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diff --git a/old/dlshs10.txt b/old/dlshs10.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4ad1239..0000000 --- a/old/dlshs10.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4372 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen -#5 in our series by Henrik Ibsen - - -Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check -the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! - -Please take a look at the important information in this header. -We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an -electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. - - -**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** - -**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** - -*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* - -Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and -further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* - - - - - -Prepared by Martin Adamson <martin@grassmarket.freeserve.co.uk> - - - - - -A DOLL'S HOUSE - -by Henrik Ibsen - - - - -DRAMATIS PERSONAE - -Torvald Helmer. -Nora, his wife. -Doctor Rank. -Mrs. Linde. -Nils Krogstad. -Helmer's three young children. -Anne, their nurse. -A Housemaid. -A Porter. -(The action takes place in Helmer's house.) - -A DOLL'S HOUSE - -ACT I - -(SCENE.--A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not -extravagantly. At the back, a door to the right leads to the -entrance-hall, another to the left leads to Helmer's study. -Between the doors stands a piano. In the middle of the left-hand -wall is a door, and beyond it a window. Near the window are a -round table, arm-chairs and a small sofa. In the right-hand wall, -at the farther end, another door; and on the same side, nearer -the footlights, a stove, two easy chairs and a rocking-chair; -between the stove and the door, a small table. Engravings on the -walls; a cabinet with china and other small objects; a small -book-case with well-bound books. The floors are carpeted, and a -fire burns in the stove. It is winter. - -A bell rings in the hall; shortly afterwards the door is heard to -open. Enter NORA, humming a tune and in high spirits. She is in -outdoor dress and carries a number of parcels; these she lays on -the table to the right. She leaves the outer door open after her, -and through it is seen a PORTER who is carrying a Christmas Tree -and a basket, which he gives to the MAID who has opened the -door.) - -Nora. Hide the Christmas Tree carefully, Helen. Be sure the -children do not see it until this evening, when it is dressed. (To -the PORTER, taking out her purse.) How much? - -Porter. Sixpence. - -Nora. There is a shilling. No, keep the change. (The PORTER -thanks her, and goes out. NORA shuts the door. She is laughing to -herself, as she takes off her hat and coat. She takes a packet of -macaroons from her pocket and eats one or two; then goes -cautiously to her husband's door and listens.) Yes, he is in. -(Still humming, she goes to the table on the right.) - -Helmer (calls out from his room). Is that my little lark -twittering out there? - -Nora (busy opening some of the parcels). Yes, it is! - -Helmer. Is it my little squirrel bustling about? - -Nora. Yes! - -Helmer. When did my squirrel come home? - -Nora. Just now. (Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and -wipes her mouth.) Come in here, Torvald, and see what I have -bought. - -Helmer. Don't disturb me. (A little later, he opens the door and -looks into the room, pen in hand.) Bought, did you say? All these -things? Has my little spendthrift been wasting money again? - -Nora. Yes but, Torvald, this year we really can let ourselves go -a little. This is the first Christmas that we have not needed to -economise. - -Helmer. Still, you know, we can't spend money recklessly. Nora. -Yes, Torvald, we may be a wee bit more reckless now, mayn't we? -Just a tiny wee bit! You are going to have a big salary and earn -lots and lots of money. - -Helmer. Yes, after the New Year; but then it will be a whole -quarter before the salary is due. - -Nora. Pooh! we can borrow until then. - -Helmer. Nora! (Goes up to her and takes her playfully by the -ear.) The same little featherhead! Suppose, now, that I borrowed -fifty pounds today, and you spent it all in the Christmas week, -and then on New Year's Eve a slate fell on my head and killed me, -and--Nora (putting her hands over his mouth). Oh! don't say such -horrid things. - -Helmer. Still, suppose that happened,--what then? - -Nora. If that were to happen, I don't suppose I should care -whether I owed money or not. - -Helmer. Yes, but what about the people who had lent it? - -Nora. They? Who would bother about them? I should not know who they -were. - -Helmer. That is like a woman! But seriously, Nora, you know what -I think about that. No debt, no borrowing. There can be no -freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and -debt. We two have kept bravely on the straight road so far, and -we will go on the same way for the short time longer that there -need be any struggle. - -Nora (moving towards the stove). As you please, Torvald. - -Helmer (following her). Come, come, my little skylark must not -droop her wings. What is this! Is my little squirrel out of -temper? (Taking out his purse.) Nora, what do you think I have -got here? - -Nora (turning round quickly). Money! - -Helmer. There you are. (Gives her some money.) Do you think I -don't know what a lot is wanted for housekeeping at Christmas- -time? - -Nora (counting). Ten shillings--a pound--two pounds! Thank you, -thank you, Torvald; that will keep me going for a long time. - -Helmer. Indeed it must. - -Nora. Yes, yes, it will. But come here and let me show you what I -have bought. And all so cheap! Look, here is a new suit for Ivar, -and a sword; and a horse and a trumpet for Bob; and a doll and -dolly's bedstead for Emmy,--they are very plain, but anyway she -will soon break them in pieces. And here are dress-lengths and -handkerchiefs for the maids; old Anne ought really to have -something better. - -Helmer. And what is in this parcel? - -Nora (crying out). No, no! you mustn't see that until this -evening. - -Helmer. Very well. But now tell me, you extravagant little -person, what would you like for yourself? - -Nora. For myself? Oh, I am sure I don't want anything. - -Helmer. Yes, but you must. Tell me something reasonable that you -would particularly like to have. - -Nora. No, I really can't think of anything--unless, Torvald-- - -Helmer. Well? - -Nora (playing with his coat buttons, and without raising her eyes -to his). If you really want to give me something, you might--you -might-- - -Helmer. Well, out with it! - -Nora (speaking quickly). You might give me money, Torvald. Only -just as much as you can afford; and then one of these days I will -buy something with it. - -Helmer. But, Nora--Nora. Oh, do! dear Torvald; please, please do! -Then I will wrap it up in beautiful gilt paper and hang it on the -Christmas Tree. Wouldn't that be fun? - -Helmer. What are little people called that are always wasting -money? - -Nora. Spendthrifts--I know. Let us do as you suggest, Torvald, -and then I shall have time to think what I am most in want of. -That is a very sensible plan, isn't it? - -Helmer (smiling). Indeed it is--that is to say, if you were -really to save out of the money I give you, and then really buy -something for yourself. But if you spend it all on the -housekeeping and any number of unnecessary things, then I merely -have to pay up again. - -Nora. Oh but, Torvald-- - -Helmer. You can't deny it, my dear little Nora. (Puts his arm -round her waist.) It's a sweet little spendthrift, but she uses -up a deal of money. One would hardly believe how expensive such -little persons are! - -Nora. It's a shame to say that. I do really save all I can. - -Helmer (laughing). That's very true,--all you can. But you can't -save anything! - -Nora (smiling quietly and happily). You haven't any idea how many -expenses we skylarks and squirrels have, Torvald. - -Helmer. You are an odd little soul. Very like your father. You -always find some new way of wheedling money out of me, and, as -soon as you have got it, it seems to melt in your hands. You -never know where it has gone. Still, one must take you as you -are. It is in the blood; for indeed it is true that you can -inherit these things, Nora. - -Nora. Ah, I wish I had inherited many of papa's qualities. - -Helmer. And I would not wish you to be anything but just what you -are, my sweet little skylark. But, do you know, it strikes me -that you are looking rather--what shall I say--rather uneasy today? - -Nora. Do I? - -Helmer. You do, really. Look straight at me. - -Nora (looks at him). Well? - -Helmer (wagging his finger at her). Hasn't Miss Sweet Tooth been -breaking rules in town today? - -Nora. No; what makes you think that? - -Helmer. Hasn't she paid a visit to the confectioner's? - -Nora. No, I assure you, Torvald-- - -Helmer. Not been nibbling sweets? - -Nora. No, certainly not. - -Helmer. Not even taken a bite at a macaroon or two? - -Nora. No, Torvald, I assure you really-- - -Helmer. There, there, of course I was only joking. - -Nora (going to the table on the right). I should not think of -going against your wishes. - -Helmer. No, I am sure of that; besides, you gave me your word-- -(Going up to her.) Keep your little Christmas secrets to -yourself, my darling. They will all be revealed tonight when the -Christmas Tree is lit, no doubt. - -Nora. Did you remember to invite Doctor Rank? - -Helmer. No. But there is no need; as a matter of course he will -come to dinner with us. However, I will ask him when he comes in -this morning. I have ordered some good wine. Nora, you can't -think how I am looking forward to this evening. - -Nora. So am I! And how the children will enjoy themselves, Torvald! - -Helmer. It is splendid to feel that one has a perfectly safe -appointment, and a big enough income. It's delightful to think -of, isn't it? - -Nora. It's wonderful! - -Helmer. Do you remember last Christmas? For a full three weeks -beforehand you shut yourself up every evening until long after -midnight, making ornaments for the Christmas Tree, and all the -other fine things that were to be a surprise to us. It was the -dullest three weeks I ever spent! - -Nora. I didn't find it dull. - -Helmer (smiling). But there was precious little result, Nora. - -Nora. Oh, you shouldn't tease me about that again. How could I -help the cat's going in and tearing everything to pieces? - -Helmer. Of course you couldn't, poor little girl. You had the -best of intentions to please us all, and that's the main thing. -But it is a good thing that our hard times are over. - -Nora. Yes, it is really wonderful. - -Helmer. This time I needn't sit here and be dull all alone, and -you needn't ruin your dear eyes and your pretty little hands-- - -Nora (clapping her hands). No, Torvald, I needn't any longer, -need I! It's wonderfully lovely to hear you say so! (Taking his -arm.) Now I will tell you how I have been thinking we ought to -arrange things, Torvald. As soon as Christmas is over--(A bell -rings in the hall.) There's the bell. (She tidies the room a -little.) There's some one at the door. What a nuisance! - -Helmer. If it is a caller, remember I am not at home. - -Maid (in the doorway). A lady to see you, ma'am,--a stranger. - -Nora. Ask her to come in. - -Maid (to HELMER). The doctor came at the same time, sir. - -Helmer. Did he go straight into my room? - -Maid. Yes, sir. - -(HELMER goes into his room. The MAID ushers in Mrs. LINDE, who is -in travelling dress, and shuts the door.) Mrs. Linde (in a -dejected and timid voice). How do you do, Nora? - -Nora (doubtfully). How do you do--Mrs. Linde. You don't recognise -me, I suppose. - -Nora. No, I don't know--yes, to be sure, I seem to--(Suddenly.) -Yes! Christine! Is it really you? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, it is I. - -Nora. Christine! To think of my not recognising you! And yet how -could I--(In a gentle voice.) How you have altered, Christine! - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, I have indeed. In nine, ten long years-- - -Nora. Is it so long since we met? I suppose it is. The last eight -years have been a happy time for me, I can tell you. And so now -you have come into the town, and have taken this long journey in -winter--that was plucky of you. - -Mrs. Linde. I arrived by steamer this morning. - -Nora. To have some fun at Christmas-time, of course. How -delightful! We will have such fun together! But take off your -things. You are not cold, I hope. (Helps her.) Now we will sit -down by the stove, and be cosy. No, take this armchair; I will -sit here in the rocking-chair. (Takes her hands.) Now you look -like your old self again; it was only the first moment--You are a -little paler, Christine, and perhaps a little thinner. - -Mrs. Linde. And much, much older, Nora. - -Nora. Perhaps a little older; very, very little; certainly not -much. (Stops suddenly and speaks seriously.) What a thoughtless -creature I am, chattering away like this. My poor, dear Christine, -do forgive me. - -Mrs. Linde. What do you mean, Nora? - -Nora (gently). Poor Christine, you are a widow. - -Mrs. Linde. Yes; it is three years ago now. - -Nora. Yes, I knew; I saw it in the papers. I assure you, -Christine, I meant ever so often to write to you at the time, but -I always put it off and something always prevented me. - -Mrs. Linde. I quite understand, dear. - -Nora. It was very bad of me, Christine. Poor thing, how you must -have suffered. And he left you nothing? - -Mrs. Linde. No. - -Nora. And no children? - -Mrs. Linde. No. - -Nora. Nothing at all, then. - -Mrs. Linde. Not even any sorrow or grief to live upon. - -Nora (looking incredulously at her). But, Christine, is that -possible? - -Mrs. Linde (smiles sadly and strokes her hair). It sometimes -happens, Nora. - -Nora. So you are quite alone. How dreadfully sad that must be. I -have three lovely children. You can't see them just now, for they -are out with their nurse. But now you must tell me all about it. - -Mrs. Linde. No, no; I want to hear about you. - -Nora. No, you must begin. I mustn't be selfish today; today I -must only think of your affairs. But there is one thing I must -tell you. Do you know we have just had a great piece of good -luck? - -Mrs. Linde. No, what is it? - -Nora. Just fancy, my husband has been made manager of the Bank! - -Mrs. Linde. Your husband? What good luck! - -Nora. Yes, tremendous! A barrister's profession is such an -uncertain thing, especially if he won't undertake unsavoury -cases; and naturally Torvald has never been willing to do that, -and I quite agree with him. You may imagine how pleased we are! -He is to take up his work in the Bank at the New Year, and then -he will have a big salary and lots of commissions. For the future -we can live quite differently--we can do just as we like. I feel -so relieved and so happy, Christine! It will be splendid to have -heaps of money and not need to have any anxiety, won't it? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, anyhow I think it would be delightful to have -what one needs. - -Nora. No, not only what one needs, but heaps and heaps of money. - -Mrs. Linde (smiling). Nora, Nora, haven't you learned sense yet? -In our schooldays you were a great spendthrift. - -Nora (laughing). Yes, that is what Torvald says now. (Wags her -linger at her.) But "Nora, Nora" is not so silly as you think. We -have not been in a position for me to waste money. We have both -had to work. - -Mrs. Linde. You too? - -Nora. Yes; odds and ends, needlework, crotchet-work, embroidery, -and that kind of thing. (Dropping her voice.) And other things as -well. You know Torvald left his office when we were married? -There was no prospect of promotion there, and he had to try and -earn more than before. But during the first year he over-worked -himself dreadfully. You see, he had to make money every way he -could, and he worked early and late; but he couldn't stand it, -and fell dreadfully ill, and the doctors said it was necessary -for him to go south. - -Mrs. Linde. You spent a whole year in Italy, didn't you? - -Nora. Yes. It was no easy matter to get away, I can tell you. It was -just after Ivar was born; but naturally we had to go. It was a -wonderfully beautiful journey, and it saved Torvald's life. But -it cost a tremendous lot of money, Christine. - -Mrs. Linde. So I should think. - -Nora. It cost about two hundred and fifty pounds. That's a lot, -isn't it? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, and in emergencies like that it is lucky to have -the money. - -Nora. I ought to tell you that we had it from papa. - -Mrs. Linde. Oh, I see. It was just about that time that he died, -wasn't it? - -Nora. Yes; and, just think of it, I couldn't go and nurse him. I -was expecting little Ivar's birth every day and I had my poor -sick Torvald to look after. My dear, kind father--I never saw him -again, Christine. That was the saddest time I have known since -our marriage. - -Mrs. Linde. I know how fond you were of him. And then you went -off to Italy? - -Nora. Yes; you see we had money then, and the doctors insisted on -our going, so we started a month later. - -Mrs. Linde. And your husband came back quite well? - -Nora. As sound as a bell! - -Mrs. Linde. But--the doctor? - -Nora. What doctor? - -Mrs. Linde. I thought your maid said the gentleman who arrived -here just as I did, was the doctor? - -Nora. Yes, that was Doctor Rank, but he doesn't come here -professionally. He is our greatest friend, and comes in at least -once everyday. No, Torvald has not had an hour's illness since -then, and our children are strong and healthy and so am I. (Jumps -up and claps her hands.) Christine! Christine! it's good to be -alive and happy!--But how horrid of me; I am talking of nothing -but my own affairs. (Sits on a stool near her, and rests her arms -on her knees.) You mustn't be angry with me. Tell me, is it -really true that you did not love your husband? Why did you marry -him? - -Mrs. Linde. My mother was alive then, and was bedridden and -helpless, and I had to provide for my two younger brothers; so I -did not think I was justified in refusing his offer. - -Nora. No, perhaps you were quite right. He was rich at that time, -then? - -Mrs. Linde. I believe he was quite well off. But his business was -a precarious one; and, when he died, it all went to pieces and -there was nothing left. - -Nora. And then?