THE LEAGUE OF YOUTH.
Reading edition
ACT FIRST.
The Seventeenth of May.[9] A popular fête in the Chamberlain’s grounds. Music and dancing in the background. Coloured lights among the trees. In the middle, somewhat towards the back, a rostrum. To the right, the entrance to a large refreshment-tent; before it, a table with benches. In the foreground, on the left, another table, decorated with flowers and surrounded with lounging-chairs.
A Crowd of People. Lundestad, with a committee-badge at his button-hole, stands on the rostrum. Ringdal, also with a committee-badge, at the table on the left.
Lundestad.
... Therefore, friends and fellow citizens, I drink to our freedom! As we have inherited it from our fathers, so will we preserve it for ourselves and for our children! Three cheers for the day! Three cheers for the Seventeenth of May!
The Crowd.
Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!
4Ringdal.
[As Lundestad descends from the rostrum.] And one cheer more for old Lundestad!
Some of the Crowd.
[Hissing.] Ss! Ss!
Many Voices.
[Drowning the others.] Hurrah for Lundestad! Long live old Lundestad! Hurrah!
[The Crowd gradually disperses. Monsen, his son Bastian, Stensgård, and Aslaksen make their way forward through the throng.
Monsen.
'Pon my soul, it’s time he was laid on the shelf!
Aslaksen.
It was the local situation[10] he was talking about! Ho-ho!
Monsen.
He has made the same speech year after year as long as I can remember. Come over here.
Stensgård.
No, no, not that way, Mr. Monsen. We are quite deserting your daughter.
Monsen.
Oh, Ragna will find us again.
5Bastian.
She’s all right; young Helle is with her.
Stensgård.
Helle?
Monsen.
Yes, Helle. But [Nudging Stensgård familiarly] you have me here, you see, and the rest of us. Come on! Here we shall be out of the crowd, and can discuss more fully what——
[Has meanwhile taken a seat beside the table on the left.
Ringdal.
[Approaching.] Excuse me, Mr. Monsen—that table is reserved——
Stensgård.
Reserved? For whom?
Ringdal.
For the Chamberlain’s party.
Stensgård.
Oh, confound the Chamberlain’s party! There’s none of them here.
Ringdal.
No, but we expect them every minute.
Stensgård.
Then let them sit somewhere else.
[Takes a chair.
6Lundestad.
[Laying his hand on the chair.] No, the table is reserved, and there’s an end of it.
Monsen.
[Rising.] Come, Mr. Stensgård; there are just as good seats over there. [Crosses to the right.] Waiter! Ha, no waiters either. The Committee should have seen to that in time. Oh, Aslaksen, just go in and get us four bottles of champagne. Order the dearest; tell them to put it down to Monsen!
[Aslaksen goes into the tent; the three others seat themselves.
Lundestad.
[Goes quietly over to them and addresses Stensgård.] I hope you won’t take it ill——
Monsen.
Take it ill! Good gracious, no! Not in the least.
Lundestad.
[Still to Stensgård.] It’s not my doing; it’s the Committee that decided——
Monsen.
Of course. The Committee orders, and we must obey.
Lundestad.
[As before.] You see, we are on the Chamberlain’s own ground here. He has been so kind as to throw open his park and garden for this evening; so we thought——
7Stensgård.
We’re extremely comfortable here, Mr. Lundestad—if only people would leave us in peace—the crowd, I mean.
Lundestad.
[Unruffled.] Very well; then it’s all right.
[Goes towards the back.
Aslaksen.
[Entering from the tent.] The waiter is just coming with the wine.
[Sits.
Monsen.
A table apart, under special care of the Committee! And on our Independence Day of all others! There you have a specimen of the way things go.
Stensgård.
But why on earth do you put up with all this, you good people?
Monsen.
The habit of generations, you see.
Aslaksen.
You’re new to the district, Mr. Stensgård. If only you knew a little of the local situation——
A Waiter.
[Brings champagne.] Was it you that ordered—?
Aslaksen.
Yes, certainly; open the bottle.
8The Waiter.
[Pouring out the wine.] It goes to your account, Mr. Monsen?
Monsen.
The whole thing; don’t be afraid.
[The Waiter goes.
Monsen.
[Clinks glasses with Stensgård.] Here’s welcome among us, Mr. Stensgård! It gives me great pleasure to have made your acquaintance; I cannot but call it an honour to the district that such a man should settle here. The newspapers have made us familiar with your name, on all sorts of public occasions. You have great gifts of oratory, Mr. Stensgård, and a warm heart for the public weal. I trust you will enter with life and vigour into the—h’m, into the——
Aslaksen.
The local situation.
Monsen.
Oh yes, the local situation. I drink to that.
[They drink.
Stensgård.
Whatever I do, I shall certainly put life and vigour into it.
Monsen.
Bravo! Hear, hear! Another glass in honour of that promise.
Stensgård.
No, stop; I’ve already——
9Monsen.
Oh, nonsense! Another glass, I say—to seal the bond!
[They clink glasses and drink. During what follows Bastian keeps on filling the glasses as soon as they are empty.
Monsen.
However—since we have got upon the subject—I must tell you that it’s not the Chamberlain himself that keeps everything under his thumb. No, sir—old Lundestad is the man that stands behind and drives the sledge.
Stensgård.
So I am told, in many quarters. I can’t understand how a Liberal like him——
Monsen.
Lundestad? Do you call Anders Lundestad a Liberal? To be sure, he professed Liberalism in his young days, when he was still at the foot of the ladder. And then he inherited his seat in Parliament from his father. Good Lord! everything runs in families here.
Stensgård.
But there must be some means of putting a stop to all these abuses.
Aslaksen.
Yes, damn it all, Mr. Stensgård—see if you can’t put a stop to them!
Stensgård.
I don’t say that I——
10Aslaksen.
Yes, you! You are just the man. You have the gift of the gab, as the saying goes; and what’s more: you have the pen of a ready writer. My paper’s at your disposal, you know.
Monsen.
If anything is to be done, it must be done quickly. The preliminary election[11] comes on in three days now.
Stensgård.
And if you were elected, your private affairs would not prevent your accepting the charge?
Monsen.
My private affairs would suffer, of course; but if it appeared that the good of the community demanded the sacrifice, I should have to put aside all personal considerations.
Stensgård.
Good; that’s good. And you have a party already: that I can see clearly.
Monsen.
I flatter myself the majority of the younger, go-ahead generation——
Aslaksen.
H’m, h’m! 'ware spies!
11Daniel Heire enters from the tent; he peers about shortsightedly, and approaches.
Heire.
May I beg for the loan of a spare seat; I want to sit over there.
Monsen.
The benches are fastened here, you see; but won’t you take a place at this table?
Heire.
Here? At this table? Oh yes, with pleasure.pleasure. [Sits.] Dear, dear! Champagne, I believe.
Monsen.
Yes; won’t you join us in a glass?
Heire.
No, thank you! Madam Rundholmen’s champagne——Well, well, just half a glass to keep you company. If only one had a glass, now.
Monsen.
Bastian, go and get one.
Bastian.
Oh, Aslaksen, just go and fetch a glass.
[Aslaksen goes into the tent. A pause
Heire.
Don’t let me interrupt you, gentlemen. I wouldn’t for the world——! Thanks, Aslaksen. [Bows to Stensgård.] A strange face—a recent arrival! Have I the pleasure of addressing our new legal luminary, Mr. Stensgård?
12Monsen.
Quite right. [Introducing them.] Mr. Stensgård, Mr. Daniel Heire——
Bastian.
Capitalist.
Heire.
Ex-capitalist, you should rather say. It’s all gone now; slipped through my fingers, so to speak. Not that I’m bankrupt—for goodness' sake don’t think that.
Monsen.
Drink, drink, while the froth is on it.
Heire.
But rascality, you understand—sharp practice and so forth——I say no more. Well, well, I am confident it is only temporary. When I get my outstanding law-suits and some other little matters off my hands, I shall soon be on the track of our aristocratic old Reynard the Fox. Let us drink to that! You won’t, eh?
Stensgård.
I should like to know first who your aristocratic old Reynard the Fox may be.
Heire.
Hee-hee; you needn’t look so uncomfortable, man. You don’t suppose I’m alluding to Mr. Monsen. No one can accuse Mr. Monsen of being aristocratic. No; it’s Chamberlain Bratsberg, my dear young friend.
13Stensgård.
What!What! In money matters the Chamberlain is surely above reproach.
Heire.
You think so, young man? H’m; I say no more. [Draws nearer.] Twenty years ago I was worth no end of money. My father left me a great fortune. You’ve heard of my father, I daresay? No? Old Hans Heire? They called him Gold Hans. He was a shipowner: made heaps of money in the blockade time; had his window-frames and door-posts gilded; he could afford it——I say no more; so they called him Gold Hans.
Aslaksen.
Didn’t he gild his chimney-pots too?
Heire.
No; that was only a penny-a-liner’s lie; invented long before your time, however. But he made the money fly; and so did I in my time. My visit to London, for instance—haven’t you heard of my visit to London? I took a prince’s retinue with me. Have you really not heard of it, eh? And the sums I have lavished on art and science! And on bringing rising talent to the front!
Aslaksen.
[Rises.] Well, good-bye, gentlemen.
Monsen.
What? Are you leaving us?
14Aslaksen.
Yes; I want to stretch my legs a bit. [Goes.
Heire.
[Speaking low.] He was one of them—just as grateful as the rest, hee-hee! Do you know, I kept him a whole year at college?
Stensgård.
Indeed? Has Aslaksen been to college?
Heire.
Like young Monsen. He made nothing of it; also like——I say no more. Had to give him up, you see; he had already developed his unhappy taste for spirits——
Monsen.
But you’ve forgotten what you were going to tell Mr. Stensgård about the Chamberlain.
Heire.
Oh, it’s a complicated business. When my father was in his glory, things were going downhill with the old Chamberlain—this one’s father, you understand; he was a Chamberlain too.
Bastian.
Of course; everything runs in families here.
Heire.
Including the social graces——I say no more. The conversion of the currency, rash speculations, extravagances he launched out into, in the year 151816 or thereabouts, forced him to sell some of his land.
Stensgård.
And your father bought it?
Heire.
Bought and paid for it. Well, what then? I come into my property; I make improvements by the thousand——
Bastian.
Of course.
Heire.
Your health, my young friend!—Improvements by the thousand, I say—thinning the woods, and so forth. Years pass; and then comes Master Reynard—the present one, I mean—and repudiates the bargain!
Stensgård.
But, my dear Mr. Heire, you could surely have snapped your fingers at him.
Heire.
Not so easily! Some small formalities had been overlooked, he declared. Besides, I happened then to be in temporary difficulties, which afterwards became permanent. And what can a man do nowadays without capital?
Monsen.
You’re right there, by God! And in many ways you can’t do very much with capital either. That I know to my cost. Why, even my innocent children——
16Bastian.
[Thumps the table.] Ugh, father! if I only had certain people here!
Stensgård.
Your children, you say?
Monsen.
Yes; take Bastian, for example. Perhaps I haven’t given him a good education?
Heire.
A threefold education! First for the University; then for painting; and then for—what is it?—it’s a civil engineer he is now, isn’t it?
Bastian.
Yes, that I am, by the Lord!
Monsen.
