Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (298 page)

HILDA.
[Measures him with a look.]
Oh, thank you. You know it wouldn’t end there.

SOLNESS.
[Heedlessly.]
So much the better!

HILDA.
[Vehemently.]
I cannot do any harm to one whom I know! I can’t take away anything that belongs to her.

SOLNESS. Who wants you to do that?

HILDA.
[Continuing.]
A stranger, yes! for that is quite a different thing! A person I have never set eyes on. But one that I have come into close contact with — ! Oh no! Oh no! Ugh!

SOLNESS. Yes, but I never proposed you should.

HILDA. Oh, Mr. Solness, you know quite well what the end of it would be. And that is why I am going away.

SOLNESS. And what is to become of me when you are gone? What shall I have to live for then? — After that?

HILDA.
[With the indefinable look in her eyes.]
It is surely not so hard for you. You have your duties to her. Live for those duties.

SOLNESS. Too late. These powers — these — these —

HILDA. — devils —

SOLNESS. Yes, these devils! And the troll within me as well — they have drawn all the life-blood out of her.
[Laughs in desperation.]
They did it for my happiness! Yes, yes!
[Sadly.]
And now she is dead — for my sake. And I am chained alive to a dead woman.
[In wild anguish.]
I
—
I
who cannot live without joy in life!

[HILDA moves round the table and seats herself on the bench, with her elbows on the table, and her head supported by her hands.

HILDA.
[Sits and looks at him awhile.]
What will you build next?

SOLNESS.
[Shakes his head.]
I don’t believe I shall build much more.

HILDA. Not those cosy, happy homes for mother and father, and for the troop of children?

SOLNESS. I wonder whether there will be any use for such homes in the coming time.

HILDA. Poor Mr. Solness! And you have gone all these ten years — and staked your whole life — on that alone.

SOLNESS. Yes, you may well say so, Hilda.

HILDA.
[With an outburst.]
Oh, it all seems to me so foolish — so foolish!

SOLNESS. All what?

HILDA. Not to be able to grasp at your own happiness — at your own life! Merely because some one you know happens to stand in the way!

SOLNESS. One whom you have no right to set aside.

HILDA. I wonder whether one really has not the right! And yet, and yet — . Oh! if one could only sleep the whole thing away!

[She lays her arms flat don on the table, rests the left side of her head on her hands, and shuts her eyes.

SOLNESS.
[Turns the arm-chair and sits down at the table.]
Had you a cosy, happy home — up there with your father, Hilda?

HILDA.
[Without stirring, answers as if half asleep.]
I had only a cage.

SOLNESS. And you are determined not to go back to it?

HILDA.
[As before.]
The wild bird never wants to go back to the cage.

SOLNESS. Rather range through the free air —

HILDA.
[Still as before.]
The bird of prey loves to range —

SOLNESS.
[Lets his eyes rest on her.]
If only one had the viking-spirit in life —

HILDA.
[In her usual voice; opens her eyes but does not move.]
And the other thing? Say what that was!

SOLNESS. A robust conscience.

[HILDA sits erect on the bench, with animation.
 
Her eyes have once more the sparkling expression of gladness.

HILDA.
[Nods to him.]
I
know what you are going to build next!

SOLNESS. Then you know more than I do, Hilda.

HILDA. Yes, builders are such stupid people.

SOLNESS. What is it to be then?

HILDA.
[Nods again.]
The castle.

SOLNESS. What castle?

HILDA. My castle, of course.

SOLNESS. Do you want a castle now?

HILDA. Don’t you owe me a kingdom, I should like to know?

SOLNESS. You say I do.

HILDA. Well — you admit you owe me this kingdom. And you can’t have a kingdom without a royal castle, I should think.

SOLNESS.
[More and more animated.]
Yes, they usually go together.

HILDA. Good! Then build it for me! This moment!

SOLNESS.
[Laughing.]
Must you have that on the instant, too?

HILDA. Yes, to be sure! For the ten years are up now, and I am not going to wait any longer. So — out with the castle, Mr. Solness!

SOLNESS. It’s no light matter to owe you anything, Hilda.

HILDA. You should have thought of that before. It is too late now. So —
[tapping the table]
— the castle on the table! It is my castle! I will have it at once!

SOLNESS.
[More seriously, leans over towards her, with his arms on the table.]
What sort of castle have you imagined, Hilda?

[Her expression becomes more and more veiled.
 
She seems gazing inwards at herself.

HILDA.
[Slowly.]
My castle shall stand on a height — on a very great height — with a clear outlook on all sides, so that I can see far — far around.

SOLNESS. And no doubt it is to have a high tower!