-- - -Mrs. Linde. Well, I had to turn my hand to anything I could find- --first a small shop, then a small school, and so on. The last -three years have seemed like one long working-day, with no rest. -Now it is at an end, Nora. My poor mother needs me no more, for -she is gone; and the boys do not need me either; they have got -situations and can shift for themselves. - -Nora. What a relief you must feel if-- - -Mrs. Linde. No, indeed; I only feel my life unspeakably empty. No -one to live for anymore. (Gets up restlessly.) That was why I -could not stand the life in my little backwater any longer. I -hope it may be easier here to find something which will busy me -and occupy my thoughts. If only I could have the good luck to get -some regular work--office work of some kind-- - -Nora. But, Christine, that is so frightfully tiring, and you look -tired out now. You had far better go away to some watering-place. - -Mrs. Linde (walking to the window). I have no father to give me -money for a journey, Nora. - -Nora (rising). Oh, don't be angry with me! - -Mrs. Linde (going up to her). It is you that must not be angry -with me, dear. The worst of a position like mine is that it makes -one so bitter. No one to work for, and yet obliged to be always -on the lookout for chances. One must live, and so one becomes -selfish. When you told me of the happy turn your fortunes have -taken--you will hardly believe it--I was delighted not so much on -your account as on my own. - -Nora. How do you mean?--Oh, I understand. You mean that perhaps -Torvald could get you something to do. - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, that was what I was thinking of. - -Nora. He must, Christine. Just leave it to me; I will broach the -subject very cleverly--I will think of something that will please -him very much. It will make me so happy to be of some use to you. - -Mrs. Linde. How kind you are, Nora, to be so anxious to help me! -It is doubly kind in you, for you know so little of the burdens -and troubles of life. - -Nora. I--? I know so little of them? - -Mrs. Linde (smiling). My dear! Small household cares and that -sort of thing!--You are a child, Nora. - -Nora (tosses her head and crosses the stage). You ought not to be -so superior. - -Mrs. Linde. No? - -Nora. You are just like the others. They all think that I am -incapable of anything really serious-- - -Mrs. Linde. Come, come-- - -Nora.--that I have gone through nothing in this world of cares. - -Mrs. Linde. But, my dear Nora, you have just told me all your -troubles. - -Nora. Pooh!--those were trifles. (Lowering her voice.) I have not -told you the important thing. - -Mrs. Linde. The important thing? What do you mean? - -Nora. You look down upon me altogether, Christine--but you ought -not to. You are proud, aren't you, of having worked so hard and -so long for your mother? - -Mrs. Linde. Indeed, I don't look down on anyone. But it is true -that I am both proud and glad to think that I was privileged to -make the end of my mother's life almost free from care. - -Nora. And you are proud to think of what you have done for your -brothers? - -Mrs. Linde. I think I have the right to be. - -Nora. I think so, too. But now, listen to this; I too have -something to be proud and glad of. - -Mrs. Linde. I have no doubt you have. But what do you refer to? - -Nora. Speak low. Suppose Torvald were to hear! He mustn't on any -account--no one in the world must know, Christine, except you. - -Mrs. Linde. But what is it? - -Nora. Come here. (Pulls her down on the sofa beside her.) Now I -will show you that I too have something to be proud and glad of. -It was I who saved Torvald's life. - -Mrs. Linde. "Saved"? How? - -Nora. I told you about our trip to Italy. Torvald would never -have recovered if he had not gone there-- - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, but your father gave you the necessary funds. - -Nora (smiling). Yes, that is what Torvald and all the others -think, but-- - -Mrs. Linde. But-- - -Nora. Papa didn't give us a shilling. It was I who procured the -money. - -Mrs. Linde. You? All that large sum? - -Nora. Two hundred and fifty pounds. What do you think of that? - -Mrs. Linde. But, Nora, how could you possibly do it? Did you win -a prize in the Lottery? - -Nora (contemptuously). In the Lottery? There would have been no -credit in that. - -Mrs. Linde. But where did you get it from, then? Nora (humming -and smiling with an air of mystery). Hm, hm! Aha! - -Mrs. Linde. Because you couldn't have borrowed it. - -Nora. Couldn't I? Why not? - -Mrs. Linde. No, a wife cannot borrow without her husband's -consent. - -Nora (tossing her head). Oh, if it is a wife who has any head for -business--a wife who has the wit to be a little bit clever-- - -Mrs. Linde. I don't understand it at all, Nora. - -Nora. There is no need you should. I never said I had borrowed -the money. I may have got it some other way. (Lies back on the -sofa.) Perhaps I got it from some other admirer. When anyone is -as attractive as I am-- - -Mrs. Linde. You are a mad creature. - -Nora. Now, you know you're full of curiosity, Christine. - -Mrs. Linde. Listen to me, Nora dear. Haven't you been a little -bit imprudent? - -Nora (sits up straight). Is it imprudent to save your husband's -life? - -Mrs. Linde. It seems to me imprudent, without his knowledge, to-- - -Nora. But it was absolutely necessary that he should not know! My -goodness, can't you understand that? It was necessary he should -have no idea what a dangerous condition he was in. It was to me -that the doctors came and said that his life was in danger, and -that the only thing to save him was to live in the south. Do you -suppose I didn't try, first of all, to get what I wanted as if it -were for myself? I told him how much I should love to travel -abroad like other young wives; I tried tears and entreaties with -him; I told him that he ought to remember the condition I was in, -and that he ought to be kind and indulgent to me; I even hinted -that he might raise a loan. That nearly made him angry, Christine. -He said I was thoughtless, and that it was his duty as my husband -not to indulge me in my whims and caprices--as I believe he called -them. Very well, I thought, you must be saved--and that was how -I came to devise a way out of the difficulty-- - -Mrs. Linde. And did your husband never get to know from your -father that the money had not come from him? - -Nora. No, never. Papa died just at that time. I had meant to let -him into the secret and beg him never to reveal it. But he was so -ill then--alas, there never was any need to tell him. - -Mrs. Linde. And since then have you never told your secret to -your husband? - -Nora. Good Heavens, no! How could you think so? A man who has -such strong opinions about these things! And besides, how painful -and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his manly -independence, to know that he owed me anything! It would upset -our mutual relations altogether; our beautiful happy home would -no longer be what it is now. - -Mrs. Linde. Do you mean never to tell him about it? - -Nora (meditatively, and with a half smile). Yes--someday, -perhaps, after many years, when I am no longer as nice-looking as -I am now. Don't laugh at me! I mean, of course, when Torvald is -no longer as devoted to me as he is now; when my dancing and -dressing-up and reciting have palled on him; then it may be a -good thing to have something in reserve--(Breaking off.) What -nonsense! That time will never come. Now, what do you think of my -great secret, Christine? Do you still think I am of no use? I can -tell you, too, that this affair has caused me a lot of worry. It -has been by no means easy for me to meet my engagements -punctually. I may tell you that there is something that is -called, in business, quarterly interest, and another thing called -payment in installments, and it is always so dreadfully difficult -to manage them. I have had to save a little here and there, where -I could, you understand. I have not been able to put aside much -from my housekeeping money, for Torvald must have a good table. I -couldn't let my children be shabbily dressed; I have felt obliged -to use up all he gave me for them, the sweet little darlings! - -Mrs. Linde. So it has all had to come out of your own necessaries -of life, poor Nora? - -Nora. Of course. Besides, I was the one responsible for it. Whenever -Torvald has given me money for new dresses and such things, I have -never spent more than half of it; I have always bought the simplest -and cheapest things. Thank Heaven, any clothes look well on me, -and so Torvald has never noticed it. But it was often very hard -on me, Christine--because it is delightful to be really well -dressed, isn't it? - -Mrs. Linde. Quite so. - -Nora. Well, then I have found other ways of earning money. Last -winter I was lucky enough to get a lot of copying to do; so I -locked myself up and sat writing every evening until quite late -at night. Many a time I was desperately tired; but all the same -it was a tremendous pleasure to sit there working and earning -money. It was like being a man. - -Mrs. Linde. How much have you been able to pay off in that way? - -Nora. I can't tell you exactly. You see, it is very difficult to -keep an account of a business matter of that kind. I only know -that I have paid every penny that I could scrape together. Many a -time I was at my wits' end. (Smiles.) Then I used to sit here and -imagine that a rich old gentleman had fallen in love with me-- - -Mrs. Linde. What! Who was it? - -Nora. Be quiet!--that he had died; and that when his will was -opened it contained, written in big letters, the instruction: -"The lovely Mrs. Nora Helmer is to have all I possess paid over -to her at once in cash." - -Mrs. Linde. But, my dear Nora--who could the man be? - -Nora. Good gracious, can't you understand? There was no old -gentleman at all; it was only something that I used to sit here -and imagine, when I couldn't think of any way of procuring money. -But it's all the same now; the tiresome old person can stay where -he is, as far as I am concerned; I don't care about him or his -will either, for I am free from care now. (Jumps up.) My -goodness, it's delightful to think of, Christine! Free from care! -To be able to be free from care, quite free from care; to be able -to play and romp with the children; to be able to keep the house -beautifully and have everything just as Torvald likes it! And, -think of it, soon the spring will come and the big blue sky! -Perhaps we shall be able to take a little trip--perhaps I shall -see the sea again! Oh, it's a wonderful thing to be alive and be -happy. (A bell is heard in the hall.) - -Mrs. Linde (rising). There is the bell; perhaps I had better go. - -Nora. No, don't go; no one will come in here; it is sure to be -for Torvald. - -Servant (at the hall door). Excuse me, ma'am--there is a -gentleman to see the master, and as the doctor is with him--Nora. -Who is it? - -Krogstad (at the door). It is I, Mrs. Helmer. (Mrs. LINDE starts, -trembles, and turns to the window.) - -Nora (takes a step towards him, and speaks in a strained, low -voice). You? What is it? What do you want to see my husband -about? - -Krogstad. Bank business--in a way. I have a small post in the -Bank, and I hear your husband is to be our chief now-- - -Nora. Then it is-- - -Krogstad. Nothing but dry business matters, Mrs. Helmer; -absolutely nothing else. - -Nora. Be so good as to go into the study, then. (She bows -indifferently to him and shuts the door into the hall; then comes -back and makes up the fire in the stove.) - -Mrs. Linde. Nora--who was that man? - -Nora. A lawyer, of the name of Krogstad. - -Mrs. Linde. Then it really was he. - -Nora. Do you know the man? - -Mrs. Linde. I used to-- many years ago. At one time he was a -solicitor's clerk in our town. - -Nora. Yes, he was. - -Mrs. Linde. He is greatly altered. - -Nora. He made a very unhappy marriage. - -Mrs. Linde. He is a widower now, isn't he? - -Nora. With several children. There now, it is burning up. Shuts -the door of the stove and moves the rocking-chair aside.) - -Mrs. Linde. They say he carries on various kinds of business. - -Nora. Really! Perhaps he does; I don't know anything about it. -But don't let us think of business; it is so tiresome. - -Doctor Rank (comes out of HELMER'S study. Before he shuts the -door he calls to him). No, my dear fellow, I won't disturb you; I -would rather go in to your wife for a little while. (Shuts the -door and sees Mrs. LINDE.) I beg your pardon; I am afraid I am -disturbing you too. - -Nora. No, not at all. (Introducing him). Doctor Rank, Mrs. Linde. - -Rank. I have often heard Mrs. Linde's name mentioned here. I -think I passed you on the stairs when I arrived, Mrs. Linde? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, I go up very slowly; I can't manage stairs well. - -Rank. Ah! some slight internal weakness? - -Mrs. Linde. No, the fact is I have been overworking myself. - -Rank. Nothing more than that? Then I suppose you have come to -town to amuse yourself with our entertainments? - -Mrs. Linde. I have come to look for work. - -Rank. Is that a good cure for overwork? - -Mrs. Linde. One must live, Doctor Rank. - -Rank. Yes, the general opinion seems to be that it is necessary. - -Nora. Look here, Doctor Rank--you know you want to live. - -Rank. Certainly. However wretched I may feel, I want to prolong -the agony as long as possible. All my patients are like that. And -so are those who are morally diseased; one of them, and a bad -case too, is at this very moment with Helmer-- - -Mrs. Linde (sadly). Ah! - -Nora. Whom do you mean? - -Rank. A lawyer of the name of Krogstad, a fellow you don't know -at all. He suffers from a diseased moral character, Mrs. Helmer; -but even he began talking of its being highly important that he -should live. - -Nora. Did he? What did he want to speak to Torvald about? - -Rank. I have no idea; I only heard that it was something about -the Bank. - -Nora. I didn't know this--what's his name--Krogstad had anything -to do with the Bank. - -Rank. Yes, he has some sort of appointment there. (To Mrs. -LINDE.) I don't know whether you find also in your part of the -world that there are certain people who go zealously snuffing -about to smell out moral corruption, and, as soon as they have -found some, put the person concerned into some lucrative position -where they can keep their eye on him. Healthy natures are left -out in the cold. - -Mrs. Linde. Still I think the sick are those who most need taking -care of. - -Rank (shrugging his shoulders). Yes, there you are. That is the -sentiment that is turning Society into a sick-house. - -(NORA, who has been absorbed in her thoughts, breaks out into -smothered laughter and claps her hands.) - -Rank. Why do you laugh at that? Have you any notion what Society -really is? - -Nora. What do I care about tiresome Society? I am laughing at -something quite different, something extremely amusing. Tell me, -Doctor Rank, are all the people who are employed in the Bank -dependent on Torvald now? - -Rank. Is that what you find so extremely amusing? - -Nora (smiling and humming). That's my affair! (Walking about the -room.) It's perfectly glorious to think that we have--that -Torvald has so much power over so many people. (Takes the packet -from her pocket.) Doctor Rank, what do you say to a macaroon? - -Rank. What, macaroons? I thought they were forbidden here. - -Nora. Yes, but these are some Christine gave me. - -Mrs. Linde. What! I?-- - -Nora. Oh, well, don't be alarmed! You couldn't know that Torvald -had forbidden them. I must tell you that he is afraid they will -spoil my teeth. But, bah!--once in a way--That's so, isn't it, -Doctor Rank? By your leave! (Puts a macaroon into his mouth.) You -must have one too, Christine. And I shall have one, just a little -one-or at most two. (Walking about.) I am tremendously happy. -There is just one thing in the world now that I should dearly -love to do. - -Rank. Well, what is that? - -Nora. It's something I should dearly love to say, if Torvald -could hear me. - -Rank. Well, why can't you say it? - -Nora. No, I daren't; it's so shocking. - -Mrs. Linde. Shocking? - -Rank. Well, I should not advise you to say it. Still, with us you -might. What is it you would so much like to say if Torvald could -hear you? - -Nora. I should just love to say--Well, I'm damned! - -Rank. Are you mad? - -Mrs. Linde. Nora, dear--! - -Rank. Say it, here he is! - -Nora (hiding the packet). Hush! Hush! Hush! (HELMER comes out of -his room, with his coat over his arm and his hat in his hand.) - -Nora. Well, Torvald dear, have you got rid of him? - -Helmer. Yes, he has just gone. - -Nora. Let me introduce you--this is Christine, who has come to town. - -Helmer. Christine--? Excuse me, but I don't know-- - -Nora. Mrs. Linde, dear; Christine Linde. - -Helmer. Of course. A school friend of my wife's, I presume? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, we have known each other since then. - -Nora. And just think, she has taken a long journey in order to see you. - -Helmer. What do you mean? Mrs. Linde. No, really, I-- - -Nora. Christine is tremendously clever at book-keeping, and she -is frightfully anxious to work under some clever man, so as to -perfect herself-- - -Helmer. Very sensible, Mrs. Linde. - -Nora. And when she heard you had been appointed manager of the -Bank--the news was telegraphed, you know--she travelled here as -quick as she could. Torvald, I am sure you will be able to do -something for Christine, for my sake, won't you? - -Helmer. Well, it is not altogether impossible. I presume you are -a widow, Mrs. Linde? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes. - -Helmer. And have had some experience of book-keeping? