the lady from the sea-第7部分

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Ellida。　No；　he　had　not。　And　you　could　not　see　it！　The　child's　eyes　changed　colour　with　the　sea。　When　the　fjord　lay　bathed　in　sunshine；　so　were　his　eyes。　And　so　in　storm。　Oh；　I　saw　it；　if　you　did　not！

Wangel　（humouring　her）。　Maybe。　But　even　if　it　were　true；　what　then？

Ellida　（in　lower　voice；　and　coming　nearer）。　I　have　seen　such　eyes　before。

Wangel。　Well？　Where？

Ellida。　Out　at　Bratthammeren；　ten　years　ago。

Wangel　（stepping　back）。　What　does　it　mean？

Ellida　（whispers；　trembling）。　The　child　had　the　strange　man's　eyes。

Wangel　（cries　out　reluctantly）。　Ellida！

Ellida　（clasps　her　hands　despairingly　about　her　head）。　Now　you　understand　why　I　would　not；　why　I　dared　not；　live　with　you　as　your　wife。　（She　turns　suddenly　and　rushes　off　over　the　heights。）

Wangel　（hurrying　after　her　and　calling）。　Ellida；　Ellida！　My　poor　unhappy　Ellida！

ACT　III

（SCENE。A　more　remote　part　of　DOCTOR　WANGEL'S　garden。　It　is　boggy　and　overshadowed　by　large　old　trees。　To　the　right　is　seen　the　margin　of　a　dank　pond。　A　low；　open　fence　separates　the　garden　from　the　footpath；　and　the　fjord　in　the　background。　Beyond　is　the　range　of　mountains；　with　its　peaks。　It　is　afternoon；　almost　evening。　BOLETTE　sits　on　a　stone　seat；　and　on　the　seat　lie　some　books　and　a　work…basket。　HILDE　and　LYNGSTRAND；　both　with　fishing…　tackle；　walk　along　the　bank　of　the　pond。）

Hilde　（making　a　sign　to　LYNGSTRAND）。　I　can　see　a　large　one。

Lyngstrand　（looking）。　Where？

Hilde　（pointing）。　Can't　you　see？　He's　down　there。　Good　gracious！　There's　another！　（Looks　through　the　trees。）　Out　there。　Now　he's　coming　to　frighten　him　away！

Bolette　（looking　up）。　Who's　coming？

Hilde。　Your　tutor；　Miss！

Bolette。　Mine？

Hilde。　Yes。　Goodness　knows　he　never　was　mine。

（ARNHOLM　enters　from　between　the　trees。）

Arnholm。　Are　there　fish　in　the　pond　now？

Hilde。　There　are　some　very　ancient　carp。

Arnholm。　No！　Are　the　old　carp　still　alive？

Hilde。　Yes；　they're　pretty　tough。　But　now　we're　going　to　try　and　get　rid　of　some　of　them。

Arnholm。　You'd　better　try　out　there　at　the　fjord。

Lyngstrand。　No；　the　pond　iswellso　to　saymore　mysterious。

Hilde。　Yes；　it's　fascinating　here。　Have　you　been　in　the　sea？

Arnholm。　Yes；　I've　come　straight　from　the　baths。

Hilde。　I　suppose　you　kept　in　the　enclosure？

Arnholm。　Yes；　I'm　not　much　of　a　swimmer。

Hilde。　Can　you　swim　on　your　back？

Arnholm。　No。

Hilde。　I　can。　（To　LYNGSTRAND。）　Let's　try　out　there　on　the　other　side。　（They　go　off　along　the　pond。）

Arnholm　（coming　closer　to　BOLETTE）。　Are　you　sitting　all　alone　here；　Bolette？

Bolette。　Yes；　I　generally　do。

Arnholm。　Isn't　your　mother　down　here　in　the　garden？

Bolette。　Noshe's　sure　to　be　out　with　father。

Arnholm。　How　is　she　this　afternoon？

Bolette。　I　don't　quite　know。　I　forgot　to　ask。

Arnholm。　What　books　have　you　there？

Bolette。　The　one's　something　about　botany。　And　the　other's　a　geography。

Arnholm。　Do　you　care　about　such　things？

Bolette。　Yes；　if　only　I　had　time　for　it。　But；　first　of　all；　I've　to　look　after　the　housekeeping。

Arnholm。　Doesn't　your　mother　help　youyour　stepmotherdoesn't　she　help　with　that？

Bolette。　No；　that's　my　business。　Why；　I　saw　to　that　during　the　two　years　father　was　alone。　And　so　it　has　been　since。

