the lady from the sea-第5部分

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Hilde。　Of　course；　I　mean　if　he　weren't　troubled　with　that　〃weakness。〃　And　if　he　weren't　to　die　so　soon；　would　you　have　him　then？

Bolette。　I　think　you'd　better　have　him　yourself！

Hilde。　No；　that　I　wouldn't！　Why；　he　hasn't　a　farthing。　He　hasn't　enough　even　to　keep　himself。

Bolette。　Then　why　are　you　always　going　about　with　him？

Hilde。　Oh；　I　only　do　that　because　of　the　weakness。

Bolette。　I've　never　noticed　that　you　in　the　least　pity　him　for　it！

Hilde。　No；　I　don't。　But　I　think　it　so　interesting。

Bolette。　What　is？

Hilde。　To　look　at　him　and　make　him　tell　you　it　isn't　dangerous；　and　that　he's　going　abroad；　and　is　to　be　an　artist。　He　really　believes　it　all；　and　is　so　thoroughly　happy　about　it。　And　yet　nothing　will　ever　come　of　it；　nothing　whatever。　For　he　won't　live　long　enough。　I　feel　that's　so　fascinating　to　think　of。

Bolette。　Fascinating！

Hilde。　Yes；　I　think　it's　most　fascinating。　I　take　that　liberty。

Bolette。　Hilde；　you　really　are　a　dreadful　child！

Hilde。　That's　just　what　I　want　to　beout　of　spite。　（Looking　down。）　At　last！　I　shouldn't　think　Arnholm　liked　coming　up…hill。　（Turns　round。）　By　the　way；　do　you　know　what　I　noticed　about　Arnholm　at　dinner？

Bolette。　Well？

Hilde。　Just　thinkhis　hair's　beginning　to　come　offright　on　the　top　of　his　head。

Bolette。　Nonsense！　I'm　sure　that's　not　true。

Hilde。　It　is！　And　then　he　has　wrinkles　round　both　his　eyes。　Good　gracious；　Bolette；　how　could　you　be　so　much　in　love　with　him　when　he　used　to　read　with　you？

Bolette　（smiling）。　Yes。　Can　you　believe　it？　I　remember　I　once　shed　bitter　tears　because　he　thought　Bolette　was　an　ugly　name。

Hilde。　Only　to　think！　（Looking　down。）　No！　I　say；　do　just　look　down　here！　There's　the　〃Mermaid〃　walking　along　and　chatting　with　him。　Not　with　father。　I　wonder　if　those　two　aren't　making　eyes　at　one　another。

Bolette。　You　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself！　How　can　you　stand　there　and　say　such　a　thing　of　her？　Now；　when　everything　was　beginning　to　be　so　pleasant　between　us。

Hilde。　Of　coursejust　try　and　persuade　yourself　of　that；　my　child！　Oh；　no！　It　will　never　be　pleasant　between　us　and　her。　For　she　doesn't　belong　to　us　at　all。　And　we　don't　belong　to　her　either。　Goodness　knows　what　father　dragged　her　into　the　house　for！　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　some　fine　day　she　went　mad　under　our　very　eyes。

Bolette。　Mad！　How　can　you　think　such　a　thing？

Hilde。　Oh！　it　wouldn't　be　so　extraordinary。　Her　mother　went　mad；　too。　She　died　madI　know　that。

Bolette。　Yes；　heaven　only　knows　what　you　don't　poke　your　nose　into。　But　now　don't　go　chattering　about　this。　Do　be　goodfor　father's　sake。　Do　you　hear；　Hilde？

（WANGEL；　ELLIDA；　ARNHOLM　and　LYNGSTRAND　come　up　from　the　right。）

Ellida　（pointing　to　the　background）。　Out　there　it　lies。

Arnholm。　Quite　right。　It　must　be　in　that　direction。

Ellida。　Out　there　is　the　sea。

Bolette　（to　ARNHOLM）。　Don't　you　think　it　is　delightful　up　here？

Arnholm。　It's　magnificent；　I　think。　Glorious　view！

Wangel。　I　suppose　you　never　used　to　come　up　here？

Arnholm。　No；　never。　In　my　time　I　think　it　was　hardly　accessible；　there　wasn't　any　path　even。

Wangel。　And　no　grounds。　All　this　has　been　done　during　the　last　few　years。

Bolette。　And　there；　at　the　〃Pilot's　Mount；〃　it's　even　grander　than　here。

Wangel。　Shall　we　go　there；　Ellida？

Ellida　（sitting　down　on　one　of　the　stones）。　Thanks；　not　I；　but　you　others　can。　I'll　sit　here　meanwhile。

