John Gabriel Borkman | Page 9

it all out of goodness of heart. [Looks malignly at her.] Now he
does not believe that any longer, Ella.
ELLA RENTHEIM. Then what does he believe now?
MRS. BORKMAN. He believes what is the truth. I asked him how he
accounted for the fact that Aunt Ella never came here to visit us----
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Interrupting.] He knew my reasons already!
MRS. BORKMAN. He knows them better now. You had got him to
believe that it was to spare me and--and him up there in gallery----
ELLA RENTHEIM. And so it was.
MRS. BORKMAN. Erhart does not believe that for a moment, now.
ELLA RENTHEIM. What have you put in his head?
MRS. BORKMAN. He thinks, what is the truth, that you are ashamed
of us--that you despise us. And do you pretend that you don't? Were
you not once planning to take him quite away from me? Think, Ella;
you cannot have forgotten.
ELLA RENTHEIM. [With a gesture of negation.] That was at the
height of the scandal--when the case was before the courts. I have no
such designs now.
MRS. BORKMAN. And it would not matter if you had. For in that case
what would become of his mission? No, thank you. It is me that Erhart
needs-- not you. And therefore he is as good as dead to you--and you to
him.
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Coldly, with resolution.] We shall see. For now I
shall remain out here.

MRS. BORKMAN. [Stares at her.] Here? In this house?
ELLA RENTHEIM. Yes, here.
MRS. BORKMAN. Here--with us? Remain all night?
ELLA RENTHEIM. I shall remain here all the rest of my days if need
be.
MRS. BORKMAN. [Collecting herself.] Very well, Ella; the house is
yours----
ELLA RENTHEIM. Oh, nonsense----
MRS. BORKMAN. Everything is yours. The chair I am sitting in is
yours. The bed I lie and toss in at night belongs to you. The food we eat
comes to us from you.
ELLA RENTHEIM. It can't be arranged otherwise, you know.
Borkman can hold no property of his own; for some one would at once
come and take it from him.
MRS. BORKMAN. Yes, I know. We must be content to live upon your
pity and charity.
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Coldly.] I cannot prevent you from looking at it
in that light, Gunhild.
MRS. BORKMAN. No, you cannot. When do you want us to move
out?
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Looking at her.] Move out?
MRS. BORKMAN. [In great excitement.] Yes; you don't imagine that I
will go on living under the same roof with you! I tell you, I would
rather go to the workhouse or tramp the roads!
ELLA RENTHEIM. Good. Then let me take Erhart with me----

MRS. BORKMAN. Erhart? My own son? My child?
ELLA RENTHEIM. Yes; for then I would go straight home again.
MRS. BORKMAN. [After reflecting a moment, firmly.] Erhart himself
shall choose between us.
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Looking doubtfully and hesitatingly at her.] He
choose? Dare you risk that, Gunhild?
MRS. BORKMAN. [With a hard laugh.] Dare I? Let my boy choose
between his mother and you? Yes, indeed I dare!
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Listening.] Is there some one coming? I thought I
heard----
MRS. BORKMAN. Then it must be Erhart.
[There is a sharp knock at the door leading in from the hall, which is
immediately opened. MRS. WILTON enters, in evening dress, and
with outer wraps. She is followed by THE MAID, who has not had
time to announce her, and looks bewildered. The door remains half
open. MRS. WILTON is a strikingly handsome, well-developed
woman in the thirties. Broad, red, smiling lips, sparkling eyes.
Luxuriant dark hair.
MRS. WILTON. Good evening, my dearest Mrs. Borkman!
MRS. BORKMAN. [Rather drily.] Good evening, Mrs. Wilton. [To
THE MAID, pointing toward the garden-room.] Take the lamp that is
in there and light it.
[THE MAID takes the lamp and goes out with it.
MRS. WILTON. [Observing ELLA RENTHEIM.] Oh, I beg your
pardon--you have a visitor.
MRS. BORKMAN. Only my sister, who has just arrived from----

[ERHART BORKMAN flings the half-open door wide open and rushes
in. He is a young man with bright cheerful eyes. He is well dressed; his
moustache is beginning to grow.
ERHART. [Radiant with joy; on the threshold.] What is this! Is Aunt
Ella here? [Rushing up to her and seizing her hands.] Aunt, aunt! Is it
possible? Are you here?
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Throws her arms round his neck.] Erhart! My
dear, dear boy! Why, how big you have grown! Oh, how good it is to
see you again!
MRS. BORKMAN. [Sharply.] What does this mean, Erhart? Were you
hiding out in the hallway?
MRS. WILTON. [Quickly.] Erhart--Mr. Borkman came in with me.
MRS. BORKMAN. [Looking hard at him.] Indeed, Erhart! You don't
come to your mother first?
ERHART. I had just