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, a fair amount. - -Helmer. Ah! well, it's very likely I may be able to find -something for you-- - -Nora (clapping her hands). What did I tell you? What did I tell -you? - -Helmer. You have just come at a fortunate moment, Mrs. Linde. - -Mrs. Linde. How am I to thank you? - -Helmer. There is no need. (Puts on his coat.) But today you must -excuse me-- - -Rank. Wait a minute; I will come with you. (Brings his fur coat -from the hall and warms it at the fire.) - -Nora. Don't be long away, Torvald dear. - -Helmer. About an hour, not more. - -Nora. Are you going too, Christine? - -Mrs. Linde (putting on her cloak). Yes, I must go and look for a -room. - -Helmer. Oh, well then, we can walk down the street together. - -Nora (helping her). What a pity it is we are so short of space -here; I am afraid it is impossible for us-- - -Mrs. Linde. Please don't think of it! Goodbye, Nora dear, and -many thanks. - -Nora. Goodbye for the present. Of course you will come back this -evening. And you too, Dr. Rank. What do you say? If you are well -enough? Oh, you must be! Wrap yourself up well. (They go to the -door all talking together. Children's voices are heard on the -staircase.) - -Nora. There they are! There they are! (She runs to open the door. -The NURSE comes in with the children.) Come in! Come in! (Stoops -and kisses them.) Oh, you sweet blessings! Look at them, -Christine! Aren't they darlings? - -Rank. Don't let us stand here in the draught. - -Helmer. Come along, Mrs. Linde; the place will only be bearable -for a mother now! - -(RANK, HELMER, and Mrs. LINDE go downstairs. The NURSE comes -forward with the children; NORA shuts the hall door.) - -Nora. How fresh and well you look! Such red cheeks like apples -and roses. (The children all talk at once while she speaks to -them.) Have you had great fun? That's splendid! What, you pulled -both Emmy and Bob along on the sledge? --both at once?--that was -good. You are a clever boy, Ivar. Let me take her for a little, -Anne. My sweet little baby doll! (Takes the baby from the MAID -and dances it up and down.) Yes, yes, mother will dance with Bob -too. What! Have you been snowballing? I wish I had been there -too! No, no, I will take their things off, Anne; please let me do -it, it is such fun. Go in now, you look half frozen. There is -some hot coffee for you on the stove. - -(The NURSE goes into the room on the left. NORA takes off the -children's things and throws them about, while they all talk to -her at once.) - -Nora. Really! Did a big dog run after you? But it didn't bite -you? No, dogs don't bite nice little dolly children. You mustn't -look at the parcels, Ivar. What are they? Ah, I daresay you would -like to know. No, no--it's something nasty! Come, let us have a -game! What shall we play at? Hide and Seek? Yes, we'll play Hide -and Seek. Bob shall hide first. Must I hide? Very well, I'll hide -first. (She and the children laugh and shout, and romp in and out -of the room; at last NORA hides under the table, the children -rush in and out for her, but do not see her; they hear her -smothered laughter, run to the table, lift up the cloth and find -her. Shouts of laughter. She crawls forward and pretends to -frighten them. Fresh laughter. Meanwhile there has been a knock -at the hall door, but none of them has noticed it. The door is -half opened, and KROGSTAD appears, lie waits a little; the game -goes on.) - -Krogstad. Excuse me, Mrs. Helmer. - -Nora (with a stifled cry, turns round and gets up on to her -knees). Ah! what do you want? - -Krogstad. Excuse me, the outer door was ajar; I suppose someone -forgot to shut it. - -Nora (rising). My husband is out, Mr. Krogstad. - -Krogstad. I know that. - -Nora. What do you want here, then? - -Krogstad. A word with you. - -Nora. With me?--(To the children, gently.) Go in to nurse. What? -No, the strange man won't do mother any harm. When he has gone we -will have another game. (She takes the children into the room on -the left, and shuts the door after them.) You want to speak to -me? - -Krogstad. Yes, I do. - -Nora. Today? It is not the first of the month yet. - -Krogstad. No, it is Christmas Eve, and it will depend on yourself -what sort of a Christmas you will spend. - -Nora. What do you mean? Today it is absolutely impossible for me-- - -Krogstad. We won't talk about that until later on. This is -something different. I presume you can give me a moment? - -Nora. Yes--yes, I can--although-- - -Krogstad. Good. I was in Olsen's Restaurant and saw your husband -going down the street-- - -Nora. Yes? - -Krogstad. With a lady. - -Nora. What then? - -Krogstad. May I make so bold as to ask if it was a Mrs. Linde? - -Nora. It was. - -Krogstad. Just arrived in town? - -Nora. Yes, today. - -Krogstad. She is a great friend of yours, isn't she? - -Nora. She is. But I don't see-- - -Krogstad. I knew her too, once upon a time. - -Nora. I am aware of that. - -Krogstad. Are you? So you know all about it; I thought as much. -Then I can ask you, without beating about the bush--is Mrs. Linde -to have an appointment in the Bank? - -Nora. What right have you to question me, Mr. Krogstad?--You, one -of my husband's subordinates! But since you ask, you shall know. -Yes, Mrs. Linde is to have an appointment. And it was I who -pleaded her cause, Mr. Krogstad, let me tell you that. - -Krogstad. I was right in what I thought, then. - -Nora (walking up and down the stage). Sometimes one has a tiny -little bit of influence, I should hope. Because one is a woman, -it does not necessarily follow that--. When anyone is in a -subordinate position, Mr. Krogstad, they should really be careful -to avoid offending anyone who--who-- - -Krogstad. Who has influence? - -Nora. Exactly. - -Krogstad (changing his tone). Mrs. Helmer, you will be so good as -to use your influence on my behalf. - -Nora. What? What do you mean? - -Krogstad. You will be so kind as to see that I am allowed to keep -my subordinate position in the Bank. - -Nora. What do you mean by that? Who proposes to take your post -away from you? - -Krogstad. Oh, there is no necessity to keep up the pretence of -ignorance. I can quite understand that your friend is not very -anxious to expose herself to the chance of rubbing shoulders with -me; and I quite understand, too, whom I have to thank for being -turned off. - -Nora. But I assure you-- - -Krogstad. Very likely; but, to come to the point, the time has -come when I should advise you to use your influence to prevent -that. - -Nora. But, Mr. Krogstad, I have no influence. - -Krogstad. Haven't you? I thought you said yourself just now-- - -Nora. Naturally I did not mean you to put that construction on -it. I! What should make you think I have any influence of that -kind with my husband? - -Krogstad. Oh, I have known your husband from our student days. I -don't suppose he is any more unassailable than other husbands. - -Nora. If you speak slightingly of my husband, I shall turn you -out of the house. - -Krogstad. You are bold, Mrs. Helmer. - -Nora. I am not afraid of you any longer. As soon as the New Year -comes, I shall in a very short time be free of the whole thing. - -Krogstad (controlling himself). Listen to me, Mrs. Helmer. If -necessary) I am prepared to fight for my small post in the Bank -as if I were fighting for my life. - -Nora. So it seems. - -Krogstad. It is not only for the sake of the money; indeed, that -weighs least with me in the matter. There is another reason-- -well, I may as well tell you. My position is this. I daresay you -know, like everybody else, that once, many years ago, I was -guilty of an indiscretion. - -Nora. I think I have heard something of the kind. - -Krogstad. The matter never came into court; but every way seemed -to be closed to me after that. So I took to the business that you -know of. I had to do something; and, honestly, I don't think I've -been one of the worst. But now I must cut myself free from all -that. My sons are growing up; for their sake I must try and win -back as much respect as I can in the town. This post in the Bank -was like the first step up for me-- and now your husband is going -to kick me downstairs again into the mud. - -Nora. But you must believe me, Mr. Krogstad; it is not in my -power to help you at all. - -Krogstad. Then it is because you haven't the will; but I have -means to compel you. - -Nora. You don't mean that you will tell my husband that I owe you -money? - -Krogstad. Hm!--suppose I were to tell him? - -Nora. It would be perfectly infamous of you. (Sobbing.) To think -of his learning my secret, which has been my joy and pride, in -such an ugly, clumsy way-- that he should learn it from you! And -it would put me in a horribly disagreeable position-- - -Krogstad. Only disagreeable? - -Nora (impetuously). Well, do it, then!--and it will be the worse -for you. My husband will see for himself what a blackguard you -are, and you certainly won't keep your post then. - -Krogstad. I asked you if it was only a disagreeable scene at home -that you were afraid of? - -Nora. If my husband does get to know of it, of course he will at -once pay you what is still owing, and we shall have nothing more -to do with you. - -Krogstad (coming a step nearer). Listen to me, Mrs. Helmer. -Either you have a very bad memory or you know very little of -business. I shall be obliged to remind you of a few details. - -Nora. What do you mean? - -Krogstad. When your husband was ill, you came to me to borrow two -hundred and fifty pounds. - -Nora. I didn't know anyone else to go to. - -Krogstad. I promised to get you that amount-- - -Nora. Yes, and you did so. - -Krogstad. I promised to get you that amount, on certain -conditions. Your mind was so taken up with your husband's -illness, and you were so anxious to get the money for your -journey, that you seem to have paid no attention to the conditions -of our bargain. Therefore it will not be amiss if I remind you of -them. Now, I promised to get the money on the security of a bond -which I drew up. - -Nora. Yes, and which I signed. - -Krogstad. Good. But below your signature there were a few lines -constituting your father a surety for the money; those lines your -father should have signed. - -Nora. Should? He did sign them. - -Krogstad. I had left the date blank; that is to say, your father -should himself have inserted the date on which he signed the paper. -Do you remember that? - -Nora. Yes, I think I remember-- - -Krogstad. Then I gave you the bond to send by post to your -father. Is that not so? - -Nora. Yes. - -Krogstad. And you naturally did so at once, because five or six -days afterwards you brought me the bond with your father's -signature. And then I gave you the money. - -Nora. Well, haven't I been paying it off regularly? - -Krogstad. Fairly so, yes. But--to come back to the matter in -hand--that must have been a very trying time for you, Mrs. -Helmer? - -Nora. It was, indeed. - -Krogstad. Your father was very ill, wasn't he? - -Nora. He was very near his end. - -Krogstad. And died soon afterwards? - -Nora. Yes. - -Krogstad. Tell me, Mrs. Helmer, can you by any chance remember -what day your father died?--on what day of the month, I mean. - -Nora. Papa died on the 29th of September. - -Krogstad. That is correct; I have ascertained it for myself. And, -as that is so, there is a discrepancy (taking a paper from his -pocket) which I cannot account for. - -Nora. What discrepancy? I don't know-- - -Krogstad. The discrepancy consists, Mrs. Helmer, in the fact that -your father signed this bond three days after his death. - -Nora. What do you mean? I don't understand-- - -Krogstad. Your father died on the 29th of September. But, look -here; your father has dated his signature the 2nd of October. It -is a discrepancy, isn't it? (NORA is silent.) Can you explain it -to me? (NORA is still silent.) It is a remarkable thing, too, -that the words "2nd of October," as well as the year, are not -written in your father's handwriting but in one that I think I -know. Well, of course it can be explained; your father may have -forgotten to date his signature, and someone else may have dated -it haphazard before they knew of his death. There is no harm in -that. It all depends on the signature of the name; and that is -genuine, I suppose, Mrs. Helmer? It was your father himself who -signed his name here? - -Nora (after a short pause, throws her head up and looks defiantly -at him). No, it was not. It was I that wrote papa's name. - -Krogstad. Are you aware that is a dangerous confession? - -Nora. In what way? You shall have your money soon. - -Krogstad. Let me ask you a question; why did you not send the -paper to your father? - -Nora. It was impossible; papa was so ill. If I had asked him for -his signature, I should have had to tell him what the money was -to be used for; and when he was so ill himself I couldn't tell -him that my husband's life was in danger-- it was impossible. - -Krogstad. It would have been better for you if you had given up -your trip abroad. - -Nora. No, that was impossible. That trip was to save my husband's -life; I couldn't give that up. - -Krogstad. But did it never occur to you that you were committing -a fraud on me? - -Nora. I couldn't take that into account; I didn't trouble myself -about you at all. I couldn't bear you, because you put so many -heartless difficulties in my way, although you knew what a dangerous -condition my husband was in. - -Krogstad. Mrs. Helmer, you evidently do not realise clearly what -it is that you have been guilty of. But I can assure you that my -one false step, which lost me all my reputation, was nothing more -or nothing worse than what you have done. - -Nora. You? Do you ask me to believe that you were brave enough to -run a risk to save your wife's life? - -Krogstad. The law cares nothing about motives. - -Nora. Then it must be a very foolish law. - -Krogstad. Foolish or not, it is the law by which you will be judged, -if I produce this paper in court. - -Nora. I don't believe it. Is a daughter not to be allowed to -spare her dying father anxiety and care? Is a wife not to be -allowed to save her husband's life? I don't know much about law; -but I am certain that there must be laws permitting such things -as that. Have you no knowledge of such laws-- you who are a -lawyer? You must be a very poor lawyer, Mr. Krogstad. - -Krogstad. Maybe. But matters of business--such business as you -and I have had together--do you think I don't understand that? -Very well. Do as you please. But let me tell you this--if I lose -my position a second time, you shall lose yours with me. (He -bows, and goes out through the hall.) - -Nora (appears buried in thought for a short time, then tosses her -head). Nonsense! Trying to frighten me like that!--I am not so -silly as he thinks. (Begins to busy herself putting the children's -things in order.) And yet--? No, it's impossible! I did it for love's sake. - -The Children (in the doorway on the left). Mother, the stranger -man has gone out through the gate. - -Nora. Yes, dears, I know. But, don't tell anyone about the stranger -man. Do you hear? Not even papa. - -Children. No, mother; but will you come and play again? - -Nora. No, no,--not now. - -Children. But, mother, you promised us. - -Nora. Yes, but I can't now. Run away in; I have such a lot to do. -Run away in, my sweet little darlings. (She gets them into the -room by degrees and shuts the door on them; then sits down on the -sofa, takes up a piece of needlework and sews a few stitches, but -soon stops.) No! (Throws down the work, gets up, goes to the hall -door and calls out.) Helen! bring the Tree in. (Goes to the table -on the left, opens a drawer, and stops again.) No, no! it is -quite impossible! - -Maid (coming in with the Tree). Where shall I put it, ma'am? - -Nora. Here, in the middle of the floor. - -Maid. Shall I get you anything else? - -Nora. No, thank you. I have all I want. [Exit MAID.] - -Nora (begins dressing the tree). A candle here-and flowers here-- -The horrible man! It's all nonsense--there's nothing wrong. The -tree shall be splendid! I will do everything I can think of to -please you, Torvald!