Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (231 page)

EKDAL.
Tokay! There’s a fine wine for you!

HIALMAR
[comes to a standstill.]
It may be a fine wine. But of course you know the vintages differ; it all depends on how much sunshine the grapes have had.

GINA.
Why, you know everything, Ekdal.

EKDAL.
And did they dispute that?

HIALMAR.
They tried to; but they were requested to observe that it was just the same with Chamberlains — that with them, too, different batches were of different qualities.

GINA.
What things you do think of!

EKDAL.
Hee-hee! So they got that in their pipes too?

HIALMAR.
Right in their teeth.

EKDAL.
Do you hear that, Gina? He said it right in the very teeth of all the Chamberlains.

GINA.
Fancy — ! Right in their teeth!

HIALMAR.
Yes, but I don’t want it talked about. One doesn’t speak of such things. The whole affair passed off quite amicably of course. They were nice, genial fellows; I didn’t want to wound them — not I!

EKDAL.
Right in their teeth, though — !

HEDVIG
[caressingly.]
How nice it is to see you in a dress-coat! It suits you so well, father.

HIALMAR.
Yes, don’t you think so? And this one really sits to perfection. It fits almost as if it had been made for me; — a little tight in the arm-holes perhaps; — help me, Hedvig
[takes off the coat.]
I think I’ll put on my jacket. Where is my jacket, Gina?

GINA.
Here it is.
[Brings the jacket and helps him.]

HIALMAR.
That’s it! Don’t forget to send the coat back to Molvik first thing to-morrow morning.

GINA
[laying it away.]
I’ll be sure and see to it.

HIALMAR
[stretching himself.]
After all, there’s a more homely feeling about this. A free-and-easy indoor costume suits my whole personality better. Don’t you think so, Hedvig?

HEDVIG.
Yes, father.

HIALMAR.
When I loosen my necktie into a pair of flowing ends — like this?

HEDVIG.
Yes, that goes so well with your moustache and the sweep of your curls.

HIALMAR.
I should not call them curls exactly; I should rather say locks.

HEDVIG.
Yes, they are too big for curls.

HIALMAR.
Locks describes them better.

HEDVIG
[after a pause, twitching his jacket.]
Father!

HIALMAR.
Well, what is it?

HEDVIG.
Oh, you know very well.

HIALMAR.
No, really I don’t —

HEDVIG
[half laughing, half whispering.]
Oh, yes, father; now don’t tease me any longer!

HIALMAR.
Why, what do you mean?

HEDVIG
[shaking him.]
Oh what nonsense; come, where are they, father? All the good things you promised me, you know?

HIALMAR.
Oh — if I haven’t forgotten all about them!

HEDVIG.
Now you’re only teasing me, father! Oh, it’s too bad of you! Where have you put them?

HIALMAR.
No, I positively forgot to get anything. But wait a little! I have something else for you, Hedvig.
[Goes and searches in the pockets of the coat.]

HEDVIG
[skipping and clapping her hands.]
Oh mother, mother!

GINA.
There, you see; if you only give him time —

HIALMAR
[with a paper.]
Look, here it is.

HEDVIG.
That? Why, that’s only a paper.

HIALMAR.
That is the bill of fare, my dear; the whole bill of fare. Here you see: “Menu” — that means bill of fare.

HEDVIG.
Haven’t you anything else?

HIALMAR.
I forgot the other things, I tell you. But you may take my word for it, these dainties are very unsatisfying. Sit down at the table and read the bill of fare, and then I’ll describe to you how the dishes taste. Here you are, Hedvig.

HEDVIG
[gulping down her tears.]
Thank you.
[She seats herself, but does not read; GINA makes signs to her; HIALMAR notices it.]

HIALMAR
[pacing up and down the room.]
It’s monstrous what absurd things the father of a family is expected to think of; and if he forgets the smallest trifle, he is treated to sour faces at once. Well, well, one gets used to that too.
[Stops near the stove, by the old man’s chair.]
Have you peeped in there this evening, father?

EKDAL.
Yes, to be sure I have. She’s gone into the basket.

HIALMAR.
Ah, she has gone into the basket. Then she’s beginning to get used to it.

EKDAL.
Yes; just as I prophesied. But you know there are still a few little things —

HIALMAR.
A few improvements, yes.

EKDAL.
They’ve got to be made, you know.

HIALMAR.
Yes, let us have a talk about the improvements, father. Come, let us sit on the sofa.

EKDAL.
All right. H’m — think I’ll just fill my pipe first. Must clean it out, too. H’m.
[He goes into his room.]

GINA
[smiling to HIALMAR.]
His pipe!

HIALMAR.
Oh yes yes, Gina; let him alone — the poor shipwrecked old man. — Yes, these improvements — we had better get them out of hand to-morrow.

GINA.
You’ll hardly have time to-morrow, Ekdal.

HEDVIG
[interposing.]
Oh yes he will, mother!

GINA.
 
— for remember them prints that has to be retouched; they’ve sent for them time after time.

HIALMAR.
There now! those prints again! I shall get them finished all right! Have any new orders come in?