Wangel。　Then　I'll　stay　with　you。　The　girls　can　show　Arnholm　about。

Bolette。　Would　you　like　to　go　with　us；　Mr。　Arnholm？

Arnholm。　I　should　like　to；　very　much。　Does　a　path　lead　up　there　too？

Bolette。　Oh　yes。　There's　a　nice　broad　path。

Hilde。　The　path　is　so　broad　that　two　people　can　walk　along　it　comfortably；　arm　in　arm。

Arnholm　（jestingly）。　Is　that　really　so；　little　Missie？　（To　BOLETTE。）　Shall　we　two　see　if　she　is　right？

Bolette　（suppressing　a　smile）。　Very　well；　let's　go。　（They　go　out　to　the　left；　arm　in　arm。）

Hilde　（to　LYNGSTRAND）。　Shall　we　go　too？

Lyngstrand。　Arm　in　arm？

Hilde。　Oh；　why　not？　For　aught　I　care！

Lyngstrand　（taking　her　arm；　laughing　contentedly）。　This　is　a　jolly　lark。

Hilde。　Lark？

Lyngstrand。　Yes；　because　it　looks　exactly　as　if　we　were　engaged。

Hilde。　I'm　sure　you've　never　walked　out　arm　in　arm　with　a　lady　before；　Mr。　Lyngstrand。　（They　go　off。）

Wangel　（who　is　standing　beside　the　beacon）。　Dear　Ellida；　now　we　have　a　moment　to　ourselves。

Ellida。　Yes；　come　and　sit　down　here；　by　me。

Wangel　（sitting　down）。　It　is　so　free　and　quiet。　Now　we　can　have　a　little　talk　together。

Ellida。　What　about？

Wangel。　About　yourself；　and　then　about　us　both。　Ellida；　I　see　very　well　that　it　can't　go　on　like　this。

Ellida。　What　do　you　propose　instead？

Wangel。　Perfect　confidence；　dear。　A　true　life　togetheras　before。

Ellida。　Oh；　if　that　could　be！　But　it　is　so　absolutely　impossible！

Wangel。　I　think　I　understand　you；　from　certain　things　you　have　let　fall　now　and　again。

Ellida　（passionately）。　Oh；　you　do　not！　Don't　say　you　understand！

Wangel。　Yes。　Yours　is　an　honest　nature；　Ellidayours　is　a　faithful　mind。

Ellida。　It　is。

Wangel。　Any　position　in　which　you　could　feel　safe　and　happy　must　be　a　completely　true　and　real　one。

Ellida　（looking　eagerly　at　him）。　Well；　and　then？

Wangel。　You　are　not　suited　to　be　a　man's　second　wife。

Ellida。　What　makes　you　think　that？

Wangel。　It　has　often　flashed　across　me　like　a　foreboding。　Today　it　was　clear　to　me。　The　children's　memorial　feastyou　saw　in　me　a　kind　of　accomplice。　Well；　yes；　a　man's　memories；　after　all；　cannot　be　wiped　outnot　so　mine；　anyhow。　It　isn't　in　me。

Ellida。　I　know　that。　Oh！　I　know　that　so　well。

Wangel。　But　you　are　mistaken　all　the　same。　To　you　it　is　almost　as　if　the　children's　mother　were　still　livingas　if　she　were　still　here　invisible　amongst　us。　You　think　my　heart　is　equally　divided　between　you　and　her。　It　is　this　thought　that　shocks　you。　You　see　something　immoral　in　our　relation；　and　that　is　why　you　no　longer　can　or　will　live　with　me　as　my　wife。

Ellida　（rising）。　Have　you　seen　all　that；　Wangelseen　into　all　this？

Wangel。　Yes；　today　I　have　at　last　seen　to　the　very　heart　of　it　to　its　utmost　depths。

Ellida。　To　its　very　heart；　you　say？　Oh；　do　not　think　that！

Wangel　（rising）。　I　see　very　well　that　there　is　more　than　this；　dear　Ellida。

Ellida　（anxiously）。　You　know　there　is　more？

Wangel。　Yes。　You　cannot　bear　your　surroundings　here。　The　mountains　crush　you；　and　weigh　upon　your　heart。　Nothing　is　open　enough　for　you　here。　The　heavens　above　you　are　not　spacious　enough。　The　air　is　not　strong　and　bracing　enough。

Ellida。　You　are　right。　Night　and　day；　winter　and　summer；　it　weighs　upon　methis　irresistible　home…sickness　for　the　sea。

Wangel。　I　know　it　well；　dear　Ellida　（laying　his　hands　upon　her　head）。　And　that　is　why　the　poor　sick　child　shall　go　home　to　her　own　again。

