Chapter IV: Part 4

[_Reflecting._] No, upon my soul, you’re right there; you’ve never had the frankness to do that. Well, well, I won’t put you on the rack, Mr. Hovstad. Let me be the freethinker then. And now I'll make it clear to you all, and on scientific grounds too, that the _Messenger_ is leading you shamefully by the nose, when it tells you that you, the masses, the crowd, are the true pith of the people. I tell you that’s only a newspaper lie. The masses are nothing but the raw material that must be fashioned into a People.

[_Murmurs, laughter, and disturbance in the room._

DR. STOCKMANN.

Is it not so with all other living creatures? What a difference between a cultivated and an uncultivated breed of animals! Just look at a common barn-door hen. What meat do you get from such a skinny carcase? Not much, I can tell you! And what sort of eggs does she lay? A decent crow or raven can lay nearly as good. Then take a cultivated Spanish or Japanese hen, or take a fine pheasant or turkey—ah! then you’ll see the difference! And now look at the dog, our near relation. Think first of an ordinary vulgar cur—I mean one of those wretched, ragged, plebeian mongrels that haunt the gutters, and soil the sidewalks. Then place such a mongrel by the side of a poodle-dog, descended through many generations from an aristocratic stock, who have lived on delicate food, and heard harmonious voices and music. Do you think the brain of the poodle isn’t very differently developed from that of the mongrel? Yes, you may be sure it is! It’s well-bred poodle-pups like this that jugglers train to perform the most marvellous tricks. A common peasant-cur could never learn anything of the sort—not if he tried till doomsday.

[_Noise and laughter are heard all round._

A CITIZEN.

[_Shouting._] Do you want to make dogs of us now?

ANOTHER MAN.

We’re not animals, Doctor!

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, on my soul, but we _are_ animals, my good sir! We’re one and all of us animals, whether we like it or not. But truly there are few enough aristocratic animals among us. Oh, there’s a terrible difference between poodle-men and mongrel-men! And the ridiculous part of it is, that Mr. Hovstad quite agrees with me so long as it’s four-legged animals we’re talking of——

HOVSTAD.

Oh, beasts are only beasts.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well and good—but no sooner do I apply the law to two-legged animals, than Mr. Hovstad stops short; then he daren’t hold his own opinions, or think out his own thoughts; then he turns the whole principle upside down, and proclaims in the _People’s Messenger_ that the barn-door hen and the gutter-mongrel are precisely the finest specimens in the menagerie. But that’s always the way, so long as the commonness still lingers in your system, and you haven’t worked your way up to spiritual distinction.

HOVSTAD.

I make no pretence to any sort of distinction. I come of simple peasant folk, and I am proud that my root should lie deep down among the common people, who are here being insulted.

WORKMEN.

Hurrah for Hovstad. Hurrah! hurrah!

DR. STOCKMANN.

The sort of common people I am speaking of are not found among the lower classes alone; they crawl and swarm all around us—up to the very summits of society. Just look at your own smug, respectable Burgomaster! Why, my brother Peter belongs as clearly to the common people as any man that walks on two legs——

[_Laughter and hisses._

BURGOMASTER.

I protest against such personalities.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Imperturbably._]——and that not because, like myself, he’s descended from a good-for-nothing old pirate from Pomerania, or thereabouts—for that’s our ancestry——

BURGOMASTER.

An absurd tradition! Utterly groundless.

DR. STOCKMANN.

——but he is so because he thinks the thoughts and holds the opinions of his official superiors. Men who do that, belong, intellectually-speaking, to the common people; and that is why my distinguished brother Peter is at bottom so undistinguished,—and consequently so illiberal.

BURGOMASTER.

Mr. Chairman——!

HOVSTAD.

So that the distinguished people in this country are the Liberals? That’s quite a new light on the subject. _Laughter._

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, that is part of my new discovery. And _this_, too, follows: that liberality of thought is almost precisely the same thing as morality. Therefore I say it’s absolutely unpardonable of the _Messenger_ to proclaim, day out, day in, the false doctrine that it’s the masses, the multitude, the compact majority, that monopolise liberality and morality,—and that vice and corruption and all sorts of spiritual uncleanness ooze out of culture, as all that filth oozes down to the Baths from the Mill Dale tan-works!

[_Noise and interruptions._

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Goes on imperturbably, smiling in his eagerness._] And yet this same _Messenger_ can preach about elevating the masses and the multitude to a higher level of well-being! Why, deuce take it, if the _Messenger’s_ own doctrine holds good, the elevation of the masses would simply mean hurling them straight to perdition! But, happily, the notion that culture demoralises is nothing but an old traditional lie. No it’s stupidity, poverty, the ugliness of life, that do the devil’s work! In a house that isn’t aired and swept every day—my wife maintains that the floors ought to be scrubbed too, but perhaps that is going too far;—well,—in such a house, I say, within two or three years, people lose the power of thinking or acting morally. Lack of oxygen enervates the conscience. And there seems to be precious little oxygen in many and many a house in this town, since the whole compact majority is unscrupulous enough to want to found its future upon a quagmire of lies and fraud.

ASLAKSEN.

I cannot allow so gross an insult to be levelled against a whole community.

A GENTLEMAN.

I move that the Chairman order the speaker to sit down.

EAGER VOICES.

Yes, yes! That’s right! Sit down! Sit down!

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Flaring up._] Then I shall proclaim the truth at every street corner! I shall write to newspapers in other towns! The whole country shall know how matters stand here!

HOVSTAD.

It almost seems as if the Doctor’s object were to ruin the town.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, so well do I love my native town that I would rather ruin it than see it flourishing upon a lie.

ASLAKSEN.

That’s plain speaking.

[_Noise and whistling._ MRS. STOCKMANN _coughs in vain; the_
DOCTOR _no longer heeds her._

HOVSTAD.

[_Shouting amid the tumult._] The man who would ruin a whole community must be an enemy to his fellow citizens!

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_With growing excitement._] What does it matter if a lying community is ruined! Let it be levelled to the ground, say I! All men who live upon a lie ought to be exterminated like vermin! You’ll end by poisoning the whole country; you’ll bring it to such a pass that the whole country will deserve to perish. And if ever it comes to that, I shall say, from the bottom of my heart: Perish the country! Perish all its people!

