ACT THIRD

[Goes out through the hall.Norahurries to the door, opens it a little, and listens.

Nora.

He’s going. He’s not putting the letter into the box. No, no, it would be impossible! [Opens the door further and further.] What’s that. He’s standing still; not going down stairs. Has he changed his mind? Is he——? [A letter falls into the box.Krogstad’sfootsteps are heard gradually receding down the stair.Norautters a suppressed shriek, and rushes forward towards the sofa-table; pause.] In the letter-box! [Slips shrinkingly up to the hall door.] There it lies.—Torvald, Torvald—now we are lost!

Mrs. Lindenenters from the left with the costume.

Mrs. Linden.

There, I think it’s all right now. Shall we just try it on?

Nora.

[Hoarsely and softly.] Christina, come here.

Mrs. Linden.

[Throws down the dress on the sofa.] What’s the matter? You look quite distracted.

Nora.

Come here. Do you see that letter? There, see—through the glass of the letter-box.

Mrs. Linden.

Yes, yes, I see it.

Nora.

Thatletterletteris from Krogstad——

Mrs. Linden.

Nora—it was Krogstad who lent you the money?

Nora.

Yes; and now Torvald will know everything.

Mrs. Linden.

Believe me, Nora, it’s the best thing for both of you.

Nora.

You don’t know all yet. I have forged a name——

Mrs. Linden.

Good heavens!

Nora.

Now, listen to me, Christina; you shall bear me witness——

Mrs. Linden.

How “witness”? What am I to——?

Nora.

If I should go out of my mind—it might easily happen——

Mrs. Linden.

Nora!

Nora.

Or if anything else should happen to me—so that I couldn’t be here——!

Mrs. Linden.

Nora, Nora, you’re quite beside yourself!

Nora.

In case any one wanted to take it all upon himself—the whole blame—you understand——

Mrs. Linden.

Yes, yes; but how can you think——?

Nora.

You shall bear witness that it’s not true, Christina. I’m not out of my mind at all; I know quite well what I’m saying; and I tell you nobody else knew anything about it; I did the whole thing, I myself. Remember that.

Mrs. Linden.

I shall remember. But I don’t understand what you mean——

Nora.

Oh, how should you? It’s the miracle coming to pass.

Mrs. Linden.

The miracle?

Nora.

Yes, the miracle. But it’s so terrible, Christina; it mustn’t happen for all the world.

Mrs. Linden.

I shall go straight to Krogstad and talk to him.

Nora.

Don’t; he’ll do you some harm.

Mrs. Linden.

Once he would have done anything for me.

Nora.

He?

Mrs. Linden.

Where does he live?

Nora.

Oh, how can I tell——? Yes—— [Feels inher pocket.] Here’s his card. But the letter, the letter——!

Helmer.

[Knocking outside.] Nora!

Nora.

[Shrieks in terror.] Oh, what is it? What do you want?

Helmer.

Well, well, don’t be frightened. We’re not coming in; you’ve bolted the door. Are you trying on your dress?

Nora.

Yes, yes, I’m trying it on. It suits me so well, Torvald.

Mrs. Linden.

[Who has read the card.] Why, he lives close by here.

Nora.

Yes, but it’s no use now. We are lost. The letter is there in the box.

Mrs. Linden.

And your husband has the key?

Nora.

Always.

Mrs. Linden

Krogstad must demand his letter back, unread. He must find some pretext——

Nora.

But this is the very time when Torvald generally——

Mrs. Linden.

Prevent him. Keep him occupied. I shall come back as quickly as I can.

[She goes out hastily by the hall door.

Nora.

[OpensHelmer’sdoor and peeps in.] Torvald!

Helmer.

Well, may one come into one’s own room again at last? Come, Rank, we’ll have a look—— [In the doorway.] But how’s this?

Nora.

What, Torvald dear?

Helmer.

Rank led me to expect a grand transformation.

Rank.

[In the doorway.] So I understood. I suppose I was mistaken.

Nora.

No, no one shall see me in my glory till to-morrow evening.

Helmer.

Why, Nora dear, you look so tired. Have you been practising too hard?

Nora.

No, I haven’t practised at all yet.

Helmer.

But you’ll have to——

Nora.

Oh yes, I must, I must! But, Torvald, I can’t get on at all without your help. I’ve forgotten everything.

Helmer.

Oh, we shall soon freshen it up again.

Nora.

Yes, do help me, Torvald. You must promise me——Oh, I’m so nervous about it. Before so many people——This evening you must give yourself up entirely to me. You mustn’t do a stroke of work; youmustn’tmustn’teven touch a pen. Do promise, Torvald dear!

Helmer.

I promise. All this evening I shall be your slave. Little helpless thing——! But, by-the-bye, I must just——[Going to hall door.

