BRACK.
Well, good-bye, good-bye, ladies.
LOVBORG.
[Bowing.] About ten o'clock, then, [BRACK, LOVBORG, and TESMAN go out by the hall door. At the same time, BERTA enters from the inner room with a lighted lamp, which she places on the drawing-room table; she goes out by the way she came.
MRS. ELVSTED.
[Who has risen and is wandering restlessly about the room.] Hedda — Hedda — what will come of all this?
HEDDA.
At ten o'clock — he will be here. I can see him already — with vine- leaves in his hair — flushed and fearless — -
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh, I hope he may.
HEDDA.
And then, you see — then he will have regained control over himself. Then he will be a free man for all his days.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Oh God! — if he would only come as you see him now!
HEDDA.
He will come as I see him — so, and not otherwise! [Rises and approaches THEA.] You may doubt him as long as you please; I believe in him. And now we will try — -
MRS. ELVSTED.
You have some hidden motive in this, Hedda!
HEDDA.
Yes, I have. I want for once in my life to have power to mould a human destiny.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Have you not the power?
HEDDA.
I have not — and have never had it.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Not your husband's?
HEDDA.
Do you think that is worth the trouble? Oh, if you could only understand how poor I am. And fate has made you so rich! [Clasps her passionately in her arms.] I think I must burn your hair off after all.
MRS. ELVSTED.
Let me go! Let me go! I am afraid of you, Hedda!
BERTA.
[In the middle doorway.] Tea is laid in the dining-room, ma'am.
HEDDA.
Very well. We are coming
MRS. ELVSTED.
No, no, no! I would rather go home alone! At once!
HEDDA.
Nonsense! First you shall have a cup of tea, you little stupid. And then — at ten o'clock — Eilert Lovborg will be here — with vine-leaves in his hair. [She drags MRS. ELVSTED almost by force to the middle doorway.