A MAN.

[_In the crowd._] Why, he talks like a regular enemy of the people!

BILLING.

Strike me dead but there spoke the people’s voice!

THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY.

[_Shouting._] Yes! yes! yes! He’s an enemy of the people! He hates his country! He hates the whole people!

ASLAKSEN.

Both as a citizen of this town and as a human being, I am deeply shocked at what it has been my lot to hear to-night. Dr. Stockmann has unmasked himself in a manner I should never have dreamt of. I must reluctantly subscribe to the opinion just expressed by some estimable citizens; and I think we ought to formulate this opinion in a resolution. I therefore beg to move, “That this meeting declares the medical officer of the Baths, Dr. Thomas Stockmann, to be an enemy of the people.”

[_Thunders of applause and cheers. Many form a circle round the_
DOCTOR _and hoot at him._ MRS. STOCKMANN _and_ PETRA _have
risen._ MORTEN _and_ EILIF _fight the other school-boys, who
have also been hooting. Some grown-up persons separate
them._

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_To the people hooting._] Ah, fools that you are! I tell you that——

ASLAKSEN.

[_Ringing._] The Doctor is out of order in speaking. A formal vote must be taken; but out of consideration for personal feelings, it will be taken in writing and without names. Have you any blank paper, Mr. Billing?

BILLING.

Here’s both blue and white paper——

ASLAKSEN.

Capital; that will save time. Cut it up into slips. That’s it. [_To the meeting._] Blue means no, white means aye. I myself will go round and collect the votes.

[_The_ BURGOMASTER _leaves the room._ ASLAKSEN _and a few others
go round with pieces of paper in hats._

A GENTLEMAN.

[_To HOVSTAD._] What can be the matter with the Doctor? What does it all mean?

HOVSTAD.

Why, you know what a hare-brained creature he is.

ANOTHER GENTLEMAN.

[_To BILLING._] I say, you’re often at his house. Have you ever noticed if the fellow drinks?

BILLING.

Strike me dead if I know what to say. The toddy’s always on the table when any one looks in.

A THIRD GENTLEMAN.

No, I should rather say he went off his head at times.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

I wonder if there’s madness in the family?

BILLING.

I shouldn’t be surprised.

A FOURTH GENTLEMAN.

No, it’s pure malice. He wants to be revenged for something or other.

BILLING.

He was certainly talking about a rise in his salary the other day; but he didn’t get it.

ALL THE GENTLEMEN.

[_Together._] Aha! That explains everything.

THE DRUNKEN MAN.

[_In the crowd._] I want a blue one, I do! And I'll have a white one too.

SEVERAL PEOPLE.

There’s the tipsy man again! Turn him out.

MORTEN KIIL.

[_Approaching the DOCTOR._] Well, Stockmann, you see now what such monkey-tricks lead to?

DR. STOCKMANN.

I have done my duty.

MORTEN KIIL.

What was that you said about the Mill Dale tanneries?

DR STOCKMANN.

You heard what I said—that all the filth comes from them.

MORTEN KIIL.

From my tannery as well?

DR. STOCKMANN.

I'm sorry to say yours is the worst of all.

MORTEN KIIL.

Are you going to put _that_ in the papers, too?

DR. STOCKMANN.

I can’t gloze anything over.

MORTEN KIIL.

This may cost you dear, Stockmann!

[_He goes out._

A FAT GENTLEMAN.

[_Goes up to HORSTER, without bowing to the ladies._] Well, Captain, so you lend your house to enemies of the people.

HORSTER.

I suppose I can do as I please with my own property, Sir.

THE GENTLEMAN.

Then of course you can have no objection if I follow your example?

HORSTER.

What do you mean, Sir?

THE GENTLEMAN.

You shall hear from me to-morrow.

[_Turns away and goes out._

PETRA.

Wasn’t that the owner of your ship, Captain Horster?

HORSTER.

Yes, that was Mr. Vik.

ASLAKSEN.

[_With the voting papers in his hands, ascends the platform and rings._] Gentlemen! I have now to announce the result of the vote. All the voters, with one exception——

A YOUNG GENTLEMAN.

That’s the tipsy man!

ASLAKSEN.

With the exception of one intoxicated person, this meeting of citizens unanimously declares the medical officer of the Baths, Dr. Thomas Stockmann, to be an enemy of the people. [_Cheers and applause._] Three cheers for our fine old municipality! [_Cheers._] Three cheers for our able and energetic Burgomaster, who has so loyally set family prejudice aside! [_Cheers._] The meeting is dissolved. [_He descends._]

BILLING.

Three cheers for the Chairman!

ALL.

Hurrah for Aslaksen.

DR. STOCKMANN.

My hat and coat, Petra. Captain, have you room for passengers to the new world?

HORSTER.

For you and yours, Doctor, we’ll make room.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_While PETRA helps him to put on his coat._] Good. Come Katrina, come boys!

[_He gives his wife his arm._

MRS. STOCKMANN.

[_In a low voice._] Thomas, dear, let us go out by the back way.

DR. STOCKMANN.

No back ways, Katrina! [_In a loud voice._] You shall hear from the enemy of the people, before he shakes the dust from his feet! I am not so forbearing as a certain person; I don’t say: I forgive you, for you know not what you do.

ASLAKSEN.

[_Shouts._] That is a blasphemous comparison, Dr. Stockmann!

BILLING.

Strike me——! This is more than a serious man can stand!

A COARSE VOICE.

And he threatens us into the bargain!

ANGRY CRIES.

Let’s smash his windows! Duck him in the fiord!

A MAN.

[_In the crowd._] Blow your horn, Evensen! Blow man, blow!

[_Horn-blowing, whistling, and wild shouting. The_ DOCTOR, _with
his family, goes towards the door._ HORSTER _clears the way
for them._

ALL.

[_Yelling after them as they go out._] Enemy of the people! Enemy of the people! Enemy of the people!

BILLING.

Strike me dead if I'd care to drink toddy at Stockmann’s to-night!

[_The people throng towards the door; the shouting is taken up
by others outside; from the street are heard cries of “Enemy
of the people! Enemy of the people!”_

-----

Footnote 12:

Literally, “unprovided-for.”

