the lady from the sea-第13部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



Wangel。　That　is　why　it　is　necessary　your　husbandand　your　doctor　should　take　the　power　of　acting　from　you；　and　act　on　your　behalf。

Ellida。　Yes；　Wangel；　I　quite　understand。　Believe　me；　there　are　times　when　I　think　it　would　be　peace　and　deliverance　if　with　all　my　soul　I　could　be　bound　to　youand　try　to　brave　all　that　terrifies　and　attracts。　But　I　cannot！　No；　no；　I　cannot　do　that！

Wangel。　Come；　Ellida；　let　us　walk　up　and　down　together　for　awhile。

Ellida。　I　would　gladlybut　I　dare　not。　For　he　said　I　was　to　wait　for　him　here。

Wangel。　Come！　There　is　time　enough。

Ellida。　Do　you　think　so？

Wangel。　Plenty　of　time；　I　tell　you。

Ellida。　Then　let　us　go；　for　a　little　while。

（They　pass　out　in　the　foreground。　At　the　same　time　ARNHOLM　and　BOLETTE　appear　by　the　upper　bank　of　the　pond。）

Bolette　（noticing　the　two　as　they　go　out）。　See　there

Arnholm　（in　low　voice）。　Hush！　Let　them　go。　Bolette。　Can　you　understand　what　has　been　going　on　between　them　these　last　few　days？

Arnholm。　Have　you　noticed　anything？

Bolette。　Have　I　not！

Arnholm。　Anything　peculiar？

Bolette。　Yes；　one　thing　and　another。　Haven't　you？

Arnholm。　WellI　don't　exactly　know。

Bolette。　Yes；　you　have；　only　you　won't　speak　out　about　it。

Arnholm。　I　think　it　will　do　your　stepmother　good　to　go　on　this　little　journey。

Bolette。　Do　you　think　so？

Arnholm。　I　should　say　it　would　be　well　for　all　parties　that　she　should　get　away　every　now　and　then。

Bolette。　If　she　does　go　home　to　Skjoldviken　tomorrow；　she　will　never　come　back　here　again！

Arnholm。　My　dear　Bolette；　whatever　makes　you　think　that？

Bolette。　I　am　quite　convinced　of　it。　Just　you　wait；　you'll　see　that　she'll　not　come　back　again；　not　anyhow　as　long　as　I　and　Hilde　are　in　the　house　here。

Arnholm。　Hilde；　too？

Bolette。　Well；　it　might　perhaps　be　all　right　with　Hilde。　For　she　is　scarcely　more　than　a　child。　And　I　believe　that　at　bottom　she　worships　Ellida。　But；　you　see；　it's　different　with　mea　stepmother　who　isn't　so　very　much　older　than　oneself！

Arnholm。　Dear　Bolette；　perhaps　it　might；　after　all；　not　be　so　very　long　before　you　left。

Bolette　（eagerly）。　Really！　Have　you　spoken　to　father　about　it？

Arnholm。　Yes；　I　have。

Bolette。　Well；　what　does　he　say？

Arnholm。　Hm！　Well；　your　father's　so　thoroughly　taken　up　with　other　matters　just　now

Bolette。　Yes；　yes！　that's　how　I　knew　it　would　be。

Arnholm。　But　I　got　this　much　out　of　him。　You　mustn't　reckon　upon　any　help　from　him。

Bolette。　No？

Arnholm。　He　explained　his　circumstances　to　me　clearly；　he　thought　that　such　a　thing　was　absolutely　out　of　the　question；　impossible　for　him。

Bolette　（reproachfully）。　And　you　had　the　heart　to　come　and　mock　me？

Arnholm。　I've　certainly　not　done　that；　dear　Bolette。　It　depends　wholly　and　solely　upon　yourself　whether　you　go　away　or　not。

Bolette。　What　depends　upon　me？

Arnholm。　Whether　you　are　to　go　out　into　the　worldlearn　all　you　most　care　fortake　part　in　all　you　are　hungering　after　here　at　homelive　your　life　under　brighter　conditions；　Bolette。

Bolette　（clasping　her　hands　together）。　Good　God！　But　it's　impossible！　If　father　neither　can　nor　willand　I　have　no　one　else　on　earth　to　whom　I　could　turnArnholm。　Couldn't　you　make　up　your　mind　to　accept　a　little　help　from　your　oldfrom　your　former　teacher？

Bolette。　From　you；　Mr。　Arnholm！　Would　you　be　willing　to

Arnholm。　Stand　by　you！　Yeswith　all　my　heart。　Both　with　word　and　in　deed。　You　may　count　upon　it。　Then　you　accept？　Well？　Do　you　agree？

