Masters of the Theatre

by Delphi Classics

  Nora. So you are quite alone. How dreadfully sad that must be. I have three lovely children. You can’t see them just now, for they are out with their nurse. But now you must tell me all about it.

  Mrs. Linde. No, no; I want to hear about you.

  Nora. No, you must begin. I mustn’t be selfish today; today I must only think of your affairs. But there is one thing I must tell you. Do you know we have just had a great piece of good luck?

  Mrs. Linde. No, what is it?

  Nora. Just fancy, my husband has been made manager of the Bank!

  Mrs. Linde. Your husband? What good luck!

  Nora. Yes tremendous! A barrister’s profession is such an uncertain thing, especially if he won’t undertake unsavoury cases; and naturally Torvald has never been willing to do that, and I quite agree with him. You may imagine how pleased we are! He is to take up his work in the Bank at the New Year, and then he will have a big salary and lots of commissions. For the future we can live quite differently — we can do just as we like. I feel so relieved and so happy, Christine! It will be splendid to have heaps of money and not need to have any anxiety, won’t it?

  Mrs. Linde. Yes, anyhow I think it would be delightful to have what one needs.

  Nora. No, not only what one needs, but heaps and heaps of money.

  Mrs. Linde (smiling). Nora, Nora, haven’t you learnt sense yet? In our schooldays you were a great spendthrift.

  Nora (laughing). Yes, that is what Torvald says now. (Wags her finger at her.) But “Nora, Nora” is not so silly as you think. We have not been in a position for me to waste money. We have both had to work.

  Mrs. Linde. You too?

  Nora. Yes; odds and ends, needlework, crochet-work, embroidery, and that kind of thing. (Dropping her voice.) And other things as well. You know Torvald left his office when we were married? There was no prospect of promotion there, and he had to try and earn more than before. But during the first year he overworked himself dreadfully. You see, he had to make money every way he could, and he worked early and late; but he couldn’t stand it, and fell dreadfully ill, and the doctors said it was necessary for him to go south.

  Mrs. Linde. You spent a whole year in Italy, didn’t you?

  Nora. Yes. It was no easy matter to get away, I can tell you. It was just after Ivar was born; but naturally we had to go. It was a wonderfully beautiful journey, and it saved Torvald’s life. But it cost a tremendous lot of money, Christine.

  Mrs. Linde. So I should think.

  Nora. It cost about two hundred and fifty pounds. That’s a lot, isn’t it?

  Mrs. Linde. Yes, and in emergencies like that it is lucky to have the money.

  Nora. I ought to tell you that we had it from papa.

  Mrs. Linde. Oh, I see. It was just about that time that he died, wasn’t it?

  Nora. Yes; and, just think of it, I couldn’t go and nurse him. I was expecting little Ivar’s birth every day and I had my poor sick Torvald to look after. My dear, kind father — I never saw him again, Christine. That was the saddest time I have known since our marriage.

  Mrs. Linde. I know how fond you were of him. And then you went off to Italy?

  Nora. Yes; you see we had money then, and the doctors insisted on our going, so we started a month later.

  Mrs. Linde. And your husband came back quite well?

  Nora. As sound as a bell!

  Mrs Linde. But — the doctor?

  Nora. What doctor?

  Mrs Linde. I thought your maid said the gentleman who arrived here just as I did, was the doctor?

  Nora. Yes, that was Doctor Rank, but he doesn’t come here professionally. He is our greatest friend, and comes in at least once every day. No, Torvald has not had an hour’s illness since then, and our children are strong and healthy and so am I. (Jumps up and claps her hands.) Christine! Christine! it’s good to be alive and happy! — But how horrid of me; I am talking of nothing but my own affairs. (Sits on a stool near her, and rests her arms on her knees.) You mustn’t be angry with me. Tell me, is it really true that you did not love your husband? Why did you marry him?

  Mrs. Linde. My mother was alive then, and was bedridden and helpless, and I had to provide for my two younger brothers; so I did not think I was justified in refusing his offer.

  Nora. No, perhaps you were quite right. He was rich at that time, then?