Nora.

What do you want there?

Helmer.

Only to see if there are any letters.

Nora.

No, no, don’t do that, Torvald.

Helmer.

Why not?

Nora.

Torvald, I beg you not to. There are none there.

Helmer.

Let me just see.[Is going.

[Nora,at the piano, plays the first bars of the tarantella.

Helmer.

[At the door, stops.] Aha!

Nora.

I can’t dance to-morrow if I don’t rehearse with you first.

Helmer.

[Going to her.] Are you really so nervous, dear Nora?

Nora.

Yes, dreadfully! Let me rehearse at once. We have time before dinner. Oh, do sit down and play for me, Torvald dear; direct me and put me right, as you used to do.

Helmer.

With all the pleasure in life, since you wish it.

[Sits at piano.

[Noramatches the tambourine out of the box, and hurriedly drapes herself in a long parti-coloured shawl; then, with a bound, stands in the middle of the floor.

Nora.

Now play for me! Now I’ll dance!

[Helmerplays andNoradances.Rankstands at the piano behindHelmerand looks on.

Helmer.

[Playing.] Slower! Slower!

Nora.

Can’t do it slower!

Helmer.

Not so violently, Nora.

Nora.

I must! I must!

Helmer.

[Stops.] No, no, Nora—that will never do.

Nora.

[Laughs and swings her tambourine.] Didn’t I tell you so!

Rank.

Let me play for her.

Helmer.

[Rising.] Yes, do—then I can direct her better.

[Ranksits down to the piano and plays;Noradances more and more wildly.Helmerstands by the stove and addresses frequent corrections to her; she seems not to hear. Her hair breaks loose, and falls over her shoulders. She does not notice it, but goes on dancing.Mrs. Lindenenters and stands spellbound in the doorway.

Mrs. Linden.

Ah——!

Nora.

[Dancing.] We’re having such fun here, Christina!

Helmer.

Why, Nora dear, you’re dancing as if it were a matter of life and death.

Nora.

So it is.

Helmer.

Rank, stop! This is the merest madness. Stop, I say!

[Rankstops playing, andNoracomes to a sudden standstill.

Helmer.

[Going towards her.] I couldn’t have believed it. You’ve positively forgotten all I taught you.

Nora.

[Throws the tambourine away.] You see for yourself.

Helmer.

You really do want teaching.

Nora.

Yes, you see how much I need it. You must practise with me up to the last moment. Will you promise me, Torvald?

Helmer.

Certainly, certainly.

Nora.

Neither to-day nor to morrow must you think of anything but me. You mustn’t open a single letter—mustn’t look at theletter-box.letter-box.

Helmer.

Ah, you’re still afraid of that man——

Nora.

Oh yes, yes, I am.

Helmer.

Nora, I can see it in your face—there’s a letter from him in the box.

Nora.

I don’t know, I believe so. But you’re not to read anything now; nothing ugly must come between us until all is over.

Rank.

[Softly, toHelmer.] You mustn’t contradict her.

Helmer.

[Putting his arm around her.] The child shall have her own way. But to-morrow night, when the dance is over——

Nora.

Then you shall be free.

Ellenappears in the doorway, right.

Ellen.

Dinner is on the table, ma’am.

Nora.

We’ll have some champagne, Ellen.

Ellen.

Yes, ma’am.[Goes out.

Helmer.

Dear me! Quite a banquet.

Nora.

Yes, and we’ll keep it up till morning. [Calling out.] And macaroons, Ellen—plenty—just this once.

Helmer.

[Seizing her hand.] Come, come, don’t let us have this wild excitement! Be my own little lark again.

Nora.

Oh yes, I will. But now go into the dining-room; and you too, Doctor Rank. Christina, you must help me to do up my hair.

Rank.

[Softly, as they go.] There’s nothing in the wind? Nothing—I mean——?

Helmer.

Oh no, nothing of the kind. It’s merely this babyish anxiety I was telling you about.

[They go out to the right.

Nora.

Well?

Mrs. Linden.

He’s gone out of town.

Nora.

I saw it in your face.

Mrs. Linden.

He comes back to-morrow evening. I left a note for him.

Nora.

You shouldn’t have done that. Things musttake their course. After all, there’s something glorious in waiting for the miracle.

Mrs. Linden.

What is it you’re waiting for?

Nora.

Oh, you can’t understand. Go to them in the dining-room; I shall come in a moment.

[Mrs. Lindengoes into the dining-room.Norastands for a moment as though collecting her thoughts; then looks at her watch.

Nora.

Five. Seven hours till midnight. Then twenty-four hours till the next midnight. Then the tarantella will be over. Twenty-four and seven? Thirty-one hours to live.

Helmerappears at the door, right.

Helmer.

What has become of my little lark?

Nora.

