A Doll's House - 4

Total number of words is 4842
Total number of unique words is 847
69.3 of words are in the 2000 most common words
83.3 of words are in the 5000 most common words
88.0 of words are in the 8000 most common words
Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
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.
You have read 1 text from English literature.
Next - A Doll's House - 5
  • Parts
  • A Doll's House - 1
    Total number of words is 4956
    Total number of unique words is 997
    62.3 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    76.2 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    82.1 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • A Doll's House - 2
    Total number of words is 4911
    Total number of unique words is 922
    65.9 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    81.2 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    86.9 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • A Doll's House - 3
    Total number of words is 4924
    Total number of unique words is 993
    63.7 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    79.2 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    85.6 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • A Doll's House - 4
    Total number of words is 4842
    Total number of unique words is 847
    69.3 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    83.3 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    88.0 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • A Doll's House - 5
    Total number of words is 4937
    Total number of unique words is 971
    64.4 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    80.3 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    86.9 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • A Doll's House - 6
    Total number of words is 2196
    Total number of unique words is 516
    77.0 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    87.7 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    90.6 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.