Kroll. And then, when I tried to distract her from such unhappy thoughts, she only answered: "I have not much time left; for John must marry Rebecca immediately now."Rosmer (almost speechless). What are you saying! I marry--!
Kroll. That was on a Thursday afternoon. On the Saturday evening she threw herself from the footbridge into the millrace.
Rosmer. And you never warned us!
Kroll. Well, you know yourself how constantly she used to say that she was sure she would die before long.
Rosmer. Yes, I know. But, all the same, you ought to have warned us!
Kroll. I did think of doing so. But then it was too late.
Rosmer. But since then, why have you not--? Why have you kept all this to yourself?
Kroll. What good would it have done for me to come here and add to your pain and distress? Of course I thought the whole thing was merely wild, empty fancy--until yesterday evening.
Rosmer. Then you do not think so any longer?
Kroll. Did not Beata see clearly enough, when she saw that you were going to fall away from your childhood's faith?
Rosmer (staring in front of him). Yes, I cannot understand that.
It is the most incomprehensible thing in the world to me.
Kroll. Incomprehensible or not, the thing is true. And now I ask you, Rosmer, how much truth is there in her other accusation?--the last one, I mean.
Rosmer. Accusation? Was that an accusation, then?
Kroll. Perhaps you did not notice how it was worded. She said she meant to stand out of the way. Why? Well?
Rosmer. In order that I might marry Rebecca, apparently.
Kroll. That was not quite how it was worded. Beata expressed herself differently. She said "I have not much time left; for John must marry Rebecca IMMEDIATELY now."Rosmer (looks at him for a moment; then gets up). Now Iunderstand you, Kroll.
Kroll. And if you do? What answer have you to make?
Rosmer (in an even voice, controlling himself). To such an unheard-of--? The only fitting answer would be to point to the door.
Kroll (getting up). Very good.
Rosmer (standing face to face with him). Listen to me. For considerably more than a year to be precise, since Beata's death--Rebecca West and I have lived here alone at Rosmersholm. All that time you have known of the charge Beata made against us; but Ihave never for one moment seen you appear the least scandalised at our living together here.
Kroll. I never knew, till yesterday evening, that it was a case of an apostate man and an "emancipated" woman living together.
Rosmer. Ah! So then you do not believe in any purity of life among apostates or emancipated folk? You do not believe that they may have the instinct of morality ingrained in their natures?
Kroll. I have no particular confidence in the kind of morality that is not rooted in the Church's faith.
Rosmer. And you mean that to apply to Rebecca and myself?--to my relations with Rebecca?
Kroll. I cannot make any departure, in favour of you two, from my opinion that there is certainly no very wide gulf between free thinking and--ahem!
Rosmer. And what?
Kroll. And free love, since you force me to say it.
Rosmer (gently). And you are not ashamed to say that to me!--you, who have known me ever since I was a boy.
Kroll. It is just for that reason. I know how easily you allow yourself to be influenced by those you associate with. And as for your Rebecca--well, your Miss West, then--to tell the truth, we know very little about her. To cut the matter short, Rosmer--I am not going to give you up. And you, on your part, ought to try and save yourself in time.
Rosmer. Save myself? How--? (MRS. HELSETH looks in through the door on the left.) What do you want?
Mrs. Helseth. I wanted to ask Miss West to come down, sir.
Rosmer. Miss West is not up here.
Mrs. Helseth. Indeed, sir? (Looks round the room.) That is very strange. (Goes out.)Rosmer. You were saying--?
Kroll. Listen to me. As to what may have gone on here in secret while Beata was alive, and as to what may be still going on here, I have no wish to inquire more closely. You were, of course, extremely unhappy in your marriage--and to some extent that may be urged in your excuse--Rosmer. Oh, how little you really know me!
Kroll. Do not interrupt me. What I want to say is this. If you definitely must continue living with Miss West, it is absolutely necessary that you should conceal the revolution of opinion--Imean the distressing apostasy--that she has beguiled you into. Let me speak! Let me speak! I say that, if you are determined to go on with this folly, for heaven's sake hold any variety of ideas or opinions or beliefs you like--but keep your opinions to yourself. It is a purely personal matter, and there is not the slightest necessity to go proclaiming it all over the countryside.
Rosmer. It is a necessity for me to abandon a false and equivocal position.
Kroll. But you have a duty towards the traditions of your family, Rosmer! Remember that! From time immemorial Rosmersholm has been a stronghold of discipline and order, of respect and esteem for all that the best people in our community have upheld and sanctioned. The whole neighbourhood has taken its tone from Rosmersholm. If the report gets about that you yourself have broken with what I may call the Rosmer family tradition, it will evoke an irreparable state of unrest.
Rosmer. My dear Kroll, I cannot see the matter in that light. It seems to me that it is my imperative duty to bring a little light and happiness into the place where the race of Rosmers has spread darkness and oppression for all these long years.
Kroll (looking severely at him). Yes, that would be a worthy action for the man with whom the race will disappear. Let such things alone, my friend. It is no suitable task for you. You were meant to lead the peaceful life of a student.
Rosmer. Yes, that may be so. But nevertheless I want to try and play my humble part in the struggles of life.
Kroll. The struggles of life! Do you know what that will mean for you? It will mean war to the death with all your friends.
Rosmer (quietly). I do not imagine they are all such fanatics as you.