ACT FIFTH.

DR. STOCKMANN’S _Study. Bookshelves and glass cases with various
collections along the walls. In the back, a door leading to the
hall; in front, on the left, a door to the sitting-room. In the
wall to the right are two windows, all the panes of which are
smashed. In the middle of the room is the_ DOCTOR’S
_writing-table, covered with books and papers. The room is in
disorder. It is forenoon._

DR. STOCKMANN, _in dressing-gown, slippers, and skull-cap, is bending
down and raking with an umbrella under one of the cabinets; at
last he rakes out a stone._

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Speaking through the sitting-room doorway._] Katrina, I've found another!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

[_In the sitting-room._] Oh, I'm sure you’ll find plenty more.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Placing the stone on a pile of others on the table._] I shall keep these stones as sacred relics. Eilif and Morten shall see them every day, and when I die they shall be heirlooms. [_Raking under the bookcase._] Hasn’t—what the devil is her name?—the girl—hasn’t she been for the glazier yet?

MRS. STOCKMANN.

[_Coming in._] Yes, but he said he didn’t know whether he would be able to come to-day.

DR. STOCKMANN.

I believe, if the truth were told, he daren’t come.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Well, Randina, too, had an idea he was afraid to come, because of the neighbours. [_Speaks through the sitting-room doorway._] What is it, Randina?—Very well. [_Goes out, and returns immediately._] Here is a letter for you, Thomas.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Let me see. [_Opens the letter and reads._] Aha!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Who is it from?

DR. STOCKMANN.

From the landlord. He gives us notice.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Is it possible? He is such a nice man——

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Looking at the letter._] He daren’t do otherwise, he says. He is very unwilling to do it; but he daren’t do otherwise—on account of his fellow citizens—out of respect for public opinion—is in a dependent position—doesn’t dare to offend certain influential men——

MRS. STOCKMANN.

There, you see, Thomas.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, yes, I see well enough; they are all cowards, every one of them, in this town; no one dares do anything for fear of all the rest. [_Throws the letter on the table._] But it’s all the same to us, Katrina. We will shape our course for the new world, and then——

MRS. STOCKMANN.

But are you sure this idea of going abroad is altogether wise, Thomas?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Would you have me stay here, where they have pilloried me as an enemy of the people, branded me, smashed my windows! And look here, Katrina, they’ve torn a hole in my black trousers, too.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Oh dear; and these are the best you have!

DR. STOCKMANN.

A man should never put on his best trousers when he goes out to battle for freedom and truth. Well, I don’t care so much about the trousers; them you can always patch up for me. But that the mob, the rabble, should dare to attack me as if they were my equals—_that_ is what I can’t, for the life of me, stomach!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Yes, they have behaved abominably to you here, Thomas; but is that any reason for leaving the country altogether?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Do you think the plebeians aren’t just as insolent in other towns? Oh yes, they are, my dear; it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other. Well, never mind; let the curs yelp; _that’s_ not the worst; the worst is that every one, all over the country, is the slave of his party. Not that I suppose—very likely it’s no better in the free West either; the compact majority, and enlightened public opinion, and all the other devil’s trash is rampant there too. But you see the conditions are larger there than here; they may kill you, but they don’t slow-torture you; they don’t screw up a free soul in a vice, as they do at home here. And then, if need be, you can keep out of it all. [_Walks up and down._] If I only knew of any primeval forest, or a little South Sea island to be sold cheap——

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Yes, but the boys, Thomas.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Comes to a standstill._] What an extraordinary woman you are, Katrina! Would you rather have the boys grow up in such a society as ours? Why, you could see for yourself yesterday evening that one half of the population is stark mad, and if the other half hasn’t lost its wits, that’s only because they are brute beasts who haven’t any wits to lose.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

But really, my dear Thomas, you do say such imprudent things.

DR. STOCKMANN.

What! Isn’t it the truth that I tell them? Don’t they turn all ideas upside down? Don’t they stir up right and wrong into one hotch-potch? Don’t they call lies everything that I know to be the truth? But the maddest thing of all is to see crowds of grown men, calling themselves Liberals, go about persuading themselves and others that they are friends of freedom! Did you ever hear anything like it, Katrina?

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Yes, yes, no doubt. But——

PETRA _enters from the sitting-room._

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Back from school already?

PETRA.

Yes; I have been dismissed.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Dismissed?

DR. STOCKMANN.

You too!

PETRA.

Mrs. Busk gave me notice, and so I thought it best to leave there and then.

DR. STOCKMANN.

You did perfectly right!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Who could have thought Mrs. Busk was such a bad woman!

PETRA.

Oh mother, Mrs. Busk isn’t bad at all; I saw clearly how sorry she was. But she dared not do otherwise, she said; and so I am dismissed.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Laughing and rubbing his hands._] She dared not do otherwise—just like the rest! Oh, it’s delicious.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Oh well, after that frightful scene last night——

PETRA.

It wasn’t only that. What do you think, father——?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well?

PETRA.

Mrs. Busk showed me no fewer than three letters she had received this morning——

DR. STOCKMANN.

Anonymous, of course?

PETRA.

Yes.

DR. STOCKMANN.

They never dare give their names, Katrina!

PETRA.

And two of them stated that a gentleman who is often at our house said at the club last night that I held extremely advanced opinions upon various things——

DR. STOCKMANN.

Of course you didn’t deny it.

PETRA.

Of course not. You know Mrs. Busk herself is pretty advanced in her opinions when we’re alone together; but now that this has come out about me, she dared not keep me on.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Some one that is often at our house, too. There, you see, Thomas, what comes of all your hospitality.

DR. STOCKMANN.

We won’t live any longer in such a pig-sty! Pack up as quickly as you can, Katrina; let’s get away—the sooner the better.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Hush! I think there is some one in the passage. See who it is, Petra.

PETRA.

[_Opening the door._] Oh, is it you, Captain Horster? Please come in.

HORSTER.

[_From the hall._] Good morning. I thought I might just look in and ask how you are.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Shaking his hand._] Thanks; that’s very good of you.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

And thank you for helping us through the crowd last night, Captain Horster.

PETRA.

How did you ever get home again?

HORSTER.

