. Of the wild duck? What do you mean?

Gregers. You have dived under and got caught fast in the weeds at the bottom.

Hjalmar. Are you alluding to the well-nigh deadly shot that winged father and me too?

Gregers. Not so much to that. I don’t mean to say that you are wounded, but you have fallen into a poisonous swamp; you have within you an insidious disease, and you have sunk to the bottom to die in the dark.

Hjalmar. I? Die in the dark? Now, I tell you what, Gregers, you really should drop such talk.

Gregers. Do not fear; for I will bring you up to the surface again. For I, too, have a mission in life now, you see; I found it, yesterday.

Hjalmar. Well, that may be; but you should leave me alone. I assure you that—of course, with the exception of a very natural melancholy—I am as happy as a man could desire to be.

Gregers. That you are so, is also a result of the poison.

Hjalmar. Now, my dear, good Gregers, don’t say anything more about disease and poison; I’m not used to that sort of thing; in my house no one ever mentions such disagreeable things to me.

Gregers. Ah! I can well believe that!

Hjalmar. For it’s not good for me. And here there is no air of the swamp as you call it. The poor home of the photographer is lowly—I know that well—and my means are narrow. But, I am an inventor, remember, and I am the bread-winner of a family too. That raises me above my lowly circumstances—— Ah! here they are with the luncheon!

Gina and Hedvig bring bottles of beer, a decanter of brandy, glasses and so forth. At the same time Relling and Molvik enter from the passage; they are both without hats and top coats; Molvik is dressed in black.

Gina (putting the things on the table). Well, those two timed it well.

Relling. Molvik fancied he smelt herring-salad, and so there was no holding him back. Good morning for the second time, Ekdal.

Hjalmar. Gregers, let me introduce Mr. Molvik; doctor—— Why you know Relling.

Gregers. Yes, slightly.

Relling. Ah! This is Mr. Werle, junior. Yes, we two have often come to loggerheads with one another up at the Hojdal Works. I suppose you’ve just moved in?

Gregers. I moved in this morning.

Relling. And Molvik and I live underneath you, so you’re not far from the doctor and priest, if you should want anything of the sort.

Gregers. That might be; for yesterday we were thirteen at table.

Hjalmar. Oh! now don’t bring up such disagreeable things again!

Relling. You needn’t trouble, Ekdal, for it won’t hurt you.

Hjalmar. I hope so for the sake of my family. But let’s sit down and eat, and drink, and be merry.

Gregers. Shall we not wait for your father?

Hjalmar. No, he’ll have his taken into him presently. Come along!

The men sit down at the table, and eat and drink. Gina and Hedvig go in and out waiting on them.

Relling. Molvik was horribly drunk yesterday, Mrs. Ekdal.

Gina. What! Yesterday again?

Relling. Didn’t you hear him when I came home with him in the night?

Gina. No, I can’t say I did.

Relling. That’s well; for Molvik was abominable last night.

Gina. Is that true, Molvik?

Molvik. Let us bury in oblivion the proceedings of last night. That sort of thing has nothing to do with my better self.

Relling (to Gregers). It comes over him as if he were possessed, and then I have to go out on the spree with him. For you see Mr. Molvik is dæmonic.

Gregers. Dæmonic?

Relling. Yes, Molvik is dæmonic.

Gregers. H’m.

Relling. And dæmonic natures are not created for going through the world on steady legs. They are bound to deviate sometimes. Well, and so you still hold out at those hideous black Works up there?

Gregers. I have held out until now.

Relling. And have you obtained what you went about claiming?

Gregers. Claiming? (Understanding him.) Oh! I see.

Hjalmar. Have you been enforcing claims, Gregers?

Gregers. Oh! nonsense.

Relling. Oh! but he did, though; he used to go about to all the farmers’ cottages presenting something that he called “the claim of the ideal.”

Gregers. I was young then.

Relling. You’re right there; you were very young. And the claim of the ideal—you never managed to get them honored as long as I was up there.

Gregers. Nor since either.

Relling. And so, I dare say you’ve become sensible enough to reduce your demands a little.

Gregers. Never when I am face to face with a true, genuine man.

Hjalmar. No; and that seems sensible enough to me. A little butter, Gina.

Relling. And a little bit of pork for Molvik.

Molvik. Uh! No pork!

There is a knock at the door of the loft.

Hjalmar. Open the door, Hedvig; father wants to come out.

Hedvig opens the door a little way, Old Ekdal comes in with a fresh rabbit-skin; he closes the door after him.

Ekdal. Good-morning, gentlemen! Have had capital sport to-day. Have shot a big one.

Hjalmar. And you’ve skinned it before I came!

