Part 8 (1/2)

HEDDA.

Indeed?

MRS. ELVSTED.

He gave up his old habits. Not because I asked him to, for I never dared do that. But of course he saw how repulsive they were to me; and so he dropped them.

HEDDA.

[Concealing an involuntary smile of scorn.] Then you have reclaimed him-as the saying goes-my little Thea.

MRS. ELVSTED.

So he says himself, at any rate. And he, on his side, has made a real human being of me-taught me to think, and to understand so many things.

HEDDA.

Did he give you lessons too, then?

MRS. ELVSTED.

No, not exactly lessons. But he talked to me-talked about such an infinity of things. And then came the lovely, happy time when I began to share in his work-when he allowed me to help him!

HEDDA.

Oh he did, did he?

MRS. ELVSTED.

Yes! He never wrote anything without my a.s.sistance.

HEDDA.

You were two good comrades, in fact?

MRS. ELVSTED.

[Eagerly.] Comrades! Yes, fancy, Hedda-that is the very word he used!-Oh, I ought to feel perfectly happy; and yet I cannot; for I don't know how long it will last.

HEDDA.

Are you no surer of him than that?

MRS. ELVSTED.

[Gloomily.] A woman's shadow stands between Eilert Lovborg and me.

HEDDA.

[Looks at her anxiously.] Who can that be?

MRS. ELVSTED.

I don't know. Some one he knew in his-in his past. Some one he has never been able wholly to forget.

HEDDA.

What has he told you-about this?

MRS. ELVSTED.

He has only once-quite vaguely-alluded to it.

HEDDA.

Well! And what did he say?

MRS. ELVSTED.

He said that when they parted, she threatened to shoot him with a pistol.

HEDDA.

[With cold composure.] Oh nonsense! No one does that sort of thing here.

MRS. ELVSTED.

No. And that is why I think it must have been that red-haired singing-woman whom he once- HEDDA.

Yes, very likely.

MRS. ELVSTED.

For I remember they used to say of her that she carried loaded firearms.

HEDDA.

Oh-then of course it must have been she.

MRS. ELVSTED.

[Wringing her hands.] And now just fancy, Hedda-I hear that this singing-woman-that she is in town again! Oh, I don't know what to do- HEDDA.

[Glancing towards the inner room.] Hus.h.!.+ Here comes Tesman. [Rises and whispers.] Thea-all this must remain between you and me.

MRS. ELVSTED.

[Springing up.] Oh yes-yes! For heaven's sake-!

GEORGE TESMAN, with a letter in his hand, comes from the right through the inner room.