Arnholm。　But　you're　as　fond　as　ever　of　reading。

Bolette。　Yes；　I　read　all　the　useful　books　I　can　get　hold　of。　One　wants　to　know　something　about　the　world。　For　here　we　live　so　completely　outside　of　all　that's　going　onor　almost。

Arnholm。　Now　don't　say　that；　dear　Bolette。

Bolette。　Yes！　I　think　we　live　very　much　as　the　carp　down　there　in　the　pond。　They　have　the　fjord　so　near　them；　where　the　shoals　of　wild　fishes　pass　in　and　out。　But　the　poor；　tame　house…fishes　know　nothing；　and　they　can　take　no　part　in　that。

Arnholm。　I　don't　think　it　would　fare　very　well　with　them　if　they　could　get　out　there。

Bolette。　Oh！　it　would　be　much　the　same；　I　expect。

Arnholm。　Moreover；　you　can't　say　that　one　is　so　completely　out　of　the　world　herenot　in　the　summer　anyhow。　Why；　nowadays　this　is　quite　a　rendezvous　for　the　busy　worldalmost　a　terminus　for　the　time　being。

Bolette。　Ah；　yes！　you　who　yourself　are　only　here　for　the　time　beingit　is　easy　for　you　to　make　fun　of　us。

Arnholm。　I　make　fun？　How　can　you　think　that？

Bolette。　Well；　all　that　about　this　being　a　rendezvous；　and　a　terminus　for　the　busy　worldthat's　something　you've　heard　the　townsfolk　here　saying。　Yesthey're　in　the　habit　of　saying　that

sort　of　thing。

Arnholm。　Well；　frankly；　I've　noticed　that；　too。

Bolette。　But　really　there's　not　an　atom　of　truth　in　it。　Not　for　us　who　always　live　here。　What　good　is　it　to　us　that　the　great　strange　world　comes　hither　for　a　time　on　its　way　North　to　see　the　midnight　sun？　We　ourselves　have　no　part　in　that；　we　see　nothing　of　the　midnight　sun。　No！　We've　got　to　be　good；　and　live　our　lives　here　in　our　carp　pond。

Arnholm　（sitting　down　by　her）。　Now　tell　me；　dear　Bolette；　isn't　there　something　or　othersomething　definite　you　are　longing　for？

Bolette。　Perhaps。

Arnholm。　What　is　it；　really？　What　is　it　you　are　longing　for？

Bolette。　Chiefly　to　get　away。

Arnholm。　That　above　all；　then？

Bolette。　Yes；　and　then　to　learn　more。　To　really　know　something　about　everything。

Arnholm。　When　I　used　to　teach　you；　your　father　often　said　he　would　let　you　go　to　college。

Bolette。　Yes；　poor　father！　He　says　so　many　things。　But　when　it　comes　to　the　point　hethere's　no　real　stamina　in　father。

Arnholm。　No；　unfortunately　you're　right　there。　He　has　not　exactly　stamina。　But　have　you　ever　spoken　to　him　about　itspoken　really　earnestly　and　seriously？

Bolette。　No；　I've　not　quite　done　that。

Arnholm。　But　really　you　ought　to。　Before　it　is　too　late；　Bolette；　why　don't　you？

Bolette。　Oh！　I　suppose　it's　because　there's　no　real　stamina　in　me　either。　I　certainly　take　after　father　in　that。

Arnholm。　Hmdon't　you　think　you're　unjust　to　yourself　there？

Bolette。　No；　unfortunately。　Besides；　father　has　so　little　time　for　thinking　of　me　and　my　future；　and　not　much　desire　to　either。　He　prefers　to　put　such　things　away　from　him　whenever　he　can。　He　is　so　completely　taken　up　with　Ellida。

Arnholm。　With　whom？　What？

Bolette。　I　mean　that　he　and　my　stepmother（breaks　off）。　Father　and　mother　suffice　one　another；　as　you　see。

Arnholm。　Well；　so　much　the　better　if　you　were　to　get　away　from　here。

Bolette。　Yes；　but　I　don't　think　I've　a　right　to；　not　to　forsake　father。

Arnholm。　But；　dear　Bolette；　you'll　have　to　do　that　sometime；　anyhow。　So　it　seems　to　me　the　sooner　the　better。

Bolette。　I　suppose　there　is　nothing　else　for　it。　After　all；　I　must　think　of　myself；　too。　I　must　try　and　get　occupation　of　some　sort。　When　once　father's　gone；　I　have　no　one　to　hold　to。　But；　poor　father！　I　dread　leaving　him。

