Plays: The Father; Countess Julie; The Outlaw; The Stronger | Page 9

troublesome.
CAPTAIN. Laura certainly has her faults, but with her it isn't so
serious.
PASTOR. Oh, speak out--I know her.
CAPTAIN. She was brought up with romantic ideas, and it has been
hard for her to find herself, but she is my wife--
PASTOR And because she is your wife she is the best of wives? No,
my dear fellow, it is she who really wears on you most.
CAPTAIN. Well, anyway, the whole house is topsy-turvy. Laura won't
let Bertha leave her, and I can't allow her to remain in this bedlam.
PASTOR. Oh, so Laura won't? Well, then, I'm afraid you are in for
trouble. When she was a child if she set her mind on anything she used
to play dead dog till she got it, and then likely as not she would give it
back, explaining that it wasn't the thing she wanted, but having her own
way.
CAPTAIN. So she was like that even then? H'm--she really gets into
such a passion sometimes that I am anxious about her and afraid she is
ill.
PASTOR. But what do you want to do with Bertha that is so
unpardonable? Can't you compromise?
CAPTAIN. You mustn't think I want to make a prodigy of her or an
image of myself. I don't want to be it procurer for my daughter and
educate her exclusively for matrimony, for then if she were left

unmarried she might have bitter days. On the other hand, I don't want
to influence her toward a career that requires a long course of training
which would be entirely thrown away if she should marry.
PASTOR. What do you want, then?
CAPTAIN. I want her to be it teacher. If she remains unmarried she
will be able to support herself, and at any rate she wouldn't be any
worse off than the poor schoolmasters who have to share their salaries
with a family. If she marries she can use her knowledge in the
education of her children. Am I right?
PASTOR. Quite right. But, on the other hand, hasn't she shown such
talent for painting that it would be a great pity to crush it?
CAPTAIN. No! I have shown her sketches to an eminent painter, and
he says they are only the kind of thing that can be learned at schools.
But then a young fop came here in the summer who, of course,
understands the matter much better, and he declared that she had
colossal genius, and so that settled it to Laura's satisfaction.
PASTOR. Was he quite taken with Bertha?
CAPTAIN. That goes without saying.
PASTOR. Then God help you, old man, for in that case I see no hope.
This is pretty bad--and, of course, Laura has her supporters--in there?
CAPTAIN. Yes, you may be sure of that; the whole house is already up
in arms, and, between ourselves, it is not exactly a noble conflict that is
being waged from that quarter.
PASTOR. Don't you think I know that?
CAPTAIN. You do?
PASTOR. I do.
CAPTAIN. But the worst of it is, it strikes me that Bertha's future is

being decided from spiteful motives. They hint that men better be
careful, because women can do this or that now-a-days. All day long,
incessantly, it is a conflict between man and woman. Are you going?
No, stay for supper. I have no special inducements to offer, but do stay.
You know I am expecting the new doctor. Have you seen him?
PASTOR. I caught a glimpse of him as I came along. He looked
pleasant, and reliable.
CAPTAIN. That's good. Do you think it possible he may become my
ally?
PASTOR. Who can tell? It depends on how much he has been among
women.
CAPTAIN. But won't you really stay?
PASTOR. No thanks, my dear fellow; I promised to be home for
supper, and the wife gets uneasy if I am late.
CAPTAIN. Uneasy? Angry, you mean. Well, as you will. Let me help
you with your coat.
PASTOR. It's certainly pretty cold tonight. Thanks. You must take care
of your health, Adolf, you seem rather nervous.
CAPTAIN. Nervous?
PASTOR. Yes, you are not, really very well.
CAPTAIN. Has Laura put that into your head? She has treated me for
the last twenty years as if I were at the point of death.
PASTOR. Laura? No, but you make me uneasy about you. Take care of
yourself--that's my advice! Good-bye, old man; but didn't you want to
talk about the confirmation?
CAPTAIN. Not at all! I assure you that matter will have to take its
course in the ordinary way at the cost of the clerical conscience for I

am neither a believer nor a martyr.
PASTOR. Good-bye. Love to Laura. [Goes.]
[The Captain opens his desk and seats himself at it. Takes