Doll's House (9781443435505) (7 page)

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—forever?

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—!