No. I.—ROSMERSHÖLM.
ACT I.
Sitting-room at Rosmershölm, with a stove, flower-stand, windows, ancient and modern ancestors, doors, and everything handsome about it, REBECCA WEST is sitting knitting a large antimacassar which is nearly finished. Now and then she looks out of a window, and smiles and nods expectantly to someone outside. Madam HELSETH is laying the table for supper.
Rebecca (folding up her work slowly). But tell me precisely, what about this White Horse? [Smiling quietly.
Madam Helseth. Lord forgive you, Miss!—(fetching cruet-stand, and placing it on table)—but you're making fun of me!
Rebecca (gravely). No, indeed. Nobody makes fun at Rosmershölm. Mr. ROSMER would not understand it. (Shutting window.) Ah, here is Rector KROLL. (Opening door.) You will stay to supper, will you not, Rector, and I will tell them to give us some little extra dish.
Kroll (hanging up his hat in the hall). Many thanks. (Wipes his boots.) May I come in? (Comes in, puts down his stick, sits down, and looks about him.) And how do you and ROSMER get on together, eh?
Reb. Ever since your sister, BEATA, went mad and jumped into the mill-race, we have been as happy as two little birds together. (After a pause, sitting down in arm-chair.) So you don't really mind my living here all alone with ROSMER? We were afraid you might, perhaps.
Kroll. Why, how on earth—on the contrary, I shouldn't object at all if you—(looks at her meaningly)—h'm!
Reb. (interrupting, gravely). For shame, Rector; how can you make such jokes!
Kroll (as if surprised). Jokes? We do not joke in these parts—but here is ROSMER.
[Enter ROSMER, gently and softly.
Rosmer. So, my dear old friend, you have come again, after a year's absence. (Sits down.) We almost thought that—
Kroll (nods). So Miss WEST was saying—but you are quite mistaken. I merely thought I might remind you, if I came, of our poor BEATA's suicide, so I kept away. We Norwegians are not without our simple tact.
Rosmer. It was considerate—but unnecessary. REB—I mean, Miss WEST and I often allude to the incident, do we not?
Reb. (strikes Tändstickor). Oh, yes, indeed. (Lighting lamp.) Whenever we feel a little more cheerful than usual.
Kroll. You dear good people! (Wanders up the room.) I came because the Spirit of Revolt has crept into my School. A Secret Society has existed for weeks in the Lower Third! To-day it has come to my knowledge that a booby-trap was prepared for me by the hand of my own son, LAURITS, and I then discovered that a hair has been inserted in my cane by my daughter HILDA! The only way in which a right-minded Schoolmaster can combat this anarchic and subversive spirit is to start a newspaper, and I thought that you, as a weak, credulous, inexperienced and impressionable kind of man, were the very person to be the Editor.
[REB. laughs softly, as if to herself. ROSMER jumps up and sits down again.
Reb. (with a look at Rosmer). Tell him now!
Rosmer (returning the look). I can't—some other evening. Well, perhaps— (To KROLL.) I can't be your Editor—because (in a low voice) I—I am on the side of LAURITS and HILDA!
Kroll (looks from one to the other, gloomily). H'm!
Rosmer. Yes. Since we last met, I have changed my views. I am going to create a new democracy, and awaken it to its true task of making all the people of this country noblemen, by freeing their wills, and purifying their minds!
Kroll. What do you mean? [Takes up his hat.
Rosmer (bowing his head). I don't quite know, my dear friend; it was REB—I should say. Miss WEST's scheme.
Kroll. H'm! (A suspicion appears in his face.) Now I begin to believe that what BEATA said about schemes—no matter. But, under the circumstances, I will not stay to supper.
[Takes up his stick, and walks out.
Rosmer. I told you he would be annoyed, I shall go to bed now. I don't want any supper. [He lights a candle, and goes out; presently his footsteps are heard overhead, as he undresses. REBECCA pulls a bell-rope.
Reb. (to Madam HELSETH, who enters with dishes). No, Mr. ROSMER will not have supper to-night. (In a lighter tone.) Perhaps he is afraid of the nightmare. There are so many sorts of White Horses in this world!
