Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (197 page)

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 to-morrow.

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 toward 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 to-morrow 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 to-day or to-morrow; 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 till 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 to-morrow 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.

Helmer
. Hullo! — are we going to have a banquet? (
Exit.
)

Nora
. Yes, a champagne banquet till 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 till midnight; and then four-and-twenty hours till 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 out-stretched
). Here she is!

ACT II
I

(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 any one else’s sake.

Mrs. Linde
. Indeed I don’t know. Many a time did I ask myself if I had a 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 learnt 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 learnt 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!

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 your self.

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 till 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 enclosed; 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 round 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.