Yes, that he is; I can produce his bills and his certificates to prove it! But who gets the town business? Who has got the local road-making—especially these last two years? Foreigners, or at any rate strangers—in short, people no one knows anything about!
Heire.
Yes; it’s shameful the way things go on. Only last New Year, when the managership of the Savings Bank fell vacant, what must they do but give Monsen the go-by, and choose an individual that knew—[Coughs]—that knew how to keep his purse-strings drawn—which our princely 17host obviously does not. Whenever there’s a post of confidence going, it’s always the same! Never Monsen—always some one that enjoys the confidence—of the people in power. Well, well; commune suffragium, as the Roman Law puts it; that means shipwreck in the Common Council, sir.[12] It’s a shame! Your health!
Monsen.
Thanks! But, to change the subject—how are all your law-suits getting on?
Heire.
They are still pending; I can say no more for the present. What endless annoyance they do give me! Next week I shall have to summon the whole Town Council before the Arbitration Commission.[13]
Bastian.
Is it true that you once summoned yourself before the Arbitration Commission?
Heire.
Myself? Yes; but I didn’t put in an appearance.
Monsen.
Ha, ha! You didn’t, eh?
18Heire.
I had a sufficient excuse: had to cross the river, and it was unfortunately the very year of Bastian’s bridge—plump! down it went, you know——
Bastian.
Why, confound it all——!
Heire.
Take it coolly, young man! You are not the first that has bent the bow till it breaks. Everything runs in families, you know——I say no more.
Monsen.
Ho ho ho! You say no more, eh? Well, drink, then, and say no more! [To Stensgård.] You see, Mr. Heire’s tongue is licensed to wag as it pleases.
Heire.
Yes, freedom of speech is the only civic right I really value.
Stensgård.
What a pity the law should restrict it.
Heire.
Hee-hee! Our legal friend’s mouth is watering for a nice action for slander, eh? Make your mind easy, my dear sir! I’m an old hand, let me tell you!
Stensgård.
Especially at slander?
19Heire.
Your pardon, young man! That outburst of indignation does honour to your heart. I beg you to forget an old man’s untimely frankness about your absent friends.
Stensgård.
Absent friends?
Heire.
I have nothing to say against the son, of course—nor against the daughter. And if I happened to cast a passing slur upon the Chamberlain’s character——
Stensgård.
The Chamberlain’s? Is it the Chamberlain’s family you call my friends?
Heire.
Well, you don’t pay visits to your enemies, I presume?
Bastian.
Visits?
Monsen.
What?
Heire.
Ow, ow, ow! Here am I letting cats out of bags——!
Monsen.
Have you been paying visits at the Chamberlain’s?
Stensgård.
Nonsense! A misunderstanding——
20Heire.
A most unhappy slip on my part. But how was I to know it was a secret? [To Monsen.] Besides, you musn’t take my expressions too literally. When I say a visit, I mean only a sort of formal call; a frock-coat and yellow gloves affair——
Stensgård.
I tell you I haven’t exchanged a single word with any of that family!
Heire.
Is it possible? Were you not received the second time either? I know they were “not at home” the first time.
Stensgård.
[To Monsen.] I had a letter to deliver from a friend in Christiania—that was all.
Heire.
[Rising.] I’ll be hanged if it isn’t positively revolting! Here is a young man at the outset of his career; full of simple-minded confidence, he seeks out the experienced man-of-the-world and knocks at his door; turns to him, who has brought his ship to port, to beg for——I say no more! The man-of-the-world shuts the door in his face; is not at home; never is at home when it’s his duty to be——I say no more! [With indignation.] Was there ever such shameful insolence!
Stensgård.
Oh, never mind that stupid business.
21Heire.
Not at home! He, who goes about professing that he is always at home to reputable people!
Stensgård.
Does he say that?
Heire.
A mere empty phrase. He’s not at home to Mr. Monsen either. But I can’t think what has made him hate you so much. Yes, hate you, I say; for what do you think I heard yesterday?
Stensgård.
I don’t want to know what you heard yesterday.
Heire.
Then I say no more. Besides, the expressions didn’t surprise me—coming from the Chamberlain, I mean. Only I can’t understand why he should have added “demagogue.”
Stensgård.
Demagogue!
Heire.
Well, since you insist upon it, I must confess that the Chamberlain called you an adventurer and demagogue.
Stensgård.
[Jumps up.] What!
Heire.
Adventurer and demagoguedemagogue—or demagogue and adventurer; I won’t answer for the order.
22Stensgård.
And you heard that?
Heire.
I? If I had been present, Mr. Stensgård, you may be sure I should have stood up for you as you deserve.
Monsen.
There, you see what comes of——
Stensgård.
How dare the old scoundrel——?
Heire.
Come, come, come! Keep your temper. Very likely it was a mere figure of speech—a harmless little joke, I have no doubt. You can demand an explanation to-morrow; for I suppose you are going to the great dinner-party, eh?
Stensgård.
I am not going to any dinner-party.
Heire.
Two calls and no invitation——!
Stensgård.
Demagogue and adventurer! What can he be thinking of?
Monsen.
Look there! Talk of the devil——! Come, Bastian.
[Goes off with Bastian.
Stensgård.
What did he mean by it, Mr. Heire?
23Heire.
Haven’t the ghost of an idea.—It pains you? Your hand, young man! Pardon me if my frankness has wounded you. Believe me, you have yet many bitter lessons to learn in this life. You are young; you are confiding; you are trustful. It is beautiful; it is even touching; but—but—trustfulness is silver, experience is gold: that’s a proverb of my own invention, sir! God bless you!
[Goes.
Chamberlain Bratsberg, his daughter Thora, and Doctor Fieldbo enter from the left.
Lundestad.
[Strikes the bell on the rostrum.] Silence for Mr. Ringdal’s speech!
Stensgård.
[Shouts.] Mr. Lundestad, I demand to be heard!
Lundestad.
Afterwards.
Stensgård.
No, now! at once!
Lundestad.
You can’t speak just now. Silence for Mr. Ringdal!
Ringdal.
[On the rostrum.] Ladies and gentlemen! We have at this moment the honour of seeing in our midst the man with the warm heart and the open hand—the man we have all looked up to for many a year, as to a father—the man who is always ready to help us, both in word and deed—the man whose door is never closed to any reputable citizen—the 24man who—who—ladies and gentlemen, our honoured guest is no lover of long speeches; so, without more words, I call for three cheers for Chamberlain Bratsberg and his family! Long life to them! Hurrah!
The Crowd.
Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!
[Great enthusiasm; people press around the Chamberlain, who thanks them and shakes hands with those nearest him.
Stensgård.
Now may I speak?
Lundestad.
By all means. The platform is at your service.
Stensgård.
[Jumps upon the table.] I shall choose my own platform!
The Young Men.
[Crowding around him.] Hurrah!
The Chamberlain.
[To the Doctor.] Who is this obstreperous personage?
Fieldbo.
Mr. Stensgård.
The Chamberlain.
Oh, it’s he, is it?
25Stensgård.
Listen to me, my glad-hearted brothers and sisters! Hear me, all you who have in your souls—though it may not reach your lips—the exultant song of the day, the day of our freedom! I am a stranger among you——
Aslaksen.
No!
Stensgård.
Thanks for that “No!” I take it as the utterance of a longing, an aspiration. A stranger I am, however; but this I swear, that I come among you with a great and open-hearted sympathy for your sorrows and your joys, your victories and defeats. If it lay in my power——
Aslaksen.
It does, it does!
Lundestad.
No interruptions! You have no right to speak.
Stensgård.
You still less! I abolish the Committee! Freedom on the day of freedom, boys!
The Young Men.
Hurrah for freedom!
Stensgård.
They deny you the right of speech! You hear it—they want to gag you! Away with this tyranny! I won’t stand here declaiming to a flock of dumb animals. I will talk; but you shall talk too. We will talk to each other, from the heart!
26The Crowd.
[With growing enthusiasm.] Hurrah!
Stensgård.
We will have no more of these barren, white-chokered festivities! A golden harvest of deeds shall hereafter shoot up from each Seventeenth of May. May! Is it not the season of bud and blossom, the blushing maiden-month of the year? On the first of June I shall have been just two months among you; and in that time what greatness and littleness, what beauty and deformity, have I not seen?
The Chamberlain.
What on earth is he talking about, Doctor?
Fieldbo.
Aslaksen says it’s the local situation.
Stensgård.
I have seen great and brilliant possibilities among the masses; but I have seen, too, a spirit of corruption brooding over the germs of promise and bringing them to nought. I have seen ardent and trustful youth rush yearning forth—and I have seen the door shut in its face.
Thora.
Oh, Heaven!
The Chamberlain.
What does he mean by that?
Stensgård.
Yes, my brothers and sisters in rejoicing! There hovers in the air an Influence, a Spectre 27from the dead and rotten past, which spreads darkness and oppression where there should be nothing but buoyancy and light. We must lay that Spectre; down with it!
The Crowd.
Hurrah! Hurrah for the Seventeenth of May!
Thora.
Come away, father——!
The Chamberlain.
What the deuce does he mean by a spectre? Who is he talking about, Doctor?
Fieldbo.
[Quickly.] Oh, it’s about——
[Whispers a word or two.
The Chamberlain.
Aha! So that’s it!
Thora.
[Softly to Fieldbo.] Thanks!
Stensgård.
If no one else will crush the dragon, I will! But we must hold together, boys!
Many Voices.
Yes! yes!
Stensgård.
We are young! The time belongs to us; but we also belong to the time. Our right is our duty! Elbow-room for faculty, for will, for power! Listen to me! We must form a League. The money-bag has ceased to rule among us!
28The Chamberlain.
Bravo! [To the Doctor.] He said the money-bag; so no doubt you’re right——
Stensgård.
Yes, boys; we, we are the wealth of the country, if only there’s metal in us. Our will is the ringing gold that shall pass from man to man. War to the knife against whoever shall deny its currency!
The Crowd.
Hurrah!
Stensgård.
A scornful “bravo” has been flung in my teeth——
The Chamberlain.
No, no!
Stensgård.
What care I! Thanks and threats alike are powerless over the perfect will. And now, God be with us! For we are going about His work, with youth and faith to help us. Come, then, into the refreshment-tent—our League shall be baptized this very hour.
The Crowd.
Hurrah! Carry him! Shoulder high with him!
[He is lifted shoulder high.
Voices.
Speak on! More! More!
29Stensgård.
Let us hold together, I say! Providence is on the side of the League of Youth. It lies with us to rule the world—here in the district!
[He is carried into the tent amid wild enthusiasm.
Madam Rundholmen.
[Wiping her eyes.] Oh, Lord, how beautifully he does speak! Don’t you feel as if you could kiss him, Mr. Heire?
Heire.
Thank you, I’d rather not.
Madam Rundholmen.
Oh, you! I daresay not.
Heire.
Perhaps you would like to kiss him, Madam Rundholmen.
Madam Rundholmen.
Ugh, how horrid you are!
[She goes into the tent; Heire follows her.
The Chamberlain.
Spectre—and dragon—and money-bag! It was horribly rude—but well deserved!
Lundestad.
[Approaching.] I’m heartily sorry, Chamberlain——
The Chamberlain.
Yes, where was your knowledge of character, Lundestad? Well, well; we are none of us 30infallible. Good-night, and thanks for a pleasant evening. [Turns to Thora and the Doctor.] But bless me, I’ve been positively rude to that fine young fellow!
