John Gabriel Borkman Part 5

ELLA RENTHEIM.

I mean, when he goes out walking. In the woods, or----

MRS. BORKMAN.

He never goes out.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

Not even in the twilight?

MRS. BORKMAN.

Never.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[With emotion.] He cannot bring himself to go out?

MRS. BORKMAN.

I suppose not. He has his great cloak and his hat hanging in the cupboard--the cupboard in the hall, you know----

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[To herself.] The cupboard we used to hide in when we were little.

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Nods.] And now and then--late in the evening--I can hear him come down as though to go out. But he always stops when he is halfway downstairs, and turns back--straight back to the gallery.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[Quietly.] Do none of his old friends ever come up to see him?

MRS. BORKMAN.

He has no old friends.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

He had so many--once.

MRS. BORKMAN.

H'm! He took the best possible way to get rid of them. He was a dear friend to his friends, was John Gabriel.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

Oh, yes, that is true, Gunhild.

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Vehemently.] All the same, I call it mean, petty, base, contemptible of them, to think so much of the paltry losses they may have suffered through him. They were only money losses, nothing more.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[Not answering her.] So he lives up there quite alone.

Absolutely by himself.

MRS. BORKMAN.

Yes, practically so. They tell me an old clerk or copyist or something comes out to see him now and then.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

Ah, indeed; no doubt it is a man called Foldal. I know they were friends as young men.

MRS. BORKMAN.

Yes, I believe they were. But I know nothing about him. He was quite outside our circle--when we had a circle----

ELLA RENTHEIM.

So he comes out to see Borkman now?

MRS. BORKMAN.

Yes, he condescends to. But of course he only comes when it is dark.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

This Foldal--he was one of those that suffered when the bank failed?

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Carelessly.] Yes, I believe I heard he had lost some money.

But no doubt it was something quite trifling.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[With slight emphasis.] It was all he possessed.

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Smiling.] Oh, well; what he possessed must have been little enough--nothing to speak of.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

And he did not speak of it--Foldal I mean--during the investigation.

MRS. BORKMAN.

At all events, I can a.s.sure you Erhart has made ample amends for any little loss he may have suffered.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[With surprise.] Erhart! How can Erhart have done that?

MRS. BORKMAN.

He has taken an interest in Foldal's youngest daughter. He has taught her things, and put her in the way of getting employment, and some day providing for herself. I am sure that is a great deal more than her father could ever have done for her.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

Yes, I daresay her father can't afford to do much.

MRS. BORKMAN.

And then Erhart has arranged for her to have lessons in music.

She has made such progress already that she can come up to--to him in the gallery, and play to him.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

So he is still fond of music?

MRS. BORKMAN.

Oh yes, I suppose he is. Of course he has the piano you sent out here--when he was expected back----