A Doll's House - 3

_[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 hall.]_
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! 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