HILDA. A tremendously high tower. And at the very top of the tower there shall be a balcony. And I will stand out upon it —

SOLNESS.
[Involuntarily clutches at his forehead.]
How can you like to stand at such a dizzy height — ?

HILDA. Yes, I will! Right up there will I stand and look down on the other people — on those that are building churches, and homes for mother and father and the troop of children. And you may come up and look on at it, too.

SOLNESS.
[In a low tone.]
Is the builder to be allowed to come up beside the princess?

HILDA. If the builder will.

SOLNESS.
[More softly.]
Then I think the builder will come.

HILDA.
[Nods.]
The builder — he will come.

SOLNESS. But he will never be able to build any more. Poor builder!

HILDA.
[Animated.]
Oh, yes, he will! We two will set to work together. And then we will build the loveliest — the very loveliest — thing in all the world.

SOLNESS.
[Intently.]
Hilda — tell me what that is!

HILDA.
[Looks smilingly at him, shakes her head a little, pouts, and speaks as if to a child.]
Builders — they are such very — very stupid people.

SOLNESS. Yes, no doubt they are stupid. But now tell me what it is — the loveliest thing in the world — that we two are to build together?

HILDA.
[Is silent a little while, then says with an indefinable expression in her eyes.]
Castles in the air.

SOLNESS. Castles in the air?

HILDA.
[Nods.]
Castles in the air, yes! Do you know what sort of thing a castle in the air is?

SOLNESS. It is the loveliest thing in the world, you say.

HILDA.
[Rises with vehemence, and makes a gesture of repulsion with her hand.]
Yes, to be sure it is! Castles in the air — they are so easy to build, too —
[looks scornfully at him]
— especially for the builders who have a — a dizzy conscience.

SOLNESS.
[Rises.]
After this day we two will build together, Hilda.

HILDA.
[With a half-dubious smile.]
A real castle in the air?

SOLNESS. Yes. One with a firm foundation under it. RAGNAR BROVIK comes out from the house.
 
He is carrying a large green wreath with flowers and silk ribbons.

HILDA.
[With an outburst of pleasure.]
The wreath! Oh, that will be glorious!

SOLNESS.
[In surprise.]
Have you brought the wreath Ragnar?

RAGNAR. I promised the foreman I would.

SOLNESS.
[Relieved.]
Ah, then I suppose you father is better?

RAGNAR. No.

SOLNESS. Was he not cheered by what I wrote?

RAGNAR. It came too late.

SOLNESS. Too late!

RAGNAR. When she came with it he was unconscious. He had had a stroke.

SOLNESS. Why, then, you must go home to him! You must attend to your father!

RAGNAR. He does not need me any more.

SOLNESS. But surely you ought to be with him.

RAGNAR. She is sitting by his bed.

SOLNESS.
[Rather uncertainly.]
Kaia?

RAGNAR.
[Looking darkly at him.]
Yes — Kaia.

SOLNESS. Go home, Ragnar — both to him and to her. Give me the wreath.

RAGNAR.
[Suppresses a mocking smile.]
You don’t mean that you yourself — ?

SOLNESS. I will take it down to them myself
[Takes the wreath from him.]
And now you go home; we don’t require you to-day.

RAGNAR. I know you do not require me any more; but to-day I shall remain.

SOLNESS. Well, remain then, since you are bent upon it.

HILDA.
[At the railing.]
Mr. Solness, I will stand here and look on at you.

SOLNESS. At me!

HILDA. It will be fearfully thrilling.

SOLNESS.
[In a low tone.]
We will talk about that presently, Hilda.

[He goes down the flight of steps with the wreath, and away through the garden.

HILDA.
[Looks after him, then turns to RAGNAR.]
I think you might at least have thanked him

RAGNAR. Thanked him? Ought I to have thanked him?

HILDA. Yes, of course you ought!

RAGNAR. I think it is rather you I ought to thank.

HILDA. How can you say such a thing?

RAGNAR.
[Without answering her.]
But I advise you to take care, Miss Wangel! For you don’t know him rightly yet.

HILDA.
[Ardently.]
Oh, no one knows him as I do!

RAGNAR.
[Laughs in exasperation.]
Thank him, when he has held me down year after year! When he made father disbelieve in me — made me disbelieve in myself! And all merely that he might — !

HILDA.
[As if divining something.]
That he might — ? Tell me at once!

RAGNAR. That he might keep her with him.

HILDA.
[With a start towards him.]
The girl at the desk.

RAGNAR. Yes.

HILDA.
[Threateningly, clenching her hands.]
That is not true! You are telling falsehoods about him!

RAGNAR. I would not believe it either until to-day — when she said so herself.

HILDA.
[As if beside herself.]
What did she say? I will know! At once! at once!