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The Bankrupt, a play by Bjornstjerne Bjornson |
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ACT IV |
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_ ACT IV
TJAELDE. Tjaelde. Lovely! There was not a ripple on the sea last MRS. TJAELDE. And think of the storm that was raging two days ago! TJAELDE. And think of the storm that broke over our lives barely MRS. TJAELDE. Sit down here with me. TJAELDE. Shall we not continue our stroll? MRS. TJAELDE. The sun is too hot. TJAELDE. Not for me. MRS. TJAELDE. You big strong man! It is too hot for me. TJAELDE (taking a chair). There you are, then. MRS. TJAELDE (taking off his hat and wiping his forehead). You are TJAELDE. That's just as well, as you have so much time to admire MRS. TJAELDE. Now that I find getting about so difficult, you mean? TJAELDE (with a sigh). Ah, my dear, it is good of you to take it so MRS. TJAELDE (interrupting him). Do you forget your own whitened TJAELDE. You enjoy your life, then? MRS. TJAELDE. Yes, indeed I do--and just as I should wish to. TJAELDE. Just to be spoiled, and yourself to spoil us? VALBORG (from the window). I have finished the accounts, father. TJAELDE. Doesn't it come out at about what I said? VALBORG. Almost exactly. Shall I enter it in the ledger at once? TJAELDE. Oho! You are glad then, as you seem in such it hurry? VALBORG. Certainly! Such a good stroke of business! TJAELDE. And both you and Sannaes tried your best to dissuade VALBORG. Such a pair of wiseacres! MRS. TJAELDE. Ah, your father is your master, my dear! TJAELDE. Tjaelde. Oh, it is easy enough to captain a small army MRS. TJAELDE. And yet it seemed hard enough for us to give it up. TJAELDE. Yes, yes--oh, yes. I can tell you, I was thinking of that MRS. TJAELDE. It is the fact of the estate being at last wound up TJAELDE. Yes. MRS. TJAELDE. Then I must confess that I, too, have scarcely been TJAELDE. I think I will just go and look over Valborg's accounts. SIGNE. Mother, you must taste my soup! (Offers her a spoonful.) MRS. TJAELDE. Clever girl! (Tastes the soup.) Perhaps it would SIGNE. Am I not! Will Sannaes be back soon? MRS. TJAELDE. Your father says we may expect him any moment. TJAELDE (at the window, to VALBORG). No, wait a moment. I will come MRS. TJAELDE. My little Signe, I want to ask you something? SIGNE. Do you? MRS. TJAELDE. What was in the letter you had yesterday evening? SIGNE. Aha, I might have guessed that was it! Nothing, mother. MRS. TJAELDE. Nothing that pained you, then? SIGNE. I slept like a top all night--so you can judge for yourself. MRS. TJAELDE. I am so glad. But, you know, there seems to me SIGNE. Does there? Well, it was something that I shall always be MRS. TJAELDE. I am thankful to hear it, for-- SIGNE (interrupting her). That must be Sannaes. I hear wheels. Yes, MRS. TJAELDE. That doesn't matter. SIGNE. Father, here is Sannaes! TJAELDE (from within). Good! I will come out! (SIGNE goes into TJAELDE and MRS. TJAELDE. Welcome! SANNAES. Thank you! (Lays down his dust-coat and driving gloves on TJAELDE. Well? SANNAES. Yes--your bankruptcy is discharged! MRS. TJAELDE. And the result was--? SANNAES. Just about what we expected. TJAELDE. And, I suppose, just about what Mr. Berent wrote? SANNAES. Just about, except for one or two inconsiderable trifles. TJAELDE (who has opened the papers and glanced at the totals). A SANNAES. I made a declaration on your behalf, that you intended to TJAELDE. And so--? SANNAES. --I proferred on the spot rather more than half the amount MRS. TJAELDE. Not really? (TJAELDE takes out a pencil and begins SANNAES. There was general satisfaction--and they all sent you MRS. TJAELDE. So that, if all goes well-- TJAELDE. Yes, if things go as well with the business as they MRS. TJAELDE. We haven't much longer than that left to live, dear! TJAELDE. Then we shall die poor. And I shall not complain! MRS. TJAELDE. No, indeed! The honourable name you will leave to TJAELDE. And they will inherit a sound business, which they can go MRS. TJAELDE. Did you hear that, Valborg? VALBORG (from the window). Every word! (SANNAES bows to her.) I MRS. TJAELDE. What did Jakobsen say?