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Rosmersholm, a play by Henrik Ibsen |
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ACT III |
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_ ACT III
Rebecca (after a short pause). I wonder why Mr. Rosmer is so late Mrs. Helseth. Oh, he is often as late as this, miss. He is sure Rebecca. Have you seen anything of him? Mrs. Helseth. No, miss, except that as I took his coffee into his Rebecca. The reason I ask is that he was not very well yesterday. Mrs. Helseth. No, he did not look well. It made me wonder whether Rebecca. What do you suppose could go amiss between them? Mrs. Helseth. I can't say, miss. Perhaps it was that fellow Rebecca. It is quite possible. Do you know anything of this Peter Mrs. Helseth. Not I! How could you think so, miss--a man like Rebecca. Because of that horrid paper he edits, you mean? Mrs. Helseth. Not only because of that, miss. I suppose you have Rebecca. I have heard it; but of course that was long before I Mrs. Helseth. Bless me, yes--he was quite a young man then. But Rebecca. I believe most of the poor people turn to him first when Mrs. Helseth. Oh, not only the poor people, miss-- Rebecca (glancing at her unobserved). Indeed? Mrs. Helseth (standing at the sofa, dusting vigorously). People Rebecca (arranging the flowers). Yes, but that is only an idea of Mrs. Helseth. You think I don't know anything about that for Rebecca (turns round). No--did you! Mrs. Helseth. Yes, that I did. And that letter, let me tell you, Rebecca. Really, Mrs. Helseth? Mrs. Helseth. I give you my word it was, miss. And it was written Rebecca. And you were entrusted with the delivery of it? Dear Mrs. Helseth. Who, then? Rebecca. Naturally, it was something that poor Mrs. Rosmer in her Mrs. Helseth. Well, you have mentioned her name, miss--not I. Rebecca. But what was in the letter?--No, of course, you cannot Mrs. Helseth. Hm!--it is just possible I may know, all the same. Rebecca. Did she tell you what she was writing about, then? Mrs. Helseth. No, she did not do that. But when Mortensgaard had Rebecca. What do you think was in it, then? Oh, dear, good Mrs. Mrs. Helseth. Certainly not, miss. Not for worlds. Rebecca. Oh, you can tell me. You and I are such friends, you Mrs. Helseth. Heaven forbid I should tell you anything about Rebecca. Who had put it into her head? Mrs. Helseth. Wicked people, miss. Wicked people. Rebecca. Wicked--? Mrs. Helseth. Yes, I say it again--very wicked people, they must Rebecca. And what do you think it could be? Mrs. Helseth. Oh, I know what I think--but, please Heaven, I'll Rebecca. I can see you mean Mrs. Kroll. Mrs. Helseth. Yes, she is a queer one, she is. She has always Rebecca. Do you think Mrs. Rosmer was quite in her right mind Mrs. Helseth. It is so difficult to tell, miss. I certainly don't Rebecca. But you know she seemed to go quite distracted when she Mrs. Helseth. Yes, that had a terrible effect on her, poor lady. Rebecca (taking up her work, and sitting down on a chair by the Mrs. Helseth. What, miss? Rebecca. That there were no children? Mrs. Helseth. Hm!--I really do not know what to say to that. Rebecca. Believe me, it was best for him. Mr. Rosmer was never Mrs. Helseth. Little children do not cry at Rosmersholm, Miss Rebecca (looking at her). Not cry? Mrs. Helseth. No. In this house, little children have never been Rebecca. That is very strange. Mrs. Helseth. Yes, isn't it, miss? But it runs in the family. And Rebecca. But that would be extraordinary Mrs. Helseth. Have you ever once heard or seen Mr. Rosmer laugh, Rebecca. No--now that I think of it, I almost believe you are Mrs. Helseth. That is quite true. People say it began at Rebecca. You are a sagacious woman, Mrs. Helseth! Mrs. Helseth. Oh, you mustn't sit there and make game of me, Rosmer. Good-morning, Rebecca. Rebecca. Good-morning, dear. (She goes on working for a little Rosmer. Yes. Rebecca. It is such a lovely day. Rosmer. You did not come up to see me this morning. Rebecca. No--I didn't. Not to-day. Rosmer. Don't you mean to do so in future, either? Rebecca. I Rosmer. Has anything come for me? Rebecca. The "County News" has come. Rosmer. The "County News"! Rebecca. There it is, on the table. Rosmer (putting down his hat and stick). Is there anything--? Rebecca. Yes. Rosmer. And you did not send it up to me Rebecca. You will read it quite soon enough. Rosmer. Well, let us see. (Takes up the paper and stands by the Rebecca. They mention no names at all. Rosmer. It comes to the same thing. (Goes on reading.) "Secret Rebecca. There is more of it yet. Rosmer (taking