Three Dramas by Bjornstjerne M. Bjornson

B >> Bjornstjerne M. Bjornson >> Three Dramas

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The Receiver (coming up behind Tjaelde). Excuse me! May I have your
books and papers? (TJAELDE gives a start, moves away to the stove,
and supports himself on it.)

Jakobsen (in a whisper, standing over him). Scoundrel! (TJAELDE
moves away from him and sits down on a chair by the door, hiding
his face in his hands.)

Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up and whispering to JAKOBSEN), Jakobsen!
Jakobsen! (He comes towards her.) He has never deliberately cheated
any one! He has never been what you say, and never will be! (Sits
down again.)

Jakobsen. I have the deepest respect for _you_, Mrs. Tjaelde. But
if _he_ is not a liar and swindler, there is no truth in anything!
(Bursts into tears. MRS. TJAELDE hides her face in her hands as she
leans back in her chair. A short silence. Then a confused noise of
voices is heard without. The RECEIVER and his men stop their work
of sorting and inventorying papers, and all look up.)

Mrs. Tjaelde (apprehensively). What is that? (SANNAES and the
RECEIVER go to one window, and JAKOBSEN to another.)

Jakobsen. It's the hands from the quay and the brewery and the
factory and the warehouse. All work is stopped until further
orders; but this is pay-day--and there is no pay for them! (The
others resume their work.)

Tjaelde (coming forward despairingly). I had forgotten that!

Jakobsen (going up to him). Well, go out and face them, and they
will let you know what you are!

Tjaelde (in a low voice, as he takes up his saddle-bag). Here is
money, but it is all in gold. Go into the town and get it changed,
and pay them!

Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, do, Jakobsen!

Jakobsen (in lower tones). If _you_ ask me to, ma'am, I--So there
is money in this bag? (Opens it.) And all done up in rolls. He
meant to bolt, then!--and with the money his people had lent him.
And yet you say he is not a scoundrel! (TJAELDE gives a groan. The
noise of voices without grows louder.)

Mrs. Tjaelde (in a low voice). Be quick, or we shall have them in
here.

Jakobsen. I will go.

The Receiver (interposing). Excuse me, but nothing must be taken
away from here until it has been examined and inventoried.

Jakobsen. It is pay-day, and this is the money for the wages.

Mrs. Tjaelde. Jakobsen is responsible for it, and will account for
it.

The Receiver. Oh, that alters the case. Mr. Jakobsen is a man of
integrity. (Goes back to his work.)

Jakobsen (to MRS. TJAELDE, in a low voice full of emotion). Did you
hear that, Mrs. Tjaelde? He called me a man of integrity--and very
soon not a single soul will call me that! (Goes out past TJAELDE to
whom he whispers as he passes:) Scoundrel! I shall come back again!

The Receiver (going up to TJAELDE). Excuse me, but I must ask you
for the keys of your private rooms and cupboards.

Mrs. Tjaelde (answering for her husband). My housekeeper shall go
with you. Sannaes, here is the key of the cupboard. (SANNAES takes
it from her.)

The Receiver (looking at TJAELDE'S massive watch-chain). Whatever
article of dress can be called a necessary, we have nothing to do
with; but if it happens that it comrises jewellery of any great
value--. (TJAELDE begins to take off the watch-chain.) No, no; keep
it on. But it will have to be included in the inventory.

Tjaelde. I don't wish to keep it.

The Receiver. As you please. (Signs to one of his clerks to take
it.) Good-day! (Meanwhile SIGNE and HAMAR have appeared at the
door of the outer office, and have seen what passed. The RECEIVER,
SANNAES, and the clerks try to open the door on the right, but find
it locked.) This door is locked.

Tjaelde (as if waking from a dream). Ah, of course! (Goes to the
door and unlocks it.)

Signe (rushing to MRS. TJAELDE and falling on her knees beside
her). Mother!

Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, dear, the day of our trial has come! And I am
afraid--afraid that it may find us all too weak.

Signe. Mother, what is to become of us?

Mrs. Tjaelde. We are in God's hands.