--I will sing for you, dance for you--(HELMER -comes in with some papers under his arm.) Oh! are you back -already?. - -Helmer. Yes. Has anyone been here? - -Nora. Here? No. - -Helmer. That is strange. I saw Krogstad going out of the gate. - -Nora. Did you? Oh yes, I forgot, Krogstad was here for a moment. - -Helmer. Nora, I can see from your manner that he has been here -begging you to say a good word for him. - -Nora. Yes. - -Helmer. And you were to appear to do it of your own accord; you -were to conceal from me the fact of his having been here; didn't -he beg that of you too? - -Nora. Yes, Torvald, but-- - -Helmer. Nora, Nora, and you would be a party to that sort of -thing? To have any talk with a man like that, and give him any -sort of promise? And to tell me a lie into the bargain? - -Nora. A lie--? - -Helmer. Didn't you tell me no one had been here? (Shakes his -finger at her.) My little songbird must never do that again. A -songbird must have a clean beak to chirp with-- no false notes! -(Puts his arm round her waist.) That is so, isn't it? Yes, I am -sure it is. (Lets her go.) We will say no more about it. (Sits -down by the stove.) How warm and snug it is here! (Turns over his -papers.) - -Nora (after a short pause, during which she busies herself with -the Christmas Tree.) Torvald! - -Helmer. Yes. - -Nora. I am looking forward tremendously to the fancy-dress ball -at the Stenborgs' the day after tomorrow. - -Helmer. And I am tremendously curious to see what you are going -to surprise me with. - -Nora. It was very silly of me to want to do that. - -Helmer. What do you mean? - -Nora. I can't hit upon anything that will do; everything I think -of seems so silly and insignificant. - -Helmer. Does my little Nora acknowledge that at last? - -Nora (standing behind his chair with her arms on the back of it). -Are you very busy, Torvald? - -Helmer. Well--Nora. What are all those papers? - -Helmer. Bank business. - -Nora. Already? - -Helmer. I have got authority from the retiring manager to -undertake the necessary changes in the staff and in the -rearrangement of the work; and I must make use of the -Christmas week for that, so as to have everything in order -for the new year. - -Nora. Then that was why this poor Krogstad-- - -Helmer. Hm! - -Nora (leans against the back of his chair and strokes his hair). -If you hadn't been so busy I should have asked you a tremendously -big favour, Torvald. - -Helmer. What is that? Tell me. - -Nora. There is no one has such good taste as you. And I do so -want to look nice at the fancy-dress ball. Torvald, couldn't you -take me in hand and decide what I shall go as, and what sort of a -dress I shall wear? - -Helmer. Aha! so my obstinate little woman is obliged to get -someone to come to her rescue? - -Nora. Yes, Torvald, I can't get along a bit without your help. - -Helmer. Very well, I will think it over, we shall manage to hit -upon something. - -Nora. That is nice of you. (Goes to the Christmas Tree. A short -pause.) How pretty the red flowers look--. But, tell me, was it -really something very bad that this Krogstad was guilty of? - -Helmer. He forged someone's name. Have you any idea what that -means? - -Nora. Isn't it possible that he was driven to do it by necessity? - -Helmer. Yes; or, as in so many cases, by imprudence. I am not so -heartless as to condemn a man altogether because of a single false -step of that kind. - -Nora. No, you wouldn't, would you, Torvald? - -Helmer. Many a man has been able to retrieve his character, if he -has openly confessed his fault and taken his punishment. - -Nora. Punishment--? - -Helmer. But Krogstad did nothing of that sort; he got himself out -of it by a cunning trick, and that is why he has gone under altogether. - -Nora. But do you think it would--? - -Helmer. Just think how a guilty man like that has to lie and play -the hypocrite with every one, how he has to wear a mask in the -presence of those near and dear to him, even before his own wife -and children. And about the children-- that is the most terrible -part of it all, Nora. - -Nora. How? - -Helmer. Because such an atmosphere of lies infects and poisons -the whole life of a home. Each breath the children take in such a -house is full of the germs of evil. - -Nora (coming nearer him). Are you sure of that? - -Helmer. My dear, I have often seen it in the course of my life as -a lawyer. Almost everyone who has gone to the bad early in life -has had a deceitful mother. - -Nora. Why do you only say-- mother? - -Helmer. It seems most commonly to be the mother's influence, -though naturally a bad father's would have the same result. Every -lawyer is familiar with the fact. This Krogstad, now, has been -persistently poisoning his own children with lies and -dissimulation; that is why I say he has lost all moral character. -(Holds out his hands to her.) That is why my sweet little Nora -must promise me not to plead his cause. Give me your hand on it. -Come, come, what is this? Give me your hand. There now, that's -settled. I assure you it would be quite impossible for me to work -with him; I literally feel physically ill when I am in the company -of such people. - -Nora (takes her hand out of his and goes to the opposite side of -the Christmas Tree). How hot it is in here; and I have such a lot -to do. - -Helmer (getting up and putting his papers in order). Yes, and I -must try and read through some of these before dinner; and I must -think about your costume, too. And it is just possible I may have -something ready in gold paper to hang up on the Tree. (Puts his -hand on her head.) My precious little singing-bird! (He goes into -his room and shuts the door after him.) - -Nora (after a pause, whispers). No, no--it isn't true. It's -impossible; it must be impossible. - -(The NURSE opens the door on the left.) - -Nurse. The little ones are begging so hard to be allowed to come -in to mamma. - -Nora. No, no, no! Don't let them come in to me! You stay with -them, Anne. - -Nurse. Very well, ma'am. (Shuts the door.) - -Nora (pale with terror). Deprave my little children? Poison my -home? (A short pause. Then she tosses her head.) It's not true. -It can't possibly be true. - -ACT II - -(THE SAME SCENE.--THE Christmas Tree is in the corner by the -piano, stripped of its ornaments and with burnt-down candle-ends -on its dishevelled branches. NORA'S cloak and hat are lying on -the sofa. She is alone in the room, walking about uneasily. She -stops by the sofa and takes up her cloak.) - -Nora (drops her cloak). Someone is coming now! (Goes to the door -and listens.) No--it is no one. Of course, no one will come today, -Christmas Day--nor tomorrow either. But, perhaps--(opens -the door and looks out). No, nothing in the letterbox; it is -quite empty. (Comes forward.) What rubbish! of course he can't be -in earnest about it. Such a thing couldn't happen; it is -impossible--I have three little children. - -(Enter the NURSE from the room on the left, carrying a big -cardboard box.) - -Nurse. At last I have found the box with the fancy dress. - -Nora. Thanks; put it on the table. - -Nurse (doing so). But it is very much in want of mending. - -Nora. I should like to tear it into a hundred thousand pieces. - -Nurse. What an idea! It can easily be put in order--just a little -patience. - -Nora. Yes, I will go and get Mrs. Linde to come and help me with -it. - -Nurse. What, out again? In this horrible weather? You will catch -cold, ma'am, and make yourself ill. - -Nora. Well, worse than that might happen. How are the children? - -Nurse. The poor little souls are playing with their Christmas -presents, but-- - -Nora. Do they ask much for me? - -Nurse. You see, they are so accustomed to have their mamma with -them. - -Nora. Yes, but, nurse, I shall not be able to be so much with -them now as I was before. - -Nurse. Oh well, young children easily get accustomed to anything. - -Nora. Do you think so? Do you think they would forget their -mother if she went away altogether? - -Nurse. Good heavens!--went away altogether? - -Nora. Nurse, I want you to tell me something I have often -wondered about--how could you have the heart to put your own -child out among strangers? - -Nurse. I was obliged to, if I wanted to be little Nora's nurse. - -Nora. Yes, but how could you be willing to do it? - -Nurse. What, when I was going to get such a good place by it? A -poor girl who has got into trouble should be glad to. Besides, -that wicked man didn't do a single thing for me. - -Nora. But I suppose your daughter has quite forgotten you. - -Nurse. No, indeed she hasn't. She wrote to me when she was -confirmed, and when she was married. - -Nora (putting her arms round her neck). Dear old Anne, you were a -good mother to me when I was little. - -Nurse. Little Nora, poor dear, had no other mother but me. Nora. -And if my little ones had no other mother, I am sure you would-- -What nonsense I am talking! (Opens the box.) Go in to them. Now I -must--. You will see tomorrow how charming I shall look. - -Nurse. I am sure there will be no one at the ball so charming as -you, ma'am. (Goes into the room on the left.) - -Nora (begins to unpack the box, but soon pushes it away from -her). If only I dared go out. If only no one would come. If only -I could be sure nothing would happen here in the meantime. Stuff -and nonsense! No one will come. Only I mustn't think about it. I -will brush my muff. What lovely, lovely gloves! Out of my thoughts, -out of my thoughts! One, two, three, four, five, six-- -(Screams.) Ah! there is someone coming--. (Makes a movement -towards the door, but stands irresolute.) - -(Enter MRS. LINDE from the hall, where she has taken off her -cloak and hat.) - -Nora. Oh, it's you, Christine. There is no one else out there, is -there? How good of you to come! - -Mrs. Linde. I heard you were up asking for me. - -Nora. Yes, I was passing by. As a matter of fact, it is something -you could help me with. Let us sit down here on the sofa. Look -here. Tomorrow evening there is to be a fancy-dress ball at the -Stenborgs', who live above us; and Torvald wants me to go as a -Neapolitan fisher-girl, and dance the Tarantella that I learned at -Capri. - -Mrs. Linde. I see; you are going to keep up the character. - -Nora. Yes, Torvald wants me to. Look, here is the dress; Torvald had -it made for me there, but now it is all so torn, and I haven't any -idea-- - -Mrs. Linde. We will easily put that right. It is only some of the -trimming come unsewn here and there. Needle and thread? Now then, -that's all we want. - -Nora. It is nice of you. - -Mrs. Linde (sewing). So you are going to be dressed up tomorrow -Nora. I will tell you what--I shall come in for a moment and see -you in your fine feathers. But I have completely forgotten to -thank you for a delightful evening yesterday. - -Nora (gets up, and crosses the stage). Well, I don't think -yesterday was as pleasant as usual. You ought to have come to -town a little earlier, Christine. Certainly Torvald does -understand how to make a house dainty and attractive. - -Mrs. Linde. And so do you, it seems to me; you are not your -father's daughter for nothing. But tell me, is Doctor Rank always -as depressed as he was yesterday? - -Nora. No; yesterday it was very noticeable. I must tell you that -he suffers from a very dangerous disease. He has consumption of -the spine, poor creature. His father was a horrible man who -committed all sorts of excesses; and that is why his son was -sickly from childhood, do you understand? - -Mrs. Linde (dropping her sewing). But, my dearest Nora, how do -you know anything about such things? - -Nora (walking about). Pooh! When you have three children, you get -visits now and then from--from married women, who know something -of medical matters, and they talk about one thing and another. - -Mrs. Linde (goes on sewing. A short silence). Does Doctor Rank -come here everyday? - -Nora. Everyday regularly. He is Torvald's most intimate friend, -and a great friend of mine too. He is just like one of the family. - -Mrs. Linde. But tell me this--is he perfectly sincere? I mean, isn't -he the kind of man that is very anxious to make himself agreeable? - -Nora. Not in the least. What makes you think that? - -Mrs. Linde. When you introduced him to me yesterday, he declared he -had often heard my name mentioned in this house; but afterwards I -noticed that your husband hadn't the slightest idea who I was. -So how could Doctor Rank--? - -Nora. That is quite right, Christine. Torvald is so absurdly fond -of me that he wants me absolutely to himself, as he says. At first -he used to seem almost jealous if I mentioned any of the dear folk -at home, so naturally I gave up doing so. But I often talk about -such things with Doctor Rank, because he likes hearing about them. - -Mrs. Linde. Listen to me, Nora. You are still very like a child -in many things, and I am older than you in many ways and have a -little more experience. Let me tell you this--you ought to make -an end of it with Doctor Rank. - -Nora. What ought I to make an end of? - -Mrs. Linde. Of two things, I think. Yesterday you talked some -nonsense about a rich admirer who was to leave you money-- - -Nora. An admirer who doesn't exist, unfortunately! But what then? - -Mrs. Linde. Is Doctor Rank a man of means? - -Nora. Yes, he is. - -Mrs. Linde. And has no one to provide for? - -Nora. No, no one; but-- - -Mrs. Linde. And comes here everyday? - -Nora. Yes, I told you so. - -Mrs. Linde. But how can this well-bred man be so tactless? - -Nora. I don't understand you at all. - -Mrs. Linde. Don't prevaricate, Nora. Do you suppose I don't guess -who lent you the two hundred and fifty pounds? - -Nora. Are you out of your senses? How can you think of such a thing! -A friend of ours, who comes here everyday! Do you realise what a -horribly painful position that would be? - -Mrs. Linde. Then it really isn't he? - -Nora. No, certainly not. It would never have entered into my head -for a moment. Besides, he had no money to lend then; he came into -his money afterwards. - -Mrs. Linde. Well, I think that was lucky for you, my dear Nora. - -Nora. No, it would never have come into my head to ask Doctor -Rank. Although I am quite sure that if I had asked him-- - -Mrs. Linde. But of course you won't. - -Nora. Of course not. I have no reason to think it could possibly -be necessary. But I am quite sure that if I told Doctor Rank-- - -Mrs. Linde. Behind your husband's back? - -Nora. I must make an end of it with the other one, and that will -be behind his back too. I must make an end of it with him. - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, that is what I told you yesterday, but-- - -Nora (walking up and down). A man can put a thing like that -straight much easier than a woman-- - -Mrs. Linde. One's husband, yes. - -Nora. Nonsense! (Standing still.) When you pay off a debt you get -your bond back, don't you? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, as a matter of course. - -Nora. And can tear it into a hundred thousand pieces, and burn it -up--the nasty dirty paper! - -Mrs. Linde (looks hard at her, lays down her sewing and gets up -slowly). Nora, you are concealing something from me. - -Nora. Do I look as if I were? - -Mrs. Linde. Something has happened to you since yesterday morning. -Nora, what is it? - -Nora (going nearer to her). Christine! (Listens.) Hush! there's -Torvald come home. Do you mind going in to the children for the -present? Torvald can't bear to see dressmaking going on. Let Anne -help you. - -Mrs. Linde (gathering some of the things together). Certainly -- -but I am not going away from here until we have had it out with -one another. (She goes into the room on the left, as HELMER comes -in from the hail.) - -Nora (going up to HELMER). I have wanted you so much, Torvald -dear. - -Helmer. Was that the dressmaker? - -Nora. No, it was Christine; she is helping me to put my dress in -order. You will see I shall look quite smart. - -Helmer. Wasn't that a happy thought of mine, now? - -Nora. Splendid! But don't you think it is nice of me, too, to do -as you wish? - -Helmer. Nice?--because you do as your husband wishes? Well, well, -you little rogue, I am sure you did not mean it in that way. But -I am not going to disturb you; you will want to be trying on your -dress, I expect. - -Nora. I suppose you are going to work. - -Helmer. Yes. (Shows her a bundle of papers.) Look at that. I have -just been into the bank. (Turns to go into his room.) - -Nora. Torvald. - -Helmer. Yes. - -Nora. If your little squirrel were to ask you for something very, -very prettily--? - -Helmer. What then? - -Nora. Would you do it? - -Helmer. I should like to hear what it is, first. - -Nora. Your squirrel would run about and do all her tricks if you -would be nice, and do what she wants. - -Helmer. Speak plainly. - -Nora. Your skylark would chirp about in every room, with her song -rising and falling-- - -Helmer. Well, my skylark does that anyhow. - -Nora. I would play the fairy and dance for you in the moonlight, -Torvald. - -Helmer. Nora--you surely don't mean that request you made to me -this morning? - -Nora (going near him). Yes, Torvald, I beg you so earnestly-- - -Helmer. Have you really the courage to open up that question again? - -Nora. Yes, dear, you must do as I ask; you must let Krogstad keep -his post in the bank. - -Helmer. My dear Nora, it is his post that I have arranged Mrs. -Linde shall have. - -Nora. Yes, you have been awfully kind about that; but you could -just as well dismiss some other clerk instead of Krogstad. - -Helmer. This is simply incredible obstinacy! Because you chose to -give him a thoughtless promise that you would speak for him, I am -expected to-- - -Nora. That isn't the reason, Torvald. It is for your own sake. -This fellow writes in the most scurrilous newspapers; you have -told me so yourself. He can do you an unspeakable amount of harm. -I am frightened to death of him-- - -Helmer. Ah, I understand; it is recollections of the past that -scare you. - -Nora. What do you mean? - -Helmer. Naturally you are thinking of your father. - -Nora. Yes--yes, of course. Just recall to your mind what these -malicious creatures wrote in the papers about papa, and how -horribly they slandered him. I believe they would have procured -his dismissal if the Department had not sent you over to inquire -into it, and if you had not been so kindly disposed and helpful -to him. - -Helmer. My little Nora, there is an important difference between -your father and me. Your father's reputation as a public official -was not above suspicion. Mine is, and I hope it will continue to -be so, as long as I hold my office. - -Nora. You never can tell what mischief these men may contrive. We -ought to be so well off, so snug and happy here in our peaceful -home, and have no cares--you and I and the children, Torvald! -That is why I beg you so earnestly-- - -Helmer. And it is just by interceding for him that you make it -impossible for me to keep him. It is already known at the Bank -that I mean to dismiss Krogstad. Is it to get about now that the -new manager has changed his mind at his wife's bidding-- - -Nora. And what if it did? - -Helmer. Of course!--if only this obstinate little person can get -her way! Do you suppose I am going to make myself ridiculous before -my whole staff, to let people think that I am a man to be swayed by -all sorts of outside influence? I should very soon feel the -consequences of it, I can tell you! And besides, there is one thing -that makes it quite impossible for me to have Krogstad in the Bank -as long as I am manager. - -Nora. Whatever is that? - -Helmer. His moral failings I might perhaps have overlooked, if -necessary-- - -Nora. Yes, you could--couldn't you? - -Helmer. And I hear he is a good worker, too. But I knew him when -we were boys. It was one of those rash friendships that so often -prove an incubus in afterlife. I may as well tell you plainly, -we were once on very intimate terms with one another. But this -tactless fellow lays no restraint on himself when other people -are present. On the contrary, he thinks it gives him the right to -adopt a familiar tone with me, and every minute it is "I say, -Helmer, old fellow!" and that sort of thing. I assure you it is -extremely painful for me. He would make my position in the Bank -intolerable. - -Nora. Torvald, I don't believe you mean that. - -Helmer. Don't you? Why not? - -Nora. Because it is such a narrow-minded way of looking at -things. - -Helmer. What are you saying? Narrow-minded? Do you think I am -narrow-minded? - -Nora. No, just the opposite, dear--and it is exactly for that -reason. - -Helmer. It's the same thing. You say my point of view is narrow- -minded, so I must be so too. Narrow-minded! Very well--I must put -an end to this. (Goes to the hall door and calls.) Helen! - -Nora. What are you going to do? - -Helmer (looking among his papers). Settle it. (Enter MAID.) Look -here; take this letter and go downstairs with it at once. Find a -messenger and tell him to deliver it, and be quick. The address -is on it, and here is the money. - -Maid. Very well, sir. (Exit with the letter.) - -Helmer (putting his papers together). Now then, little Miss -Obstinate. - -Nora (breathlessly). Torvald--what was that letter? - -Helmer. Krogstad's dismissal. - -Nora. Call her back, Torvald! There is still time. Oh Torvald, -call her back! Do it for my sake--for your own sake--for the -children's sake! Do you hear me, Torvald? Call her back! You -don't know what that letter can bring upon us. - -Helmer. It's too late. - -Nora. Yes, it's too late. - -Helmer. My dear Nora, I can forgive the anxiety you are in, -although really it is an insult to me. It is, indeed. Isn't -it an insult to think that I should be afraid of a starving -quill-driver's vengeance? But I forgive you nevertheless, -because it is such eloquent witness to your great love for -me. (Takes her in his arms.) And that is as it should be, -my own darling Nora. Come what will, you may be sure I shall -have both courage and strength if they be needed. You will -see I am man enough to take everything upon myself. - -Nora (in a horror-stricken voice). What do you mean by that? - -Helmer. Everything, I say-- - -Nora (recovering herself). You will never have to do that. - -Helmer. That's right. Well, we will share it, Nora, as man -and wife should. That is how it shall be. (Caressing her.) -Are you content now? There! There!