Bolette。　Do　I　agree！　To　get　awayto　see　the　worldto　learn　something　thoroughly！　All　that　seemed　to　be　a　great；　beautiful　impossibility！

Arnholm。　All　that　may　now　become　a　reality　to　you；　if　only　you　yourself　wish　it。

Bolette。　And　to　all　this　unspeakable　happiness　you　will　help　me！　Oh；　no！　Tell　me；　can　I　accept　such　an　offer　from　a　stranger？

Arnholm。　You　can　from　me；　Bolette。　From　me　you　can　accept　anything。

Bolette　（seizing　his　hands）。　Yes；　I　almost　think　I　can！　I　don't　know　how　it　is；　but（bursting　out）　Oh！　I　could　both　laugh　and　cry　for　joy；　for　happiness！　Then　I　should　know　life　really　after　all。　I　began　to　be　so　afraid　life　would　pass　me　by。

Arnholm。　You　need　not　fear　that；　Bolette。　But　now　you　must　tell　me　quite　franklyif　there　is　anythinganything　you　are　bound　to　here。

Bolette。　Bound　to？　Nothing。

Arnholm。　Nothing　whatever？

Bolette。　No；　nothing　at　all。　That　isI　am　bound　to　father　to　some　extent。　And　to　Hilde；　too。　But

Arnholm。　Well；　you'll　have　to　leave　your　father　sooner　or　later。　And　some　time　Hilde　also　will　go　her　own　way　in　life。　That　is　only　a　question　of　time。　Nothing　more。　And　so　there　is　nothing　else　that　binds　you；　Bolette？　Not　any　kind　of　connection？

Bolette。　Nothing　whatever。　As　far　as　that　goes；　I　could　leave　at　any　moment。

Arnholm。　Well；　if　that　is　so；　dear　Bolette；　you　shall　go　away　with　me！

Bolette　（clapping　her　hands）。　0h　God！　What　joy　to　think　of　it！

Arnholm。　For　I　hope　you　trust　me　fully？

Bolette。　Indeed；　I　do！

Arnholm。　And　you　dare　to　trust　yourself　and　your　future　fully　and　confidently　into　my　hands；　Bolette？　Is　that　true？　You　will　dare　to　do　this？

Bolette。　Of　course；　how　could　I　not　do　so？　Could　you　believe　anything　else？　You；　who　have　been　my　old　teachermy　teacher　in　the　old　days；　I　mean。

Arnholm。　Not　because　of　that。　I　will　not　consider　that　side　of　the　matter；　butwell；　so　you　are　free；　Bolette！　There　is　nothing　that　binds　you；　and　so　I　ask　you；　if　you　couldif　you　could　bind　yourself　to　me　for　life？

Bolette　（steps　back　frightened）。　What　are　you　saying？

Arnholm。　For　all　your　life；　Bolette。　Will　you　be　my　wife？

Bolette　（half　to　herself）。　No；　no；　no！　That　is　impossible；　utterly　impossible！

Arnholm。　It　is　really　so　absolutely　impossible　for　you　to

Bolette。　But；　surely；　you　cannot　mean　what　you　are　saying；　Mr。　Arnholm！　（Looking　at　him。）　Oryetwas　that　what　you　meant　when　you　offered　to　do　so　much　for　me？

Arnholm。　You　must　listen　to　me　one　moment；　Bolette。　I　suppose　I　have　greatly　surprised　you！

Bolette。　Oh！　how　could　such　a　thing　from　youhow　could　it　but　but　surprise　me！

Arnholm。　Perhaps　you　are　right。　Of　course；　you　didn'tyou　could　not　know　it　was　for　your　sake　I　made　this　journey。

Bolette。　Did　you　come　here　forfor　my　sake？

Arnholm。　I　did；　Bolette。　In　the　spring　I　received　a　letter　from　your　father；　and　in　it　there　was　a　passage　that　made　me　think　hm　that　you　held　your　former　teacher　inin　a　little　more　than　friendly　remembrance。

Bolette。　How　could　father　write　such　a　thing？

Arnholm。　He　did　not　mean　it　so。　But　I　worked　myself　into　the　belief　that　here　was　a　young　girl　longing　for　me　to　come　again　No；　you　mustn't　interrupt　me；　dear　Bolette！　Andyou　see；　when　a　man　like　myself；　who　is　no　longer　quite　young；　has　such　a　belief…　…　or　fancy；　it　makes　an　overwhelming　impression。　There　grew　within　me　a　living；　a　grateful　affection　for　you；　I　thought　I　must　come　to　you；　see　you　again；　and　tell　you　I　shared　the　feelings　that　I　fancied　you　had　for　me。

