ut the lamp.] It is daylight already, ma'am.

MRS. ELVSTED.

Yes, broad day! And no one come back yet--!

BERTA.

Lord bless you, ma'am--I guessed how it would be.

MRS. ELVSTED.

You guessed?

BERTA.

Yes, when I saw that a certain person had come back to town--and that he
went off with them. For we've heard enough about that gentleman before
now.

MRS. ELVSTED.

Don't speak so loud. You will waken Mrs. Tesman.

BERTA.

[Looks towards the sofa and sighs.] No, no--let her sleep, poor thing.
Shan't I put some wood on the fire?

MRS. ELVSTED.

Thanks, not for me.

BERTA.

Oh, very well. [She goes softly out by the hall door.

HEDDA.

[Is wakened by the shutting of the door, and looks up.] What's that--?

MRS. ELVSTED.

It was only the servant.

HEDDA.

[Looking about her.] Oh, we're here--! Yes, now I remember. [Sits erect
upon the sofa, stretches herself, and rubs her eyes.] What o'clock is
it, Thea?

MRS. ELVSTED.

[Looks at her watch.] It's past seven.

HEDDA.

When did Tesman come home?

MRS. ELVSTED.

He has not come.

HEDDA.

Not come home yet?

MRS. ELVSTED.

[Rising.] No one has come.

HEDDA.

Think of our watching and waiting here till four in the morning--

MRS. ELVSTED.

[Wringing her hands.] And how I watched and waited for him!

HEDDA.

[Yawns, and says with her hand before her mouth.] Well well--we might
have spared ourselves the trouble.

MRS. ELVSTED.

Did you get a little sleep?

HEDDA.

Oh yes; I believe I have slept pretty well. Have you not?

MRS. ELVSTED.

Not for a moment. I couldn't, Hedda!--not to save my life.

HEDDA.

[Rises and goes towards her.] There there there! There's nothing to be
so alarmed about. I understand quite well what has happened.

MRS. ELVSTED.

Well, what do you think? Won't you tell me?

HEDDA.

Why, of course it has been a very late affair at Judge Brack's--

MRS. ELVSTED.

Yes, yes--that is clear enough. But all the same--

HEDDA.

And then, you see, Tesman hasn't cared to come home and ring us up in
the middle of the night. [Laughing.] Perhaps he wasn't inclined to show
himself either--immediately after a jollification.

MRS. ELVSTED.

But in that case--where can he have gone?

HEDDA.

Of course he has gone to his Aunts' and slept there. They have his old
room ready for him.

MRS. ELVSTED.

No, he can't be with them for a l