--not these frightened dove's -eyes! The whole thing is only the wildest fancy!--Now, you must -go and play through the Tarantella and practise with your -tambourine. I shall go into the inner office and shut the door, -and I shall hear nothing; you can make as much noise as you -please. (Turns back at the door.) And when Rank comes, tell him -where he will find me. (Nods to her, takes his papers and goes -into his room, and shuts the door after him.) - -Nora (bewildered with anxiety, stands as if rooted to the spot, -and whispers). He was capable of doing it. He will do it. He will -do it in spite of everything.--No, not that! Never, never! -Anything rather than that I Oh, for some help, some way out of -it! (The door-bell rings.) Doctor Rank! Anything rather than -that--anything, whatever it is! (She puts her hands over her -face, pulls herself together, goes to the door and opens it. RANK -is standing without, hanging up his coat. During the following -dialogue it begins to grow dark.) - -Nora. Good day, Doctor Rank. I knew your ring. But you mustn't -go in to Torvald now; I think he is busy with something. - -Rank. And you? - -Nora (brings him in and shuts the door after him). Oh, you know -very well I always have time for you. - -Rank. Thank you. I shall make use of as much of it as I can. - -Nora. What do you mean by that? As much of it as you can? - -Rank. Well, does that alarm you? - -Nora. It was such a strange way of putting it. Is anything likely -to happen? - -Rank. Nothing but what I have long been prepared for. But I -certainly didn't expect it to happen so soon. - -Nora (gripping him by the arm). What have you found out? Doctor -Rank, you must tell me. - -Rank (sitting down by the stove). It is all up with me. And it -can't be helped. - -Nora (with a sigh of relief). Is it about yourself? - -Rank. Who else? It is no use lying to one's self. I am the most -wretched of all my patients, Mrs. Helmer. Lately I have been -taking stock of my internal economy. Bankrupt! Probably within -a month I shall lie rotting in the churchyard. - -Nora. What an ugly thing to say! - -Rank. The thing itself is cursedly ugly, and the worst of it is -that I shall have to face so much more that is ugly before that. -I shall only make one more examination of myself; when I have -done that, I shall know pretty certainly when it will be that the -horrors of dissolution will begin. There is something I want to -tell you. Helmer's refined nature gives him an unconquerable -disgust at everything that is ugly; I won't have him in my sick- -room. - -Nora. Oh, but, Doctor Rank-- - -Rank. I won't have him there. Not on any account. I bar my door -to him. As soon as I am quite certain that the worst has come, I -shall send you my card with a black cross on it, and then you -will know that the loathsome end has begun. - -Nora. You are quite absurd today. And I wanted you so much to be -in a really good humour. - -Rank. With death stalking beside me?--To have to pay this penalty -for another man's sin? Is there any justice in that? And in -every single family, in one way or another, some such inexorable -retribution is being exacted-- - -Nora (putting her hands over her ears). Rubbish! Do talk of -something cheerful. - -Rank. Oh, it's a mere laughing matter, the whole thing. My poor -innocent spine has to suffer for my father's youthful amusements. - -Nora (sitting at the table on the left). I suppose you mean that -he was too partial to asparagus and pate de foie gras, don't you? - -Rank. Yes, and to truffles. - -Nora. Truffles, yes. And oysters too, I suppose? - -Rank. Oysters, of course, that goes without saying. - -Nora. And heaps of port and champagne. It is sad that all these -nice things should take their revenge on our bones. - -Rank. Especially that they should revenge themselves on the unlucky -bones of those who have not had the satisfaction of enjoying them. - -Nora. Yes, that's the saddest part of it all. - -Rank (with a searching look at her). Hm!-- - -Nora (after a short pause). Why did you smile? - -Rank. No, it was you that laughed. - -Nora. No, it was you that smiled, Doctor Rank! - -Rank (rising). You are a greater rascal than I thought. - -Nora. I am in a silly mood today. - -Rank. So it seems. - -Nora (putting her hands on his shoulders). Dear, dear Doctor -Rank, death mustn't take you away from Torvald and me. - -Rank. It is a loss you would easily recover from. Those who are -gone are soon forgotten. - -Nora (looking at him anxiously). Do you believe that? - -Rank. People form new ties, and then-- - -Nora. Who will form new ties? - -Rank. Both you and Helmer, when I am gone. You yourself are -already on the high road to it, I think. What did that Mrs. Linde -want here last night? - -Nora. Oho!--you don't mean to say you are jealous of poor -Christine? - -Rank. Yes, I am. She will be my successor in this house. When I -am done for, this woman will-- - -Nora. Hush! don't speak so loud. She is in that room. - -Rank. Today again. There, you see. - -Nora. She has only come to sew my dress for me. Bless my soul, -how unreasonable you are! (Sits down on the sofa.) Be nice now, -Doctor Rank, and tomorrow you will see how beautifully I shall -dance, and you can imagine I am doing it all for you--and for -Torvald too, of course. (Takes various things out of the box.) -Doctor Rank, come and sit down here, and I will show you something. - -Rank (sitting down). What is it? - -Nora. Just look at those! - -Rank. Silk stockings. - -Nora. Flesh-coloured. Aren't they lovely? It is so dark here now, -but tomorrow--. No, no, no! you must only look at the feet. Oh -well, you may have leave to look at the legs too. - -Rank. Hm!--Nora. Why are you looking so critical? Don't you think -they will fit me? - -Rank. I have no means of forming an opinion about that. - -Nora (looks at him for a moment). For shame! (Hits him lightly on the -ear with the stockings.) That's to punish you. (Folds them up again.) - -Rank. And what other nice things am I to be allowed to see? - -Nora. Not a single thing more, for being so naughty. (She looks -among the things, humming to herself.) - -Rank (after a short silence). When I am sitting here, talking to -you as intimately as this, I cannot imagine for a moment what -would have become of me if I had never come into this house. - -Nora (smiling). I believe you do feel thoroughly at home with us. - -Rank (in a lower voice, looking straight in front of him). And to -be obliged to leave it all-- - -Nora. Nonsense, you are not going to leave it. - -Rank (as before). And not be able to leave behind one the slightest -token of one's gratitude, scarcely even a fleeting regret--nothing -but an empty place which the first comer can fill as well as any other. - -Nora. And if I asked you now for a--? No! - -Rank. For what? - -Nora. For a big proof of your friendship-- - -Rank. Yes, yes! - -Nora. I mean a tremendously big favour-- - -Rank. Would you really make me so happy for once? - -Nora. Ah, but you don't know what it is yet. - -Rank. No--but tell me. - -Nora. I really can't, Doctor Rank. It is something out of all -reason; it means advice, and help, and a favour-- - -Rank. The bigger a thing it is the better. I can't conceive what -it is you mean. Do tell me. Haven't I your confidence? - -Nora. More than anyone else. I know you are my truest and best -friend, and so I will tell you what it is. Well, Doctor Rank, it -is something you must help me to prevent. You know how devotedly, -how inexpressibly deeply Torvald loves me; he would never for a -moment hesitate to give his life for me. - -Rank (leaning towards her). Nora--do you think he is the only -one--? - -Nora (with a slight start). The only one--? - -Rank. The only one who would gladly give his life for your sake. - -Nora (sadly). Is that it? - -Rank. I was determined you should know it before I went away, and -there will never be a better opportunity than this. Now you know -it, Nora. And now you know, too, that you can trust me as you -would trust no one else. - -Nora (rises, deliberately and quietly). Let me pass. - -Rank (makes room for her to pass him, but sits still). Nora! - -Nora (at the hall door). Helen, bring in the lamp. (Goes over to -the stove.) Dear Doctor Rank, that was really horrid of you. - -Rank. To have loved you as much as anyone else does? Was that -horrid? - -Nora. No, but to go and tell me so. There was really no need-- - -Rank. What do you mean? Did you know--? (MAID enters with lamp, -puts it down on the table, and goes out.) Nora--Mrs. Helmer--tell -me, had you any idea of this? - -Nora. Oh, how do I know whether I had or whether I hadn't? I -really can't tell you--To think you could be so clumsy, Doctor Rank! -We were getting on so nicely. - -Rank. Well, at all events you know now that you can command me, -body and soul. So won't you speak out? - -Nora (looking at him). After what happened? - -Rank. I beg you to let me know what it is. - -Nora. I can't tell you anything now. - -Rank. Yes, yes. You mustn't punish me in that way. Let me have -permission to do for you whatever a man may do. - -Nora. You can do nothing for me now. Besides, I really don't need -any help at all. You will find that the whole thing is merely fancy -on my part. It really is so--of course it is! (Sits down in the -rocking-chair, and looks at him with a smile.) You are a nice sort -of man, Doctor Rank!--don't you feel ashamed of yourself, now the -lamp has come? - -Rank. Not a bit. But perhaps I had better go--for ever? - -Nora. No, indeed, you shall not. Of course you must come here -just as before. You know very well Torvald can't do without you. - -Rank. Yes, but you? - -Nora. Oh, I am always tremendously pleased when you come. - -Rank. It is just that, that put me on the wrong track. You are a -riddle to me. I have often thought that you would almost as soon -be in my company as in Helmer's. - -Nora. Yes--you see there are some people one loves best, and -others whom one would almost always rather have as companions. - -Rank. Yes, there is something in that. - -Nora. When I was at home, of course I loved papa best. But I -always thought it tremendous fun if I could steal down into the -maids' room, because they never moralised at all, and talked to -each other about such entertaining things. - -Rank. I see--it is their place I have taken. - -Nora (jumping up and going to him). Oh, dear, nice Doctor Rank, I -never meant that at all. But surely you can understand that being -with Torvald is a little like being with papa--(Enter MAID from -the hall.) - -Maid. If you please, ma'am. (Whispers and hands her a card.) - -Nora (glancing at the card). Oh! (Puts it in her pocket.) - -Rank. Is there anything wrong? - -Nora. No, no, not in the least. It is only something--it is my -new dress-- - -Rank. What? Your dress is lying there. - -Nora. Oh, yes, that one; but this is another. I ordered it. -Torvald mustn't know about it-- - -Rank. Oho! Then that was the great secret. - -Nora. Of course. Just go in to him; he is sitting in the inner -room. Keep him as long as-- - -Rank. Make your mind easy; I won't let him escape. - -(Goes into HELMER'S room.) - -Nora (to the MAID). And he is standing waiting in the kitchen? - -Maid. Yes; he came up the back stairs. - -Nora. But didn't you tell him no one was in? - -Maid. Yes, but it was no good. - -Nora. He won't go away? - -Maid. No; he says he won't until he has seen you, ma'am. - -Nora. Well, let him come in--but quietly. Helen, you mustn't say -anything about it to anyone. It is a surprise for my husband. - -Maid. Yes, ma'am, I quite understand. (Exit.) - -Nora. This dreadful thing is going to happen! It will happen in -spite of me! No, no, no, it can't happen--it shan't happen! (She -bolts the door of HELMER'S room. The MAID opens the hall door for -KROGSTAD and shuts it after him. He is wearing a fur coat, high -boots and a fur cap.) - -Nora (advancing towards him). Speak low--my husband is at home. - -Krogstad. No matter about that. - -Nora. What do you want of me? - -Krogstad. An explanation of something. - -Nora. Make haste then. What is it? - -Krogstad. You know, I suppose, that I have got my dismissal. - -Nora. I couldn't prevent it, Mr. Krogstad. I fought as hard as I -could on your side, but it was no good. - -Krogstad. Does your husband love you so little, then? He knows -what I can expose you to, and yet he ventures-- - -Nora. How can you suppose that he has any knowledge of the sort? - -Krogstad. I didn't suppose so at all. It would not be the least -like our dear Torvald Helmer to show so much courage-- - -Nora. Mr. Krogstad, a little respect for my husband, please. - -Krogstad. Certainly--all the respect he deserves. But since you -have kept the matter so carefully to yourself, I make bold to -suppose that you have a little clearer idea, than you had -yesterday, of what it actually is that you have done? - -Nora. More than you could ever teach me. - -Krogstad. Yes, such a bad lawyer as I am. - -Nora. What is it you want of me? - -Krogstad. Only to see how you were, Mrs. Helmer. I have been -thinking about you all day long. A mere cashier, a quill-driver, -a--well, a man like me--even he has a little of what is called -feeling, you know. - -Nora. Show it, then; think of my little children. - -Krogstad. Have you and your husband thought of mine? But never -mind about that. I only wanted to tell you that you need not -take this matter too seriously. In the first place there will -be no accusation made on my part. - -Nora. No, of course not; I was sure of that. - -Krogstad. The whole thing can be arranged amicably; there is -no reason why anyone should know anything about it. It will -remain a secret between us three. - -Nora. My husband must never get to know anything about it. - -Krogstad. How will you be able to prevent it? Am I to understand -that you can pay the balance that is owing? - -Nora. No, not just at present. - -Krogstad. Or perhaps that you have some expedient for raising the -money soon? - -Nora. No expedient that I mean to make use of. - -Krogstad. Well, in any case, it would have been of no use to you -now. If you stood there with ever so much money in your hand, I -would never part with your bond. - -Nora. Tell me what purpose you mean to put it to. - -Krogstad. I shall only preserve it--keep it in my possession. No -one who is not concerned in the matter shall have the slightest -hint of it. So that if the thought of it has driven you to any -desperate resolution-- - -Nora. It has. - -Krogstad. If you had it in your mind to run away from your home-- - -Nora. I had. - -Krogstad. Or even something worse-- - -Nora. How could you know that? - -Krogstad. Give up the idea. - -Nora. How did you know I had thought of that? - -Krogstad. Most of us think of that at first. I did, too--but I -hadn't the courage. - -Nora (faintly). No more had I. - -Krogstad (in a tone of relief). No, that's it, isn't it--you -hadn't the courage either? - -Nora. No, I haven't--I haven't. - -Krogstad. Besides, it would have been a great piece of folly. -Once the first storm at home is over--. I have a letter for your -husband in my pocket. - -Nora. Telling him everything? - -Krogstad. In as lenient a manner as I possibly could. - -Nora (quickly). He mustn't get the letter. Tear it up. I will -find some means of getting money. - -Krogstad. Excuse me, Mrs. Helmer, but I think I told you just -now-- - -Nora. I am not speaking of what I owe you. Tell me what sum you -are asking my husband for, and I will get the money. - -Krogstad. I am not asking your husband for a penny. - -Nora. What do you want, then? - -Krogstad. I will tell you. I want to rehabilitate myself, -Mrs. Helmer; I want to get on; and in that your husband must -help me. For the last year and a half I have not had a hand -in anything dishonourable, amid all that time I have been -struggling in most restricted circumstances. I was content -to work my way up step by step. Now I am turned out, and I -am not going to be satisfied with merely being taken into -favour again. I want to get on, I tell you. I want to get -into the Bank again, in a higher position. Your husband -must make a place for me-- - -Nora. That he will never do! - -Krogstad. He will; I know him; he dare not protest. And as soon -as I am in there again with him, then you will see! Within a year -I shall be the manager's right hand. It will be Nils Krogstad -and not Torvald Helmer who manages the Bank. - -Nora. That's a thing you will never see! - -Krogstad. Do you mean that you will--? - -Nora. I have courage enough for it now. - -Krogstad. Oh, you can't frighten me. A fine, spoilt lady like you-- - -Nora. You will see, you will see. - -Krogstad. Under the ice, perhaps? Down into the cold, coal-black -water? And then, in the