Fieldbo.
How so?
Thora.
His call, you mean——?
The Chamberlain.
He called twice. It’s really Lundestad’s fault. He told me he was an adventurer and—and I forget what else. Fortunately I can make up for it.
Thora.
How?
The Chamberlain.
Come, Thora; let us see to it at once——
Fieldbo.
Oh, do you think it’s worth while, Chamberlain——?
Thora.
[Softly.] Hush!
The Chamberlain.
When one has done an injustice one should lose no time in undoing it; that’s a plain matter of duty. Good-night, Doctor. After all, I’ve spent an amusing hour; and that’s more than I have to thank you for to-day.
Fieldbo.
Me,Me, Chamberlain?
31The Chamberlain.
Yes, yes, yes—you and others.
Fieldbo.
May I ask what I——?
The Chamberlain.
Don’t be curious, Doctor. I am never curious. Come, come—-no offence—good-night!
[The Chamberlain and Thora go out to the left; Fieldbo gazes thoughtfully after them.
Aslaksen.
[From the tent.] Hei, waiter! Pen and ink! Things are getting lively, Doctor!
Fieldbo.
What things?
Aslaksen.
He’s founding the League. It’s nearly founded.
Lundestad.
[Who has quietly drawn near.] Are many putting down their names?
Aslaksen.
We’ve enrolled about seven-and-thirty, not counting widows and so forth. Pen and ink, I say! No waiters to be found!—that’s the fault of the local situation.
[Goes off behind the tent.
Lundestad.
Puh! It has been hot to-day.
32Fieldbo.
I’m afraid we have hotter days to come.
Lundestad.
Do you think the Chamberlain was very angry?
Fieldbo.
Oh, not in the least; you could see that, couldn’t you? But what do you say to the new League?
Lundestad.
H’m; I say nothing. What is there to be said?
Fieldbo.
It’s the beginning of a struggle for power here in the district.
Lundestad.
Well, well; no harm in a fight. He has great gifts, that Stensgård.
Fieldbo.
He is determined to make his way.
Lundestad.
Youth is always determined to make its way. I was, when I was young; no one can object to that. But mightn’t we look in and see——
Heire.
[From the tent.] Well, Mr. Lundestad, are you going to move the previous question, eh? To head the opposition? Hee-hee! You must make haste!
Lundestad.
Oh, I daresay I shall be in time.
33Heire.
Too late, sir! Unless you want to stand godfather. [Cheering from the tent.] There, they’re chanting Amen; the baptism is over.
Lundestad.
I suppose one may be permitted to listen; I shall keep quiet.
[Enters the tent.
Heire.
There goes one of the falling trees! There will be a rare uprooting, I can tell you! The place will soon look like a wood after a tornado. Won’t I chuckle over it!
Fieldbo.
Tell me, Mr. Heire, what interest have you in the matter?
Heire.
Interest? I am entirely disinterested, Doctor! If I chuckle, it is on behalf of my fellow citizens. There will be life, spirit, go, in things. For my own part—good Lord, it’s all the same to me; I say, as the Grand Turk said of the Emperor of Austria and the King of France—I don’t care whether the pig eats the dog or the dog the pig.
[Goes out towards the back on the right.
The Crowd.
[In the tent.] Long live Stensgård! Hurrah! Hurrah for the League of Youth! Wine! Punch! Hei, hei! Beer! Hurrah!
Bastian.
[Comes from the tent.] God bless you and every one! [With tears in his voice.] Oh, Doctor, I feel so strong this evening; I must do something.
34Fieldbo.
Don’t mind me. What would you like to do?
Bastian.
I think I’ll go down to the dancing-room and fight one or two fellows.
[Goes out behind the tent.
Stensgård.
[Comes from the tent without his hat, and greatly excited.] My dear Fieldbo, is that you?
Fieldbo.
At your service, Tribune of the People! For I suppose you’ve been elected——?
Stensgård.
Of course; but——
Fieldbo.
And what is to come of it all? What nice little post are you to have? The management of the Bank? Or perhaps——
Stensgård.
Oh, don’t talk to me like that! I know you don’t mean it. You are not so empty and wooden as you like to appear.
Fieldbo.
Empty and wooden, eh?
Stensgård.
Fieldbo! Be my friend as you used to be! We have not understood each other of late. You have wounded and repelled me with your ridicule and irony. Believe me, it was wrong of you. [Embraces him.] Oh, my great God! how happy I am!
35Fieldbo.
You too? So am I, so am I!
Stensgård.
Yes, I should be the meanest hound on earth if all heaven’s bounty didn’t make me good and true. How have I deserved it, Fieldbo? What have I, sinner that I am, done to be so richly blessed?
Fieldbo.
There is my hand! This evening I am your friend indeed!
Stensgård.
Thanks! Be faithful and true, as I shall be!—Oh, isn’t it an unspeakable joy to carry all that multitude away and along with you? How can you help becoming good from mere thankfulness? And how it makes you love all your fellow creatures! I feel as if I could clasp them all in one embrace, and weep, and beg their forgiveness because God has been so partial as to give me more than them.
Fieldbo.
[Quietly.] Yes, treasures without price may fall to one man’s lot. This evening I would not crush an insect, not a green leaf upon my path.
Stensgård.
You?
Fieldbo.
Never mind. That’s apart from the question. I only mean that I understand you.
Stensgård.
What a lovely night! Listen to the music and merriment floating out over the meadows. And 36how still it is in the valley! I tell you the man whose life is not reconsecrated in such an hour, does not deserve to live on God’s earth!
Fieldbo.
Yes; but tell me now: what do you mean to build up out of it—to-morrow, and through the working-days to come?
Stensgård.
To build up? We have to tear down first.— Fieldbo, I had once a dream—or did I see it? No; it was a dream, but such a vivid one! I thought the Day of Judgment was come upon the world. I could see the whole curve of the hemisphere. There was no sun, only a livid storm-light. A tempest arose; it came rushing from the west and swept everything before it: first withered leaves, then men; but they kept on their feet all the time, and their garments clung fast to them, so that they seemed to be hurried along sitting. At first they looked like townspeople running after their hats in a wind; but when they came nearer they were emperors and kings; and it was their crowns and orbs they were chasing and catching at, and seemed always on the point of grasping, but never grasped. Oh, there were hundreds and hundreds of them, and none of them understood in the least what was happening; but many bewailed themselves, and asked: “Whence can it come, this terrible storm?”storm?” Then there came the answer: “One Voice spoke, and the storm is the echo of that one Voice.”
Fieldbo.
When did you dream that?
37Stensgård.
Oh, I don’t remember when; several years ago.ago.
Fieldbo.
There were probably disturbances somewhere in Europe, and you had been reading the newspapers after a heavy supper.
Stensgård.
The same shiver, the same thrill, that then ran down my back, I felt again to-night. Yes, I will give my whole soul utterance. I will be the Voice——
Fieldbo.
Come, my dear Stensgård, pause and reflect. You will be the Voice, you say. Good! But where will you be the Voice? Here in the parish? Or at most here in the county! And who will echo you and raise the storm? Why, people like Monsen and Aslaksen, and that fat-headed genius, Mr. Bastian. And instead of the flying emperors and kings, we shall see old Lundestad rushing about after his lost seat in Parliament. Then what will it all amount to? Just what you at first saw in your dreamf—townsfolk in a wind.
Stensgård.
In the beginning, yes. But who knows how far the storm may sweep?
Fieldbo.
Fiddlesticks with you and your storm: And the first thing you go and do, hoodwinked and blinded and gulled as you are, is to turn your weapons precisely against all that is worthy and capable among us——
38Stensgård.
That is not true.
Fieldbo.
It is true! Monsen and the Stonelee gang got hold of you the moment you came here; and if you don’t shake him off it will be your ruin. Chamberlain Bratsberg is a man of honour; that you may rely on. Do you know why the great Monsen hates him? Why, because——
Stensgård.
Not a word more! I won’t hear a word against my friends!
Fieldbo.
Look into yourself, Stensgård! Is Mr. Mons Monsen really your friend?
Stensgård.
Mr. Monsen has most kindly opened his doors to me——
Fieldbo.
To people of the better sort he opens his doors in vain.
Stensgård.
Oh, whom do you call the better sort? A few stuck-up officials! I know all about it. As for me, I have been received at Stonelee with so much cordiality and appreciation——
Fieldbo.
Appreciation? Yes, unfortunately—there we are at the root of the matter.
39Stensgård.
Not at all! I can see with unprejudiced eyes. Mr. Monsen has abilities, he has reading, he has a keen sense for public affairs.
Fieldbo.
Abilities? Oh, yes, in a way. Reading too: he takes in the papers, and has read your speeches and articles. And his sense for public affairs he has of course proved by applauding the said articles and speeches.
Stensgård.
Now, Fieldbo, up come the dregs of your nature again. Can you never shake off that polluting habit of thought? Why must you always assume mean or ridiculous motives for everything? Oh, you are not serious! Now you look good and true again. I’ll tell you the real root of the matter. Do you know Ragna?
Fieldbo.
Ragna Monsen? Oh, after a fashion—at second hand.
Stensgård.
Yes, I know she is sometimes at the Chamberlain’s.
Fieldbo.
In a quiet way, yes. She and Miss Bratsberg are old schoolfellows.
Stensgård.
And what do you think of her?
Fieldbo.
Why, from all I have heard she seems to be a very good girl.
40Stensgård.
Oh, you should see her in her home! She thinks of nothing but her two little sisters. And how devotedly she must have nursed her mother! You know the mother was out of her mind for some years before she died.
Fieldbo.
Yes; I was their doctor at one time. But surely, my dear fellow, you don’t mean that——
Stensgård.
Yes, Fieldbo, I love her truly; to you I can confess it. Oh, I know what you are surprised at. You think it strange that so soon after—of course you know that I was engaged in Christiania?
Fieldbo.
Yes, so I was told.
Stensgård.
The whole thing was a disappointment. I had to break it off; it was best for all parties. Oh, how I suffered in that affair! The torture, the sense of oppression I endured——! Now, thank heaven, I am out of it all. That was my reason for leaving town.
Fieldbo.
And with regard to Ragna Monsen, are you quite sure of yourself?
Stensgård.
Yes, I am indeed. There’s no mistake possible in this case.
41Fieldbo.
Well, then, in heaven’s name, go in and win! It means your life’s happiness! Oh, there’s so much I could say to you——
Stensgård.
Really? Has she said anything? Has she confided in Miss Bratsberg?
Fieldbo.
No; that’s not what I mean. But how can you, in the midst of your happiness, go and fuddle yourself in these political orgies? How can town tattle take any hold upon a mind that is——
Stensgård.
Why not? Man is a complex machine—I am, at any rate. Besides, my way to her lies through these very party turmoils.
Fieldbo.
A terribly prosaic way.
Stensgård.
Fieldbo, I am ambitious; you know I am. I must make my way in the world. When I remember that I’m thirty, and am still on the first round of the ladder, I feel my conscience gnawing at me.
Fieldbo.
Not with its wisdom teeth.
Stensgård.
It’s of no use talking to you. You have never felt the spur of ambition. You have dawdled and drifted all your days—first at college, then abroad, now here.
42Fieldbo.
Perhaps; but at least it has been delightful.delightful. And no reaction follows, like what you feel when you get down from the table after——
Stensgård.
