Produced by Neville Allen, David Clarke and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) 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 ROSMERSHÖLM NORA; OR, THE BIRD-CAGE HEDDA GABLER THE WILD DUCK PILL-DOCTOR HERDAL * * * * * ROSMERSHÖLM ACT FIRST _Sitting-room at Rosmershölm, 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 Rosmershölm. 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.