Signe. I will go with Hamar to his aunt's. We will go at once.

Mrs. Tjaelde. It is possible that his aunt may not be willing to
have you now.

Signe. Aunt Ulla! What do you mean?

Mrs. Tjaelde. I mean that you have been the rich man's daughter;
and you do not know what the world is.

Signe. Hamar, do you think Aunt Ulla would refuse to have me?

Hamar (after a moment's thought). I don't know.

Mrs. Tjaelde. You hear that, my child. In the next few hours you
will learn more than you have learnt in all your life.

Signe (in a horrified whisper). Do you mean that even--?

Mrs. Tjaelde. Hush! (SIGNE hides her face in her mother's lap. A
loud burst of laughter is heard outside.)

Hamar (going to the nearest window). What is that? (SANNAES comes
in through the right-hand door and goes to the other window.
TJAELDE, SIGNE and MRS. TJAELDE get up.) The bay horse! They have
got hold of it.

Sannaes. They have led it up the steps, and are pretending to sell
it by auction.

Hamar. They are ill-treating it! (SANNAES runs out. HAMAR snatches
up the revolver from the desk and looks to see if it is loaded.) I
will--!

Signe. What are you going to do? (As he starts to go out, she
clings to him and prevents him.)

Hamar. Let me go!

Signe. Tell me first what you are going to do! Do you mean to go
out among all those men--alone?

Hamar. Yes.

Signe (throwing her arms round him). You shan't go!

Hamar. Take care, this is loaded!

Signe. What are you going to do with it?

Hamar (in a determined voice, as he shakes himself free of her).
Put a bullet into the poor beast! It is too good for that crew. It
shan't be put up for auction, either in joke or in earnest! (Goes
to the farther window.) I shall get a better aim from here.

Signe (following him, with a cry). You will hit some one!

Hamar. No, I can aim too well for that. (Takes aim.)

Signe. Father! If they hear a shot from here now--

Tjaelde (starting up). The house belongs to my creditors now--and
the revolver too!

Hamar. No, I am past taking orders from you now! (TJAELDE snatches
at the revolver, which goes off. SIGNE screams and rushes to her
mother. Outside, but this time immediately below the window, two
cries are heard: "They are shooting at us! They are shooting at
us!" Then the noise of breaking glass is heard, and stones fly in
through the windows, followed by shouts and ribald laughter.
VALBORG, who has rushed in from the outer office, stands in front
of her father to protect him, her face turned to the window. A
voice is heard: "Follow me, my lads!")

Hamar (pointing the revolver at the window). Yes, just you try it!

Mrs. Tjaelde and Signe. They are coming in here!

Valborg. You shan't shoot! (Stands between him and the window.)

Tjaelde. It is Sannaes with the police! (Cries of "Get back,
there!" are heard; then a renewed uproar and a loud voice gradually
dominating it; until at last the noise gradually lessens and
ceases.)

Mrs. Tjaelde. Thank God! We were in great danger. (Sinks into a
chair. A pause.) Henning, where are you? (TJAELDE comes up behind
her, and strokes her head with his hand, but turns away immediately
to hide his deep emotion. A pause.)

Signe (on her knees by her mother's side). But won't they come
back? Hadn't we better go away from here?

Mrs. Tjaelde. Where to?

Signe (despairingly). What is to become of us?

Mrs. Tjaelde. What God wills. (A pause. Meanwhile HAMAR,
unobserved, has laid down the revolver on a chair and slipped
out of the room by the door at the back.)

Valborg (softly). Signe, look! (SIGNE gets up, looks round the
room, and gives a little cry.)

Mrs. Tjaelde. What is it?

Signe. I knew he would!

Mrs. Tjaelde (apprehensively). What is it?

Valborg. Every rich family has its tame lieutenant--and ours has
just left us. That's all.

Mrs. Tjaelde (getting up). Signe, my child!

Signe (throwing herself into her arms). Mother!

Mrs. Tjaelde. There will be no more pretence now. Do not let us
regret it!

Signe (in tears). Mother, mother!