  Mrs. Linde. I believe he was quite well off. But his business was a precarious one; and, when he died, it all went to pieces and there was nothing left.

  Nora. And then? —

  Mrs. Linde. Well, I had to turn my hand to anything I could find — first a small shop, then a small school, and so on. The last three years have seemed like one long working-day, with no rest. Now it is at an end, Nora. My poor mother needs me no more, for she is gone; and the boys do not need me either; they have got situations and can shift for themselves.

  Nora. What a relief you must feel it —

  Mrs. Linde. No, indeed; I only feel my life unspeakably empty. No one to live for any more. (Gets up restlessly.) That is why I could not stand the life in my little backwater any longer. I hope it may be easier here to find something which will busy me and occupy my thoughts. If only I could have the good luck to get some regular work — office work of some kind —

  Nora. But, Christine, that is so frightfully tiring, and you look tired out now. You had far better go away to some watering-place.

  Mrs. Linde (walking to the window). I have no father to give me money for a journey, Nora.

  Nora (rising). Oh, don’t be angry with me.

  Mrs. Linde (going up to her). It is you that must not be angry with me, dear. The worst of a position like mine is that it makes one so bitter. No one to work for, and yet obliged to be always on the look-out for chances. One must live, and so one becomes selfish. When you told me of the happy turn your fortunes have taken — you will hardly believe it — I was delighted not so much on your account as on my own.

  Nora. How do you mean? — Oh, I understand. You mean that perhaps Torvald could get you something to do.

  Mrs. Linde. Yes, that was what I was thinking of.

  Nora. He must, Christine. Just leave it to me; I will broach the subject very cleverly — I will think of something that will please him very much. It will make me so happy to be of some use to you.

  Mrs. Linde. How kind you are, Nora, to be so anxious to help me! It is doubly kind in you, for you know so little of the burdens and troubles of life.

  Nora. I — ? I know so little of them?

  Mrs Linde (smiling). My dear! Small household cares and that sort of thing! — You are a child, Nora.

  Nora (tosses her head and crosses the stage). You ought not to be so superior.

  Mrs. Linde. No?

  Nora. You are just like all the others. They all think that I am incapable of anything really serious —

  Mrs. Linde. Come, come —

  Nora. — that I have gone through nothing in this world of cares.

  Mrs. Linde. But, my dear Nora, you have just told me all your troubles.

  Nora. Pooh! — those were trifles. (Lowering her voice.) I have not told you the important thing.

  Mrs. Linde. The important thing? What do you mean?

  Nora. You look down upon me altogether, Christine — but you ought not to. You are proud, aren’t you, of having-worked so hard and so long for your mother?

  Mrs. Linde. Indeed, I don’t look down on any one. But it is true that I am both proud and glad to think that I was privileged to make the end of my mother’s life almost free from care.

  Nora. And you are proud to think of what you have done for your brothers.

  Mrs. Linde. I think I have the right to be.

  Nora. I think so, too. But now, listen to this; I too have something to be proud and glad of.

  Mrs. Linde. I have no doubt you have. But what do you refer to?

  Nora. Speak low. Suppose Torvald were to hear! He mustn’t on any account — no one in the world must know
, Christine, except you.

  Mrs. Linde. But what is it?

  Nora. Come here. (Pulls her down on the sofa beside her.) Now I will show you that I too have something to be proud and glad of. It was I who saved Torvald’s life.

  Mrs. Linde. “Saved”? How?

  Nora. I told you about our trip to Italy. Torvald would never have recovered if he had not gone there —

  Mrs. Linde. Yes, but your father gave you the necessary funds.

  Nora (smiling). Yes, that is what Torvald and all the others think, but —

  Mrs. Linde. But. —

  Nora. Papa didn’t give us a shilling. It was I who procured the money.

  Mrs. Linde. You? All that large sum?

  Nora. Two hundred and fifty pounds. What do you think of that?

  Mrs. Linde. But, Nora, how could you possibly do it? Did you win a prize in the Lottery?

  Nora (contemptuously). In the Lottery? There would have been no credit in that.

  Mrs. Linde. But where did you get it from, then?

  Nora (humming and smiling with an air of mystery). Hm, hu! Aha!

