John Gabriel Borkman | Page 5

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 her.] My motive?
MRS. BORKMAN. Yes, some motive you must have had. What did you want to do with him? To make of him, I mean?
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Slowly.] I wanted to smooth the way for Erhart to happiness in life.
MRS. BORKMAN. [Contemptuously.] Pooh--people situated as we are have something else than happiness to think of.
ELLA RENTHEIM. What, then?
MRS. BORKMAN. [Looking steadily and earnestly at her.] Erhart has in the first place to make so brilliant a position for himself, that no trace shall be left of the shadow his father has cast upon my name--and my son's.
ELLA RENTHEIM. [Searchingly.] Tell me, Gunhild, is this what Erhart himself demands of his life?
MRS. BORKMAN. [Slightly taken aback.] Yes, I should