Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 10).djvu/138

 Lövborg.

She is stupid about matters of that sort.

Hedda.

And I am cowardly. [Bends over towards him, without looking him in the face, and says more softly:] But now I will confide something to you.

Lövborg.

[Eagerly.] Well?

Hedda.

The fact that I dared not shoot you down

Lövborg.

Yes!

Hedda.

that was not my most arrant cowardice—that evening.

Lövborg.

[Looks at her a moment, understands, and whispers passionately.] Oh, Hedda! Hedda Gabler! Now I begin to see a hidden reason beneath our comradeship! You[1] and I! After all, then, it was your craving for life

Hedda.

[Softly, with a sharp glance.] Take care! Believe nothing of the sort!

[Twilight has begun to fall. The hall door is opened from without by Berta.

Hedda.

[Closes the album with a bang and calls smilingly:] Ah, at last! My darling Thea,—come along!

1 In this speech he once more says du. Hedda addresses him throughout as De.