Three Comedies by Bjornstjerne M. Bjornson

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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.

Leonarda. Then perhaps some of my people have been laying
complaints about me?--or some one has been complaining of them?

Bishop. Not even the most censorious person, my dear madam, could
pretend that you have been anything but exemplary in that respect.

Leonarda. Then what is it?

Bishop. You can scarcely expect me to tell a lady--

Leonarda. I will help you out. It is my past life.

Bishop. Since you say it yourself--yes.

Leonarda. Do you consider that nothing can expiate a past--about
which, moreover, you know nothing?

Bishop. I have not seen in you any signs of a desire to expiate
it, Mrs. Falk.

Leonarda. You mean that you have not seen me at confession or
in church?

Bishop. Yes.

Leonarda. Do you want me to seek expiation by being untrue to
myself?

Bishop. No; but the way I refer to is the only sure one.

Leonarda. There are others. I have chosen the way hard work and
duty.

Bishop. I said the only sure way, Mrs. Falk. Your way does not
protect against temptation.

Leonarda. You have something definite in your mind when you
say that, have you not?--Shall I help you out again? It is
General Rosen.

Bishop. Precisely.

Leonarda. You think I ought to send him away?

Bishop. Yes.

Leonarda. But it would be all up with him if I did. And there is
a good deal of ability in him.

Bishop. I have neither the right nor the desire to meddle in
affairs I know nothing of; but I must say that only a person of
unimpeachable reputation should attempt the rescue of such a
man as General Rosen.

Leonarda. You are quite right.

Bishop. You are paying too high a price for it, Mrs. Falk, and
without any certainty of achieving anything.

Leonarda. Maybe. But there is one aspect of the matter that you
have forgotten.

Bishop. And that is?

Leonarda. Compassion.

Bishop. Quite so.--Yes.--Of course, if you approach the matter
from that point of view, I have nothing to say.

Leonarda. You don't believe it?

Bishop. I only wish the matter depended upon what I myself
believe. But it does not, Mrs. Falk.

Leonarda. But surely you will admit that one ought to do good
even at the risk of one's reputation?

Bishop. Undoubtedly.

Leonarda. Well, will your lordship not apply that maxim to
yourself? It is quite possible that for a while your congregation's
faith in you might be a little disturbed if you were to call upon
me; but you know now, from my own lips, that the rumours you have
heard are false, and that you ought rather to be all the more anxious
to support me in what I am trying to do. And in that way you will
do a good turn to these two young people, and to me, without
driving me away. For some years now I have lived only for others.
One does not do that without making some sacrifices, my lord--
especially when, as in my case, one does not feel that one's life
is quite over.

Bishop. You look the picture of youth, Mrs. Falk!

Leonarda. Oh, no--still I have not done it without a struggle.
And now I want a little reward for it. Who would not? I want to
spend my life with those for whom I have sacrificed myself; I
want to see their happiness and make it mine. Do not rob me of
that, my lord! It depends upon you!

Bishop. I do not quite see how it depends upon me.

Leonarda. It depends upon you for this reason; if my exile is to
be the price paid for her marriage, my niece will never consent
to wed your nephew.

Bishop. That would be very distressing to me, Mrs. Falk.

Leonarda. I made haste to come to you, before she should know
anything about it. I have brought your letter with me. Take it
back, my lord! (Searches in her pocket for the letter.)

Bishop (noticing her growing anxiety). What is wrong?

Leonarda. The letter!--I laid it on my desk while I dressed to
come out, meaning to bring it with me--but in my hurry and
anxiety I have forgotten it! And now Aagot is making out accounts
at that very desk. If she sees your handwriting she will suspect
something at once, because of course we have been expecting you
every day.

Bishop. Well, I suppose there is nothing to be done?

Leonarda. Indeed there is. When she comes here--for she will
understand everything and come straight here--could not your
lordship meet her yourself, and say to her--. (Stops short.)

Bishop. Say what?

Leonarda. "I have been mistaken. People should be judged, not
by their mistakes, but by what they have achieved; not by their
beliefs, but by their efforts towards goodness and truth. I mean
to teach my congregation that lesson by calling upon your aunt
next Sunday." (The GRANDMOTHER nods at her approvingly. LEONARDA
sees this, takes her hand, and turns again towards the BISHOP.)
This venerable lady pleads for me too. She belongs to a day that
was more tolerant than ours--at all events than ours is in this
little out-of-the-way place. All the wisdom of her long life is
summed up in these two words: Have forbearance!

