Little Eyolf | Page 5

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 travels? [With an outburst of joy.] I shouldn't wonder if you had finished the whole book, Alfred?
ALLMERS. [Shrugging his shoulders.] The book? Oh, the book--
ASTA. Yes, I was sure you would find it go so easily when once you got away.
ALLMERS. So I thought too. But, do you know, I didn't find it so at all. The truth is, I have not written a line of the book.
ASTA. Not a line?
RITA. Oho! I wondered when I found all the paper lying untouched in