Mrs. Tjaelde. Things are better as they are. Do you hear, dear?
Don't cry!

Signe. I am not crying! but I feel so ashamed--oh, so ashamed!

Mrs. Tjaelde. It is I that ought to feel ashamed for never having
had the courage to put a stop to what I saw was folly.

Signe (as before). Mother!

Mrs. Tjaelde. Soon there will be no one else left to desert us; and
we shall have nothing left that any one can rob us of, either.

Valborg (comes forward evidently labouring under great emotion).
Yes, there is, mother; _I_ mean to desert you.

Signe. You, Valborg? Desert us? You?

Valborg. Our home is going to be broken up, anyway. Each of us
ought to shift for herself.

Signe. But what am I to do? I don't know how to do anything.

Mrs. Tjaelde (who has sunk back into her chair). What a bad mother
I must have been, not to be able to keep my children together now!

Valborg (impetuously). You know we cannot stay together now! You
know we cannot put up with living on the charity of our creditors;
we have done that too long!

Mrs. Tjaelde. Hush, remember your father is in the room. (A pause.)
What do you want to do, Valborg?

Valborg (after she has regained her self-control, quietly). I want
to go into Mr. Holst's office, and learn commercial work--and keep
myself.

Mrs. Tjaelde. You don't know what you are undertaking.

Valborg. But I know what I am leaving.

Signe. And I shall only be a burden to you, mother, because I can't
do anything--

Valborg. You _can_! Go out and earn a living; even if it is only as
a servant, what does that matter? Don't live on our creditors--not
for a day, not for an hour!

Signe. And what is to become of mother, then?

Mrs. Tjaelde. Your mother will stay with your father.

Signe. But all alone? You, who are so ill?

Mrs. Tjaelde. No, not alone! Your father and I will be together.
(TJAELDE comes forward, kisses the hand she has stretched out to
him, and falls on his knees by her chair, burying his face in her
lap. She strokes his hair gently.) Forgive your father, children.
That is the finest thing you can do. (TJAELDE gets up again and
goes back to the other end of the room. A messenger comes in with a
letter.)

Signe (turning round anxiously). It is a letter from him! I can't
stand any more! I won't have it! (The messenger hands the letter to
TJAELDE.)

Tjaelde. I accept no more letters.

Valborg (looking at the letter). It is from Sannaes?

Tjaelde. He, too!

Mrs. Tjaelde. Take it and read it, Valborg. Let us get it all over
at once. (VALBORG takes the letter from the messenger, who goes
out. She opens the letter, looks at it, and then reads it with
emotion.) "Sir,--I have owed you everything since I entered your
employment as a boy. Therefore do not take what I am going to say
amiss. You know that about eight years ago I came into a little
legacy. I have used the money to some advantage, having especially
looked out for such investments as would not be affected by the
uncertainties of high finance. The total sum, which now amounts to
about £1400, I beg to offer to you as a token of respectful
gratitude; because, in the end, I owe it to you that I have been
able to make it that sum. Besides, you will be able to make many
times better use of it than I could. If you need me, my dearest
wish is to remain with you in the future. Forgive me for having
seized just this moment for doing this; I could not do otherwise.--
Your obedient servant, J. SANNAES." (While VALBORG has been
reading, TJAELDE has come gradually forward, and is now standing
beside his wife.)

Mrs. Tjaelde. Though out of all those you have helped, Henning,
only one comes to your aid at a time like this, you must feel that
you have your reward. (TJAELDE nods, and goes to the back of the
room again.) And you, children--do you see how loyally this man, a
stranger, is standing by your father? (A pause. SIGNE stands by the
desk, crying. TJAELDE walks up and down uneasily at the back of the
room once or twice, then goes up the staircase.)

Valborg. I should like to speak to Sannaes.

Mrs. Tjaelde. Yes, do, dear! I couldn't, just now; and I am sure
your father couldn't either. You speak to him! (Gets up.) Come,
Signe, you and I must have a talk; you must open your heart to
me now.--Ah, when have we ever had a real talk together? (SIGNE
goes to her.) Where is your father?