Bishop. There is one kind of forbearance, Mrs. Falk, that is
forbidden us--the forbearance that would efface the distinction
between good and evil. That is what the "toleration" of my
grandmother's day meant; but it is not an example to be followed.

Leonarda (leaving the GRANDMOTHER's side). If I have erred--if I
seem of no account, from the lofty standpoint from which you look
upon life--remember that you serve One who was the friend of
sinners.

Bishop. I will be your friend when I see you seeking your soul's
salvation. I will do all I can then.

Leonarda. Help me to expiate my past! That means everything to
me--and is not much for you to do. I only ask for a little show
of courtesy, instead of indignities! I will contrive that we
shall seldom meet. Only don't drive me away--because that means
exposing me to contempt. Believe me, I will give you no cause for
shame; and your good deed will be rewarded by the gratitude of
the young people.

Bishop. I am deeply distressed at having to take up this attitude
towards you. You are bound to think me hardhearted; but that is
not the case. I have to consider that I am the guardian of
thousands of anxious consciences. I dare not for my nephew's
sake offend the respect they feel for me, the trust they put in
me; nor dare I disregard the law we all must follow. For a bishop
to do as I have done in opening my doors to your niece, is in
itself no small thing, when you consider the dissensions that are
going on in the Church nowadays. I cannot, I dare not, go farther
and open my doors to a woman whom my whole congregation--albeit
unjustly--well, I won't wound your feelings by going on.

Leonarda. Really?

Bishop. Believe me, it gives me great pain. You have made a
remarkable impression upon me personally. (Meanwhile the
GRANDMOTHER has got up to go out of the room.)

Leonarda. Are you going away? (The BISHOP goes to the wall and
rings a bell.)

Grandmother. Yes--I am too old for these scenes. And, after what
I have just heard, I am sure I have no right to sit here either.
(CORNELIA comes in, takes her arm, and assists her out.)

Leonarda (coming forward). Now I can say this to your lordship:
you have no courage. Standing face to face with me here, you know
what you ought to do, but dare not do it.

Bishop. You are a woman--so I will not answer.

Leonarda. It is because I am a woman that you have said things to
me to-day that you would not have said to--to General Rosen, for
instance--a man who is allowed to come to your lordship's house
in spite of his past life, and his present life too.

Bishop. He shall come here no more in future. Beside, you cannot
deny that there is a difference between your two cases.

Leonarda. There is indeed a difference: but I did not expect the
distinction to be made on these lines. Nor did I imagine, my
lord, that your duty was to protect, not the weaker vessel, but
the stronger--to countenance open vice, and refuse help to those
who are unjustly accused!

Bishop. Do you think there is any use in our prolonging this
conversation?

[AAGOT opens the door at the back and calls from the doorway.]

Aagot. Aunt!

Leonarda. Aagot! Good heavens!

Aagot (coming forward). Aunt!

Leonarda. Then you know? (AAGOT throws herself into her arms.) My
child!

Aagot. I felt sure you would be here, heaven help me!

Leonarda. Control yourself, my child!

Aagot. No, I cannot. This is too much.

Bishop. Would you ladies rather be alone?

Aagot. Where is Hagbart?

Bishop. He has gone out for a walk.

Aagot. It makes me boil with rage! So this was to be the price of
my being received into your family--that I was to sell the one
who has been a mother to me! Sell her, whom I love and honour
more than all the world!

Bishop. Mrs. Falk, do you wish to continue?--or--

Aagot. Continue what? Your negotiations for the sale of my dear
one? No. And if it were a question of being admitted to heaven
without her, I should refuse!

Bishop. Child! Child!

Aagot. You must let me speak! I must say what is in my heart.
And this, at any rate, is in it--that I hold fast to those I
love, with all the strength that is in my being!

Bishop. You are young, and speak with the exaggeration of
youth. But I think we should do better to put an end to this
interview; it can lead to nothing.

Leonarda. Let us go.

[HAGBART appears at the door.]

Aagot (seeing him before the others). Hagbart!

Hagbart. I heard your voice from outside. Mrs. Falk--

Aagot. Hagbart! (She goes towards him, but as he hastens to her
side she draws back.) No--don't touch me!

Hagbart. But, Aagot--?

Aagot. Why did you not manage to prevent this? You never said a
word to me about it!

Hagbart. Because really I knew nothing about it.

Aagot. One becomes conscious of such things as that without
needing to be told. It hasn't weighed much on your mind!--Did
you not know of it just now?

Hagbart. Yes, but--

Aagot. And you didn't fly to tell us?

Hagbart. It is true I--

Aagot. Your mind was taken up with something else altogether.
And my only aim in life has been that everything should be made
right for her! I thought you were going to do that.