Oh, that was all right. I am tolerably able-bodied, you know; and those fellows' bark is worse than their bite.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, isn’t it extraordinary, this piggish cowardice? Come here, and let me show you something! Look, here are all the stones they threw in at us. Only look at them? Upon my soul there aren’t more than two decent-sized lumps in the whole heap; the rest are nothing but pebbles—mere gravel. They stood down there, and yelled, and swore they’d half kill me;—but as for really doing it—no, there’s mighty little fear of _that_ in this town!

HORSTER.

You may thank your stars for that this time, Doctor.

DR. STOCKMANN.

So I do, of course. But it’s depressing all the same; for if ever it should come to a serious national struggle, you may be sure public opinion would be for taking to its heels, and the compact majority would scamper for their lives like a flock of sheep, Captain Horster. _That_ is what’s so melancholy to think of; it grieves me to the heart.—But deuce take it—it’s foolish of me to feel anything of the sort! They have called me an enemy of the people; well then, let me be an enemy of the people!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

That you’ll never be, Thomas.

DR. STOCKMANN.

You’d better not take your oath of it, Katrina. A bad name may act like a pin-scratch in the lung. And that confounded word—I can’t get rid of it; it has sunk deep into my heart; and there it lies gnawing and sucking like an acid. And no magnesia can cure me.

PETRA.

Pooh; you should only laugh at them, father.

HORSTER.

People will think differently yet, Doctor.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Yes, Thomas, that’s as certain as that you are standing here.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, perhaps, when it is too late. Well, as they make their bed so they must lie! Let them go on wallowing here in their pig-sty, and learn to repent having driven a patriot into exile. When do you sail, Captain Horster?

HORSTER.

Well—that’s really what I came to speak to you about——

DR. STOCKMANN.

What? Anything wrong with the ship?

HORSTER.

No; but the fact is, I shan’t be sailing in her.

PETRA.

Surely you have not been dismissed?

HORSTER.

[_Smiling_.] Yes, I have.

PETRA.

You too!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

There, you see, Thomas.

DR. STOCKMANN.

And for the truth’s sake! Oh, if I could possibly have imagined such a thing——

HORSTER.

You mustn’t be troubled about this; I shall soon find a berth with some other company, elsewhere.

DR. STOCKMANN.

And this is that man Vik! A wealthy man, independent of every one! Faugh!

HORSTER.

Oh, for that matter, he’s a very well-meaning man. He said himself he would gladly have kept me on if only he dared——

DR. STOCKMANN.

But he didn’t dare? Of course not!

HORSTER.

It’s not so easy, he said, when you belong to a party——

DR. STOCKMANN.

My gentleman has hit it there! A party is like a sausage-machine; it grinds all the brains together in one mash; and that’s why we see nothing but porridge-heads and pulp-heads all around!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Now really, Thomas!

PETRA.

[_To HORSTER._] If only you hadn’t seen us home, perhaps it would not have come to this.

HORSTER.

I don’t regret it.

PETRA.

[_Gives him her hand._] Thank you for that!

HORSTER.

[_To DR. STOCKMANN._] And then, too, I wanted to tell you this: if you are really determined to go abroad, I've thought of another way——

DR. STOCKMANN.

That’s good—if only we can get off quickly——

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Hush! Isn’t that a knock?

PETRA.

I believe it is uncle.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Aha! [_Calls._] Come in!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

My dear Thomas, now do promise me——

_The BURGOMASTER enters from the hall._

BURGOMASTER.

[_In the doorway._] Oh, you are engaged. Then I'd better——

DR. STOCKMANN.

No no; come in.

BURGOMASTER.

But I wanted to speak to you alone.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

We can go into the sitting-room.

HORSTER.

And I shall look in again presently.

DR. STOCKMANN.

No no; go with the ladies, Captain Horster; I must hear more about——

HORSTER.

All right, then I'll wait.

[_He follows_ MRS. STOCKMANN _and_ PETRA _into the sitting-room.
The_ BURGOMASTER _says nothing, but casts glances at the
windows._

DR. STOCKMANN.

I daresay you find it rather draughty here today? Put on your cap.

BURGOMASTER.

Thanks, if I may. [_Does so._] I fancy I caught cold yesterday evening. I stood there shivering——

DR. STOCKMANN.

Really. On my soul, now, I found it quite warm enough.

BURGOMASTER.

I regret that it was not in my power to prevent these nocturnal excesses.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Have you anything else in particular to say to me?

BURGOMASTER.

[_Producing a large letter._] I have this document for you from the Directors of the Baths.

DR. STOCKMANN.

My dismissal?

BURGOMASTER.

Yes; dated from to-day. [_Places the letter on the table._] We are very sorry—but frankly, we dared not do otherwise, on account of public opinion.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Smiling._] Dared not? I've heard that phrase already to-day.

BURGOMASTER.

I beg you to realise your position clearly. For the future, you cannot count upon any sort of practice in the town.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Devil take the practice! But how can you be so sure of that?

BURGOMASTER.

The House-owners' Association is sending round a circular from house to house, in which all well-disposed citizens are called upon not to employ you; and I dare swear that not a single head of a family will venture to refuse his signature; he simply _dare_ not.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well well; I don’t doubt that. But what then?

BURGOMASTER.

If I might advise, I would suggest that you should leave the town for a time——

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, I've had some such idea in my mind already.

BURGOMASTER.

Good. And when you have had six months or so for mature deliberation, if you could make up your mind to acknowledge your error, with a few words of regret——

DR. STOCKMANN.

I might perhaps be reinstated, you think?

BURGOMASTER.

Perhaps it’s not quite out of the question.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, but how about public opinion? You daren’t, on account of public opinion.

BURGOMASTER.

Opinion is extremely variable. And, to speak candidly, it is of the greatest importance for us to have such an admission under your own hand.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, I daresay it would be mightily convenient for you! But you remember what I've said to you before about such foxes' tricks!

BURGOMASTER.

At that time your position was infinitely more favourable; at that time you thought you had the whole town at your back——

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, and now I have the whole town on my back——[_Flaring up._] But no—not if I had the devil and his dam on my back—! Never—never, I tell you!

BURGOMASTER.

