Act III

The room at the Tesmans’. The curtains are drawn over the middle doorway, and also over the glass door. The lamp, half turned down, and with a shade over it, is burning on the table. In the stove, the door of which stands open, there has been a fire, which is now nearly burnt out.

Mrs. Elvsted, wrapped in a large shawl, and with her feet upon a footrest, sits close to the stove, sunk back in the armchair. Hedda, fully dressed, lies sleeping upon the sofa, with a sofa blanket over her.
Mrs. Elvsted After a pause, suddenly sits up in her chair, and listens eagerly. Then she sinks back again wearily, moaning to herself. Not yet!⁠—Oh God⁠—oh God⁠—not yet!
Berta slips cautiously in by the hall door. She has a letter in her hand.
Mrs. Elvsted Turns and whispers eagerly. Well⁠—has anyone come?
Berta Softly. Yes, a girl has just brought this letter.
Mrs. Elvsted Quickly, holding out her hand. A letter! Give it to me!
Berta No, it’s for Dr. Tesman, ma’am.
Mrs. Elvsted Oh, indeed.
Berta It was Miss Tesman’s servant that brought it. I’ll lay it here on the table.
Mrs. Elvsted Yes, do.
Berta Laying down the letter. I think I had better put out the lamp. It’s smoking.
Mrs. Elvsted Yes, put it out. It must soon be daylight now.
Berta Putting out the lamp. It is daylight already, ma’am.
Mrs. Elvsted Yes, broad day! And no one come back yet⁠—!
Berta Lord bless you, ma’am⁠—I guessed how it would be.
Mrs. Elvsted You guessed?
Berta Yes, when I saw that a certain person had come back to town⁠—and that he went off with them. For we’ve heard enough about that gentleman before now.
Mrs. Elvsted Don’t speak so loud. You will waken Mrs. Tesman.
Berta Looks towards the sofa and sighs. No, no⁠—let her sleep, poor thing. Shan’t I put some wood on the fire?
Mrs. Elvsted Thanks, not for me.
Berta Oh, very well. She goes softly out by the hall door.
Hedda Is wakened by the shutting of the door, and looks up. What’s that⁠—?
Mrs. Elvsted It was only the servant.
Hedda Looking about her. Oh, we’re here⁠—! Yes, now I remember. Sits erect upon the sofa, stretches herself, and rubs her eyes. What o’clock is it, Thea?
Mrs. Elvsted Looks at her watch. It’s past seven.
Hedda When did Tesman come home?
Mrs. Elvsted He has not come.
Hedda Not come home yet?
Mrs. Elvsted Rising. No one has come.
Hedda Think of our watching and waiting here till four in the morning⁠—
Mrs. Elvsted Wringing her hands. And how I watched and waited for him!
Hedda Yawns, and says with her hand before her mouth. Well well⁠—we might have spared ourselves the trouble.
Mrs. Elvsted Did you get a little sleep?
Hedda Oh yes; I believe I have slept pretty well. Have you not?
Mrs. Elvsted Not for a moment. I couldn’t, Hedda!⁠—not to save my life.
Hedda Rises and goes towards her. There there there! There’s nothing to be so alarmed about. I understand quite well what has happened.
Mrs. Elvsted Well, what do you think? Won’t you tell me?
Hedda Why, of course it has been a very late affair at Judge Brack’s⁠—
Mrs. Elvsted Yes, yes⁠—that is clear enough. But all the same⁠—
Hedda And then, you see, Tesman hasn’t cared to come home and ring us up in the middle of the night. Laughing. Perhaps he wasn’t inclined to show himself either⁠—immediately after a jollification.
Mrs. Elvsted But in that case⁠—where can he have gone?
Hedda Of course he has gone to his Aunts’ and slept there. They have his old room ready for him.
Mrs. Elvsted No, he can’t be with them for a letter has just come for him from Miss Tesman. There it lies.
Hedda Indeed? Looks at the address. Why yes, it’s addressed in Aunt Julia’s hand. Well then, he has remained at Judge Brack’s. And as for Eilert Lövborg⁠—he is sitting, with vine leaves in his hair, reading his manuscript.