Hagbart. You are unjust, Aagot. What can I do--?

Aagot. No, you are too much of a dreamer. But this you must
realise--that I am not going to buy an honoured position at the
price of insults to my aunt; that is the very last thing
possible.

Hagbart. Of course! But need there be any question of that? I
will come and live with you two, and--

Aagot. You talk like a fool!

Leonarda. Aagot! Aagot!

Aagot. Oh, I feel so hurt, so deceived, so mortified--I must say
it out. Because to-day is not the first of it--nor is this the
only thing.

Leonarda. No, I can understand that. But what is it? You are
wounding his love for you.

Aagot (bitterly). His love for me!

Leonarda. Are you out of your mind? You are talking wildly!

Aagot. No, I am only telling the truth!

Leonarda (earnestly, and lowering her voice). Angry words, Aagot?
You, who have seen into the bottom of his heart in quiet sacred
moments! You who know how true, how steadfast he is! He is
different from other men, Aagot--

Aagot (drawing away from her). Stop! stop! You don't see!

Leonarda. You are out of your senses, my child! Your behaviour
is disgracing us.

Aagot. The greatest disgrace is his, then--because it is not me
he loves! (Bursts into tears and rushes to the back of the room.)

Bishop (to HAGBART, in a low voice). I hope now you will go away
for a little while.

Hagbart. Yes.

Bishop. Come away, then. (Goes out to the left, HAGBART follows
him.)

Aagot (coming forward to LEONARDA). Can you forgive me?

Leonarda. Let us go home.

Aagot. But say something kind to me.

L eonarda. No.

Aagot. I won't let you go away till you do.

Leonarda. I cannot.

Aagot. Aunt, I am not jealous of you.

Leonarda. Be quiet!

Aagot. Only you must let me go away for a few days--I must get
things straight in my mind. (Bursts into tears.) Oh, aunt--for
pity's sake--do you love him? (LEONARDA tries to get away from
her.) I don't love him any longer! If you love him, aunt, I will
give him up!

Leonarda. At least hold your tongue about it, here in another
person's house!--If you are not coming with me, I am going home
by myself.

Aagot. Then I shall never follow you.

Leonarda. You are completely out of your senses!

Aagot. Yes; I cannot live, unless you speak to me gently and look
at me kindly.--God keep you, aunt, now and always!

Leonarda (turning to her). My child!

Aagot. Ah! (Throws herself into her arms.)

Leonarda. Let us go home!

Aagot. Yes.

[Curtain.]

ACT III

(SCENE--The garden at LEONARDA FALK'S house some days later. On
the left, a summer-house with table and chairs. A large basket,
half full of apples, is on the table. LEONARDA is standing
talking to PEDERSEN.)

Leonarda. Very well, Pedersen; if the horses are not needed here,
we may as well send to fetch Miss Aagot home. Can we send to-day?

Pedersen. Certainly, ma'am.

Leonarda. Then please send Hans as soon as possible with a pair
of horses to the hill farm for her. It is too cold for her to be
up there now, anyway.

Pedersen. I will do so. (Turns to go.)

Leonarda. By the way, Pedersen, how has that little affair of
yours been going?

Pedersen. Oh--

Leonarda. Come to me this evening. We will see if we can continue
our little talk about it.

Pedersen. I have been wishing for that for a long time, ma'am.

Leonarda. Yes, for the last eight or ten days I have not been
able to think of anything properly.

Pedersen. We have all noticed that there has been something
wrong with you, ma'am.

Leonarda. We all have our troubles. (PEDERSEN waits; but as
LEONARDA begins to pick apples carefully from a young tree and
put them in a small basket that is on her arm, he goes out to the
left. HAGBART appears from the right, and stands for a minute
without her seeing him.)

Hagbart. Mrs. Falk! (LEONARDA gives a. little scream.) I beg your
pardon, but I have been looking for you everywhere. How are you?
I have only just this moment got back.

Leonarda. Aagot is not at home.

Hagbart. I know. Has she been away the whole time?

Leonarda. Yes.

Hagbart. Will she be away long?

Leonarda. I am sending the horses up to-day, so she should be
here by the day after to-morrow.

Hagbart. It was you I wanted to speak to, Mrs. Falk.

Leonarda. About Aagot?

Hagbart. Yes, about Aagot--amongst other things.

Leonarda. But couldn't you wait--till some other time?

Hagbart. Mrs. Falk, I came straight here from the steamer; so
you can see for yourself--

Leonarda. But if it concerns Aagot, and she is not here?

