TESMAN.
[Runs to the doorway.] Why, my dearest Hedda-don't play dance-music to-night! Just think of Aunt Rina! And of Eilert too!
HEDDA.
[Puts her head out between the curtains.] And of Aunt Julia. And of all the rest of them.-After this, I will be quiet. [Closes the curtains again.]
TESMAN.
[At the writing-table.] It's not good for her to see us at this distressing work. I'll tell you what, Mrs. Elvsted,-you shall take the empty room at Aunt Julia's, and then I will come over in the evenings, and we can sit and work there-eh?
HEDDA.
[In the inner room.] I hear what you are saying, Tesman. But how am I to get through the evenings out here?
TESMAN.
[Turning over the papers.] Oh, I daresay Judge Brack will be so kind as to look in now and then, even though I am out.
BRACK.
[In the arm-chair, calls out gaily.] Every blessed evening, with all the pleasure in life, Mrs. Tesman! We shall get on capitally together, we two!
HEDDA.
[Speaking loud and clear.] Yes, don't you flatter yourself we will, Judge Brack? Now that you are the one cock in the basket- [A shot is heard within. TESMAN, MRS. ELVSTED, and BRACK leap to their feet.
TESMAN.
Oh, now she is playing with those pistols again.
[He throws back the curtains and runs in, followed by MRS.
ELVSTED. HEDDA lies stretched on the sofa, lifeless.
Confusion and cries. BERTA enters in alarm from the right.
TESMAN.
[Shrieks to BRACK.] Shot herself! Shot herself in the temple! Fancy that!
BRACK.
[Half-fainting in the arm-chair.] Good God!-people don't do such things.
THE END
FOOTNOTES.
(1)Pronounce Reena.
(2)In the original "Statsradinde Falks villa"-showing that it had belonged to the widow of a cabinet minister.
(3)Du equals thou: Tesman means, "If you could persuade yourself to tutoyer her."
(4)See previous note.
(5)Pronounce Tora and Taya.
(6)Mrs. Elvsted here uses the formal pronoun De, whereupon Hedda rebukes her. In her next speech Mrs. Elvsted says du.
(7)"Bagveje" means both "back ways" and "underhand courses."
(8)As this form of address is contrary to English usage, and as the note of familiarity would be lacking in "Mrs. Tesman," Brack may, in stage representation, say "Miss Hedda," thus ignoring her marriage and reverting to the form of address no doubt customary between them of old.
(9)He uses the familiar du.
(10)From this point onward Lovborg use the formal De.
(11)In this speech he once more says du. Hedda addresses him throughout as De.
(12)"Enest hane i kurven"-a proverbial saying.
(13)Literally, "That you burn for me."