Mrs. Elvsted Oh, Hedda, you are just saying things you don’t believe a bit.
Hedda You really are a little blockhead, Thea.
Mrs. Elvsted Oh yes, I suppose I am.
Hedda And how mortally tired you look.
Mrs. Elvsted Yes, I am mortally tired.
Hedda Well then, you must do as I tell you. You must go into my room and lie down for a little while.
Mrs. Elvsted Oh no, no⁠—I shouldn’t be able to sleep.
Hedda I am sure you would.
Mrs. Elvsted Well, but you husband is certain to come soon now; and then I want to know at once⁠—
Hedda I shall take care to let you know when he comes.
Mrs. Elvsted Do you promise me, Hedda?
Hedda Yes, rely upon me. Just you go in and have a sleep in the meantime.
Mrs. Elvsted Thanks; then I’ll try. She goes off to the inner room.
Hedda goes up to the glass door and draws back the curtains. The broad daylight streams into the room. Then she takes a little hand glass from the writing table, looks at herself in it, and arranges her hair. Next she goes to the hall door and presses the bell button.
Berta presently appears at the hall door.
Berta Did you want anything, ma’am?
Hedda Yes; you must put some more wood in the stove. I am shivering.
Berta Bless me⁠—I’ll make up the fire at once. She rakes the embers together and lays a piece of wood upon them; then stops and listens. That was a ring at the front door, ma’am.
Hedda Then go to the door. I will look after the fire.
Berta It’ll soon burn up. She goes out by the hall door.
Hedda kneels on the footrest and lays some more pieces of wood in the stove.
After a short pause, George Tesman enters from the hall. He steals on tiptoe towards the middle doorway and is about to slip through the curtains.
Hedda At the stove, without looking up. Good morning.
Tesman Turns. Hedda! Approaching her. Good heavens⁠—are you up so early? Eh?
Hedda Yes, I am up very early this morning.
Tesman And I never doubted you were still sound asleep! Fancy that, Hedda!
Hedda Don’t speak so loud. Mrs. Elvsted is resting in my room.
Tesman Has Mrs. Elvsted been here all night?
Hedda Yes, since no one came to fetch her.
Tesman Ah, to be sure.
Hedda Closes the door of the stove and rises. Well, did you enjoy yourselves at Judge Brack’s?
Tesman Have you been anxious about me? Eh?
Hedda No, I should never think of being anxious. But I asked if you had enjoyed yourself.
Tesman Oh yes⁠—for once in a way. Especially the beginning of the evening; for then Eilert read me part of his book. We arrived more than an hour too early⁠—fancy that! And Brack had all sorts of arrangements to make⁠—so Eilert read to me.
Hedda Seating herself by the table on the right. Well? Tell me then⁠—
Tesman Sitting on a footstool near the stove. Oh, Hedda, you can’t conceive what a book that is going to be! I believe it is one of the most remarkable things that have ever been written. Fancy that!
Hedda Yes yes; I don’t care about that⁠—
Tesman I must make a confession to you, Hedda. When he had finished reading⁠—a horrid feeling came over me.
Hedda A horrid feeling?
Tesman I felt jealous of Eilert for having had it in him to write such a book. Only think, Hedda!
Hedda Yes, yes, I am thinking!
Tesman And then how pitiful to think that he⁠—with all his gifts⁠—should be irreclaimable, after all.
Hedda I suppose you mean that he has more courage than the rest?
Tesman No, not at all⁠—I mean that he is incapable of taking his pleasure in moderation.
Hedda And what came of it all⁠—in the end?
Tesman Well, to tell the truth, I think it might best be described as an orgy, Hedda.
Hedda Had he vine leaves in his hair?
Tesman Vine leaves? No, I saw nothing of the sort. But he made a long, rambling speech in honour of the woman who had inspired him in his work⁠—that was the phrase he used.
Hedda Did he name her?
Tesman No, he didn’t; but I can’t help thinking he meant Mrs. Elvsted. You may be sure he did.
Hedda Well⁠—where did you part from him?