Hagbart. The part of it that concerns Aagot is soon said. She was
perfectly right--only I did not know it at the time.

Leonarda. Good God!

Hagbart. I do not love Aagot.

Leonarda. But if Aagot loves you?

Hagbart. She has showed me lately that she does not. Did she not
tell you so, plainly?

Leonarda. She was--how shall I put it?--too excited for me to
attach much importance to what she said.

Hagbart. Then she did tell you so. I thought she had--indeed I
was sure of it. Aagot does not love me, but she loves you. She
wants you to be happy.

Leonarda. If you do not love Aagot, it seems to me you ought
not to have come here.

Hagbart. Perhaps you are right. But I am not the same man as I
was when I used to come here before; nor do I come for the same
reason.

Leonarda. If you do not love Aagot, I must repeat that you have
no right to be here. You owe that much consideration both to her
and to me.

Hagbart. I assure you that it is from nothing but the sincerest
consideration for you that I am here now.

Leonarda (who up to this point has been standing by the tree).
Then I must go!

Hagbart. You won't do that!

Leonarda. You seem to me completely changed.

Hagbart. Thank goodness for that!--because I don't feel any great
respect for the man I was before. Many people can decide such
things in a moment, but it has taken me time to see my course
clearly.

Leonarda. I don't understand you.

Hagbart (almost before the words are out of her mouth, coming
close to her). You do understand me!

Leonarda. It would be wicked! Take care!

Hagbart. Your hand is trembling--

Leonarda. That is not true!

Hagbart. They say there is a devil in every one that should not
be waked. It is a foolish saying, because these devils are our
vital forces.

Leonarda. But we ought to have them under control. That is the
lesson my life has taught me; it has cost me dear, and I mean to
profit by it.

Hagbart. If I did not believe that it was the impulse of truth
itself that guided me to you, I should not be standing here. I
have had a long struggle. I have had to give up one prejudice
after another, to enable my soul to find itself fully and go
forward confidently. It has brought me to you--and now we will go
forward together.

Leonarda. That might have been, without this.

Hagbart. I love you! It is you I have loved in her--since the
very first day. I love you!

Leonarda. Then have respect for me--and go!

Hagbart. Leonarda!

Leonarda. No, no! (Shrinks away from him.) Oh, why did this
happen?

Hagbart. It has come upon us step by step. The cruel obstacles in
our way have only proved friends to us, in bringing us together.
Give yourself up to happiness, as I do now!

Leonarda. I do not deserve happiness. I have never expected that.

Hagbart. I don't know what you have gone through to make you what
you are now--so beautiful, so good, so true; but this I do know,
that if the others had not judged you by your failures, I should
not have loved you for what you have achieved. And I thought that
might give me some value in your eyes.

Leonarda. Thank you for that, from my heart!--But the world
disapproves of such things. It disapproves of a young man's
making love to an older woman, and if--

Hagbart. I have never cared much about the world's opinion, even
in the days when I was most hidebound in prejudice. It is your
opinion I want--yours only!

Leonarda. And my answer is that one who is alone can get along
without the world's sympathy--but it is different with a couple.
They will soon feel the cold wind of the world's displeasure
blowing between them.

Hagbart. When you answer me, it makes what I have said seem so
formal and ceremonious--so clumsy. But I must just be as I am; I
cannot alter myself. Dearest, from the moment I felt certain that
it was you I loved, only one thing seemed of any importance to
me--everything else was blotted out. And that is why I do not
understand what you say. Do you suppose they will try to make
me tire of you? Do you suppose that is possible?

Leonarda. Not now, but later on. There will come a time--

Hagbart. Yes, a time of work--self-development! It has come
now. That is why I, am here! Perhaps a time of conflict may come
too--heaven send that it may! Are we to pay any heed to that? No!
You are free, and I am free; and our future is in our own hands.

Leonarda. Besides, I have grown old--

Hagbart. You!

Leonarda. --and jealous, and troublesome; while you are the
incarnation of youth and joy.

Hagbart. You have more youth in you than I. You are an
enchantress! All your life you will be showing me new aspects of
yourself--as you are doing now. Each year will invest you with a
new beauty, new spiritual power. Do you think I only half
understand you, or only half love you? I want to sit close in
your heart, warmed by its glow. It is the irresistible power of
truth that has drawn me to you. My whole life will not be long
enough for me to sound the unfathomable depths of your soul.

Leonarda. Your words are like the spring breezes, alluring and
intoxicating, but full of deadly peril too.

