ACT SECOND

Nora.

[Closer behind him.] Are you sure of that?

Helmer.

As a lawyer, my dear, I have seen it often enough. Nearly all cases of early corruption may be traced to lying mothers.

Nora.

Why—mothers?

Helmer.

It generally comes from the mother’s side; but of course the father’s influence may act in the same way. Every lawyer knows it too well. And here has this Krogstad been poisoning his own children for years past by a life of lies and hypocrisy—that is why I call him morally ruined. [Holds out both hands to her.] So my sweet little Nora must promise not to plead his cause. Shake hands upon it. Come, come, what’s this? Give me your hand. That’s right. Then it’s a bargain. I assure you it would have been impossible for me to work with him. It gives me a positive sense of physical discomfort to come in contact with such people.

[Noradraws her hand away, and moves to the other side of the Christmas-tree.

Nora.

How warm it is here. And I have so much to do.

Helmer.

[Rises and gathers up his papers.] Yes, and I must try to get some of these papers looked through before dinner. And I shall think over your costume too. Perhaps I may even find something to hang in gilt paper on the Christmas-tree. [Lays his hand on her head.] My precious little song-bird!

[He goes into his room and shuts the door.

Nora.

[Softly, after a pause.] It can’t be. It’s impossible. It must be impossible!

Anna.

[At the door, left.] T

Nora.

No, no, no; don’t let them come to me! Keep them with you, Anna.

Anna.

Very well, ma’am.

[Shuts the door.

Nora.

[Pale with terror.] Corrupt my children!—Poison my home! [Short pause. She throws back her head.] It’s not true! It can never, never be true!

ACT SECOND

The same room. In the corner, beside the piano, stands the Christmas-tree, stripped, and with the candles burnt out.Nora’soutdoor things lie on the sofa.Nora, alone, is walking about restlessly. At last she stops by the sofa, and takes up her cloak.

The same room. In the corner, beside the piano, stands the Christmas-tree, stripped, and with the candles burnt out.Nora’soutdoor things lie on the sofa.

Nora, alone, is walking about restlessly. At last she stops by the sofa, and takes up her cloak.

Nora.

[Dropping the cloak.] There’s somebody coming! [Goes to the hall door and listens.] Nobody; of course nobody will come to-day, Christmas-day; nor to-morrow either. But perhaps——[Opens the door and looks out.]—No, nothing in the letter-box; quite empty. [Comes forward.] Stuff and nonsense! Of course he won’t really do anything. Such a thing couldn’t happen. It’s impossible! Why, I have three little children.

Annaenters from the left, with a large cardboard box.

Anna.

I’ve found the box with the fancy dress at last.

Nora.

Thanks; put it down on the table.

Anna.

[Does so.] But I’m afraid it’s very much out of order.

Nora.

Oh, I wish I could tear it into a hundred thousand pieces!

Anna.

Oh, no. It can easily be put to rights—just a little patience.

Nora.

I shall go and get Mrs. Linden to help me.

Anna.

Going out again? In such weather as this! You’ll catch cold, ma’am, and be ill.

Nora.

Worse things might happen.—What are the children doing?

Anna.

They’re playing with their Christmas presents, poor little dears; but——

Nora.

Do they often ask for me?

Anna.

You see they’ve been so used to having their mamma with them.

Nora.

Yes; but, Anna, I can’t have them so much with me in future.

Anna.

Well, little children get used to anything.

Nora.

Do you think they do? Do you believe they would forget their mother if she went quite away?

Anna.

Gracious me! Quite away?

Nora.

Tell me, Anna—I’ve so often wondered about it—how could you bring yourself to give your child up to strangers?

Anna.

I had to when I came to nurse my little Miss Nora.

Nora.

But how could you make up your mind to it?

Anna.

When I had the chance of such a good place? A poor girl who’s been in trouble must take what comes. That wicked man did nothing for me.

Nora.

But your daughter must have forgotten you.

Anna.

Oh, no, ma’am, that she hasn’t. She wrote to me both when she was confirmed and when she was married.

Nora.

[Embracing her.] Dear old Anna—you were a good mother to me when I was little.

Anna.

My poor little Nora had no mother but me.

Nora.

And if my little ones had nobody else, I’m sure you would——Nonsense, nonsense! [Opens the box.] Go in to the children. Now I must——You’ll see how lovely I shall be to-morrow.