Tesman On the way to town. We broke up⁠—the last of us at any rate⁠—all together; and Brack came with us to get a breath of fresh air. And then, you see, we agreed to take Eilert home; for he had had far more than was good for him.
Hedda I daresay.
Tesman But now comes the strange part of it, Hedda; or, I should rather say, the melancholy part of it. I declare I am almost ashamed⁠—on Eilert’s account⁠—to tell you⁠—
Hedda Oh, go on⁠—!
Tesman Well, as we were getting near town, you see, I happened to drop a little behind the others. Only for a minute or two⁠—fancy that!
Hedda Yes yes yes, but⁠—?
Tesman And then, as I hurried after them⁠—what do you think I found by the wayside? Eh?
Hedda Oh, how should I know!
Tesman You mustn’t speak of it to a soul, Hedda! Do you hear! Promise me, for Eilert’s sake. Draws a parcel, wrapped in paper, from his coat pocket. Fancy, dear⁠—I found this.
Hedda Is not that the parcel he had with him yesterday?
Tesman Yes, it is the whole of his precious, irreplaceable manuscript! And he had gone and lost it, and knew nothing about it. Only fancy, Hedda! So deplorably⁠—
Hedda But why did you not give him back the parcel at once?
Tesman I didn’t dare to⁠—in the state he was then in⁠—
Hedda Did you not tell any of the others that you had found it?
Tesman Oh, far from it! You can surely understand that, for Eilert’s sake, I wouldn’t do that.
Hedda So no one knows that Eilert Lövborg’s manuscript is in your possession?
Tesman No. And no one must know it.
Hedda Then what did you say to him afterwards?
Tesman I didn’t talk to him again at all; for when we got in among the streets, he and two or three of the others gave us the slip and disappeared. Fancy that!
Hedda Indeed! They must have taken him home then.
Tesman Yes, so it would appear. And Brack, too, left us.
Hedda And what have you been doing with yourself since?
Tesman Well, I and some of the others went home with one of the party, a jolly fellow, and took our morning coffee with him; or perhaps I should rather call it our night coffee⁠—eh? But now, when I have rested a little, and given Eilert, poor fellow, time to have his sleep out, I must take this back to him.
Hedda Holds out her hand for the packet. No⁠—don’t give it to him! Not in such a hurry, I mean. Let me read it first.
Tesman No, my dearest Hedda, I mustn’t, I really mustn’t.
Hedda You must not?
Tesman No⁠—for you can imagine what a state of despair he will be in when he wakens and misses the manuscript. He has no copy of it, you must know! He told me so.
Hedda Looking searchingly at him. Can such a thing not be reproduced? Written over again?
Tesman No, I don’t think that would be possible. For the inspiration, you see⁠—
Hedda Yes, yes⁠—I suppose it depends on that⁠—Lightly. But, by the by⁠—here is a letter for you.
Tesman Fancy⁠—!
Hedda Handing it to him. It came early this morning.
Tesman It’s from Aunt Julia! What can it be? He lays the packet on the other footstool, opens the letter, runs his eye through it, and jumps up. Oh, Hedda⁠—she says that poor Aunt Rina is dying!
Hedda Well, we were prepared for that.
Tesman And that if I want to see her again, I must make haste. I’ll run in to them at once.
Hedda Suppressing a smile. Will you run?
Tesman Oh, my dearest Hedda⁠—if you could only make up your mind to come with me! Just think!
Hedda Rises and says wearily, repelling the idea. No, no don’t ask me. I will not look upon sickness and death. I loathe all sorts of ugliness.
Tesman Well, well, then⁠—! Bustling around. My hat⁠—? My overcoat⁠—? Oh, in the hall⁠—. I do hope I mayn’t come too late, Hedda! Eh?
Hedda Oh, if you run⁠—Berta appears at the hall door.
Berta Judge Brack is at the door, and wishes to know if he may come in.
Tesman At this time! No, I can’t possibly see him.
Hedda But I can. To Berta. Ask Judge Brack to come in. Berta goes out.
Hedda Quickly, whispering. The parcel, Tesman!
She snatches it up from the stool.
