TESMAN. [Also laughing.] Come, you're a nice one Hedda! Fancy that!
BRACK. Well, good-bye, good-bye, ladies.
LOVBORG. [Bowing.] About ten o'clock, then,
[BRACK, LOVBORG, and TESMAN go out by the hall door. At the same time, BERTA enters from the inner room with a lighted lamp, which she places on the drawing-room table; she goes out by the way she came.
MRS. ELVSTED. [Who has risen and is wandering restlessly about the room.] Hedda-- Hedda--what will come of all this?
HEDDA. At ten o'clock--he will be here. I can see him already--with vine- leaves in his hair--flushed and fearless--
MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, I hope he may.
HEDDA. And then, you see--then he will have regained control over himself. Then he will be a free man for all his days.
MRS. ELVSTED. Oh God!--if he would only come as you see him now!
HEDDA. He will come as I see him--so, and not otherwise! [Rises and approaches THEA.] You may doubt him as long as you please; _I_ believe in him. And now we will try--
MRS. ELVSTED. You have some hidden motive in this, Hedda!
HEDDA. Yes, I have. I want for once in my life to have power to mould a human destiny.
MRS. ELVSTED. Have you not the power?
HEDDA. I have not--and have never had it.
MRS. ELVSTED. Not your husband's?
HEDDA. Do you think that is worth the trouble? Oh, if you could only understand how poor I am. And fate has made you so rich! [Clasps her passionately in her arms.] I think I must burn your hair off after all.
MRS. ELVSTED. Let me go! Let me go! I am afraid of you, Hedda!
BERTA. [In the middle doorway.] Tea is laid in the dining-room, ma'am.
HEDDA. Very well. We are coming
MRS. ELVSTED. No, no, no! I would rather go home alone! At once!
HEDDA. Nonsense! First you shall have a cup of tea, you little stupid. And then--at ten o'clock--Eilert Lovborg will be here--with vine-leaves in his hair.[She drags MRS. ELVSTED almost by force to the middle doorway.