up the paper again). "Make some allowance for Rebecca. That is a hit at me, obviously. Rosmer (laying down the paper). Rebecca, this is the conduct of Rebecca. Yes, it seems to me they have no right to talk about Rosmer (walking up and down the room). They must be saved from Rebecca (getting up). I am sure of it. There is something great, Rosmer. Just think of it--if I could wake them to a real knowledge Rebecca. Yes! Give yourself up entirely to that task, and you Rosmer. I think it might be done. What happiness it would be to Rebecca. Not--not through you? Rosmer. Nor for me, either. Rebecca. Oh, John, have no such doubts. Rosmer. Happiness, dear Rebecca, means first and foremost the Rebecca (staring in front of her). Ah, innocence-- Rosmer. You need fear nothing on that score. But I-- Rebecca. You least of all men! Rosmer (pointing out of the window). The mill-race. Rebecca. Oh, John!--(MRS. HELSETH looks in in through the door Mrs. Helseth. Miss West! Rebecca. Presently, presently. Not now. Mrs. Helseth. Just a word, miss! (REBECCA goes to the door. MRS. Rosmer (uneasily). Was it anything for me? Rebecca. No, only something about the housekeeping. You ought to Rosmer (taking up his hat). Yes, come along; we will go together. Rebecca. No, dear, I can't just now. You must go by yourself. But Rosmer. I shall never be able to shake them quite off, I am Rebecca. Oh, but how can you let such groundless fancies take Rosmer. Unfortunately they are not so groundless as you think, Rebecca. In what way do you mean? Rosmer. Saw things truly when she believed I loved you, Rebecca. Rebecca. Truly in THAT respect? Rosmer (laying his hat down on the table). This is the question I Rebecca. Do you mean, then, that the right name for it would have Rosmer. Love. Yes, dear, that is what I mean. Even while Beata Rebecca (struggling with herself). Oh, I do not know what to Rosmer. And it was this life of intimacy, with one another and Rebecca. No right to a happy life? Do you believe that, John? Rosmer. She looked at the relations between us through the eyes Rebecca. But how can you so accuse yourself for Beata's Rosmer. It was for love of me--in her own way that--she threw Rebecca. Oh, do not think of anything else but the great, Rosmer (shaking his head). It can never be carried through. Not Rebecca. Why not by you? Rosmer. Because no cause can ever triumph which has its Rebecca (impetuously). Oh, these are nothing but prejudices you Rosmer. Be that as it may, what difference does it make if I Rebecca. But is joy so absolutely indispensable to you, John? Rosmer. Joy? Yes, indeed it is. Rebecca. To you, who never laugh? Rosmer. Yes, in spite of that. Believe me, I have a great Rebecca. Now you really must go out, dear--for a long walk--a Rosmer (taking them from her). Thank you. And you won't come too? Rebecca. No, no, I can't come now. Rosmer. Very well. You are none the less always with me now. Rebecca (in a whisper). Now, Mrs. Helseth. You can let him come Kroll. Has he gone, then? Rebecca. Yes. Kroll. Does he generally stay out long? Rebecca. Yes. But to-day he is in a very uncertain mood--so, if Kroll. Certainly not. It is you I wish to speak to--and quite Rebecca. Then we had better make the best of our time. Please sit Kroll. Miss West, you can scarcely have any idea how deeply Rebecca. We were prepared for that being so--at first. Kroll. Only at first? Rosmer. Mr. Rosmer hoped confidently that sooner or later you Kroll. I? Rebecca. You and all his other friends. Kroll. That should convince you how feeble his judgment is on any Rebecca. In any case, now that he feels the absolute necessity of Kroll. Yes; but, let me tell you, that is exactly what I do not Rebecca. What do you believe, then? Kroll. I believe it is you that are at the bottom of the whole Rebecca. Your wife put that into your head, Mr. Kroll. Kroll. It does not matter who put it into my head. The point is Rebecca (looking at him). I have a notion that there was a time Kroll (in a subdued voice). I believe you could bewitch any one-- Rebecca. And you say I set myself to do it! Kroll. Yes, you did. I am no longer such a simpleton as to Rebecca. Then you have completely forgotten that it was Beata Kroll. Yes, because you had bewitched her too. Are you going to Rebecca. Have the goodness to remember the condition your sister Kroll. No, you certainly are not. But that makes you all the more Rebecca. Cold? Are you so sure of that? Kroll. I am certain of it now. Otherwise you could not have Rebecca. That is not true. It is not I; it is you yourself that Kroll. I! Rebecca. Yes, by leading him to