Mrs. E. Goodness, yes, you were always so playful and friendly, and I was so afraid of you.  I am still.  And please, I’ve run away from my husband.  Everything around him was distasteful to me.  And Mr. LOeVBORG and I were comrades—­he was dissipated, and I got a sort of power over him, and he made a real person out of me—­which I wasn’t before, you know; but, oh, I do hope I’m real now.  He talked to me and taught me to think—­chiefly of him.  So, when Mr. LOeVBORG came here, naturally I came too.  There was nothing else to do!  And fancy, there is another woman whose shadow still stands between him and me!  She wanted to shoot him once, and so, of course, he can never forget her.  I wish I knew her name—­perhaps it was that red-haired opera-singer?

Hedda (with cold self-command).  Very likely—­but nobody does that sort of thing here.  Hush!  Run away now.  Here comes TESMAN with Judge BRACK.  (Mrs. E. goes out; GEORGE comes in with Judge BRACK, who is a short and elastic gentleman, with a round face, carefully brushed hair, and distinguished profile.) How awfully funny you do look by daylight, Judge!

[Illustration:  “I am a gay Norwegian dog.”]

Brack (holding his hat and dropping his eye-glass).  Sincerest thanks.  Still the same graceful manners, dear little Mrs. HED—­TESMAN!  I came to invite dear TESMAN to a little bachelor-party to celebrate his return from his long honeymoon.  It is customary in Scandinavian society.  It will be a lively affair, for I am a gay Norwegian dog.

George. Asked out—­without my wife!  Think of that!  Eh?  Oh, dear me, yes, I’ll come!

Brack. By the way, LOeVBORG is here; he has written a wonderful book, which has made a quite extraordinary sensation.  Bless me, yes!

George. LOeVBORG—­fancy!  Well, I am—­glad.  Such marvellous gifts!  And I was so painfully certain he had gone to the bad.  Fancy that, eh?  But what will become of him now, poor fellow, eh?  I am so anxious to know!

Brack. Well, he may possibly put up for the Professorship against you, and, though you are an uncommonly clever man of letters—­for a Norwegian—­it’s not wholly improbable that he may cut you out!

George. But, look here, good Lord, Judge BRACK!—­(gesticulating)—­that would show an incredible want of consideration for me!  I married on my chance of getting that Professorship.  A man like LOeVBORG, too, who hasn’t even been respectable, eh?  One doesn’t do such things as that!

Brack. Really?  You forget we are all realistic and unconventional persons here, and do all kinds of odd things.  But don’t worry yourself! [He goes out.

George (to Hedda).  Oh, I say, HEDDA, what’s to become of our Fairyland now, eh?  We can’t have a liveried servant, or give dinner-parties, or have a horse for riding.  Fancy that!