A Doll's House - 2

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, he 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.