The father of a family has no right[13] to act as you are doing. You have no right to do it, Thomas.

DR. STOCKMANN.

I have no right! There’s only one thing in the world that a free man has no right to do; and do you know what that is?

BURGOMASTER.

No.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Of course not; but _I_ will tell you. A free man has no right to wallow in filth like a cur; he has no right to act so that he ought to spit in his own face!

BURGOMASTER.

That sounds extremely plausible; and if there were not another explanation of your obstinacy—but we all know there is——

DR. STOCKMANN.

What do you mean by that?

BURGOMASTER.

You understand well enough. But as your brother, and as a man who knows the world, I warn you not to build too confidently upon prospects and expectations that may very likely come to nothing.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Why, what on earth are you driving at?

BURGOMASTER.

Do you really want me to believe that you are ignorant of the terms of old Morten Kiil’s will?

DR. STOCKMANN.

I know that the little he has is to go to a home for old and needy artizans. But what has that got to do with me?

BURGOMASTER.

To begin with, “the little he has” is no trifle. Morten Kiil is a tolerably wealthy man.

DR. STOCKMANN.

I have never had the least notion of that!

BURGOMASTER.

H'm—really? Then I suppose you have no notion that a not inconsiderable part of his fortune is to go to your children, you and your wife having a life-interest in it. Has he not told you that?

DR. STOCKMANN.

No, I'll be hanged if he has! On the contrary, he has done nothing but grumble about being so preposterously over-taxed, But are you really sure of this, Peter?

BURGOMASTER.

I have it from a thoroughly trustworthy source.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Why, good heavens, then Katrina’s provided for—and the children too! Oh, I must tell her——[_Calls._] Katrina, Katrina!

BURGOMASTER.

[_Holding him back._] Hush! don’t say anything about it yet.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

[_Opening the door._] What is it?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Nothing my dear; go in again.

[MRS. STOCKMANN _closes the door._

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Pacing up and down._] Provided for! Only think—all of them provided for! And for life! After all, it’s a grand thing to feel yourself secure!

BURGOMASTER.

Yes, but that is just what you are not. Morten Kiil can revoke his will any day or hour he chooses.

DR. STOCKMANN.

But he won’t, my good Peter. The Badger is only too delighted to see me fall foul of you and your wiseacre friends.

BURGOMASTER.

[_Starts and looks searchingly at him._] Aha! That throws a new light on a good many things.

DR. STOCKMANN.

What things?

BURGOMASTER.

So the whole affair has been a carefully-concocted intrigue. Your recklessly violent onslaught—in the name of truth—upon the leading men of the town——

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well, what of it?

BURGOMASTER.

It was nothing but a preconcerted requital for that vindictive old Morten Kiil’s will.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Almost speechless._] Peter—you are the most abominable plebeian I have ever known in all my born days.

BURGOMASTER.

All is over between us. Your dismissal is irrevocable—for now we have a weapon against you. _He goes out._

DR. STOCKMANN.

Shame! shame! shame! [_Calls._] Katrina! The floor must be scrubbed after him! Tell her to come here with a pail—what’s her name? confound it—the girl with the smudge on her nose——

MRS. STOCKMANN.

[_In the sitting-room doorway._] Hush, hush Thomas!

PETRA.

[_Also in the doorway._] Father, here’s grandfather; he wants to know if he can speak to you alone.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, of course he can. [_By the door._] Come in, father-in-law.

MORTEN KIIL _enters._ DR. STOCKMANN _closes the door behind him._

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well, what is it? Sit down.

MORTEN KIIL.

I won’t sit down. [_Looking about him._] It looks cheerful here to-day, Stockmann.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, don’t you think so?

MORTEN KIIL.

Sure enough. And you’ve plenty of fresh air too; you’ve got your fill of that oxygen you were talking about yesterday. You must have a rare good conscience to-day, I should think.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, I have.

MORTEN KIIL.

So I should suppose. [_Tapping himself on the breast._] But do you know what _I_ have got here?

DR. STOCKMANN.

A good conscience too, I hope.

MORTEN KIIL.

Pooh! No; something far better than that.

[_Takes out a large pocket-book, opens it, and shows_ STOCKMANN
_a bundle of papers._

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Looking at him in astonishment._] Shares in the Baths!

MORTEN KIIL.

They weren’t difficult to get to-day.

DR. STOCKMANN.

And you’ve gone and bought these up——?

MORTEN KIIL.

All I had the money to pay for.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Why, my dear sir,—just when things are in such a desperate way at the Baths——

MORTEN KIIL.

If you behave like a reasonable being, you can soon set the Baths all right again.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well, you can see for yourself I'm doing all I can. But the people of this town are mad!

MORTEN KIIL.

You said yesterday that the worst filth came from my tannery. Now, if that’s true, then my grandfather, and my father before me, and I myself, have for ever so many years been poisoning the town with filth, like three destroying angels. Do you think I'm going to sit quiet under such a reproach?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Unfortunately, you can’t help it.

MORTEN KIIL.

No, thank you. I hold fast to my good name, I've heard that people call me “the Badger.” A badger’s a sort of a pig, I know; but I'm determined to give them the lie. I will live and die a clean man.

DR. STOCKMANN.

And how will you manage _that_?

MORTEN KIIL.

You shall make me clean, Stockmann.

DR. STOCKMANN.

I!

MORTEN KIIL.

Do you know what money I've used to buy these shares with? No, you can’t know; but now I'll tell you. It’s the money Katrina and Petra and the boys are to have after my death. For, you see, I've laid by something after all.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Flaring up._] And you’ve taken Katrina’s money and done _this_ with it!

MORTEN KIIL.

Yes; the whole of it is invested in the Baths now. And now I want to see if you’re really so stark, staring mad; after all, Stockmann. If you go on making out that these beasts and other abominations dribble down from my tannery, it’ll be just as if you were to flay broad stripes of Katrina’s skin—and Petra’s too, and the boys'. No decent father would ever do that—unless he were a madman.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Walking up and down._] Yes, but I _am_ a madman; I _am_ a madman!

MORTEN KIIL.

You surely can’t be so raving, ramping mad where your wife and children are concerned.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Stopping in front of him._] Why couldn’t you have spoken to me before you went and bought all that rubbish?

