Three Comedies - Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (best color ebook reader .TXT) 📗

written her a letter.

Grandmother. I thought as much.

Hagbart. Isn't it shameful, grandmother! He won't see her once, or talk to her, before judging her.

Grandmother. They are all alike, these--. Are we alone?

Hagbart. Yes, grandmother.

Grandmother. You must have patience, Hagbart! You used to be patient.

Hagbart. Yes, grandmother.

Grandmother. I have seen so many generations--so many different ways of behaving. In my day we were tolerant.

Hagbart. I enjoyed reading your books so much, grand mother!

Grandmother. Of course you did.--Are we alone?

Hagbart. Yes, grandmother.

Grandmother. I am quite in love with your fiancee, Hagbart. She is like what girls were in my day.

Hagbart. Courageous, weren't they?

Grandmother. Yes, and independent. They seem quite different nowadays.--Are we alone?

Hagbart. Yes.

Grandmother. You get married--and I will come and live with you and her. Hush!

Hagbart. Do you mean it?

Grandmother. Hush! (Looks out of the window.) There is Justice Rost coming, with his wife. Go and tell your uncle!

Hagbart. Yes.

Grandmother. I might have expected it. They came up from the country yesterday.

Hagbart. Good-bye, then, grandmother!

Grandmother. Good-bye, my boy! (HAGBART goes out to the right. The door at the back is opened. CORNELIA ushers in ROeST and MRS. ROeST.)

Cornelia. Please walk in!

Mrs. Rost. Thank you! You must excuse us for calling so early. We came up from the country yesterday, and my husband has to go to the courts for a little while!

Rost. I have to go to the courts to-day. (The BISHOP conies in from the right.)

Bishop. Welcome!

Rost and Mrs. Rost. Thank you!

Mrs. Rost. You must excuse our calling so early; but we came up from the country yesterday, and my husband has to go to the courts to-day.

Rost. I have to go to the courts for a little while.

Bishop. I know.

Mrs. Rost. And there is the old lady in her chair already!

Rost. Good morning, my dear madam!

Mrs. Rost. Good morning!--No, please don't get up!

Grandmother. Oh, I can get up still.

Rost. Ah, I wish I were as active as you!

Mrs. Rost. My husband was saying to Miss Cornelia only last night--

Grandmother. You need not strain yourself so. I can hear perfectly well. (The others exchange glances.)

Rost. I was saying to Miss Cornelia only last night--we met for a few moments after the service--

Grandmother. I know, I know.

Rost. I said I had never known any one of over ninety have all their faculties so remarkably clear--

Mrs. Rost.--so remarkably clear as yours! And such good health, too! My husband has suffered a great deal from asthma lately.

Rost. I have suffered a great deal from asthma lately.

Mrs. Rost. And I from a heart trouble, which--

Grandmother. We did not know anything about such ailments in my day.

Mrs. Rost. Isn't she sweet! She doesn't remember that people were sometimes ill in her day.

Bishop. Lovely weather we are having!

Rost. Delightful weather! I cannot in the least understand how it is that I--. (The BISHOP brings a chair forward for him.) Oh, please don't trouble, my lord! Allow me.

Mrs. Rost. My husband must have caught cold. (ROeST sits down.)

Cornelia. It certainly was draughty in church last night.

Rost. But we sat in the corner farthest from the door.

Mrs. Rost. We sat in the corner farthest from the door. That was why we were not able to bid your lordship good evening afterwards.

Bishop. There was such a crowd.

Rost, Mrs. Rost, and Cornelia. Such a crowd!

Mrs. Rost. These services must be a great help in your lordship's labours.

Rost. Yes, every one says that.

Bishop. Yes, if only the result were something a little more practical. We live in sad times.

All three (as before). Sad times!

Mrs. Rost. We only just heard yesterday and we met so many friends that I was prevented from asking your sister about it--we have only just heard--

Rost. And that is why we have come here to-day. We believe in being straightforward!

Mrs. Rost. Straightforward! That is my husband's motto.

Bishop. Probably you mean about Hagbart's engagement?

Rost and Mrs. Rost. To Miss Falk?

Cornelia. Yes, it is quite true.

Mrs. Rost. Really?

Cornelia. My brother came to the conclusion that he had no right to oppose it.

Rost. Quite so. It must have been a difficult matter for your lordship to decide.

Bishop. I cannot deny that it was.

Mrs. Rost. How Mr. Tallhaug has changed!

Rost. Yes, it seems only the other day he--

Bishop. We must not be too severe on young people in that respect nowadays, Mrs. Rost.

Rost. It is the spirit of the time!

Bishop. Besides, I must say that the young lady is by no means displeasing to me.

Cornelia. My brother has a very good opinion of her--although he finds her manner perhaps a little free, a little too impetuous.

Mrs. Rost. But her adoptive mother?

Rost. Yes, her adoptive mother!

Cornelia. My brother has decided not to call on her.

Rost and Mrs. Rost. Really!

Mrs. Rost. We are extremely glad to hear that!

Rost. It was what we wanted to know! Everybody we met yesterday was anxious to know.

Mrs. Rost. Everybody! We were so concerned about it.

Cornelia. My brother has written to her, to make it quite clear to her.

Rost. Naturally!

Mrs. Rost. We are very glad to hear it!