[Runs to him with open arms.] Here she is!

ACT THIRD

The same room. The table, with the chairs around it, in the middle. A lighted lamp on the table. The door to the hall stands open. Dance music is heard from the floor above.

Mrs. Lindensits by the table and absently turns the pages of a book. She tries to read, but seems unable to fix her attention; she frequently listens and looks anxiously towards the hall door.

Mrs. Linden.

[Looks at her watch.] Not here yet; and the time is nearly up. If only he hasn’t—— [Listens again.] Ah, there he is. [She goes into the hall and cautiously opens the outer door; soft footsteps are heard on the stairs; she whispers.] Come in; there is no one here.

Krogstad.

[In the doorway!] I found a note from you at my house. What does it mean?

Mrs. Linden.

I must speak to you.

Krogstad.

Indeed? And in this house?

Mrs. Linden.

I could not see you at my rooms. They have no separate entrance. Come in; we are quite alone. The servants are asleep, and the Helmers are at the ball upstairs.

Krogstad.

[Coming into the room.] Ah! So the Helmers are dancing this evening? Really?

Mrs. Linden.

Yes. Why not?

Krogstad.

Quite right. Why not?

Mrs. Linden.

And now let us talk a little.

Krogstad.

Have we two anything to say to each other?

Mrs. Linden.

A great deal.

Krogstad.

I should not have thought so.

Mrs. Linden.

Because you have never really understood me.

Krogstad.

What was there to understand? The most natural thing in the world—a heartless woman throws a man over when a better match offers.

Mrs. Linden.

Do you really think me so heartless? Do you think I broke with you lightly?

Krogstad.

Did you not?

Mrs. Linden.

Do you really think so?

Krogstad.

If not, why did you write me that letter?

Mrs. Linden.

Was it not best? Since I had to break with you, was it not right that I should try to put an end to all that you felt for me?

Krogstad.

[Clenching his hands together.] So that was it? And all this—for the sake of money!

Mrs. Linden.

You ought not to forget that I had a helpless mother and two little brothers. We could not wait for you, Nils, as your prospects then stood.

Krogstad.

Perhaps not; but you had no right to cast me off for the sake of others, whoever the others might be.

Mrs. Linden.

I don’t know. I have often asked myself whether I had the right.

Krogstad.

[More softly.] When I had lost you, I seemedto have no firm ground left under my feet. Look at me now. I am a shipwrecked man clinging to a spar.

Mrs. Linden.

Rescue may be at hand.

Krogstad.

Itwasat hand; but then you came and stood in the way.

Mrs. Linden.

Without my knowledge, Nils. I did not know till to-day that it was you I was to replace in the Bank.

Krogstad.

Well, I take your word for it. But now that you do know, do you mean to give way?

Mrs. Linden.

No, for that would not help you in the least.

Krogstad.

Oh, help, help——! I should do it whether or no.

Mrs. Linden.

I have learnt prudence. Life and bitter necessity have schooled me.

Krogstad.

And life has taught me not to trust fine speeches.

Mrs. Linden.

Then life has taught you a very sensible thing. But deeds youwilltrust?

Krogstad.

What do you mean?

Mrs. Linden.

You said you were a shipwrecked man, clinging to a spar.

Krogstad.

I have good reason to say so.

Mrs. Linden.

I too am shipwrecked, and clinging to a spar. I have no one to mourn for, no one to care for.

Krogstad.

You made your own choice.

Mrs. Linden.

No choice was left me.

Krogstad.

Well, what then?

Mrs. Linden.

Nils, how if we two shipwrecked people could join hands?

Krogstad.

What!

Mrs. Linden.

Two on a raft have a better chance than if each clings to a separate spar.

Krogstad.

Christina!

Mrs. Linden.

What do you think brought me to town?

Krogstad.

Had you any thought of me?

Mrs. Linden.

I must have work or I can’t bear to live. All my life, as long as I can remember, I have worked; work has been my one great joy. Now I stand quite alone in the world, aimless and forlorn. There is no happiness in working for one’s self. Nils, give me somebody and something to work for.

Krogstad.

I cannot believe in all this. It is simply a woman’s romantic craving for self-sacrifice.

Mrs. Linden.

Have you ever found me romantic?

Krogstad.

Would you really——? Tell me: do you know all my past?

Mrs. Linden.

Yes.

Krogstad.

And do you know what people say of me?

Mrs. Linden.

Did you not say just now that with me you could have been another man?

Krogstad.

I am sure of it.

Mrs. Linden.

Is it too late?

Krogstad.

Christina, do you know what you are doing? Yes, you do; I see it in your face. Have you the courage then——?

Mrs. Linden.

I need some one to be a mother to, and your children need a mother. You need me, and I—I need you. Nils, I believe in your better self. With you I fear nothing.

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