Anna.

I’m sure there will be no one at the ball so lovely as my Miss Nora.

[She goes into the room on the left.

Nora.

[Takes the costume out of the box, but soon throws it down again.] Oh, if I dared go out. If only nobody would come. If only nothing would happen here in the meantime. Rubbish; nobody is coming. Only not to think. What a delicious muff! Beautiful gloves, beautiful gloves! To forget—to forget! One, two, three, four, five, six——[With a scream.] Ah, there they come.

[Goes towards the door, then stands irresolute.

Mrs. Lindenenters from the hall, where she has taken off her things.

Nora.

Oh, it’s you, Christina. There’s nobody else there? I’m so glad you have come.

Mrs. Linden.

I hear you called at my lodgings.

Nora.

Yes, I was just passing. There’s something youmusthelp me with. Let us sit here on the sofa—so. To-morrow evening there’s to be a fancy ball at Consul Stenborg’s overhead, and Torvald wants me to appear as a Neapolitan fisher-girl, and dance the tarantella; I learned it at Capri.

Mrs. Linden.

I see—quite a performance.

Nora.

Yes, Torvald wishes it. Look, this is the costume; Torvald had it made for me in Italy. But now it’s all so torn, I don’t know——

Mrs. Linden.

Oh, we shall soon set that to rights. It’s only the trimming that has come loose here and there. Have you a needle and thread? Ah, here’s the very thing.

Nora.

Oh, how kind of you.

Mrs. Linden.

[Sewing.] So you’re to be in costume to-morrow, Nora? I’ll tell you what—I shall come in for a moment to see you in all your glory. But I’ve quite forgotten to thank you for the pleasant evening yesterday.

Nora.

[Rises and walks across the room.] Oh, yesterday, it didn’t seem so pleasant as usual.—You should have come to town a little sooner, Christina.—Torvald has certainly the art of making home bright and beautiful.

Mrs. Linden.

You too, I should think, or you wouldn’t be your father’s daughter. But tell me—is Doctor Rank always so depressed as he was last evening?

Nora.

No, yesterday it was particularly noticeable. You see, he suffers from a dreadful illness. He has spinal consumption, poor fellow. They say his father was a horrible man, who kept mistresses and all sorts of things—so the son has been sickly from his childhood, you understand.

Mrs. Linden.

[Lets her sewing fall into her lap.] Why, my darling Nora, how do you come to know such things?

Nora.

[Moving about the room.] Oh, when one has three children, one sometimes has visits from women who are half—half doctors—and they talk of one thing and another.

Mrs. Linden.

[Goes on sewing; a short pause.] Does Doctor Rank come here every day?

Nora.

Every day of his life. He has been Torvald’s most intimate friend from boyhood, and he’s a good friend of mine too. Doctor Rank is quite one of the family.

Mrs. Linden.

But tell me—is he quite sincere? I mean, isn’t he rather given to flattering people?

Nora.

No, quite the contrary. Why should you think so?

Mrs. Linden.

When you introduced us yesterday he said he had often heard my name; but I noticed afterwards that your husband had no notion who I was. How could Doctor Rank——?

Nora.

He was quite right, Christina. You see, Torvald loves me so indescribably, he wants to have me all to himself, as he says. When we were first married he was almost jealous if I even mentioned any of my old friends at home; so naturally I gave up doing it. But I often talk of the old times to Doctor Rank, for he likes to hear about them.

Mrs. Linden.

Listen to me, Nora! You are still a child in many ways. I am older than you, and have had more experience. I’ll tell yousomething.something.You ought to get clear of all this with Dr. Rank.

Nora.

Get clear of what?

Mrs. Linden.

The whole affair, I should say. You were talking yesterday of a rich admirer who was to find you money——

Nora.

Yes, one who never existed, worse luck. What then?

Mrs. Linden.

Has Doctor Rank money?

Nora.

Yes, he has.

Mrs. Linden.

And nobody to provide for?

Nora.

Nobody. But——?

Mrs. Linden.

And he comes here every day?

Nora.

Yes, I told you so.

Mrs. Linden.

I should have thought he would have had better taste.

Nora.

I don’t understand you a bit.

Mrs. Linden.

Don’t pretend, Nora. Do you suppose I can’t guess who lent you the twelve hundred dollars?

Nora.