imagine that he was responsible Kroll. Did that affect him so deeply, then? Rebecca. Of course. A man of such gentle disposition as he-- Kroll. I imagined that one of your so-called "emancipated" men Rebecca (looking thoughtfully in front of her). John Rosmer's Kroll. Yes, and you ought to have taken that into consideration, Rebecca. What do you mean by my starting-point? Kroll. I mean the starting-point of origin--of parentage, Miss Rebecca. I see. Yes, it is quite true that my origin is very Kroll. I am not alluding to rank or position. I am thinking of Rebecca. Of my origin? In what respect? Kroll. In respect of your birth generally. Rebecca. What are you saying! Kroll. I am only saying it because it explains the whole of your Rebecca. I do not understand. Be so good as to tell me exactly Kroll. I really thought you did not need telling. Otherwise it Rebecca (getting up). Oh, that is it! Now I understand. Kroll. And took his name. Your mother's name was Gamvik. Rebecca (crossing the room). My father's name was Gamvik, Mr. Kroll. Your mother's occupation must, of course, have brought her Rebecca. You are quite right. Kroll. And then he takes you to live with him, immediately upon Rebecca (comes to the table and looks at him scornfully). And my Kroll. What you did for him, I attributed to an unconscious Rebecca (hotly). But there is not a single word of truth in what Kroll. Excuse me, Miss West. He went there a year before you were Rebecca. You are mistaken, I tell you! You are absolutely Kroll. You said here, the day before yesterday, that you were Rebecca. Really? Did I say that? Kroll. Yes, you did. And from that I can calculate-- Rebecca. Stop! That will not help you to calculate. For, I may as Kroll (smiling incredulously). Really? That is something new. How Rebecca. When I had passed my twenty-fifth birthday, I thought I Kroll. You--an emancipated woman--cherishing prejudices as to the Rebecca. I know it was a silly thing to do--and ridiculous, too. Kroll. Maybe. But my calculation may be quite correct, all the Rebecca (impetuously). That is not true Kroll. Isn't it? Rebecca. No. My mother never mentioned it. Kroll. Didn't she, really! Rebecca. No, never. Nor Dr. West, either. Never a word of it. Kroll. Might that not be because they both had good reason to Rebecca (walking about, wringing her hands). It is impossible. It Kroll (getting up). But, my dear Miss West, why in Heaven's name Rebecca. Nothing. Neither believe nor think anything. Kroll. Then you really must give me some explanation of your Rebecca (controlling herself). It is quite obvious, I should Kroll. Quite so. Well, well, let us be content with your Rebecca. Yes, that is quite true. Kroll. And it seems to me that very much the same applies to most Rebecca (thoughtfully). Perhaps you are right. Kroll. Yes, only test yourself, and you will see! And if it is Rebecca. He MUST endure it! It is too late now for him to draw Kroll. Not a bit too late--not by any means too late. What has Rebecca. And that is? Kroll. You must get him to legalise his position, Miss West. Rebecca. The position in which he stands to me? Kroll. Yes. You must see that you get him to do that. Rebecca. Then you can't rid yourself of the conviction that the Kroll. I do not wish to go any more precisely into the question. Rebecca. When it is a question of the relations between a man and Kroll. Yes--to speak candidly--that is what I mean. Rebecca (walks across the room and looks out of the window). I Kroll. What do you mean by that? You say it so strangely! Rebecca. Oh, nothing! Do not let us talk any more about it. Ah, Kroll. Already! I will go, then. Rebecca (turning to him). No--stay here, and you will hear Kroll. Not now. I do not think I could bear to see him. Rebecca. I beg you to stay. Please do, or you will regret it Kroll (looks at her in surprise, and lays his hat down). Very Rosmer (stops at the door, as he sees KROLL). What! you here? Rebecca. He wanted to avoid meeting you, John. Kroll (involuntarily). "John?" Rebecca. Yes, Mr. Kroll. John and I call each other by our Kroll. Was that what I was to hear if I stayed? Rebecca. Yes, that and something else. Rosmer (coming into the room). What is the object of your visit Kroll. I wanted to make one more effort to stop you, and win you Rosmer (pointing to the newspaper). After that? Kroll. I did not write it. Rosmer. Did you take any steps to prevent its appearing? Kroll. That would have been acting unjustifiably towards the Rebecca (tears the newspaper into pieces, which she crumples up Kroll. Indeed, I wish you could ensure that. Rebecca. Come, and let