Arnholm。　Dread？

Bolette。　Yes；　for　father's　sake。

Arnholm。　But；　good　heavens！　Your　stepmother？　She　is　left　to　him。

Bolette。　That's　true。　But　she's　not　in　the　least　fit　to　do　all　that　mother　did　so　well。　There　is　so　much　she　doesn't　see；　or　that　she　won't　see；　or　that　she　doesn't　care　about。　I　don't　know　which　it　is。

Arnholm。　Um；　I　think　I　understand　what　you　mean。

Bolette。　Poor　father！　He　is　weak　in　some　things。　Perhaps　you've　noticed　that　yourself？　He　hasn't　enough　occupation；　either；　to　fill　up　his　time。　And　then　she　is　so　thoroughly　incapable　of　helping　him；　however；　that's　to　some　extent　his　own　fault。

Arnholm。　In　what　way？

Bolette。　Oh！　father　always　likes　to　see　happy　faces　about　him。　There　must　be　sunshine　and　joy　in　the　house；　he　says。　And　so　I'm　afraid　he　often　gives　her　medicine　which　will　do　her　little　good　in　the　long　run。

Arnholm。　Do　you　really　think　that？

Bolette。　Yes；　I　can't　get　rid　of　the　thought。　She　is　so　odd　at　times。　（Passionately。）　But　isn't　it　unjust　that　I　should　have　to　stay　at　home　here？　Really　it's　not　of　any　earthly　use　to　father。　Besides；　I　have　a　duty　towards　myself；　too；　I　think。

Arnholm。　Do　you　know　what；　Bolette？　We　two　must　talk　these　matters　over　more　carefully。

Bolette。　Oh！　That　won't　be　much　use。　I　suppose　I　was　created　to　stay　here　in　the　carp　pond。

Arnholm。　Not　a　bit　of　it。　It　depends　entirely　upon　yourself。

Bolette　（quickly）。　Do　you　think　so？

Arnholm。　Yes；　believe　me；　it　lies　wholly　and　solely　in　your　own　hands。

Bolette。　If　only　that　were　true！　Will　you　perhaps　put　in　a　good　word　for　me　with　father？


Arnholm。　Certainly。　But　first　of　all　I　must　speak　frankly　and　freely　with　you　yourself；　dear。

Bolette　（looks　out　to　the　left）。　Hush！　don't　let　them　notice　anything。　We'll　speak　of　this　later。

（ELLIDA　enters　from　the　left。　She　has　no　hat　on；　but　a　large　shawl　is　thrown　over　her　head　and　shoulders。）

Ellida　（with　restless　animation）。　How　pleasant　it　is　here！　How　delightful　it　is　here！

Arnholm　（rising）。　Have　you　been　for　a　walk？

Ellida。　Yes；　a　long；　long　lovely　walk　up　there　with　Wangel。　And　now　we're　going　for　a　sail。

Bolette。　Won't　you　sit　down？

Ellida。　No；　thanks；　I　won't　sit　down。

Bolette　（making　room　on　seat）。　Here's　a　pleasant　seat。

Ellida　（walking　about）。　No；　no；　no！　I'll　not　sit　downnot　sit　down！

Arnholm。　I'm　sure　your　walk　has　done　you　good。　You　look　quite　refreshed。

Ellida。　Oh；　I　feel　so　thoroughly　wellI　feel　so　unspeakably　happy。　So　safe；　so　safe！　（Looking　out　to　the　left。）　What　great　steamer　is　that　coming　along　there？

Bolette　（rising；　and　also　looking　out）。　It　must　be　the　large　English　ship。

Arnholm。　It's　passing　the　buoy。　Does　it　usually　stop　here？

Bolette。　Only　for　half　an　hour。　It　goes　farther　up　the　fjord。

Ellida。　And　then　sails　away　again　tomorrowaway　over　the　great　open　searight　over　the　sea。　Only　think！　to　be　with　them。　If　one　could。　If　only　one　could！

Arnholm。　Have　you　never　been　any　long　sea　voyage；　Mrs。　Wangel？

Ellida。　Never；　only　those　little　trips　in　the　fjord　here。

Bolette　（with　a　sigh）。　Ah；　no！　I　suppose　we　must　put　up　with　the　dry　land。

Arnholm。　Well；　after　all；　that　really　is　our　home。

Ellida。　No；　I　don't　think　it　is。

Arnholm。　Not　the　land？

Ellida。　No；　I　don't　believe　so。　I　think　that　if　only　men　had　from　the　beginning　accustomed　themselves　to　live　on　the　sea；　or　in　the　sea　perhaps；　we　should　be　more　perfect　than　we　areboth　better　and　happier。

Arnholm。　You　really　think　that？

Ellida。　Yes。　I　should　like　to