The action is supposed to take place in a Swedish Province in Finland. Present time. ACT I The living room in ULFSTJERNA's home. It is large, but has a low ceiling It is irregular in form, as a smaller room is built in the left corner in the background. This is HELGE's bedroom. A little farther to the right on the same wall is the door to the vestibule. The larger part of the wall in the background is occupied by a large studio window, with an outlook over the snow covered roofs. On the right wall is a door to the upper story which comprises ULFSTJERNA'S workroom and bedroom. The furniture is old and worn, and is not carried out in any one style, but there are a few pretty, antique pieces. It is noticeable that the room is used for various purposes, as dining-room and parlor. In the middle of the room is a table with chairs around it. Above it *Copyright 1921 by THE POET LORE COMPANY I is a hanging-lamp. To the right, in the foreground, is a group of smaller tables with books and periodicals. There is an old, highbacked, oaken chair in the foreground; against the wall that is built in, stands an old writing-desk; and beside it, on the wall in the background, is a book-shelf. There are rugs on the floor; a few pictures on the walls and a few bronzes, etc., decorate the room. Above the sofa is a picture of ULFSTJERNA as a young man. For the sake of symmetry, on the other side of the door is a group of withered laurelwreaths tied with ribbons. It is towards evening, and gradually it grows dusky. From the dark, heavy sky, large, isolated snowflakes slowly fall past the window. ADELAIDE is sitting on the sofa to the right, busy darning a pair of silk hose. She is about forty years old, a strong, pretty, splendid brunette. HELGE is sitting at the writing-desk in the background, reading. He is twenty years old, pale, tall, and slender. He has a broad handsome forehead and dark curly hair. He is near-sighted. His face is full of pimples. He is just starting to raise a mustache. Adelaide.-Now it's snowing again. And I forgot my rubbers at the theater. Such flakes! Do look, Helge. Helge (Without looking up from his book).-What is it? Helge (As before).-Yes. Adelaide.-Can't you take the pains to look up from your book? You shouldn't read any longer. Take care of your eyes. Helge. I see. Adelaide. You see, yes! But how do you see? (She runs her fingers through the holes in the stocking she is darning, and looks at it hopelessly while she leans back on the sofa) Bless me! How he snores! Do you hear? Helge. What? Adelaide. How papa snores in there! Now you can surely be a witness. (Looks at the stocking and sighs deeply.) Helge! Look here, Helge. Helge (Impatient, turns around).-Well, what is it? Adelaide (Holds up the stocking toward him, playing with her fingers). What do you say about this? Helge (Laughs).- Are you going to wear them to-night? Adelaide. Yes. But, praise the Lord, it's under the foot. (She examines the stockings.) The legs are whole. Do you know what I'm going to do? (As HELGE does not answer, she repeats.) Do-you-know-what-I'm-going-to-do? Helge (As before, absorbed in his book).-No. Adelaide (Rolls the stockings into a ball, throws them into the air, and then catches them).-I'm going to give them to the deuce. Let those pimples alone! Helge (Strikes the table in despair).-Mamma! Adelaide. It's dangerous-I assure you. A person can get blood poison that way. There are many who have died of that. Helge. How do you know? Adelaide.-Well, I guess I've read it in the papers. Adelaide. How do I know? It's there unceasingly. Helge. That's not so.-It's there only once a year, in July: and now it's December. Adelaide. Why should it be just in July? Helge (Mocking her).-How do I know? Adelaide (Rushes up to him, shakes his head, and pulls his hair). Do you sit there and poke fun at me, you Helge.-No mamma. Let me alone. Let me read now. Adelaide (Still having hold of his hair).—If I could only understand what pleasure you find in eternally hanging your nose over a book. Helge. I thought you understood that- Helge. Since you always try to disturb me. · Adelaide.-Since I— (She lets loose her hold on him, and then goes back to the sofa, takes up her stocking, and begins to darn. HELGE reads. Suddenly she sobs. HELGE looks up. She stops eagerly. He reads again. New and stronger sobbing is heard.) (He rises.) Helge.-Mamma. Adelaide.-Damned stockings! Well, I can't see any longer. (She throws the stockings away, takes out her handkerchief, and uses it.) Helge (Walks slowly up to her).—Forgive me, mamma. I didn't mean anything as bad as that. SO Adelaide (Crying).—I didn't understand it at first. It was so mean. Helge.-Forgive me. ལེ། ད ོང།། ཏ་ ces between and takes a deep believe papa is mim. He suddenwat on her shoulder.) od to disturb me any HELGE does not answer. Sace And then he goes quickly back 85RNA enters.) He Bond Booth. He is about fifty years old. hobes on the table, sits staring straight ahead of Don't you hear me ask if the paper has come? -Will you do me the service to go and find out? Hoge Why, I know it hasn't come. germa-But I don't know it. Will you do your old her that service? ge (Looks at him grudgingly, then he rises and goes out into acade-You always disturb him in his work. tierna. He's not prime in this house yet. Work! Some of these miserable modern novels! (He goes to the table, takes the book and looks at the title) German!-And Philosophy at that. Fine youth! Now what kind of scene was there between you again? Adelaide.-There wasn't any scene. Ulfstjerna. A person would believe that you were a couple of lovers-alternating squabbles and kisses. Adelaide. You ought to be ashamed. Ulfstjerna. I know you. Everything becomes erotical to you, even your son. formally flirt with him. a go Adelaide (Half amused).—You are crazy. Ulfstjerna. Don't you think I have eyes. A couple of days Helge (Comes back).-There wasn't any paper. (He sits down at his book.) Ulfstjerna. No of course not. (He looks at his watch.) To-morrow I shall make a complaint to the editor. I don't expect to stand this any longer. It's indecent. It's now a halfhour that I've waited for it. (He turns to HELGE quickly.) What did you say? Helge (Without looking up).-Nothing. Helge.-No. Adelaide. It was I who snorted. Ulfstjerna. Is it permitted that I ask why? Ulfstjerna.—No-I wish to know what that snorting is supposed to imply. Adelaide.-To-day it certainly seems as if you have awakened on the wrong side. Ulfstjerna (As if stung by a bee).—I haven't awakened. I can't awaken when I haven't slept. Adelaide.-Bless me-well, it could be heard. Ulfstjerna.—What was heard? Don't come with any suggestions.-Talk right out. Adelaide. I suppose it's not allowed, when you can't stand to hear it. Ulfstjerna. I understand. It's that legend about the snoring again. Adelaide.-Yes, this time I am sure Helge can testify that it's true. Ulfstjerna.-Helge, too. Well, it's a conspiracy. Good, good! It might be a good thing to know. (He seats himself in the arm-chair.) Adelaide (Listens).-I believe the paper is here now. (She goes out into the vestibule. Then she comes back with a newspaper which she gives to ULFSTJERNA.) |