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Oh, those are the Dolomites.
HEDDA.
Yes, that's it!--Those are the Dolomites, Mr. Lovborg.
TESMAN.
Hedda, dear,--I only wanted to ask whether I shouldn't bring you a
little punch after all? For yourself at any rate--eh?
HEDDA.
Yes, do, please; and perhaps a few biscuits.
TESMAN.
No cigarettes?
HEDDA.
No.
TESMAN.
Very well.
[He goes into the inner room and out to the right. BRACK sits
in the inner room, and keeps an eye from time to time on HEDDA
and LOVBORG.
LOVBORG.
[Softly, as before.] Answer me, Hedda--how could you go and do this?
HEDDA.
[Apparently absorbed in the album.] If you continue to say _du_ to
me I won't talk to you.
LOVBORG.
May I not say _du_ even when we are alone?
HEDDA.
No. You may think it; but you mustn't say it.
LOVBORG.
Ah, I understand. It is an offence against George Tesman, whom
you(10)--love.
HEDDA.
[Glances at him and smiles.] Love? What an idea!
LOVBORG.
You don't love him then!
HEDDA.
But I won't hear of any sort of unfaithfulness! Remember that.
LOVBORG.
Hedda--answer me one thing---
HEDDA.
Hush! [TESMAN enters with a small tray from the inner room.
TESMAN.
Here you are! Isn't this tempting? [He puts the tray on the table.
HEDDA.
Why do you bring it yourself?
TESMAN.
[Filling the glasses.] Because I think it's such fun to wait upon
you, Hedda.
HEDDA.
But you have poured out two glasses. Mr. Lovborg said he wouldn't
have any---
TESMAN.
No, but Mrs. Elvsted will soon be here, won't she?
HEDDA.
Yes, by-the-bye--Mrs. Elvsted---
TESMAN.
Had you forgotten her? Eh?
HEDDA.
We were so absorbed in these photographs. [Shows him a picture.]
Do you remember this little village?
TESMAN.
Oh, it's that one just below the Brenner Pass. It was there we
passed the night---
HEDDA.
---and met that lively party of tourists.
TESMAN.
Yes, that was the place. Fancy--if we could only have had you with
us, Eilert! Eh?
[He returns to the inner room and sits beside BRACK.
LOVBORG.
Answer me one thing, Hedda---
HEDDA.
Well?
LOVBORG.
Was there no love in your friendship for me either? Not a spark--not
a tinge of love in it?
HEDDA.
I wonder if there was? To me it seems as though we were two good
comrades--two thoroughly intimate friends. [Smilingly.] You
especially were frankness itself.
LOVBORG.
It was you that made me so.
HEDDA.
As I look back upon it all, I think there was really something
beautiful, something fascinating--something daring--in--in that
secret intimacy--that comradeship which no living creature so much
as dreamed of.
LOVBORG.
Yes, yes, Hedda! Was there not?--When I used to come to your father's
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