Stop that! I can bear anything but that. You are doing a bad action—you are damping my ardour.
Fieldbo.
Oh, come! If your ardour is so easily damped——
Stensgård.
Stop, I say! What right have you to break in upon my happiness? Do you think I am not sincere?
Fieldbo.
Yes, I am sure you are.
Stensgård.
Well, then, why go and make me feel empty, and disgusted, and suspicious of myself? [Shouts and cheers from the tent.] There—listen! They are drinking my health. An idea that can take such hold upon people—by God, it must have truth in it!
Thora Bratsberg, Ragna Monsen, and Mr. Helle enter from the left and cross, half-way back.
Helle.
Look, Miss Bratsberg; there is Mr. Stensgård.
Thora.
Then I won’t go any further. Good-night, Ragna dear.
43Helle and Miss Monsen.
Good-night, good-night.
[They go out to the right.
Thora.
[Advancing.] I am Miss Bratsberg. I have a letter for you, from my father.
Stensgård.
For me?
Thora.
Yes; here it is. [Going.
Fieldbo.
May I not see you home?
Thora.
No, thank you. I can go alone. Good-night.
[Goes out to the left.
Stensgård.
[Reading the letter by a Chinese lantern.] What is this!
Fieldbo.
Well—what has the Chamberlain to say to you?
Stensgård.
[Bursts into loud laughter.] I must say I didn’t expect this!
Fieldbo.
Tell me——?
Stensgård.
Chamberlain Bratsberg is a pitiful creature.
Fieldbo.
You dare to——
44Stensgård.
Pitiful! Pitiful. Tell any one you please that I said so. Or rather, say nothing about it——[Puts the letter in his pocket.] Don’t mention this to any one!
[The Company come out from the tent.
Monsen.
Mr. President! Where is Mr. Stensgård?
The Crowd.
There he is! Hurrah!
Lundestad.
Mr. President has forgotten his hat.
[Hands it to him.
Aslaksen.
Here; have some punch! Here’s a whole bowlful!
Stensgård.
Thanks, no more.
Monsen.
And the members of the League will recollect that we meet to-morrow at Stonelee——
Stensgård.
To-morrow? It wasn’t to-morrow, was it——?
Monsen.
Yes, certainly; to draw up the manifesto——
Stensgård.
No, I really can’t to-morrow—I shall see about it the day after to-morrow, or the day after that. 45Well, good-night, gentlemen; hearty thanks all round, and hurrah for the future!
The Crowd.
Hurrah! Let’s take him home in triumph!
Stensgård.
Thanks, thanks! But you really mustn’t——
Aslaksen.
We’ll all go with you.
Stensgård.
Very well, come along. Good-night, Fieldbo; you’re not coming with us?
Fieldbo.
No; but let me tell you, what you said about Chamberlain Bratsberg——
Stensgård.
Hush, hush! It was an exaggeration—I withdraw it! Well, my friends, if you’re coming, come; I’ll take the lead.
Monsen.
Your arm, Stensgård!
Bastian.
A song! Strike up! Something thoroughly patriotic!
The Crowd.
A song! A song! Music!
[A popular air is played and sung. The procession marches out by the back to the right.
46Fieldbo.
[To Lundestad, who remains behind.] A gallant procession.
Lundestad.
Yes—and with a gallant leader.
Fieldbo.
And where are you going, Mr. Lundestad?
Lundestad.
I? I’m going home to bed.
[He nods and goes off. Doctor Fieldbo remains behind alone.
47
ACT SECOND.
A garden-room at the Chamberlains, elegantly furnished, with a piano, flowers, and rare plants. Entrance door at the back. On the left, a door leading to the dining-room; on the right, several glass doors lead out to the garden.
Aslaksen stands at the entrance door. A Maidservant is carrying some dishes of fruit into the dining-room.
The Maid.
Yes, but I tell you they’re still at table; you must call again.
Aslaksen.
I’d rather wait, if I may.
The Maid.
Oh yes, if you like. You can sit there for the present.
[She goes into the dining-room. Aslaksen takes a seat near the door. Pause. Dr. Fieldbo enters from the back.
Fieldbo.
Ah, good evening, Aslaksen: are you here?
The Maid.
[Returning.] You’re late this evening, sir.
48Fieldbo.
I was called to see a patient.
The Maid.
The Chamberlain and Miss Bratsberg have both been inquiring about you.
Fieldbo.
Indeed?
The Maid.
Yes. Won’t you go in at once, sir; or shall I say that——?
Fieldbo.
No, no; never mind. I can have a snack afterwards; I shall wait here in the meantime.
The Maid.
Dinner will soon be over.
[She goes out by the back.
Aslaksen.
[After a pause.] How can you resist such a dinner, Doctor—with dessert, and fine wines, and all sorts of good things?
Fieldbo.
Why, man, it seems to me we get too many good things hereabouts, rather than too few.
Aslaksen.
There I can’t agree with you.
Fieldbo.
H’m. I suppose you are waiting for someone.
Aslaksen.
Yes, I am.am.
49Fieldbo.
And are things going tolerably at home? Your wife——?
Aslaksen.
In bed, as usual; coughing and wasting away.
Fieldbo.
And your second child?
Aslaksen.
Oh, he’s a cripple for the rest of his days; you know that. That’s our luck, you see; what the devil’s the use of talking about it?
Fieldbo.
Let me look at you, Aslaksen!
Aslaksen.
Well; what do you want to see?
Fieldbo.
You’ve been drinking to-day.
Aslaksen.
Yes, and yesterday too.
Fieldbo.
Well, yesterday there was some excuse for it; but to-day——
Aslaksen.
What about your friends in there, then? Aren’t they drinking too?
Fieldbo.
Yes, my dear Aslaksen; that’s a fair retort; but circumstances differ so in this world.
50Aslaksen.
I didn’t choose my circumstances.
Fieldbo.
No; God chose them for you.
Aslaksen.
No, he didn’t—men chose them. Daniel Heire chose, when he took me from the printing-house and sent me to college. And Chamberlain Bratsberg chose, when he ruined Daniel Heire and sent me back to the printing-house.
Fieldbo.
Now you know that’s not true. The Chamberlain did not ruin Daniel Heire; Daniel Heire ruined himself.
Aslaksen.
Perhaps! But how dared Daniel Heire ruin himself, in the face of his responsibilities towards me? God’s partly to blame too, of course. Why should he give me talent and ability? Well, of course I could have turned them to account as a respectable handicraftsman; but then comes that tattling old fool——
Fieldbo.
It’s base of you to say that. Daniel Heire acted with the best intentions.
Aslaksen.
What good do his “best intentions” do me? You hear them in there, clinking glasses and drinking healths? Well, I too have sat at that table in my day, dressed in purple and fine linen, like the best of them——! That was just the thing for me, that was—for me, that had read so much 51and had thirsted so long to have my share in all the good things of life. Well, well; how long was Jeppe in Paradise?[14] Smash, crash! down you go—and my fine fortunes fell to pie, as we printers say.
Fieldbo.
But, after all, you were not so badly off; you had your trade to fall back upon.
Aslaksen.
That’s easily said. After getting out of your class you can’t get into it again. They took the ground from under my feet, and shoved me out on the slippery ice—and then they abuse me because I stumble.
Fieldbo.
Well, far be it from me to judge you harshly——
Aslaksen.
No; you have no right to.—What a queer jumble it is! Daniel Heire, and Providence, and the Chamberlain, and Destiny, and Circumstance—and I myself in the middle of it! I’ve often thought of unravelling it all and writing a book about it; but it’s so cursedly entangled that——[Glances towards the door on the left.] Ah! They’re rising from table.
[The party, ladies and gentlemen, pass from the dining-room into the garden, in lively conversation. Among the guests is Stensgård, with Thora on his left arm and Selma on his right. Fieldbo and Aslaksen stand beside the door at the back.
52Stensgård.
I don’t know my way here yet; you must tell me where I am to take you, ladies.
Selma.
Out into the air; you must see the garden.
Stensgård.
Oh, that will be delightful.
[They go out by the foremost glass door on the right.
Fieldbo.
Why, by all that’s wonderful, there’s Stensgård!
Aslaksen.
It’s him I want to speak to. I’ve had a fine chase after him; fortunately I met Daniel Heire——
Daniel Heire and Erik Bratsberg enter from the dining-room.
Heire.
Hee-hee! Excellent sherry, upon my word. I’ve tasted nothing like it since I was in London.
Erik.
Yes, it’s good, isn’t it? It puts life into you.
Heire.
Well, well—it’s a real pleasure to see one’s money so well spent.
Erik.
How so? [Laughing.] Oh, yes; I see, I see.
[They go into the garden.
53Fieldbo.
You want to speak to Stensgård, you say?
Aslaksen.
Yes.
Fieldbo.
On business?
Aslaksen.
Of course; the report of the fête——
Fieldbo.
Well, then, you must wait out there in the meantime.
Aslaksen.
In the passage?
Fieldbo.
In the anteroom. This is scarcely the time or place—but the moment I see Stensgård alone, I’ll tell him——
Aslaksen.
Very well; I’ll bide my time.
[Goes out by the back.
Chamberlain Bratsberg, Lundestad, Ringdal,
and one or two other gentlemen come
out of the dining-room.
The Chamberlain.
[Conversing with Lundestad.] Violent, you say? Well, perhaps the form wasn’t all that could be desired; but there were real gems in the speech, I can assure you.
Lundestad.
Well, if you are satisfied, Chamberlain, I have no right to complain.
54The Chamberlain.
Why should you? Ah, here’s the Doctor! Starving, I’ll be bound.
Fieldbo.
It doesn’t matter, Chamberlain. The servants will attend to me. I feel myself almost at home here, you know.
The Chamberlain.
Oh, you do, do you? I wouldn’t be in too great a hurry.
Fieldbo.
What? Am I taking too great a liberty? You yourself permitted me to——
The Chamberlain.
What I permitted, I permitted. Well, well, make yourself at home, and forage for something to eat. [Slaps him lightly on the shoulder and turns to Lundestad.] Now, here’s one you may call an adventurer and—and the other thing I can’t remember.
Fieldbo.
Why, Chamberlain——!
Lundestad.
No, I assure you——
The Chamberlain.
No arguments after dinner; it’s bad for the digestion. They’ll serve the coffee outside presently.
[Goes with the guests into the garden.
Lundestad.
[To Fieldbo.] Did you ever see the Chamberlain so strange as he is to-day?
55Fieldbo.
I noticed it yesterday evening.
Lundestad.
He will have it that I called Mr. Stensgård an adventurer and something else of that sort.
Fieldbo.
Oh, well, Mr. Lundestad, what if you did? Excuse me; I must go and talk to the ladies.
[Goes out to the right.
Lundestad.
[To Ringdal, who is arranging a card table.] How do you account for Mr. Stensgård’s appearance here to-day?
Ringdal.
Yes, how? He wasn’t on the original list.
Lundestad.
An afterthought, then? After his attack on the Chamberlain yesterday——?
Ringdal.
Yes, can you understand it?
Lundestad.
Understand it? Oh yes, I suppose I can.
Ringdal.
[More softly.] You think the Chamberlain is afraid of him?
56Lundestad.
I think he is prudent—that’s what I think.
[They go up to the back conversing, and so out into the garden. At the same time Selma and Stensgård enter by the foremost door on the right.
Selma.
