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 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—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—
&nb
sp; 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.
Doll's House (9781443435505) Page 6
