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  MR. PUNCH'S POCKET IBSEN

  _A COLLECTION OF SOME OF THE MASTER'S BEST-KNOWN DRAMAS_ CONDENSED,
  REVISED, AND SLIGHTLY RE-ARRANGED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE EARNEST STUDENT

  BY

  F. ANSTEY

  AUTHOR OF "VICE VERSA," "VOCES POPULI," ETC.

  _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BERNARD PARTRIDGE_

  LONDON WILLIAM HEINEMANN 1893

  [_All rights reserved_]

       *       *       *       *       *

PREFATORY NOTE

_The concluding piece, "Pill-Doctor Herdal," is, as the observant reader
will instantly perceive, rather a reverent attempt to tread in the
footprints of the Norwegian dramatist, than a version of any actually
existing masterpiece. The author is conscious that his imitation is
painfully lacking in the mysterious obscurity of the original, that the
vein of allegorical symbolism is thinner throughout than it should be,
and that the characters are not nearly so mad as persons invariably are
in real life--but these are the faults inevitable to a prentice hand,
and he trusts that due allowances may be made for them by the critical._

_In conclusion he wishes to express his acknowledgments to Messrs.
Bradbury and Agnew for their permission to reprint the present volume,
the contents of which made their original appearance in the pages of
"Punch."_

       *       *       *       *       *

  CONTENTS

  ROSMERSHOeLM

  NORA; OR, THE BIRD-CAGE

  HEDDA GABLER

  THE WILD DUCK

  PILL-DOCTOR HERDAL

       *       *       *       *       *

ROSMERSHOeLM

ACT FIRST

_Sitting-room at Rosmershoelm, with a stove, flower-stand, windows,
  ancient and modern ancestors, doors, and everything handsome about it._
  REBECCA WEST _is sitting knitting a large antimacassar which is nearly
  finished. Now and then she looks out of a window, and smiles and nods
  expectantly to someone outside._ MADAM HELSETH _is laying the table for
  supper._

REBECCA.

[_Folding up her work slowly._] But tell me precisely, what about this
white horse?

    [_Smiling quietly._

MADAM HELSETH.

Lord forgive you, Miss!--[_fetching cruet-stand, and placing it on
table_]--but you're making fun of me!

REBECCA.

[_Gravely._] No, indeed. Nobody makes fun at Rosmershoelm. Mr. Rosmer
would not understand it. [_Shutting window._] Ah, here is Rector Kroll.
[_Opening door._] You will stay to supper, will you not, Rector, and I
will tell them to give us some little extra dish.

KROLL.

[_Hanging up his hat in the hall._] Many thanks. [_Wipes his boots._]
May I come in? [_Comes in, puts down his stick, sits down, and looks
about him._] And how do you and Rosmer get on together, eh?

REBECCA.

Ever since your sister, Beata, went mad and jumped into the mill-race,
we have been as happy as two little birds together. [_After a pause,
sitting down in arm-chair._] So you don't really mind my living here all
alone with Rosmer? We were afraid you might, perhaps.

KROLL.

Why, how on earth--on the contrary, I shouldn't object at all if
you--[_looks at her meaningly_]--h'm!

REBECCA.

[_Interrupting, gravely._] For shame, Rector; how can you make such
jokes?

KROLL.

[_As if surprised._] Jokes! We do not joke in these parts--but here is
Rosmer.

    [_Enter_ ROSMER, _g