Tesman Yes, give it to me!
Hedda No, no, I will keep it till you come back.
She goes to the writing table and places it in the bookcase. Tesman stands in a flurry of haste, and cannot get his gloves on.
Judge Brack enters from the hall.
Hedda Nodding to him. You are an early bird, I must say.
Brack Yes, don’t you think so! To Tesman. Are you on the move, too?
Tesman Yes, I must rush of to my aunts’. Fancy⁠—the invalid one is lying at death’s door, poor creature.
Brack Dear me, is she indeed? Then on no account let me detain you. At such a critical moment⁠—
Tesman Yes, I must really rush⁠—Goodbye! Goodbye!
He hastens out by the hall door.
Hedda Approaching. You seem to have made a particularly lively night of it at your rooms, Judge Brack.
Brack I assure you I have not had my clothes off, Mrs. Hedda.
Hedda Not you, either?
Brack No, as you may see. But what has Tesman been telling you of the night’s adventures?
Hedda Oh, some tiresome story. Only that they went and had coffee somewhere or other.
Brack I have heard about that coffee party already. Eilert Lövborg was not with them, I fancy?
Hedda No, they had taken him home before that.
Brack Tesman too?
Hedda No, but some of the others, he said.
Brack Smiling. George Tesman is really an ingenuous creature, Mrs. Hedda.
Hedda Yes, heaven knows he is. Then is there something behind all this?
Brack Yes, perhaps there may be.
Hedda Well then, sit down, my dear Judge, and tell your story in comfort.
She seats herself to the left of the table. Brack sits near her, at the long side of the table.
Hedda Now then?
Brack I had special reasons for keeping track of my guests⁠—last night.
Hedda Of Eilert Lövborg among the rest, perhaps?
Brack Frankly, yes.
Hedda Now you make me really curious⁠—
Brack Do you know where he and one or two of the others finished the night, Mrs. Hedda?
Hedda If it is not quite unmentionable, tell me.
Brack Oh no, it’s not at all unmentionable. Well, they put in an appearance at a particularly animated soirée.
Hedda Of the lively kind?
Brack Of the very liveliest⁠—
Hedda Tell me more of this, Judge Brack⁠—
Brack Lövborg, as well as the others, had been invited in advance. I knew all about it. But he had declined the invitation; for now, as you know, he has become a new man.
Hedda Up at the Elvsteds’, yes. But he went after all, then?
Brack Well, you see, Mrs. Hedda⁠—unhappily the spirit moved him at my rooms last evening⁠—
Hedda Yes, I hear he found inspiration.
Brack Pretty violent inspiration. Well, I fancy that altered his purpose; for we menfolk are unfortunately not always so firm in our principles as we ought to be.
Hedda Oh, I am sure you are an exception, Judge Brack. But as to Lövborg⁠—?
Brack To make a long story short⁠—he landed at last in Mademoiselle Diana’s rooms.
Hedda Mademoiselle Diana’s?
Brack It was Mademoiselle Diana that was giving the soirée, to a select circle of her admirers and her lady friends.
Hedda Is she a red-haired woman?
Brack Precisely.
Hedda A sort of a⁠—singer?
Brack Oh yes⁠—in her leisure moments. And moreover a mighty huntress⁠—of men⁠—Mrs. Hedda. You have no doubt heard of her. Eilert Lövborg was one of her most enthusiastic protectors⁠—in the days of his glory.
Hedda And how did all this end?
Brack Far from amicably, it appears. After a most tender meeting, they seem to have come to blows⁠—
Hedda Lövborg and she?
Brack Yes. He accused her or her friends of having robbed him. He declared that his pocketbook had disappeared⁠—and other things as well. In short, he seems to have made a furious disturbance.
Hedda And what came of it all?
Brack It came to a general scrimmage, in which the ladies as well as the gentlemen took part. Fortunately the police at last appeared on the scene.
Hedda The police too?
Brack Yes. I fancy it will prove a costly frolic for Eilert Lövborg, crazy being that he is.
Hedda How so?
Brack He seems to have made a violent resistance⁠—to have hit one of the constables on the head and torn the coat off his back. So they had to march him off to the police station with the rest.