Valborg. He went upstairs.

Mrs. Tjaelde (leaning on SIGNE's arm). So he did. I am sure he must
be longing to rest--although he won't find it easy to do that. It
has been a terrible day; but surely God will turn it to our good!
(Goes out with SIGNE. VALBORG goes to the back of the room and
rings the bell. A messenger comes.)

Valborg. If Mr. Sannaes is out there, please ask him to be so good
as to come in here for a moment. (The messenger goes out.) Perhaps
he won't come, when he hears it is I. (Listens.) Yes, he is coming!

(SANNAES comes in, but stops short when he sees VALBORG, and
hurriedly puts his hands behind his back.)

Sannaes. Is it you, Miss Valborg, that want me?

Valborg. Please come in. (SANNAES takes a few timid steps forward.
VALBORG speaks in a more friendly tone.) Come in, then! (SANNAES
comes further into the room.)

Valborg. You have written a letter to my father.

Sannaes (after a moment's pause). Yes.

Valborg. And made him a most generous offer.

Sannaes (as before). Oh, well--it was only natural that I should.

Valborg. Do you think so? It doesn't seem so to me. It is an offer
that honours the man that made it. (A pause.)

Sannaes. I hope he means to accept it?

Valborg. I don't know.

Sannaes (sadly, after a moment's pause). Then he doesn't mean to?
No--I suppose not.

Valborg. I honestly don't know. It depends on whether he dare.

Sannaes. Whether he dare?

Valborg. Yes. (A pause.)

Sannaes (evidently very shy of VALBORG). Have you any more orders
for me, Miss Valborg?

Valborg (with a smile). Orders? I am not giving you orders.--You
have offered also to stay with my father for the future.

Sannaes. Yes--that is to say, if he wishes me to.

Valborg. I don't know. In that case there would be only he and
my mother and you; no one else.

Sannaes. Indeed? What about the others, then?

Valborg. I don't know for certain what my sister means to do--but
I am leaving home to-day.

Sannaes. Then you are going to--

Valborg. --to try and get a clerkship somewhere. So that it will be
a bit lonely for you to be in my father's employment now. (A
pause.) I expect you had not thought of it in that light?

Sannaes. No--yes--that is to say, your father will have all the
more need of me then.

Valborg. Indeed he will. But what sort of a prospect is it for you
to bind up your fortunes with my father's? The future is so very
problematical, you know.

Sannaes. What sort of a prospect--?

Valborg. Yes, a young man should have some sort of a prospect
before him.

Sannaes. Yes--of course; that is to say, I only thought that at
first it would be so difficult for him.

Valborg. But I am thinking of you. Surely you have some plans for
the future?

Sannaes (embarrassed). Really I would rather not talk about myself.

Valborg. But I want to.--You have something else in reserve, then?

Sannaes. Well--if I must tell you--I have some well-to-do relations
in America who have for a long time wanted me to go over there. I
should soon be able to get, a good situation there.

Valborg. Indeed?--But why haven't you accepted such a good offer
long before this? (SANNAES does not answer.) You must have been
sacrificing your best interests by staying so long with us?
(SANNAES is still silent.) Any! it will be making a still greater
sacrifice to stay with us now--

Sannaes (struggling with his embarrassment). I have never thought
of it as being that.

Valborg. But my father can scarcely accept so much from you.

Sannaes (in alarm). Why not?

Valborg. Because it really would be too much.--And, in any case, I
shall try to prevent him.

Sannaes (almost imploringly). You, Miss Valborg?

Valborg. Yes. You must not be misemployed any longer.

Sannaes. Misemployed? In what I _myself_ desire so much?

Valborg. When I have talked it over with my father, I think he will
see my point.

Sannaes (anxiously). What do you mean?

Valborg (after a moment's reflection). --I mean, the reason of your
having made such great sacrifices for us--and of your being willing
to make still greater now. (A pause. SANNAES hangs his head, and is
raising his hands to hide his face, when suddenly he puts them
behind his back again. VALBORG continues, in gentle but firm
tones:) I have taught myself, all my life, to look behind deeds and
words for their motives.