--honest old Jakobsen? SANNAES. He was very much affected, as you would expect. He will TJAELDE (looking up from the papers). And Mr. Berent? SANNAES. He is coming hard on my heels. I was to give you his kind TJAELDE. Splendid! We owe him so much. MRS. TJAELDE. Yes, he has been a true friend to us. But, talking of SANNAES. Me, Mrs. Tjaelde? MRS. TJAELDE. The maid told me that yesterday, when you went into SANNAES. Yes, Mrs. Tjaelde. TJAELDE. What does that mean? (To his wife.) You said nothing MRS. TJAELDE. Because I thought it might be a misunderstanding. SANNAES (fingering a chair, in evident confusion). Yes, Mrs. TJAELDE. Where to? You never said anything about it. SANNAES. No; but I have always considered that I should have TJAELDE and MRS. TJAELDE. You mean to leave us? SANNAES. Yes. TJAELDE. But why? MRS. TJAELDE. Where do you mean to go? SANNAES. To my relations in America. I can now, without doing you TJAELDE. And dissolve our partnership? SANNAES. You know that at any rate you had decided now to resume TJAELDE. That is true; but, Sannaes, what does it all mean? What is MRS. TJAELDE. Are you not happy here, where we are all so attached TJAELDE. You have quite as good a prospect for the future here as MRS. TJAELDE. We held together in evil days; are we not to hold SANNAES. I owe you both so much. MRS. TJAELDE. Good heavens, it is we that owe you-- TJAELDE. --more than we can ever repay. (Reproachfully.) Sannaes! (SIGNE comes in, having taken off her cooking apron.) SIGNE. Congratulations! Congratulations! Father mother! (Kisses VALBORG. What has happened? MRS. TJAELDE. Sannaes wants to leave us, my children (A pause.) SIGNE. But, Sannaes--! TJAELDE. Even if you want to go away, why have you never said a SIGNE. No. SANNAES. It was because--because--I wanted to be able to go as TJAELDE. You must have very serious grounds for it, then! Has MRS. TJAELDE. And to make it impossible for you to trust any of SANNAES (shyly). I thought I had better keep it to myself. (A TJAELDE. That makes it still more painful for us--to think that you SANNAES. Do not be hard on me! Believe me, if I could stay, I SIGNE (to her mother, in an undertone). Perhaps he wants to get MRS. TJAELDE. Would his being here with us make any difference to TJAELDE (going up to SANNAES and putting an arm round his SANNAES. No. TJAELDE. But can you judge of that alone? One does not always SANNAES. Unfortunately it is as I say. TJAELDE. It must be something very painful, then? SANNAES. Please--! TJAELDE. Well, Sannaes, you have quite cast a cloud over to-day's MRS. TJAELDE. I cannot imagine the house without Sannaes! TJAELDE (to his wife). Come, dear, shall we go in again? MRS. TJAELDE. Yes--it is not nice out here any longer. (TJAELDE SIGNE. Where have my wits been? (She goes into the house, looking VALBORG (impetuously). Sannaes! SANNAES. What are your orders, Miss Valborg? VALBORG (turning away from him, then turning back, but avoiding SANNAES. Yes, Miss Valborg. (A pause.) VALBORG. So we shall never stand back to back at our desks in the SANNAES. No, Miss Valborg. VALBORG. That is a pity; I had become so accustomed to it. SANNAES. You will easily become accustomed to some one else's-- VALBORG. Ah, some one else is some one else. SANNAES. You must excuse me, Miss Valborg; I don't feel in the VALBORG (looking up at him). Is this to be our parting, then? (A SANNAES. I thought of taking leave of you all this afternoon. VALBORG (taking a step towards him). But ought not we two to settle SANNAES (coldly). No, Miss Valborg. VALBORG. Do you feel then that everything between us has been just SANNAES. God knows I don't! VALBORG. But you think I am to blame?--Oh, well, it doesn't matter. SANNAES. I am quite willing to take the blame. Put anyway, it is VALBORG. But if we were to share the blame? You cannot be quite SANNAES. I confess I am not. But, as I said, I do not wish for any VALBORG. But I wish it. SANNAES. You will have plenty of time to settle it to your own VALBORG. But, if I am in difficulties about it, I cannot do it SANNAES. I do not think you will find any difficulty. VALBORG. But if _I_ think so?--if I feel myself deeply wronged? SANNAES. I have told you that I am willing to take all the blame VALBORG. No, Sannaes--I don't want charity; I want to be SANNAES. As you will. VALBORG. How was it that we got on so well for the first year after SANNAES. Yes. I think it was because we never talked about VALBORG. You were my instructor. SANNAES. And when you no longer needed an instructor-- VALBORG. --we hardly spoke to one another. SANNAES (softly). No. VALBORG. Well, what could I say or do, when every sign of SANNAES. Unnoticed? Oh no, Miss Valborg, I noticed them. VALBORG. That was my punishment, then! Sannas. God forbid I should do you an injustice. You had a motive VALBORG. And suppose it were gratitude? SANNAES (softly). I dreaded that more than anything else! I had had VALBORG. You must admit, Sannaes, that all this made you very SANNAES. I quite admit that. But, honestly, _you_ must admit that I VALBORG. How you have mistaken me!