us sit down, dear--all three of us. Then I Rosmer (sitting down involuntarily). What has come over you, Rebecca. The calmness of determination. (Sits down.) Please sit Rosmer. Determination, you say. Determination to do what? Rebecca. I want to give you back what you need in order to live Rosmer. But what do you mean? Rebecca. I will just tell you what happened. That is all that is Rosmer. Well? Rebecca. When I came down here from Finmark with Dr. West, it Kroll. And then? Rosmer. But, Rebecca--I know all this. Rebecca (collecting herself). Yes--that is true enough. You know Kroll (looking fixedly at her). Perhaps it would be better if I Rebecca. No, stay where you are, dear Mr. Kroll. (To ROSMER.) Rosmer. Did you come here with a covert design? Rebecca. What I wanted was that we two should go forward together Rosmer. What barrier do you mean? Rebecca. I mean, John, that you could never have attained freedom Rosmer. You have never spoken to me of my marriage in that way, Rebecca. No, I did not dare, for fear of frightening you. Kroll (nodding to ROSMER). You hear that! Rebecca (resuming). But I saw quite well where your salvation Rosmer. How do you mean--you acted? Kroll. Do you mean that? Rebecca. Yes, John. (Gets up.) No, do not get up. Nor you either, Rosmer (springing up). Rebecca! Kroll (getting up). Into the tortuous path! Rebecca. Into the path that--led to the mill-race. Now you know Rosmer (as if stunned). But I do not understand--What is she Kroll. Yes, yes. I begin to understand. Rosmer. But what did you do? What did you find to tell her? Rebecca. She got to know that you were determined to emancipate Rosmer. Yes, but at that time I had come to no decision. Rebecca. I knew that you soon would come to one. Kroll (nodding to ROSMER). Aha! Rosmer. Well--and what more? I want to know everything now. Rebecca. Some time afterwards, I begged and implored her to let Rosmer. Why did you want to leave here--then? Rebecca. I did not want to. I wanted to remain where I was. But I Rosmer. That is what you said and did, then? Rebecca. Yes, John. Rosmer. That is what you referred to when you said that you Rebecca (in a broken voice). Yes, that was it. Rosmer (after a pause). Have you confessed everything now, Rebecca. Yes. Kroll. Not everything. Rebecca (looking at him in terror). What else can there be? Kroll. Did you not eventually lead Beata to believe that it was Rebecca (speaking low and indistinctly). Perhaps I did say Rosmer (sinking into a chair by the window). And she, poor sick Rebecca. You know she had taken it into her head that she, a Rosmer. And you--you did nothing to rid her mind of such an idea? Rebecca. No. Kroll. Perhaps you encouraged her in the idea? Answer! Did you Rebecca. That was how she understood me, I believe. Rosmer. Yes, yes--and she bowed to your will in everything. And so Rebecca. I thought there were two lives here to choose between, Kroll (severely and with authority). You had no right to make any Rebecca (impetuously). Surely you do not think I acted with cold Rosmer (to REBECCA). And how do you think it will go with YOU in Rebecca. Things must go with me as they can. It is of very little Kroll. Not a word suggestive of remorse! Perhaps you feel none? Rebecca (dismissing his remark coldly). Excuse me, Mr. Kroll, Kroll (to ROSMER). And this is the woman you have been living Rosmer. Are you going into the town? Kroll (taking up his hat). Yes. The sooner the better. Rosmer (taking his hat also). Then I will go with you. Kroll. You will! Ah, I thought we had not quite lost you. Rosmer. Come, then, Kroll. Come! (They both go out into the hall Rebecca (speaking to herself, half aloud). Not over the bridge Mrs. Helseth. What is it, miss? Rebecca. Mrs. Helseth, will you be so good as to fetch my Mrs. Helseth. Your trunk? Rebecca. Yes, the brown hair-trunk, you know. Mrs. Helseth. Certainly, miss. But, bless my soul, are you going Rebecca. Yes--I am going away on a journey, Mrs. Helseth. Mrs. Helseth. And immediately! Rebecca. As soon as I have packed. Mrs. Helseth. I never heard of such a thing! But you are coming Rebecca. I am never coming back again. Mrs. Helseth. Never! But, my goodness, what is to become of us at Rebecca. Yes, but to-day I have had a fright, Mrs. Helseth. Mrs. Helseth. A fright! Good heavens-how? Rebecca. I fancy I have had a glimpse of the White Horse. Mrs. Helseth. Of the White Horse! In broad daylight! Rebecca. Ah! they are out both early and late, the White Horses Mrs. Helseth. Yes, miss. Your trunk. (They both go out to the right.) Content of ACT III [Henrik Ibsen's play/drama: Rosmersholm] _ |