Previous - next
] Hedda is lovely--
lovely--lovely. [Goes up to her, takes her head between both hands,
draws it downwards, and kisses her hair.] God bless and preserve
Hedda Tesman--for George's sake.
HEDDA.
[Gently freeing herself.] Oh--! Let me go.
MISS TESMAN.
[In quiet emotion.] I shall not let a day pass without coming to see
you.
TESMAN.
No you won't, will you, Auntie? Eh?
MISS TESMAN.
Good-bye--good-bye!
[She goes out by the hall door. TESMAN accompanies her. The
door remains half open. TESMAN can be heard repeating his
message to Aunt Rina and his thanks for the slippers.
[In the meantime, HEDDA walks about the room, raising her arms
and clenching her hands as if in desperation. Then she flings
back the curtains from the glass door, and stands there looking
out.
[Presently, TESMAN returns and closes the door behind him.
TESMAN.
[Picks up the slippers from the floor.] What are you looking at,
Hedda?
HEDDA.
[Once more calm and mistress of herself.] I am only looking at the
leaves. They are so yellow--so withered.
TESMAN.
[Wraps up the slippers and lays them on the table.] Well, you see,
we are well into September now.
HEDDA.
[Again restless.] Yes, to think of it!--already in--in September.
TESMAN.
Don't you think Aunt Julia's manner was strange, dear? Almost solemn?
Can you imagine what was the matter with her? Eh?
HEDDA.
I scarcely know her, you see. Is she not often like that?
TESMAN.
No, not as she was to-day.
HEDDA.
[Leaving the glass door.] Do you think she was annoyed about the
bonnet?
TESMAN.
Oh, scarcely at all. Perhaps a little, just at the moment---
HEDDA.
But what an idea, to pitch her bonnet about in the drawing-room! No
one does that sort of thing.
TESMAN.
Well you may be sure Aunt Julia won't do it again.
HEDDA.
In any case, I shall manage to make my peace with her.
TESMAN.
Yes, my dear, good Hedda, if you only would.
HEDDA.
When you call this afternoon, you might invite her to spend the
evening here.
TESMAN.
Yes, that I will. And there's one thing more you could do that would
delight her heart.
HEDDA.
What is it?
TESMAN.
If you could only prevail on yourself to say _du_(3) to her. For my
sake, Hedda? Eh?
HEDDA.
No, no, Tesman--you really mustn't ask that of me. I have told you so
already. I shall try to call her "Aunt"; and you must be satisfied
with that.
TESMAN.
Well well. Only I think now that you belong to the family, you---
HEDDA.
H'm--I can't in the least see why---
[She goes up towards the middle doorway.
TESMAN.
[After a pause.] Is there anything the matter with you, Hedda? Eh?
Previous - next