MORTEN KIIL.

What’s done can’t be undone.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Walking restlessly about._] If only I weren’t so certain about the affair——! But I am absolutely convinced that I'm right.

MORTEN KIIL.

[_Weighing the pocket book in his hand._] If you stick to this lunacy, these aren’t worth much.

[_Puts the book into his pocket._

DR. STOCKMANN.

But, deuce take it! surely science ought to be able to hit upon some antidote, some sort of prophylactic——

MORTEN KIIL.

Do you mean something to kill the beasts?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, or at least to make them harmless.

MORTEN KIIL.

Couldn’t you try ratsbane?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Oh, nonsense, nonsense!—But since every one declares it’s nothing but fancy, why fancy let it be! Let them have it their own way! Haven’t the ignorant, narrow-hearted curs reviled me as an enemy of the people?—and weren’t they on the point of tearing the clothes off my back?

MORTEN KIIL.

And they’ve smashed all your windows for you too!

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, and then there’s one’s duty to one’s family! I must talk that over with Katrina; such things are more in her line.

MORTEN KIIL.

That’s right! You just follow the advice of a sensible woman.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Turning upon him angrily._] How could you act so preposterously! Risking Katrina’s money, and putting me to this horrible torture! When I look at you, I seem to see the devil himself——!

MORTEN KIIL.

Then I'd better be off. But I must, hear from you, yes or no, by two o’clock. If it’s no, all the shares go to the Hospital—and that this very day.

DR. STOCKMANN.

And what will Katrina get?

MORTEN KIIL.

Not a rap.

[_The door leading to the hall opens. HOVSTAD and ASLAKSEN are seen outside it._

MORTEN KIIL.

Hullo! look at these two.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Staring at them._] What! Do you actually venture to come here?

HOVSTAD.

Why, to be sure we do.

ASLAKSEN.

You see, we’ve something to discuss with you.

MORTEN KIIL.

[_Whispers._] Yes or no—by two o’clock.

ASLAKSEN.

[_With a glance at HOVSTAD._] Aha!

[MORTEN KIIL _goes out._

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well, what do you want with me? Be brief.

HOVSTAD.

I can quite understand that you resent our attitude at the meeting yesterday——

DR. STOCKMANN.

Your attitude, you say? Yes, it was a pretty attitude! I call it the attitude of cowards—of old women——Shame upon you!

HOVSTAD.

Call it what you will; but we _could_ not act otherwise.

DR. STOCKMANN.

You _dared_ not, I suppose? Isn’t that so?

HOVSTAD.

Yes, if you like to put it so.

ASLAKSEN.

But why didn’t you just say a word to us beforehand? The merest hint to Mr. Hovstad or to me——

DR. STOCKMANN.

A hint? What about?

ASLAKSEN.

About what was really behind it all.

DR. STOCKMANN.

I don’t in the least understand you?

ASLAKSEN.

[_Nods confidentially._] Oh yes, you do, Dr. Stockmann.

HOVSTAD.

It’s no good making a mystery of it any longer.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Looking from one to the other._] Why, what in the devil’s name——!

ASLAKSEN.

May I ask—isn’t your father-in-law going about the town buying up all the Bath stock?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, he has been buying Bath stock to-day but——

ASLAKSEN.

It would have been more prudent to let somebody else do that—some one not so closely connected with you.

HOVSTAD.

And then you ought not to have appeared in the matter under your own name. No one need have known that the attack on the Baths came from you. You should have taken me into your counsels, Dr. Stockmann.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Stares straight in front of him; a light seems to break in upon him, and he says as though thunderstruck._] Is this possible? Can such things be?

ASLAKSEN.

[_Smiling._] It’s plain enough that they can. But they ought to be managed delicately, you understand.

HOVSTAD.

And there ought to be more people in it; for the responsibility always falls more lightly when there are several to share it.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Calmly._] In one word, gentlemen—what is it you want?

ASLAKSEN.

Mr. Hovstad can best——

HOVSTAD.

No, you explain, Aslaksen.

ASLAKSEN.

Well, it’s this: now that we know how the matter really stands, we believe we can venture to place the _People’s Messenger_ at your disposal.

DR. STOCKMANN.

You can venture to _now_, eh? But how about public opinion? Aren’t you afraid of bringing down a storm upon us?

HOVSTAD.

We must manage to ride out the storm.

ASLAKSEN.

And you must be ready to put about quickly, Doctor. As soon as your attack has done its work——

DR. STOCKMANN.

As soon as my father-in-law and I have bought up the shares at a discount, you mean?

HOVSTAD.

I presume it is mainly on scientific grounds that you want to take the management of the Baths into your own hands.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Of course; it was on scientific grounds that I got the old Badger to stand in with me. And then we’ll tinker up the water-works a little, and potter about a bit down at the beach, without its costing the town sixpence. That ought to do the business? Eh?

HOVSTAD.

I think so—if you have the _Messenger_ to back you up.

ASLAKSEN.

In a free community the press is a power, Doctor.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, indeed; and so is public opinion. And you, Mr. Aslaksen—I suppose you will answer for the House-owners' Association?

ASLAKSEN.

Both for the House-owners' Association and the Temperance Society. You may make your mind easy.

DR. STOCKMANN.

But, gentlemen—really I'm quite ashamed to mention such a thing—but—what return——?

HOVSTAD.

Of course, we should prefer to give you our support for nothing. But the _Messenger_ is not very firmly established; it’s not getting on as it ought to; and I should be very sorry to have to stop the paper just now, when there’s so much to be done in general politics.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Naturally; that would be very hard for a friend of the people like you. [_Flaring up._] But I—I am an enemy of the people! [_Striding about the room._] Where’s my stick? Where the devil is my stick?

HOVSTAD.

What do you mean?

ASLAKSEN.

Surely you wouldn’t——

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Standing still._] And suppose I don’t give you a single farthing out of all my shares? You must remember we rich folk don’t like parting with our money.

HOVSTAD.

And you must remember that this business of the shares can be represented in two ways.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, you are the man for that; if I don’t come to the rescue of the _Messenger_, you’ll manage to put a vile complexion on the affair; you’ll hunt me down, I suppose—bait me—try to throttle me as a dog throttles a hare!