Hagbart. You love me! I knew it before I came here to-day. I saw
it the moment I stood here. Love is the very breath of life to
you, surpassingly more than to any one else I have ever seen; and
that is why you have suffered so terribly from the disappointments
and emptiness of life. And now, when love is calling to you--love
that is true and sincere--you are trembling!

Leonarda. You understand me in a way I thought impossible! It
takes away all my resolution; it--

Hagbart. Surely you saw it in all the many talks we love had?

Leonarda. Yes.

Hagbart. Then is that not a proof that we two--?

Leonarda. Yes, it is true! I can hide nothing from you. (Bursts
into tears.)

Hagbart. But why this unhappiness?

Leonarda. I don't know! It pursues me all day, and all through
the sleepless night. (Weeps helplessly.)

Hagbart. But it has no real existence. It might, in the case of
others; but not in our case--not for us.

Leonarda. I spoke in my distress, without thinking. I threw out
the first thing that came into my head, to try and stop you. But
it is not that--oh, God! (Sways as if half swooning.)

Hagbart (rushing to her side). Leonarda!

Leonarda. No, no! Let me be!

Hagbart. You know your love is too strong for you--will you not
give way to it?

Leonarda. Hagbart, there is something about it that is not right--

Hagbart. Do you mean in the way it has come about? In Aagot's
having been the means of leading me to you? Think of it, and you
will see that it could not have happened otherwise.

Leonarda. Talking about it will not help me. I must see Aagot; I
must speak to Aagot.

Hagbart. But you have done that! You know it is you that love
me, and not she. You know it is you that I love, and not her.
What more do you need?

Leonarda. I want time. I want not to lose the self-control I have
won for myself by years of renunciation and self-sacrifice, and
was so proud of. But it won't obey me when you speak to me.
Your words possess me in spite of myself. If there is any
happiness on earth, it is to find one's every thought faultlessly
understood. But that happiness brings a pain with it--for me, at
any rate. No, don't answer! You are too strong for me; because I
love you--love you as only one can who has never believed such
joy could exist or could possibly come to her--and now the depths
of my peace are troubled with the thought that it is treachery to
my child.

Hagbart. But you know that it is not!

Leonarda. I don't know. Let me have time to think! I am afraid,
and my fear revives forgotten memories. More than that--I am
afraid of the immensity of my love for you, afraid of dragging
you with me into a whirlpool of disaster!--No, don't answer!
Don't touch me!--Hagbart, do you love me?

Hagbart. Can you ask that?

Leonarda. Then help me! Go away!--Be generous. Let my heart
know this triumph and see you in its glorious rays! Other
women do not need that, perhaps--but I need it--go!

Hagbart. Leonarda!

Leonarda. Wait till you hear from me. It will not be long.
Whatever happens, be patient--and remember, I love you!--No,
don't say anything! I have neither courage nor strength for
anything more. (Her voice sinks to a whisper.) Go! (He turns to
go.) Hagbart! (He stops.) What you have said to me to-day has
given me the greatest happiness of my life. But your going away
now without a word will be more to me than all you have sail.
(He goes out.)

Leonarda (stands for some moments in a kind of ecstasy, moves,
and stands still again. Suddenly she calls out): Aagot!

Aagot (from without). Are you there?

Leonarda. My dear child! (Goes out, and cones in again with
AAGOT in her arms.) Did you walk?

Aagot. The whole way! (She is carrying her hat in her hand,
appears hot and sunburnt, and bears evident signs of laving made
a long journey on foot. She takes off a knapsack which she has
been carrying on her back.) I washed in a brook to-day and used
it as a looking-glass as well!

Leonarda. Have you been walking all night?

Aagot. No; I slept for a little while at Opsal, but I was out by
sunrise. It was lovely!

Leonarda. And I have just been arranging to send and fetch you.

Aagot. Really? Well, they can fetch my things. I could not wait
any longer.

Leonarda. You look so well.

Aagot. Oh, that is because I am so sunburnt.

Leonarda. You are feeling all right again, then--now?

Aagot. Splendid, aunt! All that is over, now.--I have had a
letter from grandmother.

Leonarda. Was that letter from her that I sent on to you? I could
not make out whom it was from.

Aagot. Yes, it was from her. Here it is. You must hear it.

Leonarda. Yes.

Aagot (reads). "My dear child. I have not written a letter for
many years, so I do not know what this will be like. But Hagbart
is away, so I must tell you myself. Do not be distressed any
longer. As soon as you are married, I will come and live with
you." Isn't that glorious, aunt? (She is trembling with
happiness, and throws her arms round LEONARDA'S neck.)

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