--If you will think of it, surely SANNAES. Thank you, at all events, for saying that to me. It has VALBORG (emphatically). How could I, when you misjudged everything SANNAES. Perhaps you are right. I cannot at once recall all that VALBORG (anxiously). Sannaes, as you admit that you have judged me SANNAES. You may be certain, Miss Valborg, that when I am balancing VALBORG. But you are not ready to go, Sannaes! You have not SANNAES. You must feel how painful it is for me to prolong this VALBORG. But surely you won't go without setting right something Sannas. What is that, Miss Valborg? VALBORG. Something that happened a long time ago. SANNAES. If it is in my power, I will do what you ask. VALBORG. It is.--Ever since that day you have never offered to SANNAES. Have you really noticed that? (A pause.) VALBORG (with a smile, turning away). Will you do so now? SANNAES (stepping nearer to her). Is this more than a mere whim? VALBORG (concealing her emotion). How can you ask such a question SANNAES. Because all this time you have never once asked me to VALBORG. I wanted you to offer me your hand. (A pause.) SANNAES. Are you serious for once? VALBORG. I mean it, seriously. SANNAES (in a happier voice). You really set a value on it? VALBORG. A great value. SANNAES (going up to her). Here it is, then! VALBORG (turning and taking his hand). I accept the hand you offer SANNAES (turning pale). What do you mean? VALBORG. I mean that for some time past I have known that I should SANNAES. Oh, Miss Valborg! VALBORG. And you wanted to go away, rather than offer me your SANNAES (kneeling to her). Miss Valborg! VALBORG. You have the most loyal nature, the most delicate mind, SANNAES. This is a thousand times too much! VALBORG. Next to God, I have to thank you that I have become what I SANNAES. I cannot answer because I scarcely realise what you are VALBORG. Sannaes--! SANNAES (holding her hands and interrupting her). I entreat you not VALBORG. But let me-- Sannas (letting go her hands and stepping back). No, you must not VALBORG. Sannaes! (Follows him.) Sannaes! Listen to me! (SANNAES SANNAES. I beg your pardon! (Rushes out to the right.) BERENT. Are you two playing a game of blind man's buff? VALBORG. God knows we are! BERENT. You need not be so emphatic about it! I have had forcible VALBORG. You must excuse me! Father is in there. (Points to the BERENT. We don't seem to be getting a particularly polite JAKOBSEN. No, we seem to be rather in the way, Mr. Berent. BERENT (laughing). It looks like it. But what has been going on? JAKOBSEN. I don't know. They looked as if they had been fighting, BERENT. They looked upset, you mean? JAKOBSEN. Yes, that's it. Ah, here is Mr. Tjaelde! (To himself.) TJAELDE (to BERENT). I am delighted to see you! You are always BERENT. Because things are going better than ever this year! I TJAELDE. Yes, if God wills, I mean to-- BERENT. Well, things are going splendidly, aren't they? TJAELDE. So far, yes. BERENT. You are over the worst of it, now that you have laid the TJAELDE. One of the things that have given me the greatest BERENT. I could have done nothing unless you had first of all done TJAELDE. We do a little more to it each year, you know. BERENT. And you are still all together here? TJAELDE. So far, yes. BERENT. Ah, by the way, I can give you news of your deserter. TJAELDE. Oh--of him! Have you seen him? BERENT. I was on the same boat coming here. There was a very TJAELDE (laughing). Oh, I see! BERENT. All the same, I don't think it came to any thing. It is JAKOBSEN (who during this conversation has been screwing up his TJAELDE (taking his hand). Oh, come, Jakobsen!-- JAKOBSEN. A great blundering pig!--But I know it now! TJAELDE. That's all right! I can tell you I am delighted to be able JAKOBSEN. I don't know what to answer. It goes to my heart! (Shakes TJAELDE (releasing his hand). Let us forget everything except the JAKOBSEN. At the Brewery! As long as folk ladle beer into their BERENT. Jakobsen was kind enough to drive me out here. We had a JAKOBSEN (in an anxious undertone, to TJAELDE). What does he mean TJAELDE. That you are different from most people. JAKOBSEN. Ah!