spring, to float up to the surface, all -horrible and unrecognisable, with your hair fallen out-- - -Nora. You can't frighten me. - -Krogstad. Nor you me. People don't do such things, Mrs. Helmer. -Besides, what use would it be? I should have him completely in my -power all the same. - -Nora. Afterwards? When I am no longer-- - -Krogstad. Have you forgotten that it is I who have the keeping of -your reputation? (NORA stands speechlessly looking at him.) Well, -now, I have warned you. Do not do anything foolish. When Helmer -has had my letter, I shall expect a message from him. And be sure -you remember that it is your husband himself who has forced me -into such ways as this again. I will never forgive him for that. -Goodbye, Mrs. Helmer. (Exit through the hall.) - -Nora (goes to the hall door, opens it slightly and listens.) He -is going. He is not putting the letter in the box. Oh no, no! -that's impossible! (Opens the door by degrees.) What is that? He -is standing outside. He is not going downstairs. Is he -hesitating? Can he--? (A letter drops into the box; then -KROGSTAD'S footsteps are heard, until they die away as he goes -downstairs. NORA utters a stifled cry, and runs across the room -to the table by the sofa. A short pause.) - -Nora. In the letter-box. (Steals across to the hall door.) There -it lies--Torvald, Torvald, there is no hope for us now! - -(Mrs. LINDE comes in from the room on the left, carrying the -dress.) - -Mrs. Linde. There, I can't see anything more to mend now. Would -you like to try it on--? - -Nora (in a hoarse whisper). Christine, come here. - -Mrs. Linde (throwing the dress down on the sofa). What is the -matter with you? You look so agitated! - -Nora. Come here. Do you see that letter? There, look--you can see -it through the glass in the letter-box. - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, I see it. - -Nora. That letter is from Krogstad. - -Mrs. Linde. Nora--it was Krogstad who lent you the money! - -Nora. Yes, and now Torvald will know all about it. - -Mrs. Linde. Believe me, Nora, that's the best thing for both of you. - -Nora. You don't know all. I forged a name. - -Mrs. Linde. Good heavens--! - -Nora. I only want to say this to you, Christine--you must be my -witness. - -Mrs. Linde. Your witness? What do you mean? What am I to--? - -Nora. If I should go out of my mind--and it might easily happen-- - -Mrs. Linde. Nora! - -Nora. Or if anything else should happen to me--anything, for -instance, that might prevent my being here-- - -Mrs. Linde. Nora! Nora! you are quite out of your mind. - -Nora. And if it should happen that there were some one who wanted -to take all the responsibility, all the blame, you understand-- - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, yes--but how can you suppose--? - -Nora. Then you must be my witness, that it is not true, Christine. -I am not out of my mind at all; I am in my right senses now, and -I tell you no one else has known anything about it; I, and I -alone, did the whole thing. Remember that. - -Mrs. Linde. I will, indeed. But I don't understand all this. - -Nora. How should you understand it? A wonderful thing is going -to happen! - -Mrs. Linde. A wonderful thing? - -Nora. Yes, a wonderful thing!--But it is so terrible, Christine; -it mustn't happen, not for all the world. - -Mrs. Linde. I will go at once and see Krogstad. - -Nora. Don't go to him; he will do you some harm. - -Mrs. Linde. There was a time when he would gladly do anything for -my sake. - -Nora. He? - -Mrs. Linde. Where does he live? - -Nora. How should I know--? Yes (feeling in her pocket), here is -his card. But the letter, the letter--! - -Helmer (calls from his room, knocking at the door). Nora! Nora -(cries out anxiously). Oh, what's that? What do you want? - -Helmer. Don't be so frightened. We are not coming in; you have -locked the door. Are you trying on your dress? - -Nora. Yes, that's it. I look so nice, Torvald. - -Mrs. Linde (who has read the card). I see he lives at the corner here. - -Nora. Yes, but it's no use. It is hopeless. The letter is lying -there in the box. - -Mrs. Linde. And your husband keeps the key? - -Nora. Yes, always. - -Mrs. Linde. Krogstad must ask for his letter back unread, he must -find some pretence-- - -Nora. But it is just at this time that Torvald generally-- - -Mrs. Linde. You must delay him. Go in to him in the meantime. I -will come back as soon as I can. (She goes out hurriedly through -the hall door.) - -Nora (goes to HELMER'S door, opens it and peeps in). Torvald! - -Helmer (from the inner room). Well? May I venture at last to come -into my own room again? Come along, Rank, now you will see-- -(Halting in the doorway.) But what is this? - -Nora. What is what, dear? - -Helmer. Rank led me to expect a splendid transformation. - -Rank (in the doorway). I understood so, but evidently I was -mistaken. - -Nora. Yes, nobody is to have the chance of admiring me in my -dress until tomorrow. - -Helmer. But, my dear Nora, you look so worn out. Have you been -practising too much? - -Nora. No, I have not practised at all. - -Helmer. But you will need to-- - -Nora. Yes, indeed I shall, Torvald. But I can't get on a bit -without you to help me; I have absolutely forgotten the whole -thing. - -Helmer. Oh, we will soon work it up again. - -Nora. Yes, help me, Torvald. Promise that you will! I am so -nervous about it--all the people--. You must give yourself up to -me entirely this evening. Not the tiniest bit of business--you -mustn't even take a pen in your hand. Will you promise, Torvald dear? - -Helmer. I promise. This evening I will be wholly and absolutely -at your service, you helpless little mortal. Ah, by the way, -first of all I will just-- (Goes towards the hall door.) - -Nora. What are you going to do there? - -Helmer. Only see if any letters have come. - -Nora. No, no! don't do that, Torvald! - -Helmer. Why not? - -Nora. Torvald, please don't. There is nothing there. - -Helmer. Well, let me look. (Turns to go to the letter-box. NORA, -at the piano, plays the first bars of the Tarantella. HELMER -stops in the doorway.) Aha! - -Nora. I can't dance tomorrow if I don't practise with you. - -Helmer (going up to her). Are you really so afraid of it, dear? - -Nora. Yes, so dreadfully afraid of it. Let me practise at once; -there is time now, before we go to dinner. Sit down and play for -me, Torvald dear; criticise me, and correct me as you play. - -Helmer. With great pleasure, if you wish me to. (Sits down at the -piano.) - -Nora (takes out of the box a tambourine and a long variegated -shawl. She hastily drapes the shawl round her. Then she springs -to the front of the stage and calls out). Now play for me! I am -going to dance! - -(HELMER plays and NORA dances. RANK stands by the piano behind -HELMER, and looks on.) - -Helmer (as he plays). Slower, slower! - -Nora. I can't do it any other way. - -Helmer. Not so violently, Nora! - -Nora. This is the way. - -Helmer (stops playing). No, no--that is not a bit right. - -Nora (laughing and swinging the tambourine). Didn't I tell you -so? - -Rank. Let me play for her. - -Helmer (getting up). Yes, do. I can correct her better then. - -(RANK sits down at the piano and plays. NORA dances more and more -wildly. HELMER has taken up a position beside the stove, and -during her dance gives her frequent instructions. She does not -seem to hear him; her hair comes down and falls over her -shoulders; she pays no attention to it, but goes on dancing. -Enter Mrs. LINDE.) - -Mrs. Linde (standing as if spell-bound in the doorway). Oh!-- - -Nora (as she dances). Such fun, Christine! - -Helmer. My dear darling Nora, you are dancing as if your life -depended on it. - -Nora. So it does. - -Helmer. Stop, Rank; this is sheer madness. Stop, I tell you! -(RANK stops playing, and NORA suddenly stands still. HELMER goes -up to her.) I could never have believed it. You have forgotten -everything I taught you. - -Nora (throwing away the tambourine). There, you see. - -Helmer. You will want a lot of coaching. - -Nora. Yes, you see how much I need it. You must coach me up to -the last minute. Promise me that, Torvald! - -Helmer. You can depend on me. - -Nora. You must not think of anything but me, either today or -tomorrow; you mustn't open a single letter--not even open the -letter-box-- - -Helmer. Ah, you are still afraid of that fellow-- - -Nora. Yes, indeed I am. - -Helmer. Nora, I can tell from your looks that there is a letter -from him lying there. - -Nora. I don't know; I think there is; but you must not read -anything of that kind now. Nothing horrid must come between us -until this is all over. - -Rank (whispers to HELMER). You mustn't contradict her. - -Helmer (taking her in his arms). The child shall have her way. -But tomorrow night, after you have danced-- - -Nora. Then you will be free. (The MAID appears in the doorway to -the right.) - -Maid. Dinner is served, ma'am. - -Nora. We will have champagne, Helen. - -Maid. Very good, ma'am. [Exit. - -Helmer. Hullo!--are we going to have a banquet? - -Nora. Yes, a champagne banquet until the small hours. (Calls out.) -And a few macaroons, Helen--lots, just for once! - -Helmer. Come, come, don't be so wild and nervous. Be my own -little skylark, as you used. - -Nora. Yes, dear, I will. But go in now and you too, Doctor Rank. -Christine, you must help me to do up my hair. - -Rank (whispers to HELMER as they go out). I suppose there is -nothing--she is not expecting anything? - -Helmer. Far from it, my dear fellow; it is simply nothing more -than this childish nervousness I was telling you of. (They go -into the right-hand room.) - -Nora. Well! - -Mrs. Linde. Gone out of town. - -Nora. I could tell from your face. - -Mrs. Linde. He is coming home tomorrow evening. I wrote a note -for him. - -Nora. You should have let it alone; you must prevent nothing. -After all, it is splendid to be waiting for a wonderful thing to -happen. - -Mrs. Linde. What is it that you are waiting for? - -Nora. Oh, you wouldn't understand. Go in to them, I will come in -a moment. (Mrs. LINDE goes into the dining-room. NORA stands -still for a little while, as if to compose herself. Then she -looks at her watch.) Five o'clock. Seven hours until midnight; and -then four-and-twenty hours until the next midnight. Then the -Tarantella will be over. Twenty-four and seven? Thirty-one hours -to live. - -Helmer (from the doorway on the right). Where's my little skylark? - -Nora (going to him with her arms outstretched). Here she is! - -ACT III - -(THE SAME SCENE.--The table has been placed in the middle of the -stage, with chairs around it. A lamp is burning on the table. The -door into the hall stands open. Dance music is heard in the room -above. Mrs. LINDE is sitting at the table idly turning over the -leaves of a book; she tries to read, but does not seem able to -collect her thoughts. Every now and then she listens intently for -a sound at the outer door.) - -Mrs. Linde (looking at her watch). Not yet--and the time is -nearly up. If only he does not--. (Listens again.) Ah, there he is. -(Goes into the hall and opens the outer door carefully. -Light footsteps are heard on the stairs. She whispers.) -Come in. There is no one here. - -Krogstad (in the doorway). I found a note from you at home. What -does this mean? - -Mrs. Linde. It is absolutely necessary that I should have a talk -with you. - -Krogstad. Really? And is it absolutely necessary that it should -be here? - -Mrs. Linde. It is impossible where I live; there is no private -entrance to my rooms. Come in; we are quite alone. The maid is -asleep, and the Helmers are at the dance upstairs. - -Krogstad (coming into the room). Are the Helmers really at a -dance tonight? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, why not? - -Krogstad. Certainly--why not? - -Mrs. Linde. Now, Nils, let us have a talk. - -Krogstad. Can we two have anything to talk about? - -Mrs. Linde. We have a great deal to talk about. - -Krogstad. I shouldn't have thought so. - -Mrs. Linde. No, you have never properly understood me. - -Krogstad. Was there anything else to understand except what -was obvious to all the world--a heartless woman jilts a man -when a more lucrative chance turns up? - -Mrs. Linde. Do you believe I am as absolutely heartless as -all that? And do you believe that I did it with a light heart? - -Krogstad. Didn't you? - -Mrs. Linde. Nils, did you really think that? - -Krogstad. If it were as you say, why did you write to me as you -did at the time? - -Mrs. Linde. I could do nothing else. As I had to break with you, -it was my duty also to put an end to all that you felt for me. - -Krogstad (wringing his hands). So that was it. And all this--only -for the sake of money! - -Mrs. Linde. You must not forget that I had a helpless mother and -two little brothers. We couldn't wait for you, Nils; your -prospects seemed hopeless then. - -Krogstad. That may be so, but you had no right to throw me over -for anyone else's sake. - -Mrs. Linde. Indeed I don't know. Many a time did I ask myself if -I had the right to do it. - -Krogstad (more gently). When I lost you, it was as if all the -solid ground went from under my feet. Look at me now--I am a shipwrecked -man clinging to a bit of wreckage. - -Mrs. Linde. But help may be near. - -Krogstad. It was near; but then you came and stood in my way. - -Mrs. Linde. Unintentionally, Nils. It was only today that I -learned it was your place I was going to take in the Bank. - -Krogstad. I believe you, if you say so. But now that you know it, -are you not going to give it up to me? - -Mrs. Linde. No, because that would not benefit you in the least. - -Krogstad. Oh, benefit, benefit--I would have done it whether or no. - -Mrs. Linde. I have learned to act prudently. Life, and hard, bitter -necessity have taught me that. - -Krogstad. And life has taught me not to believe in fine speeches. - -Mrs. Linde. Then life has taught you something very reasonable. -But deeds you must believe in? - -Krogstad. What do you mean by that? - -Mrs. Linde. You said you were like a shipwrecked man clinging to -some wreckage. - -Krogstad. I had good reason to say so. - -Mrs. Linde. Well, I am like a shipwrecked woman clinging to some -wreckage--no one to mourn for, no one to care for. - -Krogstad. It was your own choice. - -Mrs. Linde. There was no other choice--then. - -Krogstad. Well, what now? - -Mrs. Linde. Nils, how would it be if we two shipwrecked people -could join forces? - -Krogstad. What are you saying? - -Mrs. Linde. Two on the same piece of wreckage would stand a -better chance than each on their own. - -Krogstad. Christine I... - -Mrs. Linde. What do you suppose brought me to town? - -Krogstad. Do you mean that you gave me a thought? - -Mrs. Linde. I could not endure life without work. All my life, as -long as I can remember, I have worked, and it has been my greatest -and only pleasure. But now I am quite alone in the world--my life -is so dreadfully empty and I feel so forsaken. There is not the -least pleasure in working for one's self. Nils, give me someone and -something to work for. - -Krogstad. I don't trust that. It is nothing but a woman's -overstrained sense of generosity that prompts you to make such an -offer of yourself. - -Mrs. Linde. Have you ever noticed anything of the sort in me? - -Krogstad. Could you really do it? Tell me--do you know all about -my past life? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes. - -Krogstad. And do you know what they think of me here? - -Mrs. Linde. You seemed to me to imply that with me you might have -been quite another man. - -Krogstad. I am certain of it. - -Mrs. Linde. Is it too late now? - -Krogstad. Christine, are you saying this deliberately? Yes, I am -sure you are. I see it in your face. Have you really the courage, -then--? - -Mrs. Linde. I want to be a mother to someone, and your children -need a mother. We two need each other. Nils, I have faith in your -real character--I can dare anything together with you. - -Krogstad (grasps her hands). Thanks, thanks, Christine! Now I -shall find a way to clear myself in the eyes of the world. Ah, -but I forgot-- - -Mrs. Linde (listening). Hush! The Tarantella! Go, go! - -Krogstad. Why? What is it? - -Mrs. Linde. Do you hear them up there? When that is over, we may -expect them back. - -Krogstad. Yes, yes--I will go. But it is all no use. Of course -you are not aware what steps I have taken in the matter of the -Helmers. - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, I know all about that. - -Krogstad. And in spite of that have you the courage to--? - -Mrs. Linde. I understand very well to what lengths a man like you -might be driven by despair. - -Krogstad. If I could only undo what I have done! - -Mrs. Linde. You cannot. Your letter is lying in the letter-box -now. - -Krogstad. Are you sure of that? - -Mrs. Linde. Quite sure, but-- - -Krogstad (with a searching look at her). Is that what it all -means?--that you want to save your friend at any cost? Tell me -frankly. Is that it? - -Mrs. Linde. Nils, a woman who has once sold herself for another's -sake, doesn't do it a second time. - -Krogstad. I will ask for my letter back. - -Mrs. Linde. No, no. - -Krogstad. Yes, of course I will. I will wait here until Helmer -comes; I will tell him he must give me my letter back--that it -only concerns my dismissal--that he is not to read it-- - -Mrs. Linde. No, Nils, you must not recall your letter. - -Krogstad. But, tell me, wasn't it for that very purpose that you -asked me to meet you here? - -Mrs. Linde. In my first moment of fright, it was. But twenty-four -hours have elapsed since then, and in that time I have witnessed -incredible things in this house. Helmer must know all about it. -This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete -understanding between them, which is impossible with all this -concealment and falsehood going on. - -Krogstad. Very well, if you will take the responsibility. But -there is one thing I can do in any case, and I shall do it at -once. - -Mrs. Linde (listening). You must be quick and go! The dance is -over; we are not safe a moment longer. - -Krogstad. I will wait for you below. - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, do. You must see me back to my door... - -Krogstad. I have never had such an amazing piece of good fortune -in my life! (Goes out through the outer door. The door between -the room and the hall remains open.) - -Mrs. Linde (tidying up the room and laying her hat and cloak -ready). What a difference! what a difference! Someone to work -for and live for--a home to bring comfort into. That I will do, -indeed. I wish they would be quick and come--(Listens.) Ah, there -they are now. I must put on my things. (Takes up her hat and -cloak. HELMER'S and NORA'S voices are heard outside; a key is -turned, and HELMER brings NORA almost by force into the hall. She -is in an Italian costume with a large black shawl around her; he -is in evening dress, and a black domino which is flying open.) - -Nora (hanging back in the doorway, and struggling with him). No, -no, no!