Yes, just look—over the tops of the trees you can see the church tower and all the upper part of the town.
Stensgård.
So you can; I shouldn’t have thought so.
Selma.
Don’t you think it’s a beautiful view?
Stensgård.
Everything is beautiful here: the garden, and the view, and the sunshine, and the people! Great heaven, how beautiful it all is! And you live here all the summer?
Selma.
No, not my husband and I; we come and go. We have a big, showy house in town, much finer than this; you’ll see it soon.
Stensgård.
Perhaps your family live in town?
Selma.
My family? Who are my family?
Stensgård.
Oh, I didn’t know——
57Selma.
We fairy princesses have no family.
Stensgård.
Fairy princesses?
Selma.
At most we have a wicked stepmother——
Stensgård.
A witch, yes! So you are a princess!
Selma.
Princess of all the sunken palaces, whence you hear the soft music on midsummer nights. Doctor Fieldbo thinks it must be pleasant to be a princess; but I must tell you——
Erik Bratsberg.
[Coming from the garden.] Ah, at last I find the little lady!
Selma.
The little lady is telling Mr. Stensgård the story of her life.
Erik.
Oh, indeed. And what part does the husband play in the little lady’s story?
Selma.
The Prince, of course. [To Stensgård.] You know the prince always comes and breaks the spell, and then all ends happily, and every one calls and congratulates, and the fairy-tale is over.
Stensgård.
Oh, it’s too short.
58Selma.
Perhaps—in a way.
Erik.
[Putting his arm round her waist.] But a new fairy-tale grows out of the old one, and in it the Princess becomes a Queen!
Selma.
On the same condition as real Princesses?
Erik.
What condition?
Selma.
They must go into exile—to a foreign kingdom.
Erik.
A cigar, Mr. Stensgård?
Stensgård.
Thank you, not just now.
Doctor Fieldbo and Thora enter from the garden.
Selma.
[Going towards them.] Is that you, Thora dear? I hope you’re not ill?
Thora.
I? No.
Selma.
Oh, but I’m sure you must be; you seem to be always consulting the doctor of late.
Thora.
No, I assure you——
59Selma.
Nonsense; let me feel your pulse! You are burning. My dear Doctor, don’t you think the fever will pass over?
Fieldbo.
Everything has its time.
Thora.
Would you rather have me freezing——?
Selma.
No, a medium temperature is the best—ask my husband.
The Chamberlain.
[Enters from the garden.] The whole family gathered in secret conclave? That’s not very polite to the guests.
Thora.
I am just going, father dear——
The Chamberlain.
Aha, it is you the ladies are paying court to, Mr. Stensgård! I must look to this.
Thora.
[Softly to Fieldbo.] Remain here!
[She goes into the garden.
Erik.
[Offers Selma his arm.] Has Madame any objection——?
Selma.
Come! [They go out to the right.
60The Chamberlain.
[Looking after them.] It’s impossible to get these two separated.
Fieldbo.
It would be sinful to try.
The Chamberlain.
Fools that we are! How Providence blesses us in spite of ourselves. [Calls out.] Thora, Thora, do look after Selma! Get a shawl for her, and don’t let her run about so: she’ll catch cold! How short-sighted we mortals are, Doctor! Do you know any cure for that disease?
Fieldbo.
The spectacles of experience; through them you will see more clearly a second time.
The Chamberlain.
You don’t say so! Thanks for the advice. But since you feel yourself at home here, you must really pay a little attention to your guests.
Fieldbo.
Certainly; come, Stensgård, shall we——?
The Chamberlain.
Oh, no, no—there’s my old friend Heire out there——
Fieldbo.
He thinks himself at home here too.
The Chamberlain.
Ha ha ha! So he does.
61Fieldbo.
Well, we two will join forces, and do our best.
[Goes into the garden.
Stensgård.
You were speaking of Daniel Heire, Chamberlain. I must say I was rather surprised to see him here.
The Chamberlain.
Were you? Mr. Heire and I are old school and college friends. Besides, we have had a good deal to do with each other in many ways since——
Stensgård.
Yes, Mr. Heire was good enough to give his own account of some of these transactions, yesterday evening.
The Chamberlain.
H’m!
Stensgård.
Had it not been for him, I certainly should not have let myself boil over as I did. But he has a way of speaking of people and things, that—in short, he has a vile tongue in his head.
The Chamberlain.
My dear young friend—Mr. Heire is my guest; you must not forget that. My house is liberty hall, with only one reservation: my guests must not be discussed to their disadvantage.
Stensgård.
I beg your pardon, I’m sure——!
62The Chamberlain.
Oh, never mind; you belong to the younger generation, that’s not so punctilious. As for Mr. Heire, I don’t think you really know him. I, at any rate, owe Mr. Heire a great deal.
Stensgård.
Yes, so he gave one to understand; but I didn’t think——
The Chamberlain.
I owe him the best part of our domestic happiness, Mr. Stensgård! I owe him my daughter-in-law. Yes, that is really so. Daniel Heire was kind to her in her childhood. She was a youthful prodigy; she gave concerts when she was only ten years old. I daresay you have heard her spoken of—Selma Sjöblom.[15]
Stensgård.
Sjöblom? Yes, of course; her father was Swedish?
The Chamberlain.
Yes, a music-teacher. He came here many years ago. Musicians, you know, are seldom millionaires; and their habits are not always calculated to——; in short, Mr. Heire has always had an eye for talent; he was struck with the child, and had her sent to Berlin; and then, when her father was dead and Heire’s fortunes were on the wane, she returned to Christiania, where she was of course taken up by the best people. That was how my son happened to fall in with her.
63Stensgård.
Then in that way old Daniel Heire has indeed been an instrument for good——
The Chamberlain.
That is how one thing leads to another in this life, you see. We are all instruments, Mr. Stensgård; you, like the rest of us; an instrument of wrath, I suppose——
Stensgård.
Oh, don’t speak of it, Chamberlain. I am utterly ashamed——
The Chamberlain.
Ashamed?
Stensgård.
It was most unbecoming——
The Chamberlain.
The form was perhaps open to criticism, but the intention was excellent. And now I want to ask you, in future, when you are contemplating any move of the sort, just to come to me and tell me of it openly, and without reserve. You know we all want to act for the best; and it is my duty——
Stensgård.
You will permit me to speak frankly to you?
The Chamberlain.
Of course I will. Do you think I haven’t long realised that matters here have in some ways taken a most undesirable turn? But what was I to do? In the late King’s time I lived for the most part in Stockholm. I am old now; and besides, it is not in my nature to take the lead in reforms, or to 64throw myself personally into the turmoil of public affairs. You, on the other hand, Mr. Stensgård, have every qualification for them; so let us hold together.
Stensgård.
Thanks, Chamberlain; many, many thanks!
Ringdal and Daniel Heire enter from the garden.
Ringdal.
And I tell you it must be a misunderstanding.
Heire.
Indeed? I like that! How should I misunderstand my own ears?
The Chamberlain.
Anything new, Heire?
Heire.
Only that Anders Lundestad is going over to the Stonelee party.
The Chamberlain.
Oh, you’re joking!
Heire.
I beg your pardon, my dear sir; I have it from his own lips. Mr. Lundestad intends, on account of failing health, to retire from political life; you can draw your own conclusions from that.
Stensgård.
He told you so himself?
65Heire.
Of course he did. He made the momentous announcement to an awe-struck circle down in the garden; hee-hee!
The Chamberlain.
Why, my dear Ringdal, what can be the meaning of this?
Heire.
Oh, it’s not difficult to guess.
The Chamberlain.
Indeed it is though. This is a most important affair for the district. Come along, Ringdal; we must find the man himself.
[He and Ringdal go down the garden.
Fieldbo.
[Entering by the furthest back garden-door.] Has the Chamberlain gone out?
Heire.
Sh! The sages are deliberating! Great news, Doctor! Lundestad is going to resign.
Fieldbo.
Oh, impossible!
Stensgård.
Can you understand it?
Heire.
Ah, now we may look out for real sport. It’s the League of Youth that’s beginning to work, Mr. Stensgård. Do you know what you should call your League? I’ll tell you some other time.
66Stensgård.
Do you think it’s really our League——?
Heire.
Not the least doubt about it. So we’re to have the pleasure of sending our respected friend Mr. Mons Monsen to Parliament! I wish he were off already;—I’d give him a lift with pleasure——I say no more; hee-hee!
[Goes into the garden.
Stensgård.
Tell me, Fieldbo—how do you explain all this?
Fieldbo.
There are other things still more difficult to explain. How come you to be here?
Stensgård.
I? Like the rest, of course—by invitation.
Fieldbo.
I hear you were invited yesterday evening—after your speech——
Stensgård.
What then?
Fieldbo.
How could you accept the invitation?
Stensgård.
What the deuce was I to do? I couldn’t insult these good people.
Fieldbo.
Indeed! You couldn’t? What about your speech then?
67Stensgård.
Nonsense! It was principles I attacked in my speech, not persons.
Fieldbo.
And how do you account for the Chamberlain’s invitation?
Stensgård.
Why, my dear friend, there can only be one way of accounting for it.
Fieldbo.
Namely, that the Chamberlain is afraid of you?
Stensgård.
By heaven, he shall have no reason to be! He is a gentleman.
Fieldbo.
That he is.
Stensgård.
Isn’t it touching the way the old man has taken this affair? And how lovely Miss Bratsberg looked when she brought me the letter!
Fieldbo.
But look here—they haven’t mentioned the scene of yesterday, have they?
Stensgård.
Not a word; they have far too much tact for that. But I am filled with remorse; I must find an opportunity of apologising——
Fieldbo.
I strongly advise you not to! You don’t know the Chamberlain——
68Stensgård.
Very well; then my acts shall speak for me.
Fieldbo.
You won’t break with the Stonelee party?
Stensgård.
I shall bring about a reconciliation. I have my League; it’s a power already, you see.
Fieldbo.
By-the-bye, while I remember—we were speaking of Miss Monsen—I advised you to go in and win——
Stensgård.
Oh, there’s no hurry——
Fieldbo.
But listen; I have been thinking it over: you had better put all that out of your head.
Stensgård.
I believe you are right. If you marry into an underbred family, you marry the whole tribe of them.
Fieldbo.
Yes, and there are other reasons——
Stensgård.
Monsen is an underbred fellow; I see that now.
Fieldbo.
Well, polish is not his strong point.
69Stensgård.
No, indeed it’s not! He goes and speaks ill of his guests; that’s ungentlemanly. His rooms all reek of stale tobacco——
Fieldbo.
My dear fellow, how is it you haven’t noticed the stale tobacco before?
Stensgård.
It’s the contrast that does it. I made a false start when I settled here. I fell into the clutches of a clique, and they bewildered me with their clamour. But there shall be an end to that! I won’t go and wear my life out as a tool in the hands of self-interest or coarse stupidity.
Fieldbo.
But what will you do with your League?
Stensgård.
The League shall remain as it is; it’s founded on a pretty broad basis. Its purpose is to counteract noxious influences; and I am just beginning to realise what side the noxious influences come from.
Fieldbo.
But do you think the “Youth” will see it in the same light?
Stensgård.
They shall! I have surely a right to expect fellows like that to bow before my superior insight.
Fieldbo.
But if they won’t?
70Stensgård.
Then they can go their own way. I have done with them. You don’t suppose I am going to let my life slip into a wrong groove, and never reach the goal, for the sake of mere blind, pig-headed consistency!
