Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (40 page)

SCENE
V

[The Preceding. LADY KIRSTEN.]

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Softly.]
Not so, my son, you have told her — ?

OLAF. All I was able to say I have said. Now you tell her the rest, and then, mother, let me never, never see her again.

[He casts a glance at ALFHILD and goes out past the house.]

LADY KIRSTEN. That folly will soon be burned out of his soul, if —

LADY KIRSTEN.
[As if she suddenly has an idea.]
But in case I — Ah, if that could succeed, then would he be cured, — that I can promise. But Alfhild — ? Well, nevertheless, it must be attempted.

ALFHILD.
[To herself.]
  So then there is here too anguish and woe;
  Well, so let it be; I shall never despair.
  The sorrow of earth I never need know,
  Still Olaf is good and fair!

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Approaches.]
It seems to me that gloomy thoughts are weighing upon your mind.

ALFHILD. Yes, yes, the result of things I have recently heard.

LADY KIRSTEN. From Olaf?

ALFHILD. Certainly from Olaf; he has told me —

LADY KIRSTEN. I know, Alfhild. I know what he has said.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aside.]
He has mentioned to her his wedding, I see.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aloud.]
This very night it is to be held.

ALFHILD. What is to be held?

LADY KIRSTEN. The wedding!

ALFHILD.
[Eagerly.]
Oh, yes, that I know!

LADY KIRSTEN. You know it and do not take it more to your heart than this?

ALFHILD. No. Why should I take it to heart?

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aside.]
There is something she is meditating, — I see that clearly.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aloud.]
Well, so much the better for all of us.
But tell me, when the wedding is over, what then will you do?

ALFHILD. I? I have little thought of that.

LADY KIRSTEN. I mean, have you in mind to remain here or to go home?

ALFHILD.
[Looks at her, surprised.]
I have in mind to remain!

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aside.]
There we have it; she thinks to hold him in her wiles even after he is wed. Well, we shall see about that.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aloud.]
Alfhild! I wish you every possible good, and if you dared rely on my —

ALFHILD. Yes, that I certainly dare!

LADY KIRSTEN. Well and good; then you will let me take upon myself your happiness. I shall take charge of you as best I know how, and if you but give me your word you shall this very night go to the church as a bride.

ALFHILD. Yes, I know that.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Surprised.]
You know that! Who has told you?

ALFHILD. Olaf himself said so.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aside.]
Has Olaf — ? Yes, forsooth, he has had the same idea that I had, to marry her off in order to be rid of her. Or perhaps in order to — well, no matter, — when she is finally married, when Olaf on his side is a married man, then —

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aloud.]
Well and good, Alfhild! If Olaf has told you our intention for you, then it is not necessary for me to — But do you now hasten, go in there in the store house; there you will find my own wedding gown; that you shall wear!

ALFHILD.
[With childlike joy.]
Shall I! Your own wedding gown!

LADY KIRSTEN. Do as I say. Go in there and dress yourself as splendidly as you please.

ALFHILD. And do I also get a bridal crown?

LADY KIRSTEN. Certainly! A bridal crown and silver rings and golden bracelet. You will find plenty of them in the coffers and chests.

ALFHILD. Silver rings and golden bracelets!

LADY KIRSTEN. Go, go, and hurry as fast as you can.

ALFHILD. O, I shall not be long about it.

[Claps her hands.]

ALFHILD. I shall have silver rings and golden bracelets!

[She runs out to the left.]

SCENE V
I

[LADY KIRSTEN alone.]

LADY KIRSTEN. The evil and cursed woman! Happy and gay she is though she knows that Olaf is to wed another. But that very fact will serve me well; it will go easier than I had thought. She looks as innocent as a child, and yet she can agree to take him as a husband whom I first pick out for her. And I who thought that she truly loved Olaf! If he is still ignorant of her real spirit, he shall soon learn. He shall know her to the core, he shall know how she has bewitched and lured him, and then, well, then she is no longer dangerous.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Smiling.]
Well, well! Olaf thought of the same way of saving himself that I did; so good-natured I had never imagined him. — But where shall we find the man who is willing to — well, she is pretty, and I shall not mind a little silver and even a bit of land. Has Olaf already spoken to some one? That is hardly thinkable! — Well, then I shall see to that. I have servants enough on the estate and —

[Looks out to the right.]

LADY KIRSTEN. Hemming! what if I should try him! But he saw them together in the mountain yesterday; he must surely know there is something between the two. But none the less — he is a humble serving-man, and poor besides, and weak of mind — we shall see, we shall see!

SCENE VI
I

[LADY KIRSTEN. HEMMING from the right.]

HEMMING.
[To himself.]
Nowhere is Ingeborg to be found; she will bring me to my grave, — that is certain. Yesterday she was gracious to me; she gave me her ring; but then she took it away from me again; and today she will not so much as look at me as I pass.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Slowly, as she approaches.]
A little cautious I must be.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aloud.]
Ah, Hemming, is it you? You prefer to wander alone, I see; you keep yourself away from the servants and maids; when I see such things I realize very well that you do so not without reason.