Are you out of your senses? How can you think such a thing? A friend who comes here every day! Why, the position would be unbearable!

Mrs. Linden.

Then it really is not he?

Nora.

No, I assure you. It never for a moment occurred to me——Besides, at that time he had nothing to lend; he came into his property afterwards.

Mrs. Linden.

Well, I believe that was lucky for you, Nora dear.

Nora.

No, really, it would never have struck me to ask Dr. Rank——And yet, I’m certain that if I did——

Mrs. Linden.

But of course you never would.

Nora.

Of course not. It’s inconceivable that it should ever be necessary. But I’m quite sure that if I spoke to Doctor Rank——

Mrs. Linden.

Behind your husband’s back?

Nora.

I must get clear of the other thing; that’s behind his back too. Imustget clear of that.

Mrs. Linden.

Yes, yes, I told you so yesterday; but——

Nora.

[Walking up and down.] A man can manage these things much better than a woman.

Mrs. Linden.

One’s own husband, yes.

Nora.

Nonsense. [Stands still.] When everything is paid, one gets back the paper.

Mrs. Linden.

Of course.

Nora.

And can tear it into a hundred thousand pieces, and burn it up, the nasty, filthy thing!

Mrs. Linden.

[Looks at her fixedly, lays down her work, and rises slowly.] Nora, you are hiding something from me.

Nora.

Can you see it in my face?

Mrs. Linden.

Something has happened since yesterday morning. Nora, what is it?

Nora.

[Going towards her.] Christina——! [Listens.] Hush! There’s Torvald coming home. Do you mind going into the nursery for the present? Torvald can’t bear to see dressmaking going on. Get Anna to help you.

Mrs. Linden.

[Gathers some of the things together.] Very well; but I shan’t go away until you have told me all about it.

[She goes out to the left, asHelmerenters from the hall.

Nora.

[Runs to meet him.] Oh, how I’ve been longing for you to come, Torvald dear!

Helmer.

Was that the dressmaker——?

Nora.

No, Christina. She’s helping me with my costume. You’ll see how nice I shall look.

Helmer.

Yes, wasn’t that a happy thought of mine?

Nora.

Splendid! But isn’t it good of me, too, to have given in to you about the tarantella?

Helmer.

[Takes her under the chin.] Good of you! To give in to your own husband? Well well, you little madcap, I know you don’t mean it. But I won’t disturb you. I daresay you want to be “tryingon.”on.”

Nora.

And you are going to work, I suppose?

Helmer.

Yes. [Shows her a bundle of papers.] Look here. I’ve just come from the Bank——

[Goes towards his room.

Nora.

Torvald.

Helmer.

[Stopping.] Yes?

Nora.

If your little squirrel were to beg you for something so prettily——

Helmer.

Well?

Nora.

Would you do it?

Helmer.

I must know first what it is.

Nora.

The squirrel would skip about and play all sorts of tricks if you would only be nice and kind.

Helmer.

Come, then, out with it.

Nora.

Your lark would twitter from morning till night——

Helmer

Oh, that she does in any case.

Nora.

I’ll be an elf and dance in the moonlight for you, Torvald.

Helmer.

Nora—you can’t mean what you were hinting at this morning?

Nora.

[Coming nearer.] Yes, Torvald, I beg and implore you!

Helmer.

Have you really the courage to begin that again?

Nora.

Yes, yes; for my sake, youmustlet Krogstad keep his place in the Bank.

Helmer.

My dear Nora, it’s his place I intend for Mrs. Linden.

Nora.

Yes, that’s so good of you. But instead of Krogstad, you could dismiss some other clerk.

Helmer.

Why, this is incredible obstinacy! Because you have thoughtlessly promised to put in a word for him, I am to——!

Nora.

It’s not that, Torvald. It’s for your own sake. This man writes for the most scurrilous newspapers; you said so yourself. He can do you no end of harm. I’m so terribly afraid of him——

Helmer.

Ah, I understand; it’s old recollections that are frightening you.

Nora.

What do you mean?

Helmer.

Of course you’re thinking of your father.

Nora.

Yes—yes, of course. Only think of the shameful slanders wicked people used to write about father. I believe they would have got him dismissed if you hadn’t been sent to look into the thing, and been kind to him, and helped him.

Helmer.

My little Nora, between your father and me there is all the difference in the world. Your father was not altogether unimpeachable. I am; and I hope to remain so.