HOVSTAD.

That’s a law of nature—every animal fights for its own subsistence.

ASLAKSEN.

And must take its food where it can find it, you know.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Then see if you can’t find some out in the gutter; [_Striding about the room_] for now, by heaven! we shall see which is the strongest animal of us three. [_Finds his umbrella and brandishes it._] Now, look here——!

HOVSTAD.

You surely don’t mean to assault us!

ASLAKSEN.

I say, be careful with that umbrella!

DR. STOCKMANN.

Out at the window with you, Mr. Hovstad!

HOVSTAD.

[_By the hall door._] Are you utterly crazy?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Out at the window, Mr. Aslaksen! Jump I tell you! Be quick about it!

ASLAKSEN.

[_Running round the writing-table._] Moderation, Doctor; I'm not at all strong; I can’t stand much——[_Screams._] Help! help!

MRS. STOCKMANN, PETRA, _and_ HORSTER _enter from sitting-room._

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Good heavens, Thomas! what _can_ be the matter?

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Brandishing the umbrella._] Jump, I tell you! Out into the gutter!

HOVSTAD.

An unprovoked assault! I call you to witness, Captain Horster.

[_Rushes off through the hall._

ASLAKSEN.

[_Bewildered._] If one only knew the local situation——![14]

[_He slinks out by the sitting-room door._

MRS. STOCKMANN.

[_Holding back the DOCTOR._] Now, do restrain yourself, Thomas!

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Throwing down the umbrella._] I'll be hanged if they haven’t got off after all.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Why, what can they have wanted with you?

DR. STOCKMANN.

I'll tell you afterwards; I have other things to think of now. [_Goes to the table and writes on a visiting-card._] Look here, Katrina: what’s written here?

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Three big _Noes_; what does that mean?

DR. STOCKMANN.

That I'll tell you afterwards, too. [_Handing the card._] There, Petra; let smudgy-face run to the Badger’s with this as fast as she can. Be quick!

[PETRA _goes out through the hall with the card._

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well, if I haven’t had visits to-day from all the emissaries of the devil! But now I'll sharpen my pen against them till it becomes a goad; I'll dip it in gall and venom; I'll hurl my inkstand straight at their skulls.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

You forget we are going away, Thomas.

PETRA _returns._

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well?

PETRA.

She has gone.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Good. Going away, do you say? No, I'll be damned if we do; we stay where we are, Katrina!

PETRA.

Stay!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Here in the town?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, here; the field of battle is here; here the fight must be fought; here I will conquer! As soon as my trousers are mended, I shall go out into the town and look for a house; we must have a roof over our heads for the winter.

HORSTER.

That you can have in my house.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Can I?

HORSTER.

Yes, there’s no difficulty about that. I have room enough, and I'm hardly ever at home myself.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Oh, how kind of you, Captain Horster.

PETRA.

Thank you!

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Shaking his hand._] Thanks, thanks! So that is off my mind. And this very day I shall set to work in earnest. Oh, there’s no end of work to be done here, Katrina! It’s a good thing I shall have all my time at my disposal now; for you must know I've had notice from the Baths——

MRS. STOCKMANN.

[_Sighing._] Oh yes, I was expecting that.

DR. STOCKMANN.

——And now they want to take away my practice as well. But let them! The poor I shall keep anyhow—those that can’t pay; and, good Lord! it’s they that need me most. But by heaven! I'll make them listen to me; I'll preach to them in season and out of season, as the saying goes.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

My dear Thomas, I should have thought you had learnt what good preaching does.

DR. STOCKMANN.

You really are absurd, Katrina. Am I to let myself be beaten off the field by public opinion, and the compact majority, and all that sort of devilry? No, thank you! Besides, my point is so simple, so clear and straightforward. I only want to drive it into the heads of these curs that the Liberals are the craftiest foes free men have to face; that party-programmes wring the necks of all young and living truths; that considerations of expediency turn justice and morality upside down, until life here becomes simply unlivable. Come, Captain Horster, don’t you think I shall be able to make the people understand that?

HORSTER.

Maybe; I don’t know much about these things myself.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well, you see—this is the way of it! It’s the party-leaders that must be exterminated. For a party-leader is just like a wolf, you see—like a ravening wolf; he must devour a certain number of smaller animals a year, if he’s to exist at all. Just look at Hovstad and Aslaksen! How many small animals they polish off—or at least mangle and maim, so that they’re fit for nothing else but to be house-owners and subscribers to the _People’s Messenger_! [_Sits on the edge of the table._] Just come here, Katrina—see how bravely the sun shines to-day! And how the blessed fresh spring air blows in upon me!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Yes, if only we could live on sunshine and spring air, Thomas.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Well, you’ll have to pinch and save to eke them out—and then we shall get on all right. That’s what troubles me least. No, what does trouble me is that I don’t see any man free enough and high-minded enough to dare to take up my work after me.

PETRA.

Oh, don’t think about that, father; you have time enough before you.—Why, see, there are the boys already.

EILIF _and_ MORTEN _enter from the sitting-room._

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Have you a holiday to-day?

MORTEN.

No; but we had a fight with the other fellows in play-time—-

EILIF.

That’s not true; it was the other fellows that fought us.

MORTEN.

Yes, and then Mr. Rörlund said we had better stop at home for a few days.

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_Snapping his fingers and springing down from the table._] Now I have it! Now I have it, on my soul! You shall never set foot in school again!

THE BOYS.

Never go to school!

MRS. STOCKMANN.

Why, Thomas——

DR. STOCKMANN.

Never, I say! I shall teach you myself—that’s to say, I won’t teach you any mortal thing——

MORTEN.

Hurrah!

DR. STOCKMANN.

——but I shall help you to grow into free, high-minded men.—Look here, you’ll have to help me, Petra.

PETRA.

Yes, father, you may be sure I will.

DR. STOCKMANN.

And we’ll have our school in the room where they reviled me as an enemy of the people. But we must have more pupils. I must have at least a dozen boys to begin with.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

You’ll never get them in this town.

DR. STOCKMANN.

We shall see. [_To the boys._] Don’t you know any street urchins—any regular ragamuffins——?

MORTEN.

Yes, father, I know lots!

DR. STOCKMANN.