Hedda How have you learnt all this?
Brack From the police themselves.
Hedda Gazing straight before her. So that is what happened. Then he had no vine leaves in his hair.
Brack Vine leaves, Mrs. Hedda?
Hedda Changing her tone. But tell me now, Judge⁠—what is your real reason for tracking out Eilert Lövborg’s movements so carefully?
Brack In the first place, it could not be entirely indifferent to me if it should appear in the police court that he came straight from my house.
Hedda Will the matter come into court then?
Brack Of course. However, I should scarcely have troubled so much about that. But I thought that, as a friend of the family, it was my duty to supply you and Tesman with a full account of his nocturnal exploits.
Hedda Why so, Judge Brack?
Brack Why, because I have a shrewd suspicion that he intends to use you as a sort of blind.
Hedda Oh, how can you think such a thing!
Brack Good heavens, Mrs. Hedda⁠—we have eyes in our head. Mark my words! This Mrs. Elvsted will be in no hurry to leave town again.
Hedda Well, even if there should be anything between them, I suppose there are plenty of other places where they could meet.
Brack Not a single home. Henceforth, as before, every respectable house will be closed against Eilert Lövborg.
Hedda And so ought mine to be, you mean?
Brack Yes. I confess it would be more than painful to me if this personage were to be made free of your house. How superfluous, how intrusive, he would be, if he were to force his way into⁠—
Hedda —into the triangle?
Brack Precisely. It would simply mean that I should find myself homeless.
Hedda Looks at him with a smile. So you want to be the one cock in the basket19⁠—that is your aim.
Brack Nods slowly and lowers his voice. Yes, that is my aim. And for that I will fight⁠—with every weapon I can command.
Hedda Her smile vanishing. I see you are a dangerous person⁠—when it comes to the point.
Brack Do you think so?
Hedda I am beginning to think so. And I am exceedingly glad to think⁠—that you have no sort of hold over me.
Brack Laughing equivocally. Well well, Mrs. Hedda⁠—perhaps you are right there. If I had, who knows what I might be capable of?
Hedda Come come now, Judge Brack! That sounds almost like a threat.
Brack Rising. Oh, not at all! The triangle, you know, ought, if possible, to be spontaneously constructed.
Hedda There I agree with you.
Brack Well, now I have said all I had to say; and I had better be getting back to town. Goodbye, Mrs. Hedda. He goes towards the glass door.
Hedda Rising. Are you going through the garden?
Brack Yes, it’s a shortcut for me.
Hedda And then it is a back way, too.
Brack Quite so. I have no objection to back ways. They may be piquant enough at times.
Hedda When there is ball practice going on, you mean?
Brack In the doorway, laughing to her. Oh, people don’t shoot their tame poultry, I fancy.
Hedda Also laughing. Oh no, when there is only one cock in the basket⁠—
They exchange laughing nods of farewell. He goes. She closes the door behind him.
Hedda, who has become quite serious, stands for a moment looking out. Presently she goes and peeps through the curtain over the middle doorway. Then she goes to the writing table, takes Lövborg’s packet out of the bookcase, and is on the point of looking through its contents. Berta is heard speaking loudly in the hall. Hedda turns and listens. Then she hastily locks up the packet in the drawer, and lays the key on the inkstand.
Eilert Lövborg, with his greatcoat on and his hat in his hand, tears open the hall door. He looks somewhat confused and irritated.
Lövborg Looking towards the hall. and I tell you I must and will come in! There!
He closes the door, turns, sees Hedda, at once regains his self-control, and bows.
Hedda At the writing table. Well, Mr. Lövborg, this is rather a late hour to call for Thea.
Lövborg You mean rather an early hour to call on you. Pray pardon me.
Hedda How do you know that she is still here?
Lövborg They told me at her lodgings that she had been out all night.
Hedda Going to the oval table. Did you notice anything about the people of the house when they said that?
Lövborg Looks inquiringly at her. Notice anything about them?
Hedda I mean, did they seem to think it odd?
