Lövborg.
She is stupid about matters of that sort.
Hedda.
And I am cowardly. [Bends over towards him, without looking him in the face, and says more softly:] But now I will confide something to you.
Lövborg.
[Eagerly.] Well?
Hedda.
The fact that I dared not shoot you down
Lövborg.
Yes!
Hedda.
that was not my most arrant cowardice—that evening.
Lövborg.
[Looks at her a moment, understands, and whispers passionately.] Oh, Hedda! Hedda Gabler! Now I begin to see a hidden reason beneath our comradeship! You[1] and I! After all, then, it was your craving for life
Hedda.
[Softly, with a sharp glance.] Take care! Believe nothing of the sort!
[Twilight has begun to fall. The hall door is opened from without by Berta.
Hedda.
[Closes the album with a bang and calls smilingly:] Ah, at last! My darling Thea,—come along!
1 In this speech he once more says du. Hedda addresses him throughout as De.
