Chapter 7

[TheNursegoes into the room on the left.Noratakes off the children’s things and throws them down anywhere, while the children talk all together.

Really! A big dog ran after you? But he didn’t bite you? No; dogs don’t bite dear little dolly children. Don’t peep into those parcels, Ivar. What is it? Wouldn’t you like to know? Take care—it’ll bite! What? Shall we have a game? What shall we play at? Hide-and-seek? Yes, let’s play hide-and-seek. Bob shall hide first. Am I to? Yes, let me hide first.

[She and the children play, with laughter and shouting, in the room and the adjacent one to the right. At lastNorahides under the table; the children come rushing in, look for her, but cannot find her, hear her half-choked laughter, rush to the table, lift up the cover and see her. Loud shouts. She creeps out, as though to frighten them. Fresh shouts. Meanwhile there has been a knock at the door leading into the hall. No one has heard it. Now the door is half opened andKrogstadappears. He waits a little; the game is renewed.

Krogstad.

I beg your pardon, Mrs. Helmer——

Nora.

[With a suppressed cry, turns round and half jumps up.] Ah! What do you want?

Krogstad.

Excuse me; the outer door was ajar—somebody must have forgotten to shut it——

Nora.

[Standing up.] My husband is not at home, Mr. Krogstad.

Krogstad.

I know it.

Nora.

Then what do you want here?

Krogstad.

To say a few words to you.

Nora.

To me? [To the children, softly.] Go in to Anna. What? No, the strange man won’t hurt mamma. When he’s gone we’ll go on playing. [She leads the children into the left-hand room, and shuts the door behind them. Uneasy, in suspense.] It is to me you wish to speak?

Krogstad.

Yes, to you.

Nora.

To-day? But it’s not the first yet——

Krogstad.

No, to-day is Christmas Eve. It will depend upon yourself whether you have a merry Christmas.

Nora.

What do you want? I’m not ready to-day——

Krogstad.

Never mind that just now. I have come about another matter. You have a minute to spare?

Nora.

Oh, yes, I suppose so; although——

Krogstad.

Good. I was sitting in the restaurant opposite, and I saw your husband go down the street——

Nora.

Well?

Krogstad.

——with a lady

Nora.

What then?

Krogstad.

May I ask if the lady was a Mrs. Linden?

Nora.

Yes.

Krogstad.

Who has just come to town?

Nora.

Yes. To-day.

Krogstad.

I believe she is an intimate friend of yours?

Nora.

Certainly. But I don’t understand——

Krogstad.

I used to know her too.

Nora.

I know you did.

Krogstad.

Ah! You know all about it. I thought as much. Now, frankly, is Mrs. Linden to have a place in the Bank?

Nora.

How dare you catechise me in this way, Mr. Krogstad—you, a subordinate of my husband’s? But since you ask, you shall know. Yes, Mrs. Linden is to be employed. And it is I who recommended her, Mr. Krogstad. Now you know.

Krogstad.

Then my guess was right.

Nora.

[Walking up and down.] You see one has a wee bit of influence, after all. It doesn’t follow because one’s only a woman——When people are in a subordinate position, Mr. Krogstad, they ought really to be careful how they offend anybody who—h’m——

Krogstad.

——who has influence?

Nora.

Exactly.

Krogstad.

[Taking another tone.] Mrs. Helmer, will you have the kindness to employ your influence on my behalf?

Nora.

What? How do you mean?

Krogstad.

Will you be so good as to see that I retain my subordinate position in the Bank?

Nora.

What do you mean? Who wants to take it from you?

Krogstad.

Oh, you needn’t pretend ignorance. I can very well understand that it cannot be pleasant for your friend to meet me; and I can also understand now for whose sake I am to be hounded out.

Nora.

But I assure you——

Krogstad.

Come come now, once for all: there is time yet, and I advise you to use your influence to prevent it.

Nora.

But, Mr. Krogstad, I have no influence—absolutely none.

Krogstad.