Nora.

Oh, no one knows what wicked men may hit upon. We could live so quietly and happily now, in our cosy, peaceful home, you and I and the children, Torvald! That’s why I beg and implore you——

Helmer.

And it is just by pleading his cause that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It’s already known at the Bank that I intend to dismiss Krogstad. If it were now reported that the new manager let himself be turned round his wife’s little finger——

Nora.

What then?

Helmer.

Oh, nothing, so long as a wilful woman can have her way——! I am to make myself a laughing-stock to the whole staff, and set people saying that I am open to all sorts of outside influence? Take my word for it, I should soonfeel the consequences. And besides—there is one thing that makes Krogstad impossible for me to work with——

Nora.

What thing?

Helmer.

I could perhaps have overlooked his moral failings at a pinch——

Nora.

Yes, couldn’t you, Torvald?

Helmer.

And I hear he is good at his work. But the fact is, he was a college chum of mine—there was one of those rash friendships between us that one so often repents of later. I may as well confess it at once—he calls me by my Christian name;[9]and he is tactless enough to do it even when others are present. He delights in putting on airs of familiarity—Torvald here, Torvald there! I assure you it’s most painful to me. He would make my position at the Bank perfectly unendurable.

Nora.

Torvald, surely you’re not serious?

Helmer.

No? Why not?

Nora.

That’s such a petty reason.

Helmer.

What! Petty! Do you consider me petty!

Nora.

No, on the contrary, Torvald dear; and that’s just why——

Helmer.

Never mind; you call my motives petty; then I must be petty too. Petty! Very well!—Now we’ll put an end to this, once for all. [Goes to the door into the hall and calls.] Ellen!

Nora.

What do you want?

Helmer.

[Searching among his papers.] To settle the thing. [Ellenenters.] Here; take this letter; give it to a messenger. See that he takes it at once. The address is on it. Here’s the money.

Ellen.

Very well, sir.

[Goes with the letter.

Helmer.

[Putting his papers together.] There, Madam Obstinacy.

Nora.

[Breathless.] Torvald—what was in the letter?

Helmer.

Krogstad’s dismissal.

Nora.

Call it back again, Torvald! There’s still time. Oh, Torvald, call it back again! For my sake, for your own, for the children’s sake! Do you hear, Torvald? Do it! You don’t know what that letter may bring upon us all.

Helmer.

Too late.

Nora.

Yes, too late.

Helmer.

My dear Nora, I forgive your anxiety, though it’s anything but flattering to me. Why should you suppose thatIwould be afraid of a wretched scribbler’s spite? But I forgive you all the same, for it’s a proof of your great love for me. [Takes her in his arms.] That’s as it should be, my own dear Nora. Let what will happen—when it comes to the pinch, I shall have strength and courage enough. You shall see: my shoulders are broad enough to bear the whole burden.

Nora.

[Terror-struck.] What do you mean by that?

Helmer.

The whole burden, I say——

Nora.

[With decision.] That you shall never, never do!

Helmer.

Very well; then we’ll share it, Nora, as man and wife. That is how it should be. [Petting her.] Are you satisfied now? Come, come, come, don’t look like a scared dove. It’s all nothing—foolish fancies.—Now you ought to play the tarantella through and practise with the tambourine. I shall sit in my inner room and shut both doors, so that I shall hear nothing. You can make as much noise as you please. [Turnsround in doorway.] And when Rank comes, just tell him where I’m to be found.

[He nods to her, and goes with his papers into his room, closing the door.

Nora.

[Bewildered with terror, stands as though rooted to the ground, and whispers.] He would do it. Yes, he would do it. He would do it, in spite of all the world.—No, never that, never, never! Anything rather than that! Oh, for some way of escape! What shall I do——! [Hall bell rings.] Doctor Rank——!—Anything, anything, rather than——!

[Noradraws her hands over her face, pulls herself together, goes to the door and opens it.Rankstands outside hanging up his fur coat. During what follows it begins to grow dark.

Nora.

Good afternoon, Doctor Rank. I knew you by your ring. But you mustn’t go to Torvald now. I believe he’s busy.

Rank.

And you?

[Enters and closes the door.

Nora.

Oh, you know very well, I have always time for you.

Rank.

Thank you. I shall avail myself of your kindness as long as I can.

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