--don't take me in. I want to go upstairs again; I don't -want to leave so early. - -Helmer. But, my dearest Nora-- - -Nora. Please, Torvald dear--please, please--only an hour more. - -Helmer. Not a single minute, my sweet Nora. You know that was our -agreement. Come along into the room; you are catching cold -standing there. (He brings her gently into the room, in spite of -her resistance.) - -Mrs. Linde. Good evening. - -Nora. Christine! - -Helmer. You here, so late, Mrs. Linde? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, you must excuse me; I was so anxious to see Nora -in her dress. - -Nora. Have you been sitting here waiting for me? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, unfortunately I came too late, you had already -gone upstairs; and I thought I couldn't go away again without -having seen you. - -Helmer (taking off NORA'S shawl). Yes, take a good look at her. I -think she is worth looking at. Isn't she charming, Mrs. Linde? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, indeed she is. - -Helmer. Doesn't she look remarkably pretty? Everyone thought so -at the dance. But she is terribly self-willed, this sweet little -person. What are we to do with her? You will hardly believe that -I had almost to bring her away by force. - -Nora. Torvald, you will repent not having let me stay, even if it -were only for half an hour. - -Helmer. Listen to her, Mrs. Linde! She had danced her Tarantella, -and it had been a tremendous success, as it deserved--although -possibly the performance was a trifle too realistic--a little -more so, I mean, than was strictly compatible with the limitations -of art. But never mind about that! The chief thing is, she had made -a success--she had made a tremendous success. Do you think I was going -to let her remain there after that, and spoil the effect? No, indeed! -I took my charming little Capri maiden--my capricious little -Capri maiden, I should say--on my arm; took one quick turn -round the room; a curtsey on either side, and, as they say in -novels, the beautiful apparition disappeared. An exit ought always -to be effective, Mrs. Linde; but that is what I cannot make Nora -understand. Pooh! this room is hot. (Throws his domino on a -chair, and opens the door of his room.) Hullo! it's all dark -in here. Oh, of course--excuse me--. (He goes in, and lights -some candles.) - -Nora (in a hurried and breathless whisper). Well? - -Mrs. Linde (in a low voice). I have had a talk with him. - -Nora. Yes, and-- - -Mrs. Linde. Nora, you must tell your husband all about it. - -Nora (in an expressionless voice). I knew it. - -Mrs. Linde. You have nothing to be afraid of as far as Krogstad -is concerned; but you must tell him. - -Nora. I won't tell him. - -Mrs. Linde. Then the letter will. - -Nora. Thank you, Christine. Now I know what I must do. Hush--! - -Helmer (coming in again). Well, Mrs. Linde, have you admired her? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, and now I will say goodnight. - -Helmer. What, already? Is this yours, this knitting? - -Mrs. Linde (taking it). Yes, thank you, I had very nearly forgotten it. - -Helmer. So you knit? - -Mrs. Linde. Of course. - -Helmer. Do you know, you ought to embroider. - -Mrs. Linde. Really? Why? - -Helmer. Yes, it's far more becoming. Let me show you. You hold -the embroidery thus in your left hand, and use the needle with -the right--like this--with a long, easy sweep. Do you see? - -Mrs. Linde. Yes, perhaps-- - -Helmer. But in the case of knitting--that can never be anything -but ungraceful; look here--the arms close together, the knitting- -needles going up and down--it has a sort of Chinese effect--. -That was really excellent champagne they gave us. - -Mrs. Linde. Well,--goodnight, Nora, and don't be self-willed any -more. - -Helmer. That's right, Mrs. Linde. - -Mrs. Linde. Goodnight, Mr. Helmer. - -Helmer (accompanying her to the door). Goodnight, goodnight. I -hope you will get home all right. I should be very happy to--but -you haven't any great distance to go. Goodnight, goodnight. -(She goes out; he shuts the door after her, and comes in again.) -Ah!--at last we have got rid of her. She is a frightful bore, -that woman. - -Nora. Aren't you very tired, Torvald? - -Helmer. No, not in the least. - -Nora. Nor sleepy? - -Helmer. Not a bit. On the contrary, I feel extraordinarily lively. -And you?--you really look both tired and sleepy. - -Nora. Yes, I am very tired. I want to go to sleep at once. - -Helmer. There, you see it was quite right of me not to let you -stay there any longer. - -Nora. Everything you do is quite right, Torvald. - -Helmer (kissing her on the forehead). Now my little skylark is -speaking reasonably. Did you notice what good spirits Rank was in -this evening? - -Nora. Really? Was he? I didn't speak to him at all. - -Helmer. And I very little, but I have not for a long time seen -him in such good form. (Looks for a while at her and then goes -nearer to her.) It is delightful to be at home by ourselves again, -to be all alone with you--you fascinating, charming little darling! - -Nora. Don't look at me like that, Torvald. - -Helmer. Why shouldn't I look at my dearest treasure?--at all the -beauty that is mine, all my very own? - -Nora (going to the other side of the table). You mustn't say -things like that to me tonight. - -Helmer (following her). You have still got the Tarantella in your -blood, I see. And it makes you more captivating than ever. -Listen--the guests are beginning to go now. (In a lower voice.) -Nora--soon the whole house will be quiet. - -Nora. Yes, I hope so. - -Helmer. Yes, my own darling Nora. Do you know, when I am out at a -party with you like this, why I speak so little to you, keep away -from you, and only send a stolen glance in your direction now and -then?--do you know why I do that? It is because I make believe to -myself that we are secretly in love, and you are my secretly -promised bride, and that no one suspects there is anything between us. - -Nora. Yes, yes--I know very well your thoughts are with me all -the time. - -Helmer. And when we are leaving, and I am putting the shawl over -your beautiful young shoulders--on your lovely neck--then I imagine -that you are my young bride and that we have just come from the -wedding, and I am bringing you for the first time into our -home--to be alone with you for the first time--quite alone with -my shy little darling! All this evening I have longed for nothing -but you. When I watched the seductive figures of the Tarantella, -my blood was on fire; I could endure it no longer, and that was -why I brought you down so early-- - -Nora. Go away, Torvald! You must let me go. I won't-- - -Helmer. What's that? You're joking, my little Nora! You won't-- -you won't? Am I not your husband--? (A knock is heard at the -outer door.) - -Nora (starting). Did you hear--? - -Helmer (going into the hall). Who is it? - -Rank (outside). It is I. May I come in for a moment? - -Helmer (in a fretful whisper). Oh, what does he want now? -(Aloud.) Wait a minute! (Unlocks the door.) Come, that's kind of -you not to pass by our door. - -Rank. I thought I heard your voice, and felt as if I should like -to look in. (With a swift glance round.) Ah, yes!--these dear -familiar rooms. You are very happy and cosy in here, you two. - -Helmer. It seems to me that you looked after yourself pretty well -upstairs too. - -Rank. Excellently. Why shouldn't I? Why shouldn't one enjoy -everything in this world?--at any rate as much as one can, and as -long as one can. The wine was capital-- - -Helmer. Especially the champagne. - -Rank. So you noticed that too? It is almost incredible how much I -managed to put away! - -Nora. Torvald drank a great deal of champagne tonight too. - -Rank. Did he? - -Nora. Yes, and he is always in such good spirits afterwards. - -Rank. Well, why should one not enjoy a merry evening after a -well-spent day? - -Helmer. Well spent? I am afraid I can't take credit for that. - -Rank (clapping him on the back). But I can, you know! - -Nora. Doctor Rank, you must have been occupied with some -scientific investigation today. - -Rank. Exactly. - -Helmer. Just listen!--little Nora talking about scientific -investigations! - -Nora. And may I congratulate you on the result? - -Rank. Indeed you may. - -Nora. Was it favourable, then? - -Rank. The best possible, for both doctor and patient--certainty. - -Nora (quickly and searchingly). Certainty? - -Rank. Absolute certainty. So wasn't I entitled to make a merry -evening of it after that? - -Nora. Yes, you certainly were, Doctor Rank. Helmer. I think so -too, so long as you don't have to pay for it in the morning. - -Rank. Oh well, one can't have anything in this life without -paying for it. - -Nora. Doctor Rank--are you fond of fancy-dress balls? - -Rank. Yes, if there is a fine lot of pretty costumes. - -Nora. Tell me--what shall we two wear at the next? - -Helmer. Little featherbrain!--are you thinking of the next -already? - -Rank. We two? Yes, I can tell you. You shall go as a good fairy-- - -Helmer. Yes, but what do you suggest as an appropriate costume -for that? - -Rank. Let your wife go dressed just as she is in everyday life. - -Helmer. That was really very prettily turned. But can't you tell -us what you will be? - -Rank. Yes, my dear friend, I have quite made up my mind about that. - -Helmer. Well? - -Rank. At the next fancy-dress ball I shall be invisible. - -Helmer. That's a good joke! - -Rank. There is a big black hat--have you never heard of hats that -make you invisible? If you put one on, no one can see you. - -Helmer (suppressing a smile). Yes, you are quite right. - -Rank. But I am clean forgetting what I came for. Helmer, give me -a cigar--one of the dark Havanas. - -Helmer. With the greatest pleasure. (Offers him his case.) - -Rank (takes a cigar and cuts off the end). Thanks. - -Nora (striking a match). Let me give you a light. - -Rank. Thank you. (She holds the match for him to light his -cigar.) And now goodbye! - -Helmer. Goodbye, goodbye, dear old man! - -Nora. Sleep well, Doctor Rank. - -Rank. Thank you for that wish. - -Nora. Wish me the same. - -Rank. You? Well, if you want me to sleep well! And thanks for the -light. (He nods to them both and goes out.) - -Helmer (in a subdued voice). He has drunk more than he ought. - -Nora (absently). Maybe. (HELMER takes a bunch of keys out of his -pocket and goes into the hall.) Torvald! what are you going to do -there? - -Helmer. Emptying the letter-box; it is quite full; there will be no -room to put the newspaper in tomorrow morning. - -Nora. Are you going to work tonight? - -Helmer. You know quite well I'm not. What is this? Someone has -been at the lock. - -Nora. At the lock--? - -Helmer. Yes, someone has. What can it mean? I should never have -thought the maid--. Here is a broken hairpin. Nora, it is one of -yours. - -Nora (quickly). Then it must have been the children-- - -Helmer. Then you must get them out of those ways. There, at last -I have got it open. (Takes out the contents of the letter-box, -and calls to the kitchen.) Helen!--Helen, put out the light over -the front door. (Goes back into the room and shuts the door into -the hall. He holds out his hand full of letters.) Look at that-- -look what a heap of them there are. (Turning them over.) What on -earth is that? - -Nora (at the window). The letter--No! Torvald, no! - -Helmer. Two cards--of Rank's. - -Nora. Of Doctor Rank's? - -Helmer (looking at them). Doctor Rank. They were on the top. He -must have put them in when he went out. - -Nora. Is there anything written on them? - -Helmer. There is a black cross over the name. Look there--what an -uncomfortable idea! It looks as if he were announcing his own death. - -Nora. It is just what he is doing. - -Helmer. What? Do you know anything about it? Has he said anything -to you? - -Nora. Yes. He told me that when the cards came it would be his -leave-taking from us. He means to shut himself up and die. - -Helmer. My poor old friend! Certainly I knew we should not have -him very long with us. But so soon! And so he hides himself away -like a wounded animal. - -Nora. If it has to happen, it is best it should be without a -word--don't you think so, Torvald? - -Helmer (walking up and down). He had so grown into our lives. I -can't think of him as having gone out of them. He, with his -sufferings and his loneliness, was like a cloudy background to -our sunlit happiness. Well, perhaps it is best so. For him, -anyway. (Standing still.) And perhaps for us too, Nora. We -two are thrown quite upon each other now. (Puts his arms round -her.) My darling wife, I don't feel as if I could hold you tight -enough. Do you know, Nora, I have often wished that you might be -threatened by some great danger, so that I might risk my life's -blood, and everything, for your sake. - -Nora (disengages herself, and says firmly and decidedly). Now you -must read your letters, Torvald. - -Helmer. No, no; not tonight. I want to be with you, my darling wife. - -Nora. With the thought of your friend's death-- - -Helmer. You are right, it has affected us both. Something ugly -has come between us--the thought of the horrors of death. -We must try and rid our minds of that. Until then--we will -each go to our own room. - -Nora (hanging on his neck). Goodnight, Torvald--Goodnight! - -Helmer (kissing her on the forehead). Goodnight, my little -singing-bird. Sleep sound, Nora. Now I will read my letters -through. (He takes his letters and goes into his room, shutting -the door after him.) - -Nora (gropes distractedly about, seizes HELMER'S domino, throws -it round her, while she says in quick, hoarse, spasmodic -whispers). Never to see him again. Never! Never! (Puts her shawl -over her head.) Never to see my children again either--never -again. Never! Never!--Ah! the icy, black water--the unfathomable -depths--If only it were over! He has got it now--now he is reading -it. Goodbye, Torvald and my children! (She is about to rush out -through the hall, when HELMER opens his door hurriedly and stands -with an open letter in his hand.) - -Helmer. Nora! - -Nora. Ah!--Helmer. What is this? Do you know what is in this letter? - -Nora. Yes, I know. Let me go! Let me get out! - -Helmer (holding her back). Where are you going? - -Nora (trying to get free). You shan't save me, Torvald! - -Helmer (reeling). True? Is this true, that I read here? Horrible! -No, no--it is impossible that it can be true. - -Nora. It is true. I have loved you above everything else in the world. - -Helmer. Oh, don't let us have any silly excuses. - -Nora (taking a step towards him). Torvald--! - -Helmer. Miserable creature--what have you done? - -Nora. Let me go. You shall not suffer for my sake. You shall not -take it upon yourself. - -Helmer. No tragic airs, please. (Locks the hall door.) Here you -shall stay and give me an explanation. Do you understand what you -have done? Answer me! Do you understand what you have done? - -Nora (looks steadily at him and says with a growing look of -coldness in her face). Yes, now I am beginning to understand -thoroughly. - -Helmer (walking about the room). What a horrible awakening! All -these eight years--she who was my joy and pride--a hypocrite, a -liar--worse, worse--a criminal! The unutterable ugliness of it -all!--For shame! For shame! (NORA is silent and looks steadily at -him. He stops in front of her.) I ought to have suspected that -something of the sort would happen. I ought to have foreseen it. -All your father's want of principle--be silent!--all your father's -want of principle has come out in you. No religion, no morality, -no sense of duty--. How I am punished for having winked at what he did! -I did it for your sake, and this is how you repay me. - -Nora. Yes, that's just it. - -Helmer. Now you have destroyed all my happiness. You have ruined -all my future. It is horrible to think of! I am in the power of -an unscrupulous man; he can do what he likes with me, ask anything -he likes of me, give me any orders he pleases--I dare not refuse. -And I must sink to such miserable depths because of a thoughtless woman! - -Nora. When I am out of the way, you will be free. - -Helmer. No fine speeches, please. Your father had always plenty -of those ready, too. What good would it be to me if you were out -of the way, as you say? Not the slightest. He can make the affair -known everywhere; and if he does, I may be falsely suspected of -having been a party to your criminal action. Very likely people -will think I was behind it all--that it was I who prompted you! -And I have to thank you for all this--you whom I have cherished -during the whole of our married life. Do you understand now what -it is you have done for me? - -Nora (coldly and quietly). Yes. - -Helmer. It is so incredible that I can't take it in. But we must -come to some understanding. Take off that shawl. Take it off, I -tell you. I must try and appease him some way or another. The -matter must be hushed up at any cost. And as for you and me, it -must appear as if everything between us were just as before-- but -naturally only in the eyes of the world. You will still remain in -my house, that is a matter of course. But I shall not allow you -to bring up the children; I dare not trust them to you. To think -that I should be obliged to say so to one whom I have loved so -dearly, and whom I still--. No, that is all over. From this moment -happiness is not the question; all that concerns us is to save the -remains, the fragments, the appearance-- - -(A ring is heard at the front-door bell.) - -Helmer (with a start). What is that? So late! Can the worst--? -Can he--? Hide yourself, Nora. Say you are ill. - -(NORA stands motionless. HELMER goes and unlocks the hall door.) - -Maid (half-dressed, comes to the door). A letter for the mistress. - -Helmer. Give it to me. (Takes the letter, and shuts the door.) -Yes, it is from him. You shall not have it; I will read it myself. - -Nora. Yes, read it. - -Helmer (standing by the lamp). I scarcely have the courage to do -it. It may mean ruin for both of us. No, I must know. (Tears open -the letter, runs his eye over a few lines, looks at a paper -enclosed, and gives a shout of joy.) Nora! (She looks at him -questioningly.) Nora!