Lövborg Suddenly understanding. Oh yes, of course! I am dragging her down with me! However, I didn’t notice anything.⁠—I suppose Tesman is not up yet.
Hedda No⁠—I think not⁠—
Lövborg When did he come home?
Hedda Very late.
Lövborg Did he tell you anything?
Hedda Yes, I gathered that you had had an exceedingly jolly evening at Judge Brack’s.
Lövborg Nothing more?
Hedda I don’t think so. However, I was so dreadfully sleepy⁠—
Mrs. Elvsted enters through the curtains of the middle doorway.
Mrs. Elvsted Going towards him. Ah, Lövborg! At last⁠—!
Lövborg Yes, at last. And too late!
Mrs. Elvsted Looks anxiously at him. What is too late?
Lövborg Everything is too late now. It is all over with me.
Mrs. Elvsted Oh no, no⁠—don’t say that!
Lövborg You will say the same when you hear⁠—
Mrs. Elvsted I won’t hear anything!
Hedda Perhaps you would prefer to talk to her alone? If so, I will leave you.
Lövborg No, stay⁠—you too. I beg you to stay.
Mrs. Elvsted Yes, but I won’t hear anything, I tell you.
Lövborg It is not last night’s adventures that I want to talk about.
Mrs. Elvsted What is it then⁠—?
Lövborg I want to say that now our ways must part.
Mrs. Elvsted Part!
Hedda Involuntarily. I knew it!
Lövborg You can be of no more service to me, Thea.
Mrs. Elvsted How can you stand there and say that! No more service to you! Am I not to help you now, as before? Are we not to go on working together?
Lövborg Henceforward I shall do no work.
Mrs. Elvsted Despairingly. Then what am I to do with my life?
Lövborg You must try to live your life as if you had never know me.
Mrs. Elvsted But you know I cannot do that!
Lövborg Try if you cannot, Thea. You must go home again⁠—
Mrs. Elvsted In vehement protest. Never in this world! Where you are, there will I be also! I will not let myself be driven away like this! I will remain here! I will be with you when the book appears.
Hedda Half aloud, in suspense. Ah yes⁠—the book!
Lövborg Looks at her. My book and Thea’s; for that is what it is.
Mrs. Elvsted Yes, I feel that it is. And that is why I have a right to be with you when it appears! I will see with my own eyes how respect and honour pour in upon you afresh. And the happiness⁠—the happiness⁠—oh, I must share it with you!
Lövborg Thea⁠—our book will never appear.
Hedda Ah!
Mrs. Elvsted Never appear!
Lövborg Can never appear.
Mrs. Elvsted In agonised foreboding. Lövborg⁠—what have you done with the manuscript?
Hedda Looks anxiously at him. Yes, the manuscript⁠—?
Mrs. Elvsted Where is it?
Lövborg The manuscript⁠—. Well then⁠—I have torn the manuscript into a thousand pieces.
Mrs. Elvsted Shrieks. Oh no, no⁠—!
Hedda Involuntarily. But that’s not⁠—
Lövborg Looks at her. Not true, you think?
Hedda Collecting herself. Oh well, of course⁠—since you say so. But it sounded so improbable⁠—
Lövborg It is true, all the same.
Mrs. Elvsted Wringing her hands. Oh God⁠—oh God, Hedda⁠—torn his own work to pieces!
Lövborg I have torn my own life to pieces. So why should I not tear my lifework too⁠—?
Mrs. Elvsted And you did this last night?
Lövborg Yes, I tell you! Tore it into a thousand pieces⁠—and scattered them on the fjord⁠—far out. There there is cool seawater at any rate⁠—let them drift upon it⁠—drift with the current and the wind. And then presently they will sink⁠—deeper and deeper⁠—as I shall, Thea.
Mrs. Elvsted Do you know, Lövborg, that what you have done with the book⁠—I shall think of it to my dying day as though you had killed a little child.
Lövborg Yes, you are right. It is a sort of child murder.
Mrs. Elvsted How could you, then⁠—! Did not the child belong to me too?
Hedda Almost inaudibly. Ah, the child⁠—
Mrs. Elvsted Breathing heavily. It is all over then. Well well, now I will go, Hedda.