--I didn't feel sure, you know, whether he wasn't TJAELDE. How can you think such a thing? (To BERENT.) Do come into BERENT. I don't think Mr. Tjaelde seems to me to be looking in JAKOBSEN. Don't you? I didn't notice anything. BERENT. Perhaps I am mistaken. I think he meant us to follow him JAKOBSEN. So I understood. BERENT. Then, as you have brought me so far, you must take me JAKOBSEN. I am quite at your service, sir. I have the deepest BERENT. Yes. Well, let us go in. JAKOBSEN. Let us go in. (He tries anxiously to keep in step with BERENT. I think you had better not try. My step suits very few. JAKOBSEN. Oh, I shall manage--! (They go out to the left. SANNAES SANNAES. There, you see, Miss Valborg; you are laughing at me. VALBORG. I don't know whether I want to laugh or to cry. SANNAES. Believe me, you are mistaken about this, Miss Valborg. VALBORG. Which of us was it that was mistaken to-day?--and had SANNAES. It was I, I know. But this is impossible! A real union of VALBORG (laughing). On love? SANNAES. You misunderstand me. Could you go into society with me VALBORG (laughing). I am laughing because you are magnifying the SANNAES. You know how awkward and shy--in fact downright frightened VALBORG. I should perhaps even laugh at you when we were in society SANNAES (seriously). But I should suffer horribly if you did. VALBORG. Believe me, Sannaes, I love you well enough to be able SANNAES. Your words intoxicate me and carry me off my feet! VALBORG (earnestly). If you think I am only flattering you, let us SANNAES (carried away). I want no one's opinion but yours! VALBORG. That's right! If only you feel certain of my love-- SANNAES (impetuously). --then nothing else will seem to matter; VALBORG. Look into my eyes! SANNAES (taking her hands). Yes! VALBORG. Do you believe that nothing would ever make me ashamed of SANNAES. Yes, I believe that. VALBORG (with emotion). Do you believe that I love you? SANNAES. Yes! (Falls on one knee.) VALBORG. Deeply enough for my love to last all our lives-- SANNAES. Yes, yes! VALBORG. Then stay with me; and we will look after the old folk-- TJAELDE (leaning out of the window, and speaking gently:) Valborg, VALBORG (quietly). Only that Sannaes and I are engaged to be TJAELDE. Is it possible! (To BERENT, who is immersed in the SANNAES (who, in his emotion has heard nothing). Forgive me! It VALBORG. Let us go in to my mother. SANNAES(shrinking back). I can't, Miss Valborg--you must wait a VALBORG. Here they come. (TJAELDE comes in wheeling MRS. TJAELDE in MRS. TJAELDE (softly). God be praised and thanked! TJAELDE (going up to SANNAES and embracing him). My son! MRS. TJAELDE. So that was why Sannaes wanted to go away! Oh, SIGNE. Mother, everything is ready now! MRS. TJAELDE. So are things out here! SIGNE (looking round). Not really? VALBORG (to SIGNE). Forgive me for never having told you! SIGNE. You certainly kept your secret well! VALBORG. I kept long years of suffering secret--that was all! SIGNE. Sannaes! (Shakes his hand.) So we are to be brother and SANNAES (embarrassed). Oh, Miss Signe-- SIGNE. But you mustn't call me Miss Signe now, you know! VALBORG. You must expect that! He calls me "Miss" Valborg still! SIGNE. Well, he won't be able to do that when you are married, MRS. TJAELDE (to TJAELDE). But where are our friends? TJAELDE. Mr. Berent is in the office. There he is, at the window. BERENT (at the window). Now I am coming straight out to VALBORG (going to TJAELDE). Father! TJAELDE. My child! VALBORG. If we had not known those bad days we should never TJAELDE (to BERENT). Allow me to present to you my daughter BERENT. I congratulate you on your choice, Miss Valborg--and I VALBORG (triumphantly). There, Sannaes! JAKOBSEN. May I too, though I am only a stupid sort of chap, say MRS. TJAELDE. Signe is whispering to me that our dinner is getting SIGNE. May I take my mother's place and ask you to take me in to BERENT (offering her his arm). I am honoured!--But our bridal pair VALBORG. Sannaes--? SANNAES (whispers, as he gives her his arm). To think that I have TJAELDE (bending over his wife, as he prepares to wheel her chair MRS. TJAELDE. My dear man! Curtain. Content of ACT IV _ |