Fieldbo.
What do you call the goal?
Stensgård.
A career that gives scope for my talents, and fulfils my aspirations.
Fieldbo.
No vague phrases! What do you mean by your goal?
Stensgård.
Well, to you I can make a clean breast of it. My goal is this: in the course of time to get into Parliament, perhaps into the Ministry, and to marry happily into a family of means and position.
Fieldbo.
Oh, indeed! And by help of the Chamberlain’s social connections you intend to——?
Stensgård.
I intend to reach the goal by my own exertions! I must and will reach it; and without help from any one. It will take time, I daresay; but never mind! Meanwhile I shall enjoy life here, drinking in beauty and sunshine——
Fieldbo.
Here?
71Stensgård.
Yes, here! Here there are fine manners; life moves gracefully here; the very floors seem laid to be trodden only by lacquered shoes. Here the arm-chairs are deep and the ladies sink exquisitely into them. Here conversation moves lightly and elegantly, like a game at battledore; here no blunders come plumping in to make an awkward silence. Oh, Fieldbo—here I feel for the first time what distinction means! Yes, we have indeed an aristocracy of our own; a little circle; an aristocracy of culture; and to it I will belong. Don’t you yourself feel the refining influence of this place? Don’t you feel that wealth here loses its grossness? When I think of Monsen’s money, I seem to see piles of fetid bank-notes and greasy mortgages—but here! here it is shimmering silver! And the people are the same. Look at the Chamberlain—what a fine high-bred old fellow!
Fieldbo.
He is indeed.
Stensgård.
And the son—alert, straightforward, capable!
Fieldbo.
Certainly.
Stensgård.
And then the daughter-in-law! Isn’t she a pearl? Good God, what a rich, what a fascinating nature!
Fieldbo.
Thora—Miss Bratsberg has that too.
Stensgård.
Oh yes; but she is less remarkable.
72Fieldbo.
Oh, you don’t know her. You don’t know how deep, and steadfast, and true her nature is.
Stensgård.
But oh, the daughter-in-law! So frank, almost reckless; and yet so appreciative, so irresistible——
Fieldbo.
Why, I really believe you’re in love with her.
Stensgård.
With a married woman? Are you crazy? What good would that do me? No, but I am falling in love—I can feel that plainly. Yes, she is indeed deep, and steadfast, and true.
Fieldbo.
Who?
Stensgård.
Miss Bratsberg, of course.
Fieldbo.
What? You’re never thinking of——?
Stensgård.
Yes, by heaven I am!
Fieldbo.
I assure you it’s quite out of the question.
Stensgård.
Ho-ho! Will rules the world, my dear fellow! We shall see if it doesn’t.
73Fieldbo.
Why, this is the merest extravagance! Yesterday it was Miss Monsen——
Stensgård.
Oh, I was too hasty about that; besides, you yourself advised me not to——
Fieldbo.
I advise you most emphatically to dismiss all thought of either of them.
Stensgård.
Indeed! Perhaps you yourself think of throwing the handkerchief to one of them?
Fieldbo.
I? No, I assure you——
Stensgård.
Well, it wouldn’t have mattered if you had. If people stand in my way and want to balk me of my future, why, I stick at nothing.
Fieldbo.
Take care I don’t say the same!
Stensgård.
You! What right have you to pose as guardian and protector to Chamberlain Bratsberg’s family?
Fieldbo.
I have at least the right of a friend.
74Stensgård.
Pooh! that sort of talk won’t do with me. Your motive is mere self-interest! It gratifies your petty vanity to imagine yourself cock-of-the-walk in this house; and so I am to be kept outside the pale.
Fieldbo.
That is the best thing that could happen to you. Here you are standing on hollow ground.
Stensgård.
Am I indeed? Many thanks! I shall manage to prop it up.
Fieldbo.
Try; but I warn you, it will fall through with you first.
Stensgård.
Ho-ho! So you are intriguing against me, are you? I’m glad I have found it out. I know you now; you are my enemy, the only one I have here.
Fieldbo.
Indeed I am not.
Stensgård.
Indeed you are! You have always been so, ever since our school-days. Just look around here and see how every one appreciates me, stranger as I am. You, on the other hand, you who know me, have never appreciated me. That is the radical weakness of your character—you can never appreciate any one. What did you do in Christiania but go about from tea-party to tea-party, spreading yourself out in little witticisms? That sort of thing brings its own punishment! You dull your sense for all that makes life worth living, for all 75that is ennobling and inspiring; and presently you get left behind, fit for nothing.
Fieldbo.
Am I fit for nothing?
Stensgård.
Have you ever been fit to appreciate me?
Fieldbo.
What was I to appreciate in you?
Stensgård.
My will, if nothing else. Every one else appreciates it—the crowd at the fête yesterday—Chamberlain Bratsberg and his family——
Fieldbo.
Mr. Mons Monsen and his ditto——! And by-the-bye, that reminds me—there’s some one out here waiting for you——
Stensgård.
Who?
Fieldbo.
[Going towards the back.] One who appreciates you. [Opens the door and calls.] Aslaksen, come in!
Stensgård.
Aslaksen?
Aslaksen.
[Entering.] Ah, at last!
Fieldbo.
Good-bye for the present; I won’t intrude upon friends in council.
[Goes into the garden.
76Stensgård.
What in the devil’s name do you want here?
Aslaksen.
I must speak to you. You promised me yesterday an account of the founding of the League, and——
Stensgård.
I can’t give it you; it must wait till another time.
Aslaksen.
Impossible, Mr. Stensgård; the paper appears to-morrow morning.
Stensgård.
Nonsense! It has all to be altered. The matter has entered on a new phase; new forces have come into play. What I said about Chamberlain Bratsberg must be entirely recast before it can appear.
Aslaksen.
Oh, that about the Chamberlain, that’s in type already.
Stensgård.
Then it must come out of type again.
Aslaksen.
Not go in?
Stensgård.
I won’t have it published in that form. Why do you stare at me? Do you think I don’t know how to manage the affairs of the League?
Aslaksen.
Oh, certainly; but you must let me tell you——
77Stensgård.
No arguing, Aslaksen; that I can’t and won’t stand!
Aslaksen.
Do you know, Mr. Stensgård, that you are doing your best to take the bread out of my mouth? Do you know that?
Stensgård.
No; I know nothing of the sort.
Aslaksen.
But you are. Last winter, before you came here, my paper was looking up. I edited it myself, I must tell you, and I edited it on a principle.
Stensgård.
You?
Aslaksen.
Yes, I!—I said to myself: it’s the great public that supports a paper; now the great public is the bad public—that comes of the local situation; and the bad public will have a bad paper. So you see I edited it——
Stensgård.
Badly! Yes, that’s undeniable.
Aslaksen.
Well, and I prospered by it. But then you came and brought ideas into the district. The paper took on a colour, and then Lundestad’s supporters all fell away. The subscribers that are left won’t pay their subscriptions——
Stensgård.
Ah, but the paper has become a good one.
78Aslaksen.
I can’t live on a good paper. You were to make things lively; you were to grapple with abuses, as you promised yesterday. The bigwigs were to be pilloried; the paper was to be filled with things people were bound to read—and now, you leave me in the lurch——
Stensgård.
Ho-ho! You think I am going to keep you supplied with libels! No, thank you, my good sir!
Aslaksen.
Mr. Stensgård, you musn’t drive me to desperation, or you’ll repent it.
Stensgård.
What do you mean?
Aslaksen.
I mean that I must make the paper pay in another way. Heaven knows I should be sorry to do it. Before you came I made an honest living out of accidents and suicides and other harmless things, that often hadn’t even happened. But now you have turned everything topsy-turvy; people now want very different fare——
Stensgård.
Just let me tell you this: if you break loose in any way, if you go a single step beyond my orders, and try to exploit the movement in your own dirty interests, I’ll go to the opposition printer and start a new paper. We have money, you must know! We can bring your rag to ruin in a fortnight.
79Aslaksen.
[Pale.] You wouldn’t do that!
Stensgård.
Yes, I would; and you’ll see I can edit a paper so as to appeal to the great public.
Aslaksen.
Then I’ll go this instant to Chamberlain Bratsberg——
Stensgård.
You? What have you to do with him?
Aslaksen.
What have you to do with him? Do you think I don’t know why you are invited here? It’s because he is afraid of you, and of what you may do; and you are making capital of that. But if he’s afraid of what you may do, he’ll be no less afraid of what I may print; and I will make capital of that!
Stensgård.
Would you dare to? A wretched creature like you——!
Aslaksen.
I’ll soon show you. If your speech is to be kept out of the paper, the Chamberlain shall pay me for keeping it out.
Stensgård.
Try it; just try it! You’re drunk, fellow——!
Aslaksen.
Only in moderation. But I’ll fight like a lion if you try to take my poor crust out of my mouth. 80Little you know what sort of a home mine is: a bedridden wife, a crippled child——
Stensgård.
Off with you! Do you think I want to be soiled with your squalor? What are your bedridden wives and deformed brats to me? If you stand in my way, if you dare so much as to obstruct a single one of my prospects, you shall be on the parish before the year’s out!
Aslaksen.
I’ll wait one day——
Stensgård.
Ah, you’re coming to your senses.
Aslaksen.
I shall announce to the subscribers in a handbill that in consequence of an indisposition contracted at the fête, the editor——
Stensgård.
Yes, do so; I daresay, later on, we shall come to an understanding.
Aslaksen.
I trust we may.—Remember this, Mr. Stensgård: that paper is my one ewe lamb.
[Goes out by the back.
Lundestad.
[At the foremost garden door.] Ah, Mr. Stensgård!
Stensgård.
Ah, Mr. Lundestad!
81Lundestad.
You here alone? If you have no objection, I should like to have a little talk with you.
Stensgård.
With pleasure.
Lundestad.
In the first place, let me say that if any one has told you that I have said anything to your disadvantage, you musn’t believe it.
Stensgård.
To my disadvantage? What do you mean?
Lundestad.
Oh, nothing; nothing, I assure you. You see, there are so many busybodies here, that go about doing nothing but setting people by the ears.
Stensgård.
Well, on the whole—I’m afraid our relations are a little strained.
Lundestad.
They are quite natural relations, Mr. Stensgård: the relation of the old to the new; it is always so.
Stensgård.
Oh, come, Mr. Lundestad, you are not so old as all that.
Lundestad.
Yes indeed, I’m getting old. I have held my seat ever since 1839. It’s time I should be relieved.
Stensgård.
Relieved?
82Lundestad.
Times change, you see. New problems arise, and for their solution we want new forces.
Stensgård.
Now, frankly, Mr. Lundestad—are you really going to give up your seat to Monsen?
Lundestad.
To Monsen? No, certainly not to Monsen.
Stensgård.
Then I don’t understand——
Lundestad.
Suppose, now, I did retire in Monsen’s favour: do you think he would be elected?
Stensgård.
It’s hard to say. As the preliminary election comes on the day after to-morrow, there may scarcely be time to prepare the public mind; but——
Lundestad.
I don’t believe he would manage it. The Chamberlain’s party, my party, would not vote for him. Of course “my party” is a figure of speech; I mean the men of property, the old families, who are settled on their own land and belong to it. They won’t have anything to do with Monsen. Monsen is a newcomer; no one really knows anything about Monsen and his affairs. And then he has had to cut down so much to clear a place for himself—to fell both trees and men, you may say.
