Little Eyolf | Page 5

Not a single word.
ASTA. Did he not even telegraph?
RITA. Yes, an hour before he arrived--quite curtly and coldly. [Laughs.]
Don't you think that was like him, Asta?
ASTA. Yes; he goes so quietly about everything.
RITA. But that made it all the more delightful to have him again.
ASTA. Yes, I am sure it would.
RITA. A whole fortnight before I expected him!
ASTA. And is he quite well? Not in low spirits?
RITA. [Closes the bag with a snap, and smiles at her.] He looked quite
transfigured as he stood in the doorway.
ASTA. And was he not the least bit tired either?

RITA. Oh, yes, he seemed to be tired enough--very tired, in fact. But,
poor fellow, he had come on foot the greater part of the way.
ASTA. And then perhaps the high mountain air may have been rather
too keen for him.
RITA. Oh, no; I don't think so at all. I haven't heard him cough once.
ASTA. Ah, there you see now! It was a good thing, after all, that the
doctor talked him into taking this tour.
RITA. Yes, now that it is safely over.--But I can tell you it has been a
terrible time for me, Asta. I have never cared to talk about it--and you
so seldom came out to see me, too--
ASTA. Yes, I daresay that wasn't very nice of me--but--
RITA. Well, well, well, of course you had your school to attend to in
town. [Smiling.] And then our road-maker friend--of course he was
away too.
ASTA. Oh, don't talk like that, Rita.
RITA. Very well, then; we will leave the road-maker out of the
question.--You can't think how I have been longing for Alfred! How
empty the place seemed! How desolate! Ugh, it felt as if there had been
a funeral in the house!
ASTA. Why, dear me, only six or seven weeks--
RITA. Yes; but you must remember that Alfred has never been away
from me before--never so much as twenty-four hours. Not once in all
these ten years.
ASTA. No; but that is just why I really think it was high time he should
have a little outing this year. He ought to have gone for a tramp in the
mountains every summer--he really ought.
RITA. [Half smiling.] Oh yes, it's all very well fair you to talk. If I

were as--as reasonable its you, I suppose I should have let him go
before--perhaps. But I positively could not, Asta! It seemed to me I
should never get him back again. Surely you can understand that?
ASTA. No. But I daresay that is because I have no one to lose.
RITA. [With a teasing smile.] Really? No one at all?
ASTA. Not that I know of. [Changing the subject.] But tell me, Rita,
where is Alfred? Is he still asleep?
RITA. Oh, not at all. He got up as early as ever to-day.
ASTA. Then he can't have been so very tired after all.
RITA. Yes, he was last night--when he arrived. But now he has had
little Eyolf with him in his room for a whole hour and more.
ASTA. Poor little white-faced boy! Has he to be for ever at his lessons
again?
RITA. [With a slight shrug.] Alfred will have it so, you know.
ASTA. Yes; but I think you ought to put down your foot about it, Rita.
RITA. [Somewhat impatiently.] Oh no; come now, I really cannot
meddle with that. Alfred knows so much better about these things than
I do. And what would you have Eyolf do? He can't run about and play,
you see--like other children.
ASTA. [With decision.] I will talk to Alfred about this.
RITA. Yes, do; I wish you would.--Oh! here he is.
[ALFRED ALLMERS, dressed in light summer clothes, enters by the
door on the left, leading EYOLF by the hand. He is a slim, lightly-built
man of about thirty-six or thirty-seven, with gentle eyes, and thin
brown hair and beard. His expression is serious and thoughtful. EYOLF
wears a suit cut like a uniform, with gold braid and gilt military buttons.

He is lame, and walks with a crutch under his left arm. His leg is
shrunken. He is undersized, and looks delicate, but has beautiful
intelligent eyes.]
ALLMERS. [Drops EYOLF's hand, goes up to ASTA with an
expression of marked pleasure, and holds out both his hands to her.]
Asta! My dearest Asta! To think of your coming! To think of my
seeing you so soon!
ASTA. I felt I must--. Welcome home again!
ALLMERS. [Shaking her hands.] Thank you for coming.
RITA. Doesn't he look well?
ASTA. [Gazes fixedly at him.] Splendid! Quite splendid! His eyes are
so much brighter! And I suppose you have done a great deal of writing
on your