Grandmother (looking out of the window). There is a carriage stopping at the door.

Cornelia. I thought I heard a carriage, too. (Gets up.)

Grandmother. There is a lady getting out of it.

Mrs. Rost. A lady?--Good heavens, surely it is not--? (Gets up.)

Rost. What do you say? (Gets up.)

Cornelia. She has a veil on.

Mrs. Rost. I really believe--! (To her husband.) You look, my dear--you know her.

Rost. It is she; I recognise her coachman Hans.

Bishop (who has got up). But perhaps it is Miss Aagot?

Cornelia. No, it is not Miss Aagot.--She is in the house by this time. What are we to do?

Mrs. Rost. Has she not had your lordship's letter?

Bishop. Yes, this morning.

Rost. And in spite of that--?

Bishop. Perhaps for that very reason. Ahem!--Cornelia, you must go down and--

Cornelia. Not on any account! I refuse!

Mrs. Rost (to her husband). Come, dear! Be quick, let us get away. (Looks for her parasol.) Where is my parasol?

Bishop (in a low voice). Won't you wait a little while Mr. Rost?

Rost. Oho!

Mrs. Rost. My parasol! I can't find my parasol.

Rost. Because you have got it in your hand, my love!

Mrs. Rost. So I have! You see how upset I am. Make haste--come along! Can we get out this way?

Rost. Through the Bishop's bedroom!

Mrs. Rost. Oh!--But if you come with me, my dear!--Are we to meet this woman? Why do you stand still? Surely you don't want to--?

Rost. Let us wait a little.

Mrs. Rost. Wait? So that you may talk to her? Oh, you men--you are all alike!

Bishop. But, you know, some one must--. Cornelia!

Cornelia. Not for worlds! I am not going to stir an inch.

Grandmother. Gracchus!

Bishop. Yes, grandmother?

Mrs. Rost. Now the old lady is going to interfere. I thought as much!

Grandmother. Courtesy is a duty that every one must recognise.

Bishop. You are quite right. (Goes towards the back of the room; at the same time a knock is heard on the door). Come in! (The door opens, and LEONARDA enters.)

Mrs. Rost. It is she!

Rost. Be quiet!

Mrs. Rost. But wouldn't you rather--?

Leonarda. Excuse me, am I speaking to the Bishop?

Bishop. Yes, madam. Whom have I the honour to--?

Leonarda. Mrs. Falk.

Bishop. Allow me to introduce my sister--and Mr. Justice Rost and Mrs. Rost--and this is--

Leonarda. "Grandmamma" of whom I have heard, I think!

Bishop. Yes. Let me present Mrs. Falk to you, grandmother.

Grandmother (getting up). I am very glad to see you, ma'am.

Mrs. Rost and Cornelia. What does she say?

Grandmother. As the oldest of the family--which is the only merit I possess--let me bid you welcome. (LEONARDA gives a start, then kneels down and kisses her hand.)

Mrs. Rost. Good gracious!

Cornelia. Well!

Mrs. Rost. Let us go away!

Rost (in a low voice). Does your lordship wish--?

Bishop (in the same tone). No, thank you--I must go through with it now.

Rost. Good morning, then!

Bishop. Many thanks for your visit and for being so frank with me.

Mrs. Rost. That is always our way, your lordship. Good morning!

Cornelia (as they advance to take leave of her). I will see you out.

Rost (to the GRANDMOTHER). I hope I shall always see you looking as well, madam!

Mrs. Rost. Good-bye, madam! No, please don't disturb yourself. You have over-exerted yourself just now you know.

Grandmother. The same to you.

Rost and Mrs. Rost. I beg your pardon?

Bishop. She thought you were wishing her good day--or something of that sort.

Rost and Mrs. Rost. Oh, I see! (They laugh. They both ceremoniously in silence to LEONARDA as they pass her; CORNELIA and the BISHOP go with them to see them out, the BISHOP turning at the door and coming back into the room.)

Bishop (to LEONARDA). Won't you sit down?

Leonarda. Your lordship sent me a letter to-day. (She pauses for an answer, but without effect.) In it you give me to understand, as politely as possible, that your family does not wish to have any intercourse with me.

Bishop. I imagined, Mrs. Falk, that you had no such desire, either previously or now.

Leonarda. What it rally means is that you want me to make over my property to the two young people, and disappear.

Bishop. If you choose to interpret it in that way, Mrs. Falk.

Leonarda. I presume your nephew has told you that my means are not such as to allow of my providing for one establishment here and another for myself elsewhere.

Bishop. Quite so. But could you not sell your property?

Leonarda. And all three of us leave here, your lordship means? Of course that would be possible; but the property is just now becoming of some value, because of the projected railway--and, besides, it has been so long in our family.

Bishop. It is a very fine property.

Leonarda. And very dear to us.

Bishop. It pains me deeply that things should have taken this turn.

Leonarda. Then may I not hope that the fact may influence your lordship's decision in some degree?

Bishop. My decision, madam, has nothing to do with your property.

Leonarda. During all these eight years have I offended you in any way--or any one here?

Bishop. Mrs. Falk, you know quite well that you have not.

Leonarda. Or is it on account of the way I have brought up my niece--?

Bishop. Your niece does you the greatest credit, madam.