--No, I must read it once again--. Yes, it -is true! I am saved! Nora, I am saved! - -Nora. And I? - -Helmer. You too, of course; we are both saved, both you and I. -Look, he sends you your bond back. He says he regrets and repents-- -that a happy change in his life--never mind what he says! We -are saved, Nora! No one can do anything to you. Oh, Nora, -Nora!--no, first I must destroy these hateful things. Let -me see--. (Takes a look at the bond.) No, no, I won't look -at it. The whole thing shall be nothing but a bad dream to -me. (Tears up the bond and both letters, throws them all -into the stove, and watches them burn.) There--now it doesn't -exist any longer. He says that since Christmas Eve you--. -These must have been three dreadful days for you, Nora. - -Nora. I have fought a hard fight these three days. - -Helmer. And suffered agonies, and seen no way out but--. No, we -won't call any of the horrors to mind. We will only shout with -joy, and keep saying, "It's all over! It's all over!" Listen to -me, Nora. You don't seem to realise that it is all over. What is -this?--such a cold, set face! My poor little Nora, I quite -understand; you don't feel as if you could believe that I have -forgiven you. But it is true, Nora, I swear it; I have forgiven -you everything. I know that what you did, you did out of love for me. - -Nora. That is true. - -Helmer. You have loved me as a wife ought to love her husband. Only -you had not sufficient knowledge to judge of the means you used. But -do you suppose you are any the less dear to me, because you don't -understand how to act on your own responsibility? No, no; only lean -on me; I will advise you and direct you. I should not be a man if -this womanly helplessness did not just give you a double -attractiveness in my eyes. You must not think anymore about the -hard things I said in my first moment of consternation, when -I thought everything was going to overwhelm me. I have forgiven -you, Nora; I swear to you I have forgiven you. - -Nora. Thank you for your forgiveness. (She goes out through the -door to the right.) - -Helmer. No, don't go--. (Looks in.) What are you doing in there? - -Nora (from within). Taking off my fancy dress. - -Helmer (standing at the open door). Yes, do. Try and calm yourself, -and make your mind easy again, my frightened little singing-bird. Be -at rest, and feel secure; I have broad wings to shelter you under. -(Walks up and down by the door.) How warm and cosy our home is, -Nora. Here is shelter for you; here I will protect you like a -hunted dove that I have saved from a hawk's claws; I will bring -peace to your poor beating heart. It will come, little by little, -Nora, believe me. Tomorrow morning you will look upon it all quite -differently; soon everything will be just as it was before. -Very soon you won't need me to assure you that I have forgiven -you; you will yourself feel the certainty that I have done so. -Can you suppose I should ever think of such a thing as -repudiating you, or even reproaching you? You have no -idea what a true man's heart is like, Nora. There is something so -indescribably sweet and satisfying, to a man, in the knowledge -that he has forgiven his wife--forgiven her freely, and with all -his heart. It seems as if that had made her, as it were, doubly -his own; he has given her a new life, so to speak; and she has -in a way become both wife and child to him. So you shall be for -me after this, my little scared, helpless darling. Have no -anxiety about anything, Nora; only be frank and open with me, -and I will serve as will and conscience both to you--. What -is this? Not gone to bed? Have you changed your things? - -Nora (in everyday dress). Yes, Torvald, I have changed my things now. - -Helmer. But what for?--so late as this. - -Nora. I shall not sleep tonight. - -Helmer. But, my dear Nora-- - -Nora (looking at her watch). It is not so very late. Sit down -here, Torvald. You and I have much to say to one another. (She -sits down at one side of the table.) - -Helmer. Nora--what is this?--this cold, set face? Nora. Sit down. -It will take some time; I have a lot to talk over with you. - -Helmer (sits down at the opposite side of the table). You alarm -me, Nora!--and I don't understand you. - -Nora. No, that is just it. You don't understand me, and I have -never understood you either--before tonight. No, you mustn't -interrupt me. You must simply listen to what I say. Torvald, -this is a settling of accounts. - -Helmer. What do you mean by that? - -Nora (after a short silence). Isn't there one thing that strikes -you as strange in our sitting here like this? - -Helmer. What is that? - -Nora. We have been married now eight years. Does it not occur -to you that this is the first time we two, you and I, husband -and wife, have had a serious conversation? - -Helmer. What do you mean by serious? - -Nora. In all these eight years--longer than that--from the very -beginning of our acquaintance, we have never exchanged a word on -any serious subject. - -Helmer. Was it likely that I would be continually and forever -telling you about worries that you could not help me to bear? - -Nora. I am not speaking about business matters. I say that we -have never sat down in earnest together to try and get at the -bottom of anything. - -Helmer. But, dearest Nora, would it have been any good to you? - -Nora. That is just it; you have never understood me. I have been -greatly wronged, Torvald--first by papa and then by you. - -Helmer. What! By us two--by us two, who have loved you better -than anyone else in the world? - -Nora (shaking her head). You have never loved me. You have only -thought it pleasant to be in love with me. - -Helmer. Nora, what do I hear you saying? - -Nora. It is perfectly true, Torvald. When I was at home with -papa, he told me his opinion about everything, and so I -had the same opinions; and if I differed from him I -concealed the fact, because he would not have liked it. -He called me his doll-child, and he played with me just -as I used to play with my dolls. And when I came to -live with you-- - -Helmer. What sort of an expression is that to use about our marriage? - -Nora (undisturbed). I mean that I was simply transferred from -papa's hands into yours. You arranged everything according to -your own taste, and so I got the same tastes as your else I -pretended to, I am really not quite sure which--I think -sometimes the one and sometimes the other. When I look back -on it, it seems to me as if I had been living here like a -poor woman--just from hand to mouth. I have existed merely -to perform tricks for you, Torvald. But you would have it -so. You and papa have committed a great sin against me. -It is your fault that I have made nothing of my life. - -Helmer. How unreasonable and how ungrateful you are, Nora! Have -you not been happy here? - -Nora. No, I have never been happy. I thought I was, but it has -never really been so. - -Helmer. Not--not happy! - -Nora. No, only merry. And you have always been so kind to me. -But our home has been nothing but a playroom. I have been -your doll-wife, just as at home I was papa's doll-child; and -here the children have been my dolls. I thought it great fun -when you played with me, just as they thought it great fun -when I played with them. That is what our marriage has been, Torvald. - -Helmer. There is some truth in what you say--exaggerated and -strained as your view of it is. But for the future it shall be -different. Playtime shall be over, and lesson-time shall begin. - -Nora. Whose lessons? Mine, or the children's? - -Helmer. Both yours and the children's, my darling Nora. - -Nora. Alas, Torvald, you are not the man to educate me into being -a proper wife for you. - -Helmer. And you can say that! - -Nora. And I--how am I fitted to bring up the children? - -Helmer. Nora! - -Nora. Didn't you say so yourself a little while ago-- that you -dare not trust me to bring them up? - -Helmer. In a moment of anger! Why do you pay any heed to that? - -Nora. Indeed, you were perfectly right. I am not fit for the -task. There is another task I must undertake first. I must -try and educate myself--you are not the man to help me in -that. I must do that for myself. And that is why I am -going to leave you now. - -Helmer (springing up). What do you say? - -Nora. I must stand quite alone, if I am to understand myself and -everything about me. It is for that reason that I cannot remain -with you any longer. - -Helmer. Nora, Nora! - -Nora. I am going away from here now, at once. I am sure Christine -will take me in for the night-- - -Helmer. You are out of your mind! I won't allow it! I forbid you! - -Nora. It is no use forbidding me anything any longer. I will take -with me what belongs to myself. I will take nothing from you, -either now or later. - -Helmer. What sort of madness is this! - -Nora. Tomorrow I shall go home-- I mean, to my old home. It will -be easiest for me to find something to do there. - -Helmer. You blind, foolish woman! - -Nora. I must try and get some sense, Torvald. - -Helmer. To desert your home, your husband and your children! And -you don't consider what people will say! - -Nora. I cannot consider that at all. I only know that it is -necessary for me. - -Helmer. It's shocking. This is how you would neglect your most -sacred duties. - -Nora. What do you consider my most sacred duties? - -Helmer. Do I need to tell you that? Are they not your duties to -your husband and your children? - -Nora. I have other duties just as sacred. - -Helmer. That you have not. What duties could those be? - -Nora. Duties to myself. - -Helmer. Before all else, you are a wife and a mother. - -Nora. I don't believe that any longer. I believe that before all -else I am a reasonable human being, just as you are-- or, at all -events, that I must try and become one. I know quite well, -Torvald, that most people would think you right, and that -views of that kind are to be found in books; but I can no -longer content myself with what most people say, or with -what is found in books. I must think over things for myself -and get to understand them. - -Helmer. Can you not understand your place in your own home? -Have you not a reliable guide in such matters as that?--have -you no religion? - -Nora. I am afraid, Torvald, I do not exactly know what religion is. - -Helmer. What are you saying? - -Nora. I know nothing but what the clergyman said, when I went -to be confirmed. He told us that religion was this, and that, -and the other. When I am away from all this, and am alone, -I will look into that matter too. I will see if what the -clergyman said is true, or at all events if it is true for me. - -Helmer. This is unheard of in a girl of your age! But if religion -cannot lead you aright, let me try and awaken your conscience. I -suppose you have some moral sense? Or-- answer me-- am I to think you -have none? - -Nora. I assure you, Torvald, that is not an easy question to answer. -I really don't know. The thing perplexes me altogether. I only -know that you and I look at it in quite a different light. -I am learning, too, that the law is quite another thing from -what I supposed; but I find it impossible to convince myself -that the law is right. According to it a woman has no right -to spare her old dying father, or to save her husband's -life. I can't believe that. - -Helmer. You talk like a child. You don't understand the -conditions of the world in which you live. - -Nora. No, I don't. But now I am going to try. I am going -to see if I can make out who is right, the world or I. - -Helmer. You are ill, Nora; you are delirious; I almost think you -are out of your mind. - -Nora. I have never felt my mind so clear and certain as tonight. - -Helmer. And is it with a clear and certain mind that you forsake -your husband and your children? - -Nora. Yes, it is. - -Helmer. Then there is only one possible explanation. - -Nora. What is that? - -Helmer. You do not love me anymore. - -Nora. No, that is just it. - -Helmer. Nora!--and you can say that? - -Nora. It gives me great pain, Torvald, for you have always been -so kind to me, but I cannot help it. I do not love you any more. - -Helmer (regaining his composure). Is that a clear and certain -conviction too? - -Nora. Yes, absolutely clear and certain. That is the reason why I -will not stay here any longer. - -Helmer. And can you tell me what I have done to forfeit your love? - -Nora. Yes, indeed I can. It was tonight, when the wonderful thing did not -happen; then I saw you were not the man I had thought you were. - -Helmer. Explain yourself better. I don't understand you. - -Nora. I have waited so patiently for eight years; for, goodness -knows, I knew very well that wonderful things don't happen every -day. Then this horrible misfortune came upon me; and then I felt -quite certain that the wonderful thing was going to happen at last. -When Krogstad's letter was lying out there, never for a moment -did I imagine that you would consent to accept this man's -conditions. I was so absolutely certain that you would say -to him: Publish the thing to the whole world. And when that was done-- - -Helmer. Yes, what then?--when I had exposed my wife to shame and -disgrace? - -Nora. When that was done, I was so absolutely certain, you would -come forward and take everything upon yourself, and say: I am the -guilty one. - -Helmer. Nora--! - -Nora. You mean that I would never have accepted such a sacrifice -on your part? No, of course not. But what would my assurances have -been worth against yours? That was the wonderful thing which I -hoped for and feared; and it was to prevent that, that I wanted -to kill myself. - -Helmer. I would gladly work night and day for you, Nora--bear -sorrow and want for your sake. But no man would sacrifice his -honour for the one he loves. - -Nora. It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done. - -Helmer. Oh, you think and talk like a heedless child. - -Nora. Maybe. But you neither think nor talk like the man I -could bind myself to. As soon as your fear was over--and it -was not fear for what threatened me, but for what might happen -to you--when the whole thing was past, as far as you were -concerned it was exactly as if nothing at all had happened. -Exactly as before, I was your little skylark, your doll, -which you would in future treat with doubly gentle care, -because it was so brittle and fragile. (Getting up.) -Torvald--it was then it dawned upon me that for eight -years I had been living here with a strange man, and had -borne him three children--. Oh, I can't bear to think -of it! I could tear myself into little bits! - -Helmer (sadly). I see, I see. An abyss has opened between us--there -is no denying it. But, Nora, would it not be possible to fill it up? - -Nora. As I am now, I am no wife for you. - -Helmer. I have it in me to become a different man. - -Nora. Perhaps-- if your doll is taken away from you. - -Helmer. But to part!--to part from you! No, no, Nora, I can't -understand that idea. - -Nora (going out to the right). That makes it all the more certain -that it must be done. (She comes back with her cloak and hat and -a small bag which she puts on a chair by the table.) - -Helmer. Nora, Nora, not now! Wait until tomorrow. - -Nora (putting on her cloak). I cannot spend the night in a -strange man's room. - -Helmer. But can't we live here like brother and sister--? - -Nora (putting on her hat). You know very well that would not last -long. (Puts the shawl round her.) Goodbye, Torvald. I won't see -the little ones. I know they are in better hands than mine. As -I am now, I can be of no use to them. - -Helmer. But some day, Nora-- some day? - -Nora. How can I tell? I have no idea what is going to become of me. - -Helmer. But you are my wife, whatever becomes of you. - -Nora. Listen, Torvald. I have heard that when a wife deserts her -husband's house, as I am doing now, he is legally freed from all -obligations towards her. In any case, I set you free from all your -obligations. You are not to feel yourself bound in the slightest -way, any more than I shall. There must be perfect freedom on -both sides. See, here is your ring back. Give me mine. - -Helmer. That too? - -Nora. That too. - -Helmer. Here it is. - -Nora. That's right. Now it is all over. I have put the keys here. -The maids know all about everything in the house-- better than I do. -Tomorrow, after I have left her, Christine will come here and -pack up my own things that I brought with me from home. I will -have them sent after me. - -Helmer. All over! All over!--Nora, shall you never think of me again? - -Nora. I know I shall often think of you, the children, and this house. - -Helmer. May I write to you, Nora? - -Nora. No--never. You must not do that. - -Helmer. But at least let me send you-- - -Nora. Nothing--nothing-- - -Helmer. Let me help you if you are in want. - -Nora. No. I can receive nothing from a stranger. - -Helmer. Nora--can I never be anything more than a stranger to you? - -Nora (taking her bag). Ah, Torvald, the most wonderful thing of -all would have to happen. - -Helmer. Tell me what that would be! - -Nora. Both you and I would have to be so changed that--. Oh, Torvald, -I don't believe any longer in wonderful things happening. - -Helmer. But I will believe in it. Tell me! So changed that--? - -Nora. That our life together would be a real wedlock. Goodbye. -(She goes out through the hall.) - -Helmer (sinks down on a chair at the door and buries his face in -his hands). Nora! Nora! (Looks round, and rises.) Empty. She is gone. (A hope -flashes across his mind.) The most wonderful thing of all--? - -(The sound of a door shutting is heard from below.) - - - - - -End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen - |