John Gabriel Borkman | Page 5

and apparently you didn't.
MRS. BORKMAN. How was I to know that it was not his own money
he gave me to squander? And that he himself used to squander, too--ten
times more than I did!

ELLA RENTHEIM. [Quietly.] Well, I daresay his position forced him
to do that-- to some extent at any rate.
MRS. BORKMAN. [Scornfully.] Yes, it was always the same
story--we were to "cut a figure." And he did "cut a figure" to some
purpose! He used to drive about with a four-in-hand as if he were a
king. And he had people bowing and scraping to him just as to a king.
[With a laugh.] And they always called him by his Christian names--all
the country over--as if he had been the king himself. "John Gabriel,"
"John Gabriel," "John Gabriel." Every one knew what a great man
"John Gabriel" was!
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Warmly and emphatically.] He was a great man
then.
MRS. BORKMAN. Yes, to all appearance. But he never breathed a
single word to me as to his real position--never gave a hint as to where
he got his means from.
ELLA RENTHEIM. No, no; and other people did not dream of it
either.
MRS. BORKMAN. I don't care about the other people. But it was his
duty to tell me the truth. And that he never did! He kept on lying to
me--lying abominably----
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Interrupting.] Surely not, Gunhild. He kept things
back perhaps, but I am sure he did not lie.
MRS. BORKMAN. Well, well; call it what you please; it makes no
difference. And then it all fell to pieces--the whole thing.
ELLA RENTHEIM. [To herself.] Yes, everything fell to pieces--for
him--and for others.
MRS. BORKMAN. [Drawing herself up menacingly.] But I tell you
this, Ella, I do not give in yet! I shall redeem myself yet--you may
make up your mind to that!

ELLA RENTHEIM. [Eagerly.] Redeem yourself! What do you mean
by that?
MRS. BORKMAN. Redeem my name, and honour, and fortune!
Redeem my ruined life-- that is what I mean! I have some one in
reserve, let me tell you-- one who will wash away every stain that he
has left.
ELLA RENTHEIM. Gunhild! Gunhild!
MRS. BORKMAN. [With rising excitement.] There is an avenger
living, I tell you! One who will make up to me for all his father's sins!
ELLA RENTHEIM. Erhart you mean.
MRS. BORKMAN. Yes, Erhart, my own boy! He will redeem the
family, the house, the name. All that can be redeemed.--And perhaps
more besides.
ELLA RENTHEIM. And how do you think that is to be done?
MRS. BORKMAN. It must be done as best it can; I don't know how.
But I know that it must and shall be done. [Looks searchingly at her.]
Come now, Ella; isn't that really what you have had in mind too, ever
since he was a child?
ELLA RENTHEIM. No, I can't exactly say that.
MRS. BORKMAN. No? Then why did you take charge of him when
the storm broke upon--upon this house?
ELLA RENTHEIM. You could not look after him yourself at that time,
Gunhild.
MRS. BORKMAN. No, no, I could not. And his father--he had a valid
enough excuse--while he was there--in safe keeping----
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Indignant.] Oh, how can you say such
things!--You!

MRS. BORKMAN. [With a venomous expression.] And how could
you make up your mind to take charge of the child of a--a John Gabriel!
Just as if he had been your own? To take the child away from
me--home with you--and keep him there year after year, until the boy
was nearly grown up. [Looking suspiciously at her.] What was your
real reason, Ella? Why did you keep him with you?
ELLA RENTHEIM. I came to love him so dearly----
MRS. BORKMAN. More than I--his mother?
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Evasively.] I don't know about that. And then,
you know, Erhart was rather delicate as a child----
MRS. BORKMAN. Erhart--delicate!
ELLA RENTHEIM. Yes, I thought so--at that time at any rate. And
you know the air of the west coast is so much milder than here.
MRS. BORKMAN. [Smiling bitterly.] H'm--is it indeed? [Breaking off.]
Yes, it is true you have done a great deal for Erhart. [With a change of
tone.] Well, of course, you could afford it. [Smiling.] You were so
lucky, Ella; you managed to save all your money.
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Hurt.] I did not manage anything about it, I
assure you. I had no idea--until long, long afterwards--that the
securities belonging to me--that they had been left untouched.
MRS. BORKMAN. Well, well; I don't understand anything about these
things! I only say you were lucky. [Looking inquiringly at her.] But
when you, of your own accord, undertook to educate Erhart for
me--what was your motive in that?
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Looking at