Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (198 page)

Helmer
(
taking off
NORA’S
shawl
). Yes, take a good look at her. I think she is worth looking at. Isn’t she charming, Mrs. Linde?

Mrs. Linde
. Yes, indeed she is.

Helmer
. Doesn’t she look remarkably pretty? Everyone thought so at the dance. But she is terribly self-willed, this sweet little person. What are we to do with her? You will hardly believe that I had almost to bring her away by force.

Nora
. Torvald, you will repent not having let me stay, even if it were only for half an hour.

Helmer
. Listen to her, Mrs. Linde! She had danced her Tarantella, and it had been a tremendous success, as it deserved — although possibly the performance was a trifle too realistic — little more so, I mean, than was strictly compatible with the limitations of art. But never mind about that! The chief thing is, she had made a success — she had made a tremendous success. Do you think I was going to let her remain there after that, and spoil the effect? No, indeed! I took my charming little Capri maiden — my capricious little Capri maiden, I should say — on my arm; took one quick turn round the room; a curtsey on either side, and, as they say in novels, the beautiful apparition disappeared. An exit ought always to be effective, Mrs. Linde; but that is what I cannot make Nora understand. Pooh! this room is hot. (
Throws his domino on a chair, and opens the door of his room
.) Hullo! it’s all dark in here. Oh, of course — excuse me — . (
He goes in, and lights some candles
.)

Nora
(
in a hurried and breathless whisper
). Well?

Mrs. Linde.
(
in a low voice
). I have had a talk with him.

Nora.
Yes, and —

Mrs. Linde
. Nora, you must tell your husband all about it.

Nora
(
in an expressionless voice
). I knew it.

Mrs. Linde.
You have nothing to be afraid of as far as Krogstad is concerned; but you must tell him.

Nora
. I won’t tell him.

Mrs. Linde
. Then the letter will.

Nora
. Thank you, Christine. Now I know what I must do. Hush — !

Helmer
(
coming in again
). Well, Mrs. Linde, have you admired her?

Mrs. Linde
. Yes, and now I will say good-night.

Helmer
. What, already? Is this yours, this knitting?

Mrs. Linde
(
taking it
). Yes, thank you, I had very nearly forgotten it.

Helmer
. So you knit?

Mrs. Linde
. Of course.

Helmer
. Do you know, you ought to embroider?

Mrs. Linde
. Really? Why?

Helmer
. Yes, it’s far more becoming. Let me show you. You hold the embroidery thus in your left hand, and use the needle with the right — like this — with a long, easy sweep. Do you see?

Mrs. Linde
. Yes, perhaps —

Helmer
. But in the case of knitting — that can never be anything but ungraceful; look here — the arms close together, the knitting-needles going up and down — it has a sort of Chinese effect — . That was really excellent champagne they gave us.

Mrs. Linde
. Well, — good-night, Nora, and don’t be self-willed any more.

Helmer
. That’s right, Mrs. Linde.

Mrs. Linde
. Good-night, Mr. Helmer.

Helmer
(
accompanying her to the door
). Good-night, good-night. I hope you will get home all right. I should be very happy to — but you haven’t any great distance to go. Good-night, good-night. (
She goes out; he shuts the door after her and comes in again
.) Ah! — at last we have got rid of her. She is a frightful bore, that woman.

Nora
. Aren’t you very tired, Torvald?

Helmer
. No, not in the least.

Nora
. Nor sleepy?

Helmer
. Not a bit. On the contrary, I feel extraordinarily lively. And you? — you really look both tired and sleepy.

Nora
. Yes, I am very tired. I want to go to sleep at once.

Helmer
. There, you see it was quite right of me not to let you stay there any longer.

Nora
. Everything you do is quite right, Torvald.

Helmer
(
kissing her on the forehead
). Now my little skylark is speaking reasonably. Did you notice what good spirits Rank was in this evening?

Nora
. Really? Was he? I didn’t speak to him at all.

Helmer
. And I very little, but I have not for a long time seen him in such good form. (
Looks for a while at her and then goes nearer to her
.) It is delightful to be at home by ourselves again, to be all alone with you — you fascinating, charming little darling!

Nora
. Don’t look at me like that, Torvald.

Helmer
. Why shouldn’t I look at my dearest treasure? — at all the beauty that is mine, all my very own?

Nora
(
going to the other side of the table
). You mustn’t say things like that to me tonight.