That’s all right; bring me a few of them. I shall experiment with the street-curs for once in a way; there are sometimes excellent heads amongst them.

MORTEN.

But what are we to do when we’ve grown into free and high-minded men?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Drive all the wolves out to the far west, boys!

[EILIF _looks rather doubtful;_ MORTEN _jumps about shouting
“Hurrah!”_

MRS. STOCKMANN.

If only the wolves don’t drive you out, Thomas.

DR. STOCKMANN.

Are you quite mad, Katrina! _Drive me out!_ Now that I am the strongest man in the town?

MRS. STOCKMANN.

The strongest—now?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, I venture to say this: that now I am one of the strongest men in the whole world.

MORTEN.

I say, what fun!

DR. STOCKMANN.

[_In a subdued voice._] Hush; you mustn’t speak about it yet; but I have made a great discovery.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

What, another?

DR. STOCKMANN.

Yes, of course! [_Gathers them about him, and speaks confidentially._] This is what I have discovered, you see: the strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.

MRS. STOCKMANN.

[_Shakes her head, smiling._] Ah, Thomas dear——!

PETRA.

[_Grasping his hands cheerily._] Father!

-----

Footnote 13:

“Has no right” represents the Norwegian “tör ikke”—the phrase which,
elsewhere in this scene, is translated “dare not.” The latter
rendering should perhaps have been adhered to throughout; but in this
passage the Norwegian words convey a shade of meaning which is best
represented by “has no right.”

Footnote 14:

“De lokale forholde”—the local conditions, or the circumstances of the
locality, a phrase constantly in Aslaksen’s mouth in _The League of
Youth_. In the present context it is about equivalent to “the lie of
the land.”

THE END.

THE WILD DUCK

(1884)

CHARACTERS.

WERLE, _a merchant, manufacturer, etc._
GREGERS WERLE, _his son_.
OLD EKDAL.
HIALMAR EKDAL, _his son, a photographer_.
GINA EKDAL, _Hialmar’s wife_.
HEDVIG, _their daughter, a girl of fourteen_.
MRS. SÖRBY, _Werle’s housekeeper_.
RELLING, _a doctor_.
MOLVIK, _ex-student of theology_.
GRABERG, _Werle’s bookkeeper_.
PETTERSEN, _Werle’s servant_.
JENSEN, _a hired waiter_.
A FLABBY GENTLEMAN.
A THIN-HAIRED GENTLEMAN.
A SHORT-SIGHTED GENTLEMAN.
_Six other gentlemen, guests at Werle’s dinner-party._
_Several hired waiters._

_The first act passes in Werle’s house, the remaining acts at Hialmar
Ekdal’s._

_Pronunciation of Names_: Gregers Werle = Grayghers Verlë; Hialmar Ekdal
= Yalmar Aykdal; Gina = Gheena; Graberg = Graberg; Jensen =
Yensen.

THE WILD DUCK.

PLAY IN FIVE ACTS.

ACT FIRST.

_At_ WERLE’S _house. A richly and comfortably furnished study; bookcases
and upholstered furniture; a writing-table, with papers and
documents, in the centre of the room; lighted lamps with green
shades, giving a subdued light. At the back, open folding-doors
with curtains drawn back. Within is seen a large and handsome
room, brilliantly lighted with lamps and branching candlesticks.
In front, on the right (in the study), a small baize door leads
into_ WERLE’S _office. On the left, in front, a fireplace with a
glowing coal fire, and farther back a double door leading into the
dining-room._

WERLE’S _servant,_ PETTERSEN, _in livery, and JENSEN, the hired waiter,
in black, are putting the study in order. In the large room, two
or three other hired waiters are moving about, arranging things
and lighting more candles. From the dining-room, the hum of
conversation and laughter of many voices are heard; a glass is
tapped with a knife; silence follows, and a toast is proposed;
shouts of “Bravo!” and then again a buzz of conversation._

PETTERSEN.

[_Lights a lamp on the chimney-place and places a shade over it._] Hark to them, Jensen! now the old man’s on his legs holding a long palaver about Mrs. Sörby.

JENSEN.

[_Pushing forward an arm-chair._] Is it true, what folks say, that they’re—very good friends, eh?

PETTERSEN.

Lord knows.

JENSEN.

I've heard tell as he’s been a lively customer in his day.

PETTERSEN.

May be.

JENSEN.

And he’s giving this spread in honour of his son, they say.

PETTERSEN.

Yes. His son came home yesterday.

JENSEN.

This is the first time I ever heard as Mr. Werle _had_ a son.

PETTERSEN.

Oh yes, he has a son, right enough. But he’s a fixture, as you might say, up at the Höidal works. He’s never once come to town all the years I've been in service here.

A WAITER.

[_In the doorway of the other room._] Pettersen, here’s an old fellow wanting——

PETTERSEN.

[_Mutters._] The devil—who’s this now?

OLD EKDAL _appears from the right, in the inner room. He is
dressed in a threadbare overcoat with a high collar; he
wears woollen mittens, and carries in his hand a stick and a
fur cap. Under his arm, a brown paper parcel. Dirty
red-brown wig and small grey moustache._

PETTERSEN.

[_Goes towards him._] Good Lord—what do you want here?

EKDAL.

[_In the doorway._] Must get into the office, Pettersen.

PETTERSEN.

The office was closed an hour ago, and——

EKDAL.

So they told me at the front door. But Gråberg’s in there still. Let me slip in this way, Pettersen; there’s a good fellow. [_Points towards the baize door._] It’s not the first time I've come this way.

PETTERSEN.

Well, you may pass. [_Opens the door._] But mind you go out again the proper way, for we’ve got company.

EKDAL.

I know, I know—h’m! Thanks, Pettersen, good old friend! Thanks! [_Mutters softly._] Ass!

[_He goes into the office;_ PETTERSEN _shuts the door after
him._

JENSEN.

Is _he_ one of the office people?

PETTERSEN.

No, he’s only an outside hand that does odd jobs of copying. But he’s been a tip-topper in his day, has old Ekdal.

JENSEN.

You can see he’s been through a lot.

PETTERSEN.

Yes; he was an army officer, you know.

JENSEN.

You don’t say so?

PETTERSEN.