  Mrs. Linde. Because you couldn’t have borrowed it.

  Nora. Couldn’t I? Why not?

  Mrs. Linde. No, a wife cannot borrow without her husband’s consent.

  Nora (tossing her head). Oh, if it is a wife who has any head for business — a wife who has the wit to be a little bit clever —

  Mrs. Linde. I don’t understand it at all, Nora.

  Nora. There is no need you should. I never said I had borrowed the money. I may have got it some other way. (Lies back on the sofa.) Perhaps I got it from some other admirer. When anyone is as attractive as I am —

  Mrs. Linde. You are a mad creature.

  Nora. Now, you know you’re full of curiosity, Christine.

  Mrs. Linde. Listen to me, Nora dear. Haven’t you been a little bit imprudent?

  Nora (sits up straight). Is it imprudent to save your husband’s life?

  Mrs. Linde. It seems to me imprudent, without his knowledge, to —

  Nora. But it was absolutely necessary that he should not know! My goodness, can’t you understand that? It was necessary he should have no idea what a dangerous condition he was in. It was to me that the doctors came and said that his life was in danger, and that the only thing to save him was to live in the south. Do you suppose I didn’t try, first of all, to get what I wanted as if it were for myself? I told him how much I should love to travel abroad like other young wives; I tried tears and entreaties with him; I told him that he ought to remember the condition I was in, and that he ought to be kind and indulgent to me; I even hinted that he might raise a loan. That nearly made him angry, Christine. He said I was thoughtless, and that it was his duty as my husband not to indulge me in my whims and caprices — as I believe he called them. Very well, I thought, you must be saved — and that was how I came to devise a way out of the difficulty —

  Mrs. Linde. And did your husband never get to know from your father that the money had not come from him?

  Nora. No, never. Papa died just at that time. I had meant to let him into the secret and beg him never to reveal it. But he was so ill then — alas, there never was any need to tell him.

  Mrs. Linde. And since then have you never told your secret to your husband?

  Nora. Good Heavens, no! How could you think so? A man who has such strong opinions about these things! And besides, how painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything! It would upset our mutual relations altogether; our beautiful happy home would no longer be what it is now.

  Mrs. Linde. Do you mean never to tell him about it?

  Nora (meditatively, and with a half smile.) Yes — some day, perhaps, after many years, when I am no longer as nice-looking as I am now. Don’t laugh at me! I mean, of course, when Torvald is no longer as devoted to me as he is now; when my dancing and dressing-up and reciting have palled on him; then it may be a good thing to have something in reserve — (Breaking off,) What nonsense! That time will never come. Now, what do you think of my great secret, Christine? Do you still think I am of no use? I can tell you, too, that this affair has caused me a lot of worry. It has been by no means easy for me to meet my engagements punctually. I may tell you that there is something that is called, in business, quarterly interest, and another thing called payment in instalments, and it is always so dreadfully difficult to manage them. I have had to save a little here and there, where I could, you understand. I have not been able to put aside much from my housekeeping money, for Torvald must have a good table. I couldn’t let my children be shabbily dressed; I have felt obliged to use up all he gave me for them, the sweet little darlings!

  Mrs. Linde. So it has all had to come out of your own necessaries of life, poor Nora?

  Nora. Of course. Besides, I was the one responsible for it. Whenever Torvald has given me money for new dresses and such things, I have never spent more than half of it; I have always bought the simplest and cheapest things. Thank Heaven, any clothes look well on me, and so Torvald has never noticed it. But it was often very hard on me, Christine — because it is delightful to be really well dressed, isn’t it?

  Mrs. Linde. Quite so.

  Nora. Well, then I have found other ways of earning money. Last winter I was lucky enough to get a lot of copying to do; so I locked myself up and sat writing every evening until quite late at night. Many a time I was desperately tired; but all the same it was a tremendous pleasure to sit there working and earning money. It was like being a man.

  Mrs. Linde. How much have you been able to pay off in that way?

  Nora. I can’t tell you exactly. You see, it is very difficult to keep an account of a business matter of that kind. I only know that I have paid every penny that I could scrape together. Many a time I was at my wits’ end. (Smiles.) Then I used to sit here and imagine that a rich old gentleman had fallen in love with me —

  Mrs. Linde. What! Who was it?

