Hadda Pada | Page 9

the week-end.
THE SHERIFF. We expect quite a few people over the week-end. I had
a letter from Arni, the tourist guide, who says he'll be here with six
tourists next Sunday.
STEINDOR. How are we going to accommodate all these people?
LADY MARGARET. Yes, it is true, every summer we have more and
more guests. But, what difference does it make--The rooms of
Breidabol are still large enough.
OLOF [to Steindor]. You can room with Ingolf for the present. [To
Hadda.] And I'll move in with you. Then we'll have an extra room.
THE SHERIFF. My, but will you really be here three weeks to-
morrow? It's so good to have both sisters at the same time. You haven't
been here together since you were tiny little tots--just so high!
KRISTRUN. I would have been here last year, if I hadn't been sick.
THE SHERIFF. ... Well, let's not lose any more time, [Gets up]
Steindor, we are behind in our work. [They go out. Then all get up.
Ingolf goes over to the arm-chair near the window, and sits down.]
LADY MARGARET [going out]. Will you clear the table, Olla dear.
HADDA PADDA [assists Olof]. Shall we all go for a walk now? It's a
glorious day!
OLOF [taking the coffee things into the dining-room]. Yes, I just have
some time to spare.
KRISTRUN. I'm not going out again, I've just come in.
HADDA PADDA [taking Ingolf's hand]. You look so tired to-day. ...
Shall we go?
INGOLF. It's cooler indoors.
HADDA PADDA [in the same tone, as if she had not addressed Ingolf].

Olof, shall we go?
OLOF. Yes, Hadda dear. [Takes her arm--they go. Ingolf leans back in
the arm-chair and closes his eyes.]
KRISTRUN [jumps on top of the chaise-longue, swings her arms
crying]. Ingolf! Ride me pickaback! Right now! [Ingolf looks at her,
smiling, casts a glance at the door and through the window, as he
approaches the chaise-longue. Kristrun sits gracefully down on his
shoulder. Her dress is drawn rather tightly, so that one of her legs
shows. He takes hold of her leg to support her, and starts walking
around the table.]
KRISTRUN [raises her head and looks into his eyes]. Will you be a
good boy and take hold above the dress. [Lets go, and raises herself.]
You silly boy, do you think you may hold me by my leg?
INGOLF. Well--I don't want to hold you by your leg!
KRISTRUN [grasps him around the shoulder]. You silly boy! Do you
think you can lower your shoulder! I'm falling, I'm falling, hold on to
my leg! [Ingolf walks on. They hear footsteps.]
KRISTRUN [about to spring down]. Somebody's coming! Oh, it's only
the children. [Doddi and Skuli appear in the doorway.]
DODDI. Isn't father here? [The boys begin to laugh.]
KRISTRUN [clicks with her tongue]. There!--Now my horse must
run!- -Now run, my colt! [Strokes his hair.] If he is spirited, I'll call him
Goldmane!--Ge-yap! Ge-yap! ... He doesn't want to be called
Goldmane? Skuli, hand me my whip, in the corner there, right by the
sideboard. [Points into the dining-room.]
LITTLE SKULI. To beat Ingolf! No indeed!
KRISTRUN. Doddi dear, you do it! [Doddi runs for the whip, and
gives it to her. She swings the whip around, so that it whizzes in the air.
As Ingolf passes the piano, she runs the knob of the whip along the
key-board.]
LITTLE SKULI. Let's go, Doddi. [They go out.]
KRISTRUN. Are you tired?
INGOLF. I seem to feel lighter, in holding you on my shoulder.
KRISTRUN. Hf--! Lighter?
INGOLF. Yes, certainly!
KRISTRUN. Hf--! In carrying me?
INGOLF. In feeling the weight of your body. In that way, I could bear

you to the end of the world.
KRISTRUN [hops down, looks straight into his eyes]. Really now, I
refuse to listen to such foolishness. ... Only look kindly at me once,
instead of bearing me to the end of the world. [Sits down.]
INGOLF. Kindly!--Kristrun, do I deserve the cruelty you have shown
me these last days.--Every moment of the day you have felt my soul
streaming out to you, yet you choose the most common terms to
describe my feelings, and pretend not to recognize them. I have been
inventing new pet-names for you all the time, so that no one should
have as pretty a name as you, so that you should have a prettier name
to-day than you had yesterday. You pretend not to hear them. I have
shown you every tenderness, but by your pretence you keep it at
sword's length from you. You have been torturing me in this way now
for three days. ... Look kindly at you! Why, every time I look at you,
you see my eyes shine through a tearfilled dimness ...
KRISTRUN. Have