Ekdal. Have salted it, too. It’s good tender meat, is rabbit meat; and it’s sweet, too; tastes like sugar. Hope you’re enjoying yourselves, gentlemen!

He goes into his room.

Molvik (rising). Excuse me—I can’t—I must go down at once.

Relling. Have some soda-water, man!

Molvik (hurrying off). Uh! uh!

He goes out at the entrance door.

Relling (to Hjalmar). Let us drink to the old hunter.

Hjalmar (touching his glass). Yes, to the bold sportsman on the brink of the grave!

Relling. To the gray-headed—— (Drinking.) I say, is his hair gray or is it white!

Hjalmar. It’s between the two; besides he hasn’t so many hairs left on his head.

Relling. Well; you can get through life with false hair. Yes, at the bottom you’re a happy man, Ekdal; you have that great life-mission to toil for——

Hjalmar. And I do toil, believe me.

Relling. And then you have your active wife, trotting in and out so nicely, in her felt shoes, and pottering about, looking after you and serving you.

Hjalmar. Yes, Gina (nodding to her), you are an excellent helpmate to have on life’s path.

Gina. Oh! don’t sit there a-criticising me.

Relling. And then your Hedvig, Ekdal.

Hjalmar (with emotion). Yes, the child! The child beyond all else. Hedvig, come here to me. (He strokes her hair.) What day is it to-morrow, eh?

Hedvig (shaking him). Oh, no, you mustn’t tell, father.

Hjalmar. It goes to my heart like a knife when I think how small a thing it will be; only a little festive arrangement in the loft——

Hedvig. Ah! but that’s so lovely!

Relling. Only wait till that wonderful invention is completed, Hedvig!

Hjalmar. Yes, then—then you will see!—Hedvig, I have determined to make your future secure. All shall be well with you as long as you live. I will ask something for you—and nothing else. That shall be the poor inventor’s sole reward.

Hedvig (whispering, with her arms about his neck). Oh! you dear, dear father!

Relling (to Gregers). Well, now, don’t you think it very pleasant, just for a change, to sit at a well-spread table in the midst of a happy family circle?

Hjalmar. Yes, I deeply prize these hours spent at table.

Gregers. I, for my part, do not thrive in the air of a swamp.

Relling. Air of a swamp?

Hjalmar. Oh! now don’t begin with that stuff again!

Gina. Goodness knows there’s no foul air here, Mr. Werle, for I air the place every day.

Gregers (rising from the table). The stench I mean, no amount of your airing would get rid of.

Hjalmar. Stench!

Gina. Yes, what do you think of that, Ekdal?

Relling. Excuse me—I suppose it isn’t you yourself who brings this stench with you from the mines up there?

Gregers. It would be like you to call what I bring into this house a stench.

Relling (going up to him). Listen, Mr. Werle, junior, I strongly suspect you are still going about with “the claim of the ideal” unabridged in your coat-tail pocket.

Gregers. I carry it in my breast.

Relling. Well, wherever you may have it, I’d not advise you to play the dun here as long as I’m about.

Gregers. And suppose I do all the same?

Relling. Then you fly head-foremost down stairs. Now you know.

Hjalmar (rising). But really, Relling!

Gregers. Yes, just you turn me out——

Gina (coming between them). You mustn’t do that, Relling. But this I will say, Mr. Werle, that after making all that horrid mess in there with the stove, you shouldn’t come here chattering about stenches.

There is a knock at the door.

Hedvig. Mother, someone’s knocking.

Hjalmar. That’s it! Now we’re to be bothered with a lot of people!

Gina. Only leave it to me—— (She goes and opens the door; starts, shudders, and draws back.) Oh! oh, dear!

Mr. Werle in a fur coat comes a step forward.

Werle. I beg your pardon; but I am told my son is living here.

Gina (in a choking voice). Yes——

Hjalmar (coming nearer). Won’t you come in, sir?

Werle. Thanks; I only wish to speak to my son.

Gregers. Well! Here I am!

Werle. I should like to speak to you in your room.

Gregers. In my room—well——

About to go out.

Gina. No, goodness knows, that’s not in a fit state to——

Werle. Well, outside in the passage, then; I wish to speak to you alone.

Hjalmar. You can do that here, sir. Come into the sitting-room, Relling.

Hjalmar and Relling go in, right; Gina takes Hedvig with her into the kitchen.

Gregers (after a short pause). Well, we’re alone now.

Werle. You let fall a word or two yesterday, and as you’ve come to live at the Ekdals I am compelled to think that you’ve something in your mind against me.

Gregers. I have in mind to open Hjalmar Ekdal’s eyes. He shall see his position as it is; that is all.