Ellida。　What　do　you　mean？

Wangel。　Something　quite　simple。　We　are　going　away。

Ellida。　Going　away？

Wangel。　Yes。　Somewhere　by　the　open　seaa　place　where　you　can　find　a　true　home；　after　your　own　heart。

Ellida。　Oh；　dear；　do　not　think　of　that！　That　is　quite　impossible。　You　can　live　happily　nowhere　on　earth　but　here！

Wangel。　That　must　be　as　it　may。　And；　besides；　do　you　think　I　can　live　happily　herewithout　you？

Ellida。　But　I　am　here。　And　I　will　stay　here。　You　have　me。

Wangel。　Have　I；　Ellida？

Ellida。　Oh！　don't　speak　of　all　this。　Why；　here　you　have　all　that　you　love　and　strive　for。　All　your　life's　work　lies　here。

Wangel。　That　must　be　as　it　may；　I　tell　you。　We　are　going　away　from　hereare　going　somewhereout　there。　That　is　quite　settled　now；　dear　Ellida。

Ellida。　What　do　you　think　we　should　gain　by　that？

Wangel。　You　would　regain　your　health　and　peace　of　mind。

Ellida。　Hardly。　And　then　you；　yourself！　Think　of　yourself；　too！　What　of　you？

Wangel。　I　would　win　you　back　again；　my　dearest。

Ellida。　But　you　cannot　do　that！　No；　no；　you　can't　do　that；　Wangel！　That　is　the　terrible　part　of　itheart…breaking　to　think　of。

Wangel。　That　remains　to　be　proved。　If　you　are　harbouring　such　thoughts；　truly　there　is　no　other　salvation　for　you　than　to　go　hence。　And　the　sooner　the　better。　Now　this　is　irrevocably　settled；　do　you　hear？

Ellida。　No！　Then　in　heaven's　name　I　had　better　tell　you　everything　straight　out。　Everything　just　as　it　is。

Wangel。　Yes；　yes！　Do。

Ellida。　For　you　shall　not　ruin　your　happiness　for　my　sake；　especially　as　it　can't　help　us　in　any　way。

Wangel。　I　have　your　word　now　that　you　will　tell　me　everything　just　as　it　is。

Ellida。　I'll　tell　you　everything　as　well　as　I　can；　and　as　far　as　I　understand　it。　Come　here　and　sit　by　me。　（They　sit　down　on　the　stones。）

Wangel。　Well；　Ellida；　so

Ellida。　That　day　when　you　came　out　there　and　asked　me　if　I　would　be　yours；　you　spoke　so　frankly　and　honestly　to　me　about　your　first　marriage。　It　had　been　so　happy；　you　said。

Wangel。　And　so　it　was。

Ellida。　Yes；　yes！　I　am　sure　of　that；　dear！　It　is　not　for　that　I　am　referring　to　it　now。　I　only　want　to　remind　you　that　I；　on　my　side；　was　frank　with　you。　I　told　you　quite　openly　that　once　in　my　life　I　had　cared　for　another。　That　there　had　been　aa　kind　of　engagement　between　us。

Wangel。　A　kind　of

Ellida。　Yes；　something　of　the　sort。　Well；　it　only　lasted　such　a　very　short　time。　He　went　away；　and　after　that　I　put　an　end　to　it。　I　told　you　all　that。

Wangel。　Why　rake　up　all　this　now？　It　really　didn't　concern　me；　nor　have　I　once　asked　you　who　he　was！

Ellida。　No；　you　have　not。　You　are　always　so　thoughtful　for　me。

Wangel　（smiling）。　Oh；　in　this　case　I　could　guess　the　name　well　enough　for　myself。

Ellida。　The　name？

Wangel。　Out　in　Skjoldviken　and　thereabouts　there　weren't　many　to　choose　from；　or；　rather；　there　was　only　a　single　one。

Ellida。　You　believe　it　was　Arnholm！

Wangel。　Well；　wasn't　it？

Ellida。　No！

Wangel。　Not　he？　Then　I　don't　in　the　least　understand。

Ellida。　Can　you　remember　that　late　in　the　autumn　a　large　American　ship　once　put　into　Skjoldviken　for　repairs？

Wangel。　Yes；　I　remember　it　very　well。　It　was　on　board　that　ship　that　the　captain　was　found　one　morning　in　his　cabinmurdered。　I　myself　went　out　to　make　the　post…mortem。

Ellida。　Yes；　it　was　you。

Wangel。　It　was　the　second　mate　who　had　murdered　him。

Ellida。　No　one　can　say　that。　For　it　was　never