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TESMAN.
[Stands looking them through.] Some new books on my special subjects
--quite indispensable to me.
HEDDA.
Your special subjects?
BRACK.
Yes, books on his special subjects, Mrs. Tesman.
[BRACK and HEDDA exchange a confidential smile.
HEDDA.
Do you need still more books on your special subjects?
TESMAN.
Yes, my dear Hedda, one can never have too many of them. Of course
one must keep up with all that is written and published.
HEDDA.
Yes, I suppose one must.
TESMAN.
[Searching among his books.] And look here--I have got hold of Eilert
Lovborg's new book too. [Offering it to her.] Perhaps you would like
to glance through it, Hedda? Eh?
HEDDA.
No, thank you. Or rather--afterwards perhaps.
TESMAN.
I looked into it a little on the way home.
BRACK.
Well, what do you think of it--as a specialist?
TESMAN.
I think it shows quite remarkable soundness of judgment. He never
wrote like that before. [Putting the books together.] Now I shall
take all these into my study. I'm longing to cut the leaves---!
And then I must change my clothes. [To BRACK.] I suppose we needn't
start just yet? Eh?
BRACK.
Oh, dear no--there is not the slightest hurry.
TESMAN.
Well then, I will take my time. [Is going with his books, but stops
in the doorway and turns.] By-the-bye, Hedda--Aunt Julia is not
coming this evening.
HEDDA.
Not coming? Is it that affair of the bonnet that keeps her away?
TESMAN.
Oh, not at all. How could you think such a thing of Aunt Julia?
Just fancy---! The fact is, Aunt Rina is very ill.
HEDDA.
She always is.
TESMAN.
Yes, but to-day she is much worse than usual, poor dear.
HEDDA.
Oh, then it's only natural that her sister should remain with her.
I must bear my disappointment.
TESMAN.
And you can't imagine, dear, how delighted Aunt Julia seemed to be--
because you had come home looking so flourishing!
HEDDA.
[Half aloud, rising.] Oh, those everlasting Aunts!
TESMAN.
What?
HEDDA.
[Going to the glass door.] Nothing.
TESMAN.
Oh, all right. [He goes through the inner room, out to the right.
BRACK.
What bonnet were you talking about?
HEDDA.
Oh, it was a little episode with Miss Tesman this morning. She had
laid down her bonnet on the chair there--[Looks at him and smiles.]--
and I pretended to think it was the servant's.
BRACK.
[Shaking his head.] Now my dear Mrs. Hedda, how could you do such a
thing? To the excellent old lady, too!
HEDDA.
[Nervously crossing the room.] Well, you see--these impulses come
over me all of a sudden; and I cannot resist them. [Throws herself
down in the easy-chair by the stove.] Oh, I don't know how to
explain it.
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