Mad. H. (shaking). Lord! lord! that Miss WEST—the things she does say! [REB. goes out through door, knitting antimacassar thoughtfully, as Curtain falls.
ACT II.
ROSMER's study. Doors and windows, bookshelves, a writing-table. Door, with curtain, leading to ROSMER's bedroom. ROSMER discovered in a smoking-jacket cutting a pamphlet with a paper-knife. There is a knock at the door. ROSMER says, "Come in." REBECCA enters in a morning wrapper and curl-papers. She sits on a chair close to ROSMER, and looks over his shoulder as he cuts the leaves. Rector KROLL is shown up.
Kroll (lays his hat on the table and looks at REB. from head to foot). I am really afraid that I am in the way.
Reb. (surprised). Because I am in my morning wrapper and curl-papers? You forget that I am emancipated, Rector KROLL.
[She leaves them and listens behind curtain in ROSMER's bedroom.
Rosmer. Yes, Miss WEST and I have worked our way forward in faithful comradeship.
Kroll (shakes his head at him slowly). So I perceive. Miss WEST is naturally inclined to be forward. But, I say, really you know— However, I came to tell you that poor BEATA was not so mad as she looked, though flowers did bewilder her so. (Taking off his gloves meaningly.) She jumped into the mill-race because she had an idea that you ought to marry Miss WEST!
Rosmer (jumps half up from his chair). I? Marry—Miss WEST! my good gracious, KROLL! I don't understand, it is most incomprehensible. (Looks fixedly before him.) How can people— (looks at him for a moment, then rises.) Will you get out? (Still quiet and self-restrained.) But first tell me why you never mentioned this before?
Kroll. Why? Because I thought you were both orthodox, which made all the difference. Now I know that you side with LAURITS and HILDA, and mean to make the democracy into noblemen, and accordingly I intend to make it hot for you in my paper. Good morning! [He slams the door with spite as REBECCA enters from bed-room.
Rosmer (as if surprised). You—in my bedroom! You have been listening, dear? But you are so emancipated. Ah, well! so our pure and beautiful friendship has been misinterpreted, bespattered! Just because you wear a morning wrapper, and have lived here alone for a year, people with coarse souls and ignoble eyes make unpleasant remarks! But what really did drive BEATA mad? Why did she jump into the mill-race? I'm sure we did everything we could to spare her! I made it the business of my life to keep her in ignorance of all our interests—didn't I, now?
Reb. You did—but why brood over it? What does it matter? Get on with your great, beautiful task, dear, (approaching him cautiously from behind), winning over minds and wills, and creating noblemen, you know—joyful noblemen!
Rosmer (walking about, restlessly, as if in thought). Yes, I know. I have never laughed in the whole course of my life—we ROSMERS don't—and so I felt that spreading gladness and light, and making the democracy joyful, was properly my mission. But now—I feel too upset to go on, REBECCA, unless— (Shakes his head heavily.) Yes, an idea has just occurred to me—(looks at her, and then runs his hands through his hair)—oh, my goodness, no—I can't.
[He leans his elbows on table.
Reb. Be a free man to the full, ROSMER—tell me your idea.
Rosmer (gloomily). I don't know what you'll say to it. It's this. Our platonic comradeship was all very well while I was peaceful and happy. Now that I'm bothered and badgered, I feel—why, I can't exactly explain, but I do feel that I must oppose a new and living reality to the gnawing memories of the past. I should, perhaps, explain that this is equivalent to an Ibsenian proposal.
Reb. (catches at the chairback with joy). How? at last—a rise at last! (Recollects herself.) But what am I about? Am I not an emancipated enigma? (Puts her hands over her ears as if in terror.) What are you saying? You mustn't. I can't think what you mean. Go away, do!
Rosmer (softly). Be the new and living reality. It is the only way to put BEATA out of the Saga. Shall we try it?
Reb. Never! Do not—do not ask me why—for I haven't a notion—but never! (Nods slowly to him and rises.) White Horses would not induce me! (With her hand on door-handle.) Now you know! [She goes out.
Rosmer (sits up, stares thunderstruck at the stove, and says to himself). Well—I—am— [Quick Curtain.
[The remaining two Acts of this subtle psychological study unavoidably held over.]