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] But that would never do either.
BRACK.
Who can tell? Let me hear what it is.
HEDDA.
Whether I might not get Tesman to go into politics, I mean.
BRACK.
[Laughing.] Tesman? No really now, political life is not the thing
for him--not at all in his line.
HEDDA.
No, I daresay not.--But if I could get him into it all the same?
BRACK.
Why--what satisfaction could you find in that? If he is not fitted
for that sort of thing, why should you want to drive him into it?
HEDDA.
Because I am bored, I tell you! [After a pause.] So you think it
quite out of the question that Tesman should ever get into the
ministry?
BRACK.
H'm--you see, my dear Mrs. Hedda--to get into the ministry, he would
have to be a tolerably rich man.
HEDDA.
[Rising impatiently.] Yes, there we have it! It is this genteel
poverty I have managed to drop into---! [Crosses the room.] That is
what makes life so pitiable! So utterly ludicrous!--For that's what
it is.
BRACK.
Now _I_ should say the fault lay elsewhere.
HEDDA.
Where, then?
BRACK.
You have never gone through any really stimulating experience.
HEDDA.
Anything serious, you mean?
BRACK.
Yes, you may call it so. But now you may perhaps have one in store.
HEDDA.
[Tossing her head.] Oh, you're thinking of the annoyances about this
wretched professorship! But that must be Tesman's own affair. I
assure you I shall not waste a thought upon it.
BRACK.
No, no, I daresay not. But suppose now that what people call--in
elegant language--a solemn responsibility were to come upon you?
[Smiling.] A new responsibility, Mrs. Hedda?
HEDDA.
[Angrily.] Be quiet! Nothing of that sort will ever happen!
BRACK.
[Warily.] We will speak of this again a year hence--at the very
outside.
HEDDA.
[Curtly.] I have no turn for anything of the sort, Judge Brack. No
responsibilities for me!
BRACK.
Are you so unlike the generality of women as to have no turn for
duties which---?
HEDDA.
[Beside the glass door.] Oh, be quiet, I tell you!--I often think
there is only one thing in the world I have any turn for.
BRACK.
[Drawing near to her.] And what is that, if I may ask?
HEDDA.
[Stands looking out.] Boring myself to death. Now you know it.
[Turns, looks towards the inner room, and laughs.] Yes, as I thought!
Here comes the Professor.
BRACK.
[Softly, in a tone of warning.] Come, come, come, Mrs. Hedda!
GEORGE TESMAN, dressed for the party, with his gloves and hat
in his hand, enters from the right through the inner room.
TESMAN.
Hedda, has no message come from Eilert Lovborg? Eh?
HEDDA.
No.
TESMAN.
Then you'll see he'll be here presently.
BRACK.
Do you really think he will come?
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