Chapter XLI: Act IV

SCENE.--_The same garden-room. It is a stormy afternoon and growing
dark_.

Bernick is apprised that he is to be most honourably fêted by his fellow citizens who are about to form a procession, and to parade before his house with music. The proudest moment of his life is at hand. But the fact that the sea is running high outside the harbour is causing great agitation to the mind of Bernick. Lona looks in to say that she has been saying farewell to Johan. He has not changed his determination to sail. A strange incident happens. Little Olaf Bernick runs away from home to slip on board the ship and accompany his uncle to America.

LONA: So the great hour has arrived. The whole
town is to be illuminated.

BERNICK (_pacing to and fro in agitation_): Yes.
Lona, you despise me.

LONA: Not yet.

BERNICK: You have no right to despise me. For you
little realise how lonely I stand in this narrow society.
What have I accomplished, with all my efforts? We
who are considered the pillars of society are but its tools
after all. Since you came home from America I have
been keenly feeling all this. All this show and deception
gives me no satisfaction. But I work for my son, who
will be able to found a truer state of things and to be
happier than his father.

LONA: With a lie for its basis? Think what an
heritage you are preparing for Olaf.

BERNICK: Why did you and Johan come home to
crush me?

LONA: Let me just tell you that after all Johan will
not come back to crush you. For he has gone for ever
and Dina has gone also to become his wife.

BERNICK (_amazed_): Gone--in the _Indian Girl_?

LONA: They did not dare to risk their lives in that
crazy tub. They are in the _Palm Tree_.

Bernick rushes to his office to order the _Indian Girl_ to be stopped in the harbour, but he learns that she already is out at sea. But presently Hilmar comes to tell him that Olaf has run away in the _Indian Girl_. He cries out that the ship must be stopped at any cost. Krap says it is impossible. Music is heard, for the procession is approaching. Bernick, in an agony of soul, declares that he cannot receive anyone. The whole street blazes with the illuminations, and on a great transparency on the opposite house gleams the inscription, "Long live Karsten Bernick, the Pillar of our Society!"

BERNICK (_at the window, shrinking back_): I cannot
look at all this. Away with all these mocking words! I
shall never see Olaf again.

MRS. BERNICK: You will see him again, Karsten, all
right. I have got him. Do you think a mother does not
watch? I overheard a few words from our boy which
set me on my guard. I and Aune went in the sailing
boat from the yard and reached the _Indian Girl_ when she
was on the point of sailing, and he was soon discovered
hiding away.

BERNICK: And is the ship under sail again?

MRS. BERNICK: No. The darkness came on more
densely, the pilot was alarmed, and so Aune, in your
name, took it on himself to order the ship to stay till
to-morrow.

BERNICK: What an unspeakable blessing.

KRAP: The procession is coming through the garden
gate, consul.

Rector Rörlund, at the head of the procession, makes a presentation to Bernick in the name of the committee, and expresses the public esteem and admiration for the consul's services to society. Bernick, to the astonishment of the audience, proceeds to make a full confession of the duplicity and deceit of which he has been guilty. He unreservedly places himself in the hands of the people, who quietly disperse. Bernick at once finds that, whatever the people may think, he has won the sympathy of all his own circle. Lona lays her hands on his shoulder with the words, "Brother-in-law, you have at last discovered that the spirit of Truth and the spirit of Freedom are the real Pillars of Society."

FOOTNOTES:

[O] "The Pillars of Society," published in 1877, is perhaps the most conspicuous of the series of psychological dramatic studies through which Ibsen has exercised untold influence on European drama. In it he deals with the problem of hypocrisy in a small commercial centre of industry, and pours scorn on contemporary humanity, while cherishing the highest hopes of human possibilities for the future.

BEN JONSON[P]

Every Man in His Humour

_Persons in the Comedy_

OLD KNOWELL
YOUNG KNOWELL, _in love with Bridget_
BRAIN-WORM
MASTER STEPHEN, _a country gull_
MASTER MATTHEW, _a town gull_
CAPTAIN BOBADILL
DOWN-RIGHT
WELL-BRED, _his half-brother_
KITELY, _husband to Down-right's sister_
COB, CASH, FORMAL
JUSTICE CLEMENT
DAME KITELY
BRIDGET, _Kitely's sister_
TIB, _Cob's wife_