Hadda Pada | Page 7

is?
HADDA PADDA. I want to ask you--[Stops abruptly.]
LADY ANNA [enters from the back].
THE JUDGE [to Hadda]. What did you want to ask me? [Smiles to his
wife.] Something mother may not hear?
HADDA PADDA. No, something I have to ask both of you.

THE JUDGE. Let us hear it, then.
HADDA PADDA. It is a very great favor, but you must not say no.
THE JUDGE. Ask it.
LADY ANNA. Well, what is it? [She has taken some work from the
basket, and sits down to sew.]
HADDA PADDA. I want you to let me go to Copenhagen again. I
want to go with Ingolf.
THE JUDGE. Now?
HADDA PADDA. Yes, now, Tuesday.
LADY ANNA. You are not in earnest, Hrafnhild. You know, Kristrun
is going to leave for England next month, your brother has written for
her. And she hasn't been abroad yet, while you have been twice.
HADDA PADDA. Nor do I want her to abandon her plan.
LADY ANNA. But do you want me to do without both of you at the
same time?
HADDA PADDA. Would that be hard for you, mother?
LADY ANNA. Hard--it would be impossible. With all the parties we
have, I must have one of you at home.
THE JUDGE. Of course, it would be difficult for mother to manage
without your assistance--since Kristrun is going away.
LADY ANNA. I never thought of that, Hrafnhild. Besides, I think it in
good taste, since your engagement will be announced to-morrow before
Ingolf leaves, for you to remain at home this year till he has passed his
examination and comes back.
HADDA PADDA. Yes, that would be in very good taste, if I could
only bear it.
LADY ANNA. You must also remember that you would disturb him in
his studies, if you were with him this winter. ... Just when he wants to
concentrate on his work.
HADDA PADDA. I want to make his work easier--that's just what I
want to do,
LADY ANNA. I can't do without you, Hadda.
THE JUDGE [pats his wife on the cheek]. If our dear little Hadda
Padda were sick, we would have to get one girl more in the house. And
then, if she had to go away for a year to recover, and we were waiting
for her to come back strong and healthy--don't you think we would
readily allow her to go?

HADDA PADDA [throws her arms around his neck]. Father, I was
sure that you ...
LADY ANNA. That would be quite another thing.
THE JUDGE. Then you would realise that you COULD do without
her.
LADY ANNA. But you don't mean, that any one else can fill her
place--
HADDA PADDA. Mother, you think so much of Helga. I have talked
to her, and she is willing to help you.
THE JUDGE. There you are! Can you imagine any one better?
LADY ANNA. It is not only that--If they were married, it would be
quite proper for them to go abroad together.
HADDA PADDA [looks angrily at her mother, but says nothing].
THE JUDGE [discovers it. Walks up to his wife, and lays his arm on
her shoulder]. We have not grown so old as you would have us.
[_Heartily._] Perhaps then, it is not proper for an old venerable judge to
be as much in love with his silver-haired wife as when they were
engaged. But he can't help it, and that's just the reason, he still
understands love in young people. [_To Hadda._] Ask your mother
once more to let you go. Maybe she will when she knows you have my
consent.
LADY ANNA. Well, I see what this is leading to. You know I don't
usually oppose you.
HADDA PADDA. Father, you're always so good to me. [_Kisses
him._]
THE JUDGE [_in a whisper to Hadda_]. Now kiss your mother too!
HADDA PADDA. Nice mother! I will be twice as much pleasure to
you when I come back. [_Kisses her._]
LITTLE SKULI [_enters_]. Hadda Padda, do you want the ship to have
two or three masts?
HADDA PADDA. Now let me see, my boy. [_Goes out with him._]
THE JUDGE. To-morrow--that will be a happy day. At last I shall see
my fondest wish fulfilled, mine and my dear old friend's--that our
children should belong to each other. I never suspected this would
happen when Hrafnhild went abroad last year.
LADY ANNA. And now she is to go with him again. She has much to
thank her father for.

THE JUDGE. I think time has kept them apart long enough.--I had a
long talk with Helga the other day--they are very good friends, you
know, and she was in Copenhagen at the same time as Hadda last year.
She told me that Ingolf had quite given up his studies,