cultural resources in henrik ibsen's early environment - Ibsen.net

I believe I shall make a little attempt today . . . .
BRANDT (quickly).
No, I must advise against that, frankly. My sister-in-law will regard it as very rash, and
you will ruin everything. On the whole, you must not think about serious things today.
Stay here now, and I shall see to getting a man to prepare my new carriage and bring it
out. In the meanwhile I shall send my wife out to you. (Aside, as he goes.) Pay court to
my wife! No, that is a little too crazy.
NINETEENTH SCENE.
ADOLF (alone).
I find myself in a remarkable situation. It is obvious that Brandt loves his sister-in-law.
He is indifferent to his wife, and he has eyes only for her sister. Married only two months
. . . that's terrible! All the same I believe that his sister-in-law is pulling his leg a little.
And his wife . . . it appears that she does not feel much warmth for him either. When I
was up in my rooms with her just now, and in a moment of abandon put my arm around
her waist, . . . how she trembled and turned pale! What if she were in love with me?
After all, she has seen me before. Dear God, it runs hot and cold down my back just
thinking such thoughts. But those are wicked thoughts . . . I do not want to give them a
place in my heart. She is my friend's wife . . . and I want to act like an honest fellow.
Isn't her sister a grand girl, so cheerful and alert! Shouldn't I consider myself fortunate if
she fell to my
lot. Certainly . . . but as for my married cousin . . . . (Taking out the mentioned portrait.)
It is her mother's portrait, which I stole by taking it down from the wall up there. It is
feature-for-feature the same picture as my cousin. The shy, feminine expression, the
incomparable look of sadness and reflection, which I have observed so often in her
mother . . . . Everything is in her, just as I imagined it. Oh my God, why is she married,
and with a man who does not love her, and who perhaps she does not love either!
TWENTIETH SCENE.
ADOLF. LOUISE. Later HANNE.
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