GINA.
No, worse luck; to-morrow I have nothing but those two sittings, you know.

HIALMAR.
Nothing else? Oh no, if people won’t set about things with a will —

GINA.
But what more can I do? Don’t I advertise in the papers as much as we can afford?

HIALMAR.
Yes, the papers, the papers; you see how much good they do. And I suppose no one has been to look at the room either?

GINA.
No, not yet.

HIALMAR.
That was only to be expected. If people won’t keep their eyes open — . Nothing can be done without a real effort, Gina!

HEDVIG
[going towards him.]
Shall I fetch you the flute, father?

HIALMAR.
No; no flute for me; I want no pleasures in this world.
[Pacing about.]
Yes, indeed I will work to-morrow; you shall see if I don’t. You may be sure I shall work as long as my strength holds out.

GINA.
But my dear good Ekdal, I didn’t mean it in that way.

HEDVIG.
Father, mayn’t I bring in a bottle of beer?

HIALMAR.
No, certainly not. I require nothing, nothing —
[Comes to a standstill.]
Beer? Was it beer you were talking about?

HEDVIG
[cheerfully.]
Yes, father; beautiful fresh beer.

HIALMAR.
Well — since you insist upon it, you may bring in a bottle.

GINA.
Yes, do; and we’ll be nice and cosy.
[HEDVIG runs towards the kitchen door.]

HIALMAR
[by the stove, stops her, looks at her, puts his arm round her neck and presses her to him.]
Hedvig, Hedvig!

HEDVIG
[with tears of joy.]
My dear, kind father!

HIALMAR.
No, don’t call me that. Here have I been feasting at the rich man’s table, — battening at the groaning board — ! And I couldn’t even — !

GINA
[sitting at the table.]
Oh, nonsense, nonsense, Ekdal.

HIALMAR.
It’s not nonsense! And yet you mustn’t be too hard upon me. You know that I love you for all that.

HEDVIG
[throwing her arms round him.]
And we love you, oh, so dearly, father!

HIALMAR.
And if I am unreasonable once in a while, — why then — you must remember that I am a man beset by a host of cares. There, there!
[Dries his eyes.]
No beer at such a moment as this. Give me the flute.
[HEDVIG runs to the bookcase and fetches it.]

HIALMAR.
Thanks! That’s right. With my flute in my hand and you two at my side — ah — !
[HEDVIG seats herself at the table near GINA; HIALMAR paces backwards and forwards, pipes up vigorously, and plays a Bohemian peasant-dance, but in a slow plaintive tempo, and with sentimental expression.]

HIALMAR
[breaking off the melody, holds out his left hand to GINA, and says with emotion:]
Our roof may be poor and humble, Gina; but it is home. And with all my heart I say: here dwells my happiness.
[He begins to play again; almost immediately after, a knocking is heard at the entrance door.]

GINA
[rising.]
Hush, Ekdal, — I think there’s some one at the door.

HIALMAR
[laying the flute on the bookcase.]
There! Again!
[GINA goes and opens the door.]

GREGERS WERLE
[in the passage.]
Excuse me —

GINA
[starting back slightly.]
Oh!

GREGERS.
 
— does not Mr. Ekdal, the photographer, live here?

GINA.
Yes, he does.

HIALMAR
[going towards the door.]
Gregers! You here after all? Well, come in then.

GREGERS
[coming in.]
I told you I would come and look you up.

HIALMAR.
But this evening — ? Have you left the party?

GREGERS.
I have left both the party and my father’s house. — Good evening, Mrs. Ekdal. I don’t know whether you recognise me?

GINA.
Oh yes; it’s not difficult to know young Mr. Werle again.

GREGERS.
No, I am like my mother; and no doubt you remember her.

HIALMAR.
Left your father’s house, did you say?

GREGERS.
Yes, I have gone to a hotel.

HIALMAR.
Indeed. Well, since you’re here, take off your coat and sit down.

GREGERS.
Thanks.
[He takes off his overcoat. He is now dressed in a plain grey suit of a countrified cut.]

HIALMAR.
Here, on the sofa. Make yourself comfortable.
[GREGERS seats himself on the sofa; HIALMAR takes a chair at the table.]

GREGERS
[looking around him.]
So these are your quarters, Hialmar — this is your home.

HIALMAR.
This is the studio, as you see —

GINA.
But it’s the largest of our rooms, so we generally sit here.

HIALMAR.
We used to live in a better place; but this flat has one great advantage: there are such capital outer rooms

GINA.
And we have a room on the other side of the passage that we can let.

GREGERS
[to HIALMAR.]
Ah — so you have lodgers too?

HIALMAR.
No, not yet. They’re not so easy to find, you see; you have to keep your eyes open.
[To HEDVIG.]
What about that beer, eh?

[HEDVIG nods and goes out into the kitchen.]

GREGERS.
So that is your daughter?

HIALMAR.
Yes, that is Hedvig.

GREGERS.
And she is your only child?

HIALMAR.
Yes, the only one. She is the joy of our lives, and —
[lowering his voice]
— at the same time our deepest sorrow, Gregers.