HEMMING. Why, my noble lady! what should —

LADY KIRSTEN. Yes, Hemming! there is something that you keep all to yourself as you go about; you are not very cheerful!

HEMMING.
[Disconcerted.]
Not cheerful? I?

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Smiling.]
There is here today a young and beautiful girl whom you fancy very much.

HEMMING. All saints!

LADY KIRSTEN. And she in turn has a fancy for you.

HEMMING. Me — Whom? I do not know whom you mean.

LADY KIRSTEN. Come, Hemming, do not speak so; before me you need not feel ashamed. Yes, yes, I see clearly, I tell you.

HEMMING.
[Aside.]
Heaven! she must have noticed by Ingeborg’s manner that —

LADY KIRSTEN. I have seen that the wedding is but little joy to you. The trip to the church you care little about, since you would yourself like to go as a groom, yet cannot see your way clear.

HEMMING.
[In the greatest agitation.]
Alas, Lady Kirsten! my noble, august lady! be not offended!

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Surprised.]
I? And why should I be offended?

HEMMING.
[Continuing.]
I have struggled and fought against this unhappy love as long as I have been able, and I honestly believe she has done the same.

LADY KIRSTEN. She? Has she then told you that she cares for you?

HEMMING. Yes, almost!

LADY KIRSTEN. Well and good; then you talked about it together?

HEMMING. Yes, — but only once, only one single time, I swear.

LADY KIRSTEN. Once or ten times, it is all the same to me.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aside.]
Then they are already agreed; it was certainly a stroke of luck that I came upon Hemming; now I am not at all surprised that Alfhild was so willing to go to the altar.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Aloud.]
Hemming! I am much indebted to you for finding my son again and for otherwise being of help to me; now I shall make requital, — I shall to the limit of my power stand by you in the matter we just spoke of.

HEMMING.
[Overcome with joy.]
You! You will! Lady Kirsten!
Alas, great God and holy saints! I hardly dare believe it.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Stops.]
But Lord Olaf, your son! What do you think he will say?

LADY KIRSTEN. He will not interpose any objection, — I shall see to that.

HEMMING.
[Unsuspecting.]
Yes, truly, it would be best for him too, for I know she cares little for him.

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Smiling.]
That I have noticed, Hemming!

HEMMING. Have you! Well, you are so clever, Lady Kirsten! And
I who thought that I was the only one who had noticed it.

HEMMING.
[Doubtfully.]
Do you think that Lord Arne will give his consent?

LADY KIRSTEN. Your master? I shall know how to talk him into it, — that will not be so difficult.

HEMMING. You think so? Alas, but I am so poor a man.

LADY KIRSTEN. I shall remedy that all right, in case Lord Arne is not prepared to do so.

HEMMING. Thanks, thanks, Lady Kirsten! Heaven reward you for your kindness!

LADY KIRSTEN. But you will keep this that we have been speaking of to yourself.

HEMMING. That I promise.

LADY KIRSTEN. Then hold yourself in readiness; the guests will assemble out here in a little while now, and do you be on hand.

[She goes over to the door of the store house and looks for
ALFHILD.]

HEMMING.
[To himself.]
No, this is to me like a strange illusive dream. Ingeborg and I, — we are to belong to each other! Ah, can it be true? So high I never dared let my thoughts ascend; — it seemed to me in the morning that I had been guilty of the greatest presumption if during the night I had dreamed about it. — Hm! I know very well of course that it is not for my sake that Lady Kirsten goes to all this trouble. She has something up her sleeve; she thinks it necessary to break the agreement with Lord Arne, and now that she has noticed that Ingeborg cares for me she will use that as an excuse. Well, I have so often given my master warning, but he will never believe me.

ARNE.
[Calls outside to the left.]
Hemming! Hemming!

LADY KIRSTEN.
[Comes forward.]
Your master calls! Go now! After a while I shall speak to him; he will agree. Believe me, he shall follow his page to the church in the same hour that he leads his daughter thither.

HEMMING. Thanks, thanks, Lady Kirsten! Truly, you confer a blessing on us all.

[He goes out to the left.]

LADY KIRSTEN.
[To herself.]
So young she is and yet so cunning; she has been coquetting with Hemming all the while she made my son believe that — Well and good, he shall soon learn to know her arts. But first I must see Lord Arne; he thinks highly of Hemming and would reluctantly part with him; it seemed too that Hemming feared that something like that might stand in the way; but they can easily remain as they are even if Hemming marries. — Hemming sees more clearly in the affair than I had expected. What will Olaf say, he asked; he has evidently noticed that my son still thinks of Alfhild. Well, let him; if he takes her he will say nothing, and when Alfhild is married, — I know Olaf; he has always wanted to stand in high honor among the men of the village, and for that reason he will certainly — yes, yes, it must, it shall succeed.

[She goes out to the right.]