83Stensgård.
Well then, if you think he has no chance——
Lundestad.
H’m! You are a man of rare gifts, Mr. Stensgård. Providence has dealt lavishly with you. But it has made one little oversight: it ought to have given you one thing more.
Stensgård.
And what may that be?
Lundestad.
Tell me—why do you never think of yourself? Why have you no ambition?
Stensgård.
Ambition? I?
Lundestad.
Why do you waste all your strength on other people? In one word—why not go into Parliament yourself?
Stensgård.
I? You are not serious?
Lundestad.
Why not? You have qualified, I hear. And if you don’t seize this opportunity, then some one else will come in; and when once he is firm in the saddle, it may not be so easy to unseat him.
Stensgård.
Great heavens, Mr. Lundestad! do you really mean what you say?
84Lundestad.
Oh, I don’t want to commit you; if you don’t care about it——
Stensgård.
Not care about it! Well, I must confess I’m not so utterly devoid of ambition as you suppose. But do you really think it possible?
Lundestad.
Oh, there’s nothing impossible about it. I should do my best, and so, no doubt, would the Chamberlain; he knows your oratorical gifts. You have the young men on your side——
Stensgård.
Mr. Lundestad, by heaven, you are my true friend!
Lundestad.
Oh, you don’t mean much by that. If you really looked upon me as a friend, you would relieve me of this burden. You have young shoulders; you could bear it so easily.
Stensgård.
I place myself entirely at your disposal; I will not fail you.
Lundestad.
Then you are really not disinclined to——
Stensgård.
Here’s my hand on it!
Lundestad.
Thanks! Believe me, Mr. Stensgård, you will not regret it. But now we must go warily to work. 85We must both of us take care to be on the electoral college—I to propose you as my successor, and put you through your facings before the rest; and you to give an account of your views——
Stensgård.
If we once get so far, we are safe. In the electoral college you are omnipotent.
Lundestad.
There is a limit to omnipotence. You must of course bring your oratory into play; you must take care to explain away anything that might seem really awkward or objectionable——
Stensgård.
You don’t mean that I am to break with my party?
Lundestad.
Now just look at the thing reasonably. What do we mean when we talk of two parties? We have, on the one hand, certain men or families who are in possession of the common civic advantages—I mean property, independence, and power. That is the party I belong to. On the other hand, we have the mass of our younger fellow citizens who want to share in these advantages. That is your party. But that party you will quite naturally and properly pass out of when you get into power—to say nothing of taking up a solid position as a man of property—for of course that is essential, Mr. Stensgård.
Stensgård.
Yes, I believe it is. But the time is short; and such a position is not to be attained in a day.
86Lundestad.
That’s true; but perhaps the prospect of such a position would be enough——
Stensgård.
The prospect——?
Lundestad.
Have you any rooted objection to a good marriage, Mr. Stensgård? There are heiresses in the country-side. A man like you, with a future before him—a man who can reckon on attaining the highest offices—believe me, you needn’t fear a repulse if you play your cards neatly.
Stensgård.
Then, for heaven’s sake, help me in the game! You open wide vistas to me—great visions! All that I have hoped and longed for, and that seemed so dreamlike and far away, stands suddenly before me in living reality—to lead the people forward towards emancipation, to——
Lundestad.
Yes, we must keep our eyes open, Mr. Stensgård. I see your ambition is already on the alert. That’s well. The rest will come of itself.—In the meantime, thanks! I shall never forget your readiness to take the burden of office from my old shoulders.
[The whole party gradually enters from the garden. Two maid-servants bring in candles and hand round refreshments during the following scene.
87Selma.
[Goes towards the piano at the back, left.] Mr. Stensgård, you must join us; we are going to have a game of forfeits.
Stensgård.
With pleasure; I am just in the mood.
[Follows her towards the back, makes arrangements with her, places chairs, etc. etc.
Erik Bratsberg.
[In an undertone.] What the deuce is this my father is saying, Mr. Heire? What speech has Mr. Stensgård been making yesterday?
Heire.
Hee-hee! Don’t you know about it?
Erik.
No; we townspeople had our dinner and ball at the Club. My father declares Mr. Stensgård has entirely broken with the Stonelee gang—that he was frightfully rude to Monsen——
Heire.
To Monsen! No, you must have misunderstood him, my dear sir.
Erik.
Well, there were a whole lot of people about, so that I couldn’t quite follow what he said; but I certainly heard——
Heire.
Wait till to-morrow—— I say no more. You’ll have the whole story with your coffee, in Aslaksen’s paper.
[They separate.
88The Chamberlain.
Well, my dear Lundestad, are you sticking to those crotchets of yours?
Lundestad.
They are no crotchets, Chamberlain; rather than be ousted, one should give way gracefully.
The Chamberlain.
Nonsense; who is dreaming of ousting you?
Lundestad.
H’m; I’m an old weather-prophet. There has been a change in the wind. Besides, I have my successor ready. Mr. Stensgård is willing——
The Chamberlain.
Mr. Stensgård?
Lundestad.
Wasn’t that what you meant? I took it for a hint when you said he was a man we must make friends with and support.
The Chamberlain.
I meant in his onslaught upon all the corruption and swindling that goes on at Stonelee.
Lundestad.
But how could you count so confidently upon his breaking with that crew?
The Chamberlain.
He did it openly enough last evening, my dear fellow.
89Lundestad.
Last evening?
The Chamberlain.
Yes, when he spoke of Monsen’s deplorable influence in the district.
Lundestad.
[Open-mouthed.] Of Monsen’s——?
The Chamberlain.
Of course; that time on the table——
Lundestad.
On the table? Yes?
The Chamberlain.
He was frightfully rude; called him a money-bag, and a griffin or a basilisk, or something. Ha-ha!—it was great sport to hear him.
Lundestad.
Great sport, was it?
The Chamberlain.
Yes, I own I’m not sorry to see these people a little roughly handled. But now we must back him up; for after such a savage attack——
Lundestad.
As that of yesterday, you mean?
The Chamberlain.
Of course.
Lundestad.
Upon the table?
90The Chamberlain.
Yes, upon the table.
Lundestad.
Against Monsen?
The Chamberlain.
Yes, against Monsen and his set. Of course they’ll try to have their revenge; you can’t blame them——
Lundestad.
[Decidedly.] Mr. Stensgård must be supported—that is clear!
Thora.
Father dear, you must join in the game.
The Chamberlain.
Oh, nonsense, child——
Thora.
Yes, indeed you must; Selma insists upon it.
The Chamberlain.
Very well, I suppose I must give in. [In an undertone as they go towards the back.] I’m quite distressed about Lundestad; he is really failing; fancy, he didn’t in the least understand what Stensgård——
Thora.
Oh, come, come; they’ve begun the game.
[She drags him into the circle of young people where the game is in full swing.
Erik.
[Calls from his place.] Mr. Heire, you are appointed forfeit-judge.
91Heire.
Hee-hee! It’s the first appointment I ever had.
Stensgård.
[Also in the circle.] On account of your legal experience, Mr. Heire.
Heire.
Oh, my amiable young friends, I should be delighted to sentence you all—— I say no more!
Stensgård.
[Slips up to Lundestad, who stands in front on the left.] You were speaking to the Chamberlain. What about? Was it about me?
Lundestad.
Unfortunately it was—about that affair of yesterday evening——
Stensgård.
[Writhing.] Oh, confound it all!
Lundestad.
He said you had been frightfully rude.
Stensgård.
Do you think it isn’t a torture to me?
Lundestad.
Now is your chance to atone for it.
Erik.
[Calls.] Mr. Stensgård, it’s your turn.
Stensgård.
Coming! [Quickly to Lundestad.] What do you mean?
92Lundestad.
Find an opportunity and apologise to the Chamberlain.
Stensgård.
By heaven, I will!
Selma.
Make haste, make haste!
Stensgård.
I’m coming! Here I am!
[The game goes on with noise and laughter. Some elderly gentlemen play cards on the right. Lundestad takes a seat on the left; Daniel Heire near him.
Heire.
That whelp twits me with my legal experience, does he?
Lundestad.
He’s rather free with his tongue, that’s certain.
Heire.
And so the whole family goes and fawns upon him. Hee-hee! They’re pitifully afraid of him.
Lundestad.
No, there you are wrong, Mr. Heire; the Chamberlain is not afraid of him.
Heire.
Not afraid? Do you think I’m blind, my good sir?
93Lundestad.
No, but—I can trust you to keep the secret? Well, I’ll tell you all about it. The Chamberlain thinks it was Monsen he was attacking.
Heire.
Monsen? Oh, absurd!
Lundestad.
Fact, Mr. Heire! Ringdal or Miss Thora must have got him persuaded that——
Heire.
And so he goes and asks him to a state dinner-party! Deuce take me, if that isn’t the best thing I’ve heard for long! No, really now, I can’t keep that bottled up.
Lundestad.
Sh, sh! Remember your promise. The Chamberlain’s your old school-fellow: and even if he has been a little hard upon you——
Heire.
Hee-hee! I’ll pay him back with interest!
Lundestad.
Take care! The Chamberlain is powerful. Don’t play tricks in the lion’s den!
Heire.
Bratsberg a lion? Pooh, he’s a blockhead, sir, and I am not. Oh, won’t I get a rare crop of taunts, and jibes, and innuendoes out of this, when once our great suit comes on!
94Selma.
[Calls from the circle.] Learned judge, what shall the owner of this forfeit do?
Erik.
[Unnoticed, to Heire.] It’s Stensgård’s! Think of something amusing.
Heire.
That forfeit? Hee-hee, let me see; he might, for example—yes—he shall make a speech!
Selma.
It’s Mr. Stensgård’s forfeit.
Erik.
Mr. Stensgård is to make a speech.
Stensgård.
Oh no, spare me that; I came off badly enough last night.
The Chamberlain.
Excellently, Mr. Stensgård; I know something of public speaking.
Lundestad.
[To Heire.] If only he doesn’t put his foot in it now.
Heire.
Put his foot in it? Hee-hee! You’re a sharp one! That’s an inspiration! [In an undertone to Stensgård.] If you came off badly last night, why not put yourself right again to-night?
Stensgård.
[Seized with a sudden idea.] Lundestad, here is the opportunity!
95Lundestad.
[Evasively.] Play your cards neatly.
[Looks for his hat and slips quietly towards the door.
Stensgård.
Yes, I will make a speech!
The Young Ladies.
Bravo! Bravo!
Stensgård.
Fill your glasses, ladies and gentlemen! I am going to make a speech which shall begin with a fable; for here I seem to breathe the finer air of fable-land.
Erik.
[To the Ladies.] Hush! Listen!
[The Chamberlain takes his glass from the card-table on the right, beside which he remains standing. Ringdal, Fieldbo, and one or two other gentlemen come in from the garden.
Stensgård.
It was in the spring time. There came a young cuckoo flying over the uplands. Now the cuckoo is an adventurer. There was a great Bird-Parliament on the meadow beneath him, and both wild and tame fowl flocked to it. They came tripping out of the hen-yards; they waddled up from the goose-ponds; down, from Stonelee hulked a fat capercailzie, flying low and noisily; he settled down, and ruffled his feathers and flapped his wings, and made himself even broader than he was; and every now and then he crowed: “Krak, krak, 96krak!” as much as to say: I’m the game-cock from Stonelee, I am!