None? I thought you said a moment ago——

Nora.

Of course not in that sense. I! How can you imagine that I should have any such influence over my husband?

Krogstad.

Oh, I know your husband from our college days. I don’t think he is any more inflexible than other husbands.

Nora.

If you talk disrespectfully of my husband, I must request you to leave the house.

Krogstad.

You are bold, madam.

Nora.

I am afraid of you no longer. When New Year’s Day is over, I shall soon be out of the whole business.

Krogstad.

[Controlling himself.] Listen to me, Mrs. Helmer. If need be, I shall fight as though for my life to keep my little place in the Bank.

Nora.

Yes, so it seems.

Krogstad.

It’s not only for the salary: that is what I care least about. It’s something else——Well, I had better make a clean breast of it. Of course you know, like every one else, that some years ago I—got into trouble.

Nora.

I think I’ve heard something of the sort.

Krogstad.

The matter never came into court; but from that moment all paths were barred to me. ThenI took up the business you know about. I had to turn my hand to something; and I don’t think I’ve been one of the worst. But now I must get clear of it all. My sons are growing up; for their sake I must try to recover my character as well as I can. This place in the Bank was the first step; and now your husband wants to kick me off the ladder, back into the mire.

Nora.

But I assure you, Mr. Krogstad, I haven’t the least power to help you.

Krogstad.

That is because you have not the will; but I can compel you.

Nora.

You won’t tell my husband that I owe you money?

Krogstad.

H’m; suppose I were to?

Nora.

It would be shameful of you. [With tears in her voice.] The secret that is my joy and my pride—that he should learn it in such an ugly, coarse way—and from you. It would involve me in all sorts of unpleasantness——

Krogstad.

Onlyunpleasantness.unpleasantness.

Nora.

[Hotly.] But just do it. It’s you that will come off worst, for then my husband will see what a badman you are, and then you certainly won’t keep your place.

Krogstad.

I asked whether it was only domestic unpleasantness you feared?

Nora.

If my husband gets to know about it, he will of course pay you off at once, and then we shall have nothing more to do with you.

Krogstad.

[Coming a pace nearer.] Listen, Mrs. Helmer: either your memory is defective, or you don’t know much about business. I must make the position a little clearer to you.

Nora.

How so?

Krogstad.

When your husband was ill, you came to me to borrow twelve hundred dollars.

Nora.

I knew of nobody else.

Krogstad.

I promised to find you the money——

Nora.

And you did find it.

Krogstad.

I promised to find you the money, on certain conditions. You were so much taken up at thetime about your husband’s illness, and so eager to have the wherewithal for your journey, that you probably did not give much thought to the details. Allow me to remind you of them. I promised to find you the amount in exchange for a note of hand, which I drew up.

Nora.

Yes, and I signed it.

Krogstad.

Quite right. But then I added a few lines, making your father security for the debt. Your father was to sign this.

Nora.

Was to——? He did sign it!

Krogstad.

I had left the date blank. That is to say, your father was himself to date his signature. Do you recollect that?

Nora.

Yes, I believe——

Krogstad.

Then I gave you the paper to send to your father, by post. Is not that so?

Nora.

Yes.

Krogstad.

And of course you did so at once; for within five or six days you brought me back thedocument with your father’s signature; and I handed you the money.

Nora.

Well? Have I not made my payments punctually?

Krogstad.

Fairly—yes. But to return to the point: You were in great trouble at the time, Mrs. Helmer.

Nora.

I was indeed!

Krogstad.

Your father was very ill, I believe?

Nora.

He was on his death-bed.

Krogstad.

And died soon after?

Nora.

Yes.

Krogstad.

Tell me, Mrs. Helmer: do you happen to recollect the day of his death? The day of the month, I mean?

Nora.

Father died on the 29th of September.

Krogstad.

Quite correct. I have made inquiries. And here comes in the remarkable point—[Produces a paper] which I cannot explain.

Nora.

What remarkable point? I don’t know——

Krogstad.