Werle. Is that the mission in life you spoke of yesterday?

Gregers. Yes. You have left none other open to me.

Werle. Is it I who have poisoned your mind, Gregers?

Gregers. You have poisoned my whole life—I’m not thinking about all that with mother. But it is you I have to thank for it that I go about hunted and devoured by a guilty conscience.

Werle. Aha! So it’s your conscience that’s amiss.

Gregers. I ought to have stood out against you then, at the time when you laid the snares for Lieutenant Ekdal. I ought to have warned him; for I foresaw whither it would lead him.

Werle. Yes; then, indeed, you ought to have spoken.

Gregers. I didn’t dare to; I was so cowed and scared. I was so afraid of you—both then and for a long time afterwards.

Werle. You’ve got over that fear now it seems.

Gregers. Fortunately. The wrong done old Ekdal, both by me and others can never be made good; but I can free Hjalmar from all this lying and deceit which surround him and are ruining him.

Werle. Do you believe that that would be doing a good deed?

Gregers. I believe so—firmly.

Werle. Perhaps you fancy that the photographer Ekdal, is the man to thank you for such a friendly service?

Gregers. Yes—he is the man to do so.

Werle. H’m—we shall see.

Gregers. And besides if I am to go on living I must find some healing for my sick conscience.

Werle. That will never be sound. Your conscience has been sick since you were a child. That is a heritage from your mother, Gregers, the only heritage she left you.

Gregers (with a scornful half smile). Haven’t you yet got over your anger at the mistake you made in thinking she would bring you a dowry?

Werle. Don’t let us touch upon irrelevant things—So you hold to your purpose of putting Ekdal on what you assume to be the right scent.

Gregers. Yes; I do hold to my purpose.

Werle. Well, then I might have saved myself the walk up here. For doubtless it’s no use asking if you’ll come home again.

Gregers. No.

Werle. And I suppose you will not enter the firm either?

Gregers. No.

Werle. Good. But as I intend getting married soon, there will have to be a division of the property.[2]

[2] In Norway a widower who marries again is by law compelled to make provisions for his children by his former marriage.

Gregers (hurriedly). No; I do not wish that.

Werle. You do not wish it?

Gregers. No, I dare not for my conscience sake.

Werle (after a short pause). Are you going up to the Works again?

Gregers. No, I consider myself as having left your service.

Werle. But what shall you do then?

Gregers. Only fulfill the mission of my life; nothing else.

Werle. Yes, but afterwards? What will you live on?

Gregers. I have put by a little out of my salary.

Werle. And how long will that last!

Gregers. I think it will last my time.

Werle. What do you mean by that?

Gregers. I will answer nothing more now.

Werle. Good-bye then, Gregers.

Gregers. Good-bye.

Mr. Werle goes out.

Hjalmar (looking in). He’s gone, hasn’t he?

Hjalmar and Relling come in. Gina and Hedvig also enter from the kitchen.

Relling. So the lunch has come to nothing.

Gregers. Put on your things, Hjalmar; you must go for a long walk with me.

Hjalmar. Gladly. What did your father want? Anything to do with me?

Gregers. Only come along. We must have a little talk together. I’ll go in and put on my overcoat.

He goes out at the entrance door.

Gina. You shouldn’t go out with him, Ekdal.

Relling. No, don’t you. Stop where you are.

Hjalmar (taking his hat and top-coat). What nonsense! When the friend of my youth feels the desire to open his heart to me in private!

Relling. But deuce take it—don’t you see the fellow’s cracked, mad, demented!

Gina. Yes, you can surely hear that. His mother used to have such fits at times.

Hjalmar. He has all the greater need for the vigilant eye of a friend. (To Gina.) Mind dinner’s ready in good time. Good-bye for the present. (He goes out at the entrance-door.)

Relling. It’s a pity that fellow didn’t go to hell by way of one of the Hojdal mines.

Gina. Lord!—why do you say that?

Relling (mutters). Oh, yes! For I’ve my suspicions.

Gina. Do you think young Werle’s really mad?

Relling. No, worse luck, he’s not more mad than most people. But he’s diseased all the same.

Gina. What is it that’s the matter with him then?

Relling. Well, I’ll tell you Mrs. Ekdal. He’s suffering from an acute attack of virtue-fever——

Gina. Virtue-fever?

Hedvig. Is that a disease then?

Relling. Certainly; it’s a national disease; but it only appears sporadically. (Nodding to Gina.) Thanks for your hospitality. (He goes out at the entrance-door.)

Gina (walking up and down uneasily). Uf, that Gregers Werle—he always was a horrid beast.

Hedvig (standing by the table and looking at her searchingly). It all seems very strange to me.