Helmer
(
following her
). You have still got the Tarantella in your blood, I see. And it makes you more captivating than ever. Listen — the guests are beginning to go now. (
In a lower voice
.) Nora — soon the whole house will be quiet.

Nora
. Yes, I hope so.

Helmer
. Yes, my own darling Nora. Do you know, when I am out at a party with you like this, why I speak so little to you, keep away from you, and only send a stolen glance in your direction now and then? — do you know why I do that? It is because I make believe to myself that we are secretly in love, and you are my secretly promised bride, and that no one suspects there is anything between us.

Nora
. Yes, yes — I know very well your thoughts are with me all the time.

Helmer
. And when we are leaving, and I am putting the shawl over your beautiful young shoulders — on your lovely neck — then I imagine that you are my young bride and that we have just come from the wedding, and I am bringing you for the first time into our home — to be alone with you for the first time — quite alone with my shy little darling! All this evening I have longed for nothing but you. When I watched the seductive figures of the Tarantella, my blood was on fire; I could endure it no longer, and that was why I brought you down so early —

Nora
. Go away, Torvald! You must let me go. I won’t —

Helmer
. What’s that? You’re joking, my little Nora! You won’t — you won’t? Am I not your husband — ? (
A knock is heard at the outer door
.)

Nora
(
starting
). Did you hear — ?

Helmer
(
going into the hall
). Who is it?

Rank
(
outside
). It is I. May I come in for a moment?

Helmer
(
in a fretful whisper
). Oh, what does he want now? (
Aloud
.) Wait a minute? (
Unlocks the door
.) Come, that’s kind of you not to pass by our door.

Rank
. I thought I heard your voice, and felt as if I should like to look in. (
With a swift glance round
.) Ah, yes! — these dear familiar rooms. You are very happy and cosy in here, you two.

Helmer
. It seems to me that you looked after yourself pretty well upstairs too.

Rank
. Excellently. Why shouldn’t I? Why shouldn’t one enjoy everything in this world? — at any rate as much as one can, and as long as one can. The wine was capital —

Helmer
. Especially the champagne.

Rank
. So you noticed that too? It is almost incredible how much I managed to put away!

Nora
. Torvald drank a great deal of champagne tonight, too.

Rank
. Did he?

Nora
. Yes, and he is always in such good spirits afterwards.

Rank
. Well, why should one not enjoy a merry evening after a well-spent day?

Helmer
. Well spent? I am afraid I can’t take credit for that.

Rank
(
clapping him on the back
). But I can, you know!

Nora
. Doctor Rank, you must have been occupied with some scientific investigation today.

Rank
. Exactly.

Helmer
. Just listen! — little Nora talking about scientific investigations!

Nora
. And may I congratulate you on the result?

Rank
. Indeed you may.

Nora
. Was it favourable, then.

Rank
. The best possible, for both doctor and patient — certainty.

Nora
(
quickly and searchingly
). Certainty?

Rank
. Absolute certainty. So wasn’t I entitled to make a merry evening of it after that?

Nora
. Yes, you certainly were, Doctor Rank.

Helmer
. I think so too, so long as you don’t have to pay for it in the morning.

Rank
. Oh well, one can’t have anything in this life without paying for it.

Nora
. Doctor Rank — are you fond of fancy-dress balls?

Rank
. Yes, if there is a fine lot of pretty costumes.

Nora
. Tell me — what shall we two wear at the next?

Helmer
. Little featherbrain! — are you thinking of the next already?

Rank
. We two? Yes, I can tell you. You shall go as a good fairy —

Helmer
. Yes, but what do you suggest as an appropriate costume for that?

Rank
. Let your wife go dressed just as she is in every-day life.

Helmer
. That was really very prettily turned. But can’t you tell us what you will be?

Rank
. Yes, my dear friend, I have quite made up my mind about that.

Helmer
. Well?

Rank
. At the next fancy-dress ball I shall be invisible.

Helmer
That’s a good joke!

Rank
. There is a big black hat — have you never heard of hats that make you invisible? If you put one on, no one can see you.

Helmer
(
suppressing a smile
). Yes, you are quite right.

Rank
. But I am clean forgetting what I came for. Helmer, give me a cigar — one of the dark Havanas.

Helmer
. With the greatest pleasure. (
Offers him his case
.)

Rank
(
takes a cigar and cuts off the end
). Thanks.

Nora
(
striking a match
). Let me give you a light.

Rank
. Thank you. (
She holds the match for him to light his cigar
.) And now good-bye!