The remarkable point, madam, that your father signed this paper three days after his death!

Nora.

What! I don’t understand——

Krogstad.

Your father died on the 29th of September. But look here: he has dated his signature October 2nd! Is not that remarkable, Mrs. Helmer? [Norais silent.] Can you explain it? [Noracontinues silent.] It is noteworthy, too, that the words “October 2nd” and the year are not in your father’s handwriting, but in one which I believe I know. Well, this may be explained; your father may have forgotten to date his signature, and somebody may have added the date at random, before the fact of your father’s death was known. There is nothing wrong in that. Everything depends on the signature. Of course it is genuine, Mrs. Helmer? It was really your father himself who wrote his name here?

Nora.

[After a short silence, throws her head back and looks defiantly at him.] No, it was not.Iwrote father’s name.

Krogstad.

Ah!—Are you aware, madam, that that is a dangerous admission?

Nora.

How so? You will soon get your money.

Krogstad.

May I ask you one more question? Why did you not send the paper to yourfather?father?

Nora.

It was impossible. Father was ill. If I had asked him for his signature, I should have had to tell him why I wanted the money; but he was so ill I really could not tell him that my husband’s life was in danger. It was impossible.

Krogstad.

Then it would have been better to have given up your tour.

Nora.

No, I couldn’t do that; my husband’s life depended on that journey. I couldn’t give it up.

Krogstad.

And did it never occur to you that you were playing me false?

Nora.

That was nothing to me. I didn’t care in the least about you. I couldn’t endure you for all the cruel difficulties you made, although you knew how ill my husband was.

Krogstad.

Mrs. Helmer, you evidently do not realise what you have been guilty of. But I can assure you it was nothing more and nothing worse that made me an outcast from society.

Nora.

You! You want me to believe that you did a brave thing to save your wife’s life?

Krogstad.

The law takes no account of motives.

Nora.

Then it must be a very bad law.

Krogstad.

Bad or not, if I produce this document in court, you will be condemned according to law.

Nora.

I don’t believe that. Do you mean to tell me that a daughter has no right to spare her dying father trouble and anxiety?—that a wife has no right to save her husband’s life? I don’t know much about the law, but I’m sure you’ll find, somewhere or another, that that is allowed. And you don’t know that—you, a lawyer! You must be a bad one, Mr. Krogstad.

Krogstad.

Possibly. But business—such business as ours—I do understand. You believe that? Very well; now do as you please. But this I may tell you, that if I am flung into the gutter a second time, you shall keep me company.

[Bows and goes out through hall.

Nora.

[Stands a while thinking, then tosses her head.] Oh nonsense! He wants to frighten me. I’m not so foolish as that. [Begins folding the children’sclothes. Pauses.] But——? No, it’s impossible! Why, I did it for love!

Children.

[At the door, left.] Mamma, the strange man has gone now.

Nora.

Yes, yes, I know. But don’t tell any one about the strange man. Do you hear? Not even papa!

Children.

No, mamma; and now will you play with us again?

Nora.

No, no; not now.

Children.

Oh, do, mamma; you know you promised.

Nora.

Yes, but I can’t just now. Run to the nursery; I have so much to do. Run along, run along, and be good, my darlings! [She pushes them gently into the inner room, and closes the door behind them. Sits on the sofa, embroiders a few stitches,butbutsoon pauses.] No! [Throws down the work, rises, goes to the hall door and calls out.] Ellen, bring in the Christmas-tree! [Goes to table, left, and opens the drawer; again pauses.] No, it’s quite impossible!

Ellen.

[With Christmas-tree.] Where shall I stand it, ma’am?

Nora.

There, in the middle of the room.

Ellen.

Shall I bring in anything else?

Nora.

No, thank you, I have all I want.

[Ellen,having put down the tree, goes out.

Nora.