The Chamberlain.
Capital! Hear, hear!
Stensgård.
And then there was an old woodpecker. He bustled up and down the tree-trunks, pecking with his pointed beak, and gorging himself with grubs and everything that turns to gall. To right and left you heard him going: prik, prik, prik! And that was the woodpecker.
Erik.
Excuse me, wasn’t it a stork, or a——?[16]
Heire.
Say no more!
Stensgård.
That was the old woodpecker. But now there came life into the crew; for they found something to cackle evil about. And they flustered together, and cackled in chorus, until at last the young cuckoo began to join in the cackling——
Fieldbo.
[Unnoticed.] For God’s sake, man, be quiet!
Stensgård.
Now it was an eagle they cackled about—an eagle who dwelt in lonely dignity upon a beetling 97cliff.[17] They were all agreed about him. “He’s a bugbear to the neighbourhood,” croaked a hoarse raven. But the eagle swooped down into their midst, seized the cuckoo, and bore him aloft to his eyrie.—Heart conquered heart! From that clear summit the adventurer-cuckoo looked far and wide over the lowlands; there he found sunshine and peace; and there he learned to judge aright the swarm from the hen-yards and the clearings——
Fieldbo.
[Loudly.] Bravo, bravo! And now some music.
The Chamberlain.
Hush! Don’t interrupt him.
Stensgård.
Chamberlain Bratsberg—here my fable ends; and here I stand before you, in the presence of every one, to beg your forgiveness for last night.
The Chamberlain.
[Falls a step backwards.] Mine——?
Stensgård.
I thank you for the magnanimous vengeance you have taken for my senseless words. In me you have henceforth a faithful champion. And now, ladies and gentlemen, I drink the health of the eagle on the mountain-top—the health of Chamberlain Bratsberg.
The Chamberlain.
[Clutching at the table.] Thank you, Mr.—Mr. Stensgård.
98The Guests.
[For the most part in painful embarrassment.] The Chamberlain! Chamberlain Bratsberg!
The Chamberlain.
Ladies! Gentlemen! [Softly.] Thora!
Thora.
Father!
The Chamberlain.
Oh, Doctor, Doctor, what have you done?done?
Stensgård.
[With his glass in his hand, radiant with self-satisfaction.] Now to our places again! Hullo, Fieldbo! Come, join in—join in the League of Youth! The game’s going merrily!
Heire.
[In front, on the left.] Yes, on my soul, the game’s going merrily!
[Lundestad slips out by the door in the back.
99
ACT THIRD.
An elegant morning-room, with entrance-door in the back. On the left, the door of the Chamberlain’s study; further back, a door leading to the drawing-room. On the right, a door leading to Ringdal’s offices; further forward, a window.
Thora is seated on the sofa, left, weeping. The Chamberlain paces angrily up and down.
The Chamberlain.
Yes, now we have the epilogue—tears and lamentations——
Thora.
Oh, that we had never seen that man!
The Chamberlain.
What man?
Thora.
That wretched Mr. Stensgård, of course.
The Chamberlain.
You should rather say: Oh, that we had never seen that wretched Doctor.
Thora.
Doctor Fieldbo?
100The Chamberlain.
Yes, Fieldbo, Fieldbo! Wasn’t it he that palmed off a parcel of lies upon me——?
Thora.
No, my dear father, it was I.
The Chamberlain.
You? Well, then, both of you! You were his accomplice—behind my back. A nice state of affairs!
Thora.
Oh, father, if you only knew——
The Chamberlain.
Oh, I know enough; more than enough; much more!
Dr. Fieldbo enters from the back.
Fieldbo.
Good morning, Chamberlain! Good morning, Miss Bratsberg!
The Chamberlain.
[Still pacing the room.] So you are there, are you—bird of evil omen!
Fieldbo.
Yes, it was a very unpleasant affair.
The Chamberlain.
[Looking out at the window.] Oh, you think so?
Fieldbo.
You must have noticed how I kept my eye upon Stensgård all the evening. Unfortunately, 101when I heard there was to be a game of forfeits, I thought there was no danger——
The Chamberlain.
[Stamping on the floor.] To be made a laughing-stock by such a windbag! What must my guests have thought of me? That I was mean enough to want to buy this creature, this—this——as Lundestad calls him!
Fieldbo.
Yes, but——
Thora.
[Unnoticed by her father.] Don’t speak!
The Chamberlain.
[After a short pause, turns to Fieldbo.] Tell me frankly, Doctor:—Am I really denser than the general run of people?
Fieldbo.
How can you ask such a question. Chamberlain?
The Chamberlain.
Then how did it happen that I was probably the only person there who didn’t understand that that confounded speech was meant for me?
Fieldbo.
Shall I tell you why?
The Chamberlain.
Certainly.
Fieldbo.
It is because you yourself regard your position in the district differently from other people.
102The Chamberlain.
I regard my position as my father before me regarded his. No one would ever have ventured to treat him so.
Fieldbo.
Your father died about the year 1830.
The Chamberlain.
Oh, yes; many a barrier has broken down since that time. But, after all, it’s my own fault. I have mixed myself up too much with these good people. So now I must be content to have my name coupled with Anders Lundestad’s!
Fieldbo.
Well, frankly, I see no disgrace in that.
The Chamberlain.
Oh, you know quite well what I mean. Of course I don’t plume myself on rank, or titles, or anything of that sort. But what I hold in honour, and expect others to hold in honour, is the integrity handed down in our family from generation to generation. What I mean is that when a man like Lundestad goes into public life, he cannot keep his character and his conduct entirely free from stain. In the general mud-throwing, he is sure to find himself bespattered. But they might leave me in peace; I stand outside their parties.
Fieldbo.
Not so entirely, Chamberlain; at least you were delighted so long as you thought it was Monsen that was attacked.
103The Chamberlain.
Don’t mention that fellow!—It is he that has relaxed the moral sense of the district. And now he has gone and turned my son’s head, confound him!
Thora.
Erik’s?
Fieldbo.
Your son’s?
The Chamberlain.
Yes; what tempted him to go and set up in business? It leads to nothing.
Fieldbo.
Why, my dear Chamberlain, he must live and——
The Chamberlain.
Oh, with economy he could quite well live on the money that came to him from his mother.
Fieldbo.
He might perhaps live on it; but what could he live for?
The Chamberlain.
For? Well, if he absolutely must have something to live for, hasn’t he qualified as a lawyer? He might live for his profession.
Fieldbo.
No, that he couldn’t do; it is against his nature. Then there was no official appointment he could well hope for; you have kept the management of your property in your own hands; and your son has no children to educate. Under these circumstances, when he sees tempting examples around 104him—people who have started from nothing and are worth their half million——
The Chamberlain.
Their half million! Oh, come now, let us keep to the hundred thousands. But neither the half million nor the hundred thousands can be scraped together with perfectly clean hands;—I don’t mean in the eyes of the world; Heaven knows it is easy enough to keep within the law; but in respect to one’s own conscience. Of course my son cannot descend to anything questionable; so you may be quite sure Mr. Erik Bratsberg’s financial operations won’t bring in any half millions.
Selma, in walking dress, enters from the back.
Selma.
Good-morning! Is Erik not here?
The Chamberlain.
Good-morning, child! Are you looking for your husband?
Selma.
Yes, he said he was coming here. Mr. Monsen called upon him early this morning, and then——
The Chamberlain.
Monsen? Does Monsen come to your house?
Selma.
Now and then; generally on business. Why, my dear Thora, what’s the matter? Have you been crying?
Thora.
Oh, it’s nothing.
105Selma.
No, it’s not nothing! At home Erik was out of humour, and here——I can see it in your looks: there is something wrong. What is it?
The Chamberlain.
Nothing you need trouble about, at any rate. You are too dainty to carry burdens, my little Selma. Go into the drawing-room for the present. If Erik said he was coming, he will be here soon, no doubt.
Selma.
Come, Thora—and be sure you don’t let me sit in a draught! [Embracing her.] Oh, I could hug the life out of you, my sweet Thora!
[The two ladies go off to the left.
The Chamberlain.
So they are hand in glove, are they, the two speculators! They should go into partnership. Monsen and Bratsberg—how nice it would sound! [A knock at the door in the back.] Come in!
Stensgård enters.
The Chamberlain.
[Recoiling a step.] What is this?
Stensgård.
Yes, here I am again, Chamberlain!
The Chamberlain.
So I see.
Fieldbo.
Are you mad, Stensgård?
106Stensgård.
You retired early yesterday evening. When Fieldbo had explained to me how matters stood, you had already——
The Chamberlain.
Excuse me—all explanations are superfluous——
Stensgård.
I understand that; therefore I have not come to make any.
The Chamberlain.
Oh, indeed?
Stensgård.
I know I have insulted you.
The Chamberlain.
I know that too; and before I have you turned out, perhaps you will be good enough to tell me why you are here.
Stensgård.
Because I love your daughter, Chamberlain!
Fieldbo.
What——!
The Chamberlain.
What does he say, Doctor?
Stensgård.
Ah, you can’t grasp the idea, Chamberlain. You are an old man; you have nothing to fight for——
The Chamberlain.
And you presume to——?
107Stensgård.
I am here to ask for your daughter’s hand, Chamberlain.
The Chamberlain.
You——you——? Won’t you sit down?
Stensgård.
Thanks, I prefer to stand.
The Chamberlain.
What do you say to this. Doctor?
Stensgård.
Oh, Fieldbo is on my side; he is my friend; the only true friend I have.
Fieldbo.
No, no, man! Never in this world, if you——
The Chamberlain.
Perhaps it was with this view that Doctor Fieldbo secured his friend’s introduction into my house?
Stensgård.
You know me only by my exploits of yesterday and the day before. That is not enough. Besides, I am not the same man to-day that I was then. My intercourse with you and yours has fallen like spring showers upon my spirit, making it put forth new blossoms in a single night! You must not hurl me back into my sordid past. Till now, I have never been at home with the beautiful in life; it has always been beyond my reach——
The Chamberlain.
But my daughter——?
108Stensgård.
Oh, I shall win her.
The Chamberlain.
Indeed? H’m!
Stensgård.
Yes, for I have will on my side. Remember what you told me yesterday. You were opposed to your son’s marriage—and see how it has turned out! You must put on the glasses of experience, as Fieldbo said——
The Chamberlain.
Ah, that was what you meant?
Fieldbo.
Not in the least! My dear Chamberlain, let me speak to him alone——
Stensgård.
Nonsense; I have nothing to speak to you about. Now, pray be reasonable, Chamberlain! A family like yours needs new alliances, or its brains stagnate——
The Chamberlain.
Oh, this is too much!
Stensgård.
Now, now, don’t get angry! These high-and-mighty airs are unworthy of you—of course you know they are all nonsense at bottom. You shall see how much you’ll value me when you come to know me. Yes, yes; you shall value me—both you and your daughter! I will make her——
109The Chamberlain.
What do you think of this, Doctor?
Fieldbo.
I think it’s madness.
Stensgård.
Yes, it would be in you; but I, you see—I have a mission to fulfil on God’s beautiful earth;—I am not to be deterred by nonsensical prejudices.prejudices.
The Chamberlain.
Mr. Stensgård, there is the door.
Stensgård.
You show me——?
The Chamberlain.
The door!
Stensgård.
Don’t do that!