Sannaes (quietly, without raising his head). You have taught
yourself to be cruelly bitter, hard and unjust.

Valborg (starts, but collects herself, and says gently:) Don't say
that, Mr. Sannaes! It is not hard-heartedness or bitterness that
makes me think of your future now--and makes me wish to spare you
disappointment.

Sannaes (with a cry of pain). Miss Valborg!

Valborg. Be honest with yourself, and you will be able to take a
fairer view of what I have just said.

Sannaes. Have you any more orders, Miss Valborg?

Valborg. I give you no orders, as I have told you already. I am
only bidding you good-bye; and I do it with grateful thanks to you
for all your goodness to me--and to us all. Good-bye and good luck,
Mr. Sannaes. (SANNAES bows.)Won't you shake hands? Ah, I forgot--I
offended you. I beg your pardon for that. (SANNAES bows and turns
to go.) Come, Mr. Sannaes--let us at least part as good friends!
You are going to America, and I am going among strangers. Let us go
away wishing one another well.

Sannaes (moved). Good-bye, Miss Valborg. (Turns to go.)

Valborg. Mr. Sannaes--shake hands!

Sannaes (stopping). No, Miss Valborg.

Valborg. Don't treat me uncivilly; I have not deserved that.
(SANNAES again turns to go.) Mr. Sannaes!

Sannaes (stopping). You might soil your fingers, Miss Valborg!
(Walks proudly away.)

Valborg (controlling herself with an effort). Well, we have
offended each other now. But why should we not forgive each other
as well?

Sannaes. Because you have just offended me for the second time
to-day--and more deeply than the first time.

Valborg. Oh, this is too much! I spoke as I did, because I owed it
to myself not to be put in a false position, and owed it to you to
spare you future disappointment. And you call that insulting you!
Which of us has insulted the other, I should like to know?

Sannaes. You have, by thinking such things of me. Do you realise
how cruelly you have spoilt the happiest action of my life?

Valborg. I have done so quite unintentionally, then. I am only
glad that I was mistaken.

Sannes (bitterly). You are glad! So it really makes you glad to
know that I am not a scoundrel!

Valborg (quietly). Who said anything of the kind?

Sannaes. You! You know the weak spot in my armour; but that you
should on that account believe that I could lay a trap for you
and try to trade on your father's misfortune, Miss Valborg--!
No, I cannot shake hands with any one who has thought so badly
of me as that! And, since you have so persistently insulted me
that I have lost all the timidity I used to feel in your presence,
let me tell you this openly; these hands (stretching out his hands
to her) have grown red and ugly in loyal work for your father, and
his daughter should have been above mocking at me for them!
(Turns to go, but stops.) And, one word more. Ask your father for
_his_ hand now, and hold fast to it, instead of deserting him on
the very day that misfortune has overtaken him. That would be more
to the point than worrying about _my_ future. I can look after that
for myself. (Turns again to go, but comes back.) And when, in his
service--which will be no easy service now--your hands bear the
same honourable marks of work as mine do, and are as red as mine,
then you will perhaps understand how you have hurt me! At present
you cannot. (He goes quickly towards the door of the outer office.)

Valborg (with a wry smile). What a temper! (More seriously.) And
yet, after all--. (Looks after him. Just as SANNAES gets to the
door TJAELDE'S voice is heard calling him from the top of the
staircase. SANNAES answers him.)

Tjaelde (coming down the stairs). Sannaes! Sannaes! I can see
Jakobsen coming. (Hurries across the room as if pursued by fear.
SANNAES follows him.) Of course he will be coming back to look for
me again! It is cowardly of me to feel that I cannot stand it; but
I cannot--not to-day, not now! I cannot stand any more! Stop him!
Don't let him come in! I shall have to drink my cup of misery to
the dregs; but (almost in a whisper) not all at one draught! (Hides
his face in his hands.)

Sannaes. He shan't come; don't be afraid! (Goes quickly out, with
an air of determination.)

Tjaelde. It is hard--oh, it is hard!

