SCENE—The cheerful dark Drawing-room. It is afternoon. HEDDA stands loading a revolver in the back Drawing-room.
Hedda (looking out, and shouting). How do you do, Judge? (Aims at him.) Mind yourself! [She fires.
Brack (entering). What the devil! Do you usually take pot-shots at casual visitors? [Annoyed.
Hedda. Invariably, when they come by the back-garden. It is my unconventional way of intimating that I am at home. One does do these things in realistic dramas, you know. And I was only aiming at the blue sky.
Brack. Which accounts for the condition of my hat. (Exhibiting it.) Look here—riddled!
Hedda. Couldn't help myself. I am so horribly bored with TESMAN. Everlastingly to be with a professional person!
Brack (sympathetically). Our excellent TESMAN is certainly a bit of a bore. (Looks searchingly at her.) What on earth made you marry him?
Hedda. Tired of dancing, my dear, that's all. And then I used TESMAN to take me home from parties; and we saw this villa; and I said I liked it, and so did he; and so we found some common ground, and here we are, do you see! And I loathe TESMAN, and I don't even like the villa now; and I do feel the want of an entertaining companion so!
Brack. Try me. Just the kind of three-cornered arrangement that I like. Let me be the third person in the compartment—(confidentially)—the tried friend, and, generally speaking, cock of the walk!