Hedda But you are not going away from town?
Mrs. Elvsted Oh, I don’t know what I shall do. I see nothing but darkness before me. She goes out by the hall door.
Hedda Stands waiting for a moment. So you are not going to see her home, Mr. Lövborg?
Lövborg I? Through the streets? Would you have people see her walking with me?
Hedda Of course I don’t know what else may have happened last night. But is it so utterly irretrievable?
Lövborg It will not end with last night⁠—I know that perfectly well. And the thing is that now I have no taste for that sort of life either. I won’t begin it anew. She has broken my courage and my power of braving life out.
Hedda Looking straight before her. So that pretty little fool has had her fingers in a man’s destiny. Looks at him. But all the same, how could you treat her so heartlessly.
Lövborg Oh, don’t say that I was heartless!
Hedda To go and destroy what has filled her whole soul for months and years! You do not call that heartless!
Lövborg To you I can tell the truth, Hedda.
Hedda The truth?
Lövborg First promise me⁠—give me your word⁠—that what I now confide in you Thea shall never know.
Hedda I give you my word.
Lövborg Good. Then let me tell you that what I said just now was untrue.
Hedda About the manuscript?
Lövborg Yes. I have not torn it to pieces⁠—nor thrown it into the fjord.
Hedda No, no⁠—. But⁠—where is it then?
Lövborg I have destroyed it none the less⁠—utterly destroyed it, Hedda!
Hedda I don’t understand.
Lövborg Thea said that what I had done seemed to her like a child murder.
Hedda Yes, so she said.
Lövborg But to kill his child⁠—that is not the worst thing a father can do to it.
Hedda Not the worst?
Lövborg Suppose now, Hedda, that a man⁠—in the small hours of the morning⁠—came home to his child’s mother after a night of riot and debauchery, and said: “Listen⁠—I have been here and there⁠—in this place and in that. And I have taken our child with⁠—to this place and to that. And I have lost the child⁠—utterly lost it. The devil knows into what hands it may have fallen⁠—who may have had their clutches on it.”
Hedda Well⁠—but when all is said and done, you know⁠—this was only a book⁠—
Lövborg Thea’s pure soul was in that book.
Hedda Yes, so I understand.
Lövborg And you can understand, too, that for her and me together no future is possible.
Hedda What path do you mean to take then?
Lövborg None. I will only try to make an end of it all⁠—the sooner the better.
Hedda A step nearer him. Eilert Lövborg⁠—listen to me.⁠—Will you not try to⁠—to do it beautifully?
Lövborg Beautifully? Smiling. With vine leaves in my hair, as you used to dream in the old days⁠—?
Hedda No, no. I have lost my faith in the vine leaves. But beautifully nevertheless! For once in a way!⁠—Goodbye! You must go now⁠—and do not come here any more.
Lövborg Goodbye, Mrs. Tesman. And give George Tesman my love.
He is on the point of going.
Hedda No, wait! I must give you a memento to take with you.
She goes to the writing table and opens the drawer and the pistol case; then returns to Lövborg with one of the pistols.
Lövborg Looks at her. This? Is this the memento?
Hedda Nodding slowly. Do you recognise it? It was aimed at you once.
Lövborg You should have used it then.
Hedda Take it⁠—and do you use it now.
Lövborg Puts the pistol in his breast pocket. Thanks!
Hedda And beautifully, Eilert Lövborg. Promise me that!
Lövborg Goodbye, Hedda Gabler. He goes out by the hall door.
Hedda listens for a moment at the door. Then she goes up to the writing table, takes out the packet of manuscript, peeps under the cover, draws a few of the sheets half out, and looks at them. Next she goes over and seats herself in the armchair beside the stove, with the packet in her lap. Presently she opens the stove door, and then the packet.
Hedda Throws one of the quires into the fire and whispers to herself. Now I am burning your child, Thea!⁠—Burning it, curlylocks! Throwing one or two more quires into the stove. Your child and Eilert Lövborg’s. Throws the rest in. I am burning⁠—I am burning your child.