impatiently.] Yes, there we have it! It is this genteel poverty
I have managed to drop into--! [Crosses the room.] That is what makes
life so pitiable! So utterly ludicrous!--For that's what it is.

BRACK.

Now _I_ should say the fault lay elsewhere.

HEDDA.

Where, then?

BRACK.

You have never gone through any really stimulating experience.

HEDDA.

Anything serious, you mean?

BRACK.

Yes, you may call it so. But now you may perhaps have one in store.

HEDDA.

[Tossing her head.] Oh, you're thinking of the annoyances about this
wretched professorship! But that must be Tesman's own affair. I assure
you I shall not waste a thought upon it.

BRACK.

No, no, I daresay not. But suppose now that what people call--in elegant
language--a solemn responsibility were to come upon you? [Smiling.] A
new responsibility, Mrs. Hedda?

HEDDA.

[Angrily.] Be quiet! Nothing of that sort will ever happen!

BRACK.

[Warily.] We will speak of this again a year hence--at the very outside.

HEDDA.

[Curtly.] I have no turn for anything of the sort, Judge Brack. No
responsibilities for me!

BRACK.

Are you so unlike the generality of women as to have no turn for duties
which--?

HEDDA.

[Beside the glass door.] Oh, be quiet, I tell you!--I often think there
is only one thing in the world I have any turn for.

BRACK.

[Drawing near to her.] And what is that, if I may ask?

HEDDA.

[Stands looking out.] Boring myself to death. Now you know it. [Turns,
looks towards the inner room, and laughs.] Yes, as I thought! Here comes
the Professor.

BRACK.

[Softly, in a tone of warning.] Come, come, come, Mrs. Hedda!

GEORGE TESMAN, dressed for the party, with his gloves and hat
in his hand, enters from the right through the inner room.

TESMAN.

Hedda, has no message come from Eilert Lovborg? Eh?

HEDDA.

No.

TESMAN.

Then you'll see he'll be here presently.

BRACK.

Do you really think he will come?

TESMAN.

Yes, I am almost sure of it. For what you were telling us this morning
must have been a mere floating rumour.

BRACK.

You think so?

TESMAN.

At any rate, Aunt Julia said she did not believe for a moment that he
would ever stand in my way again. Fancy that!

BRACK.

Well then, that's all right.

TESMAN.

[Placing his hat and gloves on a chair on the right.] Yes, but you must
really let me wait for him as long as poss