Valborg (coming to his side). Father! (He looks at her, anxiously.)
You may safely accept the money Sannaes offers you.

Tjaelde (in surprise). What do you mean by that?

Valborg. I mean--that, if you do, I will not forsake you either,
but stay here with you too.

Tjaelde (incredulously). You, Valborg?

Valborg. Yes, you know I want to learn office work, and business;
and I would rather learn in your office.

Tjaelde (shyly). I don't understand what you--?

Valborg. Don't you understand, dear? I believe I could become of
some use in the office. And in that way, you know, we might
begin afresh--and try, with God's help, to pay your creditors.

Tjaelde (happily, but shyly). My child! Who put such a happy idea
into your head?

Valborg (putting an arm round his neck). Father, forgive me for
all that I have neglected to do! You shall see how I will try and
make up for it! How hard I shall work!

Tjaelde (still half incredulous). My child! My child!

Valborg. I feel--I cannot tell you how deeply--a craving for love
and for work! (Throws both her arms round his neck.) Oh, father,
how I love you!--and how I shall work for you!

Tjaelde. Ah, that is the Valborg I have waited for, ever since you
were a little child! But we had drifted away from one another,
somehow.

Valborg. No more about the past! Look forward, father, look
forward! Concerns "that would not be affected by the uncertainties
of high finance,"--weren't those his words?

Tjaelde. So you were struck by that expression, too?

Valborg. That may mean a future for us now! We will have a home all
to ourselves--a little house down on the shore--and I shall help
you, and Signe will help mother--we shall know what it is to live,
for the first time!

Tjaelde. What happiness it will be!

Valborg. Only look forward, father! Look forward! A united family
is invincible!

Tjaelde. And to think that such help should come to me now!

Valborg. Yes, now we are all going to our posts--and all together,
where formerly you stood alone! You will have good fairies round
you; wherever you look, you will see happy faces and busy fingers
all day long; and we shall all enjoy our meals and our evenings
together, just as we did when we were children!

Tjaelde. That, above everything!

Valborg. Ha, ha!--it is after the rain that the birds sing
blithest, you know! And this time our happiness can never miscarry,
because we shall have something worth living for!

Tjaelde. Let us go to your mother! This will cheer her heart!

Valborg. Ah, how I have learnt to love her! What has happened
to-day has taught me.

Tjaelde. It is for her that we shall all work now.

Valborg. Yes--for her, for her. She shall rest now. Let us go to
her!

Tjaelde. Kiss me first, my dear. (His voice trembles.) It is so
long since you did!

Valborg (kissing him). Father!

Tjaelde. Now let us go to your mother. (The curtain falls as they
go out together.)

ACT IV

(SCENE.--In the garden of TJAELDE'S new home, on the shore of the
fjord, three years later. A view of tranquil sunlit sea, dotted
with boats, in the background. On the left a portion of the house
is seen, with an open window within which VALBORG is seen writing
at a desk. The garden is shaded with birch trees; flower-beds run
round the house, and the whole atmosphere one of modest comfort.
Two small garden tables and several chairs are in the foreground on
the right. A chair standing by itself, further back, has evidently
had a recent occupant. When the curtain rises the stage is empty,
but VALBORG is visible at the open window. Soon afterwards TJAELDE
comes in, wheeling MRS. TJAELDE in an invalid chair.)

Mrs. Tjaelde. Another lovely day!

Tjaelde. Tjaelde. Lovely! There was not a ripple on the sea last
night. I saw a couple of steamers far out, and a sailing ship that
had hove to, and the fisher-boats drifting silently in.

Mrs. Tjaelde. And think of the storm that was raging two days ago!

Tjaelde. And think of the storm that broke over our lives barely
three years ago! I was thinking of that in the night.

Mrs. Tjaelde. Sit down here with me.

Tjaelde. Shall we not continue our stroll?

Mrs. Tjaelde. The sun is too hot.

Tjaelde. Not for me.

Mrs. Tjaelde. You big strong man! It is too hot for me.

Tjaelde (taking a chair). There you are, then.

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