[Busy dressing the tree.] There must be a candle here—and flowers there.—That horrible man! Nonsense, nonsense! there’s nothing to be afraid of. The Christmas-tree shall be beautiful. I’ll do everything to please you, Torvald; I’ll sing and dance, and——

EnterHelmerby the hall door, with a bundle of documents.

Nora.

Oh! You’re back already?

Helmer.

Yes. Has anybody beenhere?here?

Nora.

Here? No.

Helmer.

That’s odd. I saw Krogstad come out of the house.

Nora.

Did you? Oh, yes, by-the-bye, he was here for a minute.

Helmer.

Nora, I can see by your manner that he has been begging you to put in a good word for him.

Nora.

Yes.

Helmer.

And you were to do it as if of your own accord? You were to say nothing to me of his having been here. Didn’t he suggest that too?

Nora.

Yes, Torvald; but——

Helmer.

Nora, Nora! And you could condescend to that! To speak to such a man, to make him a promise! And then to tell me an untruth about it!

Nora.

An untruth!

Helmer.

Didn’t you say that nobody had been here? [Threatens with his finger.] My little bird must never do that again! A song-bird must sing clear and true; no false notes. [Puts his arm round her.] That’s so, isn’t it? Yes, I was sure of it. [Lets her go.] And now we’ll say no more about it. [Sits down before the fire.] Oh, how cosy and quiet it is here!

[Glances into his documents.

Nora.

[Busy with the tree, after a short silence.] Torvald!

Helmer.

Yes.

Nora.

I’m looking forward so much to the Stenborgs’ fancy ball the day after to-morrow.

Helmer.

And I’m on tenterhooks to see what surprise you have in store for me.

Nora.

Oh, it’s too tiresome!

Helmer.

What is?

Nora.

I can’t think of anything good. Everything seems so foolish and meaningless.

Helmer.

Has little Nora made that discovery?

Nora.

[Behind his chair, with her arms on the back.] Are you very busy, Torvald?

Helmer.

Well——

Nora.

What papers are those?

Helmer.

Bank business.

Nora.

Already!

Helmer.

I have got the retiring manager to let me make some necessary changes in the staff and the organization. I can do this during Christmas week. I want to have everything straight by the New Year.

Nora.

Then that’s why that poor Krogstad——

Helmer.

H’m.

Nora.

[Still leaning over the chair-back and slowly stroking his hair.] If you hadn’t been so very busy, I should have asked you a great, great favour, Torvald.

Helmer.

What can it be? Out with it.

Nora.

Nobody has such perfect taste as you; and I should so love to look well at the fancy ball. Torvald, dear, couldn’t you take me in hand, and settle what I’m to be, and arrange my costume for me?

Helmer.

Aha! So my wilful little woman is at a loss, and making signals of distress.

Nora.

Yes, please, Torvald. I can’t get on without your help.

Helmer.

Well, well, I’ll think it over, and we’ll soon hit upon something.

Nora.

Oh, how good that is of you! [Goes to the tree again; pause.] How well the red flowers show.—Tell me, was it anything so very dreadful this Krogstad got into trouble about?

Helmer.

Forgery, that’s all. Don’t you know what that means?

Nora.

Mayn’t he have been driven to it by need?

Helmer.

Yes; or, like so many others, he may have done it in pure heedlessness. I am not so hard-hearted as to condemn a man absolutely for a single fault.

Nora.

No, surely not, Torvald!

Helmer.

Many a man can retrieve his character, if he owns his crime and takes the punishment.

Nora.

Punishment——?

Helmer.

But Krogstad didn’t do that. He evaded the law by means of tricks and subterfuges; and that is what has morally ruined him.

Nora.

Do you think that——?

Helmer.

Just think how a man with a thing of that sort on his conscience must be always lying and canting and shamming. Think of the mask he must wear even towards those who stand nearest him—towards his own wife and children. The effecton the children—that’s the most terrible part of it, Nora.

Nora.

Why?

Helmer.

Because in such an atmosphere of lies home life is poisoned and contaminated in every fibre. Every breath the children draw contains some germ of evil.

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