  Nora. Be quiet! — that he had died; and that when his will was opened it contained, written in big letters, the instruction: “The lovely Mrs. Nora Helmer is to have all I possess paid over to her at once in cash.”

  Mrs. Linde. But, my dear Nora — who could the man be?

  Nora. Good gracious, can’t you understand? There was no old gentleman at all; it was only something that I used to sit here and imagine, when I couldn’t think of any way of procuring money. But it’s all the same now; the tiresome old person can stay where he is, as far as I am concerned; I don’t care about him or his will either, for I am free from care now. (Jumps up.) My goodness, it’s delightful to think of, Christine! Free from care! To be able to be free from care, quite free from care; to be able to play and romp with the children; to be able to keep the house beautifully and have everything just as Torvald likes it! And, think of it, soon the spring will come and the big blue sky! Perhaps we shall be able to take a little trip — perhaps I shall see the sea again! Oh, it’s a wonderful thing to be alive and be happy. (A bell is heard in the hall.)

  Mrs. Linde (rising). There is the bell; perhaps I had better go.

  Nora. No, don’t go; no one will come in here; it is sure to be for Torvald.

  Servant (at the hall door). Excuse me, ma’am — there is a gentleman to see the master, and as the doctor is with him —

  Nora. Who is it?

  Krogstad (at the door). It is I, Mrs. Helmer. (Mrs. LINDE starts, trembles, and turns to the window.)

  Nora (takes a step towards him, and speaks in a strained low voice). You? What is it? What do you want to see my husband about?

  Krogstad. Bank business — in a way. I have a small post in the Bank, and I hear your husband is to be our chief now —

  Nora. Then it is —

  Krogstad. Nothing but dry business matters, Mrs. Helmers; absolutely nothing else.

  Nora. Be so good as to go into the study then. (She bows indifferently to him and shuts the door into th
e hall; then comes back and makes up the fire in the stove.)

  Mrs. Linde. Nora — who was that man?

  Nora. A lawyer, of the name of Krogstad.

  Mrs. Linde. Then it really was he.

  Nora. Do you know the man?

  Mrs. Linde. I used to — many years ago. At one time he was a solicitor’s clerk in our town.

  Nora. Yes, he was.

  Mrs. Linde. He is greatly altered.

  Nora. He made a very unhappy marriage.

  Mrs. Linde. He is a widower now, isn’t he?

  Nora. With several children. There now, it is burning up. (Shuts the door of the stove and moves the rocking-chair aside.)

  Mrs. Linde. They say he carries on various kinds of business.

  Nora. Really! Perhaps he does; I don’t know anything about it. But don’t let us think of business; it is so tiresome.

  Doctor Rank (comes out of HELMER’S study. Before he shuts the door he calls to him). No, my dear fellow, I won’t disturb you; I would rather go in to your wife for a little while. (Shuts the door and sees Mrs. LINDE.) I beg your pardon; I am afraid I am disturbing you too.

  Nora. No, not at all. (Introducing him.) Doctor Rank, Mrs. Linde.

  Rank. I have often heard Mrs. Linde’s name mentioned here. I think I passed you on the stairs when I arrived, Mrs. Linde?

  Mrs. Linde. Yes, I go up very slowly; I can’t manage stairs well.

  Rank. Ah! some slight internal weakness?

  Mrs. Linde. No, the fact is I have been overworking myself.

  Rank. Nothing more than that? Then I suppose you have come to town to amuse yourself with our entertainments?

  Mrs. Linde. I have come to look for work.

  Rank. Is that a good cure for overwork?

  Mrs. Linde. One must live, Doctor Rank.

  Rank. Yes, the general opinion seems to be that it is necessary.

  Nora. Look here, Doctor Rank — you know you want to live.

  Rank. Certainly. However wretched I may feel, I want to prolong the agony as long as possible. All my patients are like that. And so are those who are morally diseased; one of them, and a bad case, too, is at this very moment with Helmer —

  Mrs. Linde (sadly). Ah!