Bolette。　And　now　you　know　it　is　not　so！that　it　was　a　mistake！

Arnholm。　It　can't　be　helped；　Bolette。　Your　image；　as　I　bear　it　within　myself；　will　always　be　coloured　and　stamped　with　the　impression　that　this　mistake　gave　me。　Perhaps　you　cannot　understand　this；　but　still　it　is　so。

Bolette。　I　never　thought　such　a　thing　possible。

Arnholm。　But　now　you　have　seen　that　it　is　possible；　what　do　you　say　now；　Bolette？　Couldn't　you　make　up　your　mind　to　beyesto　be　my　wife？

Bolette。　Oh！　it　seems　so　utterly　impossible；　Mr。　Arnholm。　You；　who　have　been　my　teacher！　I　can't　imagine　ever　standing　in　any　other　relation　towards　you。

Arnholm。　Well；　well；　if　you　think　you　really　cannotThen　our　old　relations　remain　unchanged；　dear　Bolette。

Bolette。　What　do　you　mean？

Arnholm。　Of　course；　to　keep　my　promise　all　the　same。　I　will　take　care　you　get　out　into　the　world　and　see　something　of　it。　Learn　some　things　you　really　want　to　know；　live　safe　and　independent。　Your　future　I　shall　provide　for　also；　Bolette。　For　in　me　you　will　always　have　a　good；　faithful；　trustworthy　friend。　Be　sure　of　that。

Bolette。　Good　heavens！　Mr。　Arnholm；　all　that　is　so　utterly　impossible　now。

Arnholm。　Is　that　impossible　too？

Bolette。　Surely　you　can　see　that！　After　what　you　have　just　said　to　me；　and　after　my　answerOh！　you　yourself　must　see　that　it　is　impossible　for　me　now　to　accept　so　very　much　from　you。　I　can　accept　nothing　from　younothing　after　this。

Arnholm。　So　you　would　rather　stay　at　home　here；　and　let　life　pass　you　by？

Bolette。　Oh！　it　is　such　dreadful　misery　to　think　of　that。

Arnholm。　Will　you　renounce　knowing　something　of　the　outer　world？　Renounce　bearing　your　part　in　all　that　you　yourself　say　you　are　hungering　for？　To　know　there　is　so　infinitely　much；　and　yet　never　really　to　understand　anything　of　it？　Think　carefully；　Bolette。

Bolette。　Yes；　yes！　You　are　right；　Mr。　Arnholm。

Arnholm。　And　then；　when　one　day　your　father　is　no　longer　here；　then　perhaps　to　be　left　helpless　and　alone　in　the　world；　or　live　to　give　yourself　to　another　manwhom　you；　perhaps；　will　also　feel　no　affection　for

Bolette。　Oh；　yes！　I　see　how　true　all　you　say　is。　But　stilland　yet　perhaps

Arnholm　（quickly）。　Well？

Bolette　（looking　at　him　hesitatingly）。　Perhaps　it　might　not　be　so　impossible　after　all。

Arnholm。　What；　Bolette？

Bolette。　Perhaps　it　might　be　possibleto　acceptwhat　you　proposed　to　me。

Arnholm。　Do　you　mean　that；　after　all；　you　might　be　willing　to　that　at　all　events　you　could　give　me　the　happiness　of　helping　you　as　a　steadfast　friend？

Bolette。　No；　no；　no！　Never　that；　for　that　would　be　utterly　impossible　now。　NoMr。　Arnholmrather　take　me。

Arnholm。　Bolette！　You　will？

Bolette。　Yes；　I　believe　I　will。

Arnholm。　And　after　all　you　will　be　my　wife？

Bolette。　Yes；　if　you　still　think　thatthat　you　will　have　me。

Arnholm。　Think！　（Seizing　her　hand。）　Oh；　thanks；　thanks；　Bolette。　All　else　that　you　saidyour　former　doubtsthese　do　not　frighten　me。　If　I　do　not　yet　possess　your　whole　heart；　I　shall　know　how　to　conquer　it。　Oh；　Bolette；　I　will　wait　upon　you　hand　and　foot！

Bolette。　And　then　I　shall　see　something　of　the　world？　Shall　live！　You　have　promised　me　that？

Arnholm。　And　will　keep　my　promise。

Bolette。　And　I　may　learn　everything　I　want　to？

Arnholm。　I；　myself；　will　be　your　teacher　as