NORA

  And if I were to ask you for——? No——

  RANK

  For what?

  NORA

  For a great proof of your friendship.

  RANK

  Yes—yes?

  NORA

  I mean—for a very, very great service——

  RANK Would you really, for once, make me so happy?

  NORA

  Oh, you don’t know what it is.

  RANK

  Then tell me.

  NORA

  No, I really can’t, Doctor Rank. It’s far, far too much—not only a service, but help and advice besides——

  RANK

  So much the better. I can’t think what you can mean. But go on. Don’t you trust me?

  NORA

  As I trust no one else. I know you are my best and truest friend. So I will tell you. Well then, Doctor Rank, there is something you must help me to prevent. You know how deeply, how wonderfully Torvald loves me; he wouldn’t hesitate a moment to give his very life for my sake.

  RANK [Bending towards her.]

  Nora—do you think he is the only one who——?

  NORA [With a slight start.]

  Who——?

  RANK

  Who would gladly give his life for you?

  NORA [Sadly.]

  Oh!

  RANK

  I have sworn that you shall know it before I—go. I shall never find a better opportunity.—Yes, Nora, now I have told you; and now you know that you can trust me as you can no one else.

  NORA [Standing up; simply and calmly.]

  Let me pass, please.

  RANK [Makes way for her, but remains sitting.]

  Nora——

  NORA [In the doorway.]

  Ellen, bring the lamp.

  [Crosses to the stove.]

  Oh dear, Doctor Rank, that was too bad of you.

  RANK [Rising.]

  That I have loved you as deeply as—any one else? Was that too bad of me?

  NORA

  No, but that you should have told me so. It was so unnecessary——

  RANK

  What do you mean? Did you know——?

  [ELLEN enters with the lamp; sets it on the table and goes out again.]

  RANK

  Nora—Mrs. Helmer—I ask you, did you know?

  NORA

  Oh, how can I tell what I knew or didn’t know? I really can’t say——How could you be so clumsy, Doctor Rank? It was all so nice!

  RANK

  Well, at any rate, you know now that I am at your service, body and soul. And now, go on.

  NORA [Looking at him.]

  Go on—now?

  RANK

  I beg you to tell me what you want.

  NORA

  I can tell you nothing now.

  RANK

  Yes, yes! You mustn’t punish me in that way. Let me do for you whatever a man can.

  NORA

  You can do nothing for me now.—Besides, I really want no help.

  You shall see it was only my fancy. Yes, it must be so. Of course!

  [Sits in the rocking-chair, looks at him and smiles.]

  You are a nice person, Doctor Rank! Aren’t you ashamed of

  yourself, now that the lamp is on the table?

  RANK

  No; not exactly. But perhaps I ought to go—for ever.

  NORA

  No, indeed you mustn’t. Of course you must come and go as you’ve always done. You know very well that Torvald can’t do without you.

  RANK

  Yes, but you?

  NORA

  Oh, you know I always like to have you here.

  RANK

  That is just what led me astray. You are a riddle to me. It has often seemed to me as if you liked being with me almost as much as being with Helmer.

  NORA

  Yes; don’t you see? There are people one loves, and others one likes to talk to.

  RANK

  Yes—there’s something in that.

  NORA

  When I was a girl, of course I loved papa best. But it always delighted me to steal into the servants’ room. In the first place they never lectured me, and in the second it was such fun to hear them talk.

  RANK

  Ah, I see; then it’s their place I have taken?

  NORA [ Jumps up and hurries towards him.]

  Oh, my dear Doctor Rank, I don’t mean that. But you understand, with Torvald it’s the same as with papa——

  ELLEN enters from the hall.

  ELLEN

  Please, ma’am——

  [Whispers to NORA, and gives her a card.]

  NORA [Glancing at card.]

  Ah!

  [Puts it in her pocket.]

  RANK

  Anything wrong?

  NORA

  No, no, not in the least. It’s only—it’s my new costume——

  RANK

  Your costume! Why, it’s there.

  NORA

  Oh, that one, yes. But this is another that—I have ordered it—Torvald mustn’t know——

  RANK

  Aha! So that’s the great secret.

  NORA

  Yes, of course. Please go to him; he’s in the inner room. Do keep him while I——

  RANK

  Don’t be alarmed; he sha’n’t escape.

  [Goes into HELMER’s room.]

  NORA [To ELLEN.]

  Is he waiting in the kitchen?

  ELLEN

  Yes, he came up the back stair——

  NORA

  Didn’t you tell him I was engaged?

  ELLEN

  Yes, but it was no use.

  NORA

  He won’t go away?

  ELLEN

  No, ma’am, not until he has spoken to you.

  NORA

  Then let him come in; but quietly. And, Ellen—say nothing about it; it’s a surprise for my husband.

  ELLEN

  Oh, yes, ma’am, I understand.

  [She goes out.]

  NORA

  It is coming! The dreadful thing is coming, after all. No, no, no,

  it can never be; it shall not!

  [She goes to HELMER’s door and slips the bolt. ELLEN opens the hall

  door for KROGSTAD, and shuts it after him. He wears a travelling-coat,

  high boots, and a fur cap.]

  NORA [Goes towards him.]

  Speak softly; my husband is at home.

  KROGSTAD

  All right. That’s nothing to me.

  NORA

  What do you want?

  KROGSTAD

  A little information.

  NORA

  Be quick, then. What is it?

  KROGSTAD

  You know I have got my dismissal.

  NORA

  I couldn’t prevent it, Mr. Krogstad. I fought for you to the last, but it was of no use.

  KROGSTAD

  Does your husband care for you so little? He knows what I can bring upon you, and yet he dares——

  NORA

  How could you think I should tell him?

  KROGSTAD

  Well, as a matter of fact, I didn’t think it. It wasn’t like my friend Torvald Helmer to show so much courage——

  NORA

  Mr. Krogstad, be good enough to speak respectfully of my husband.

  KROGSTAD

  Certainly, with all due respect. But since you are so anxious to keep the matter secret, I suppose you are a little clearer than yesterday as to what you have done.

  NORA

  Clearer than you could ever make me.

  KROGSTAD

  Yes, such a bad lawyer as I——

  NORA

  What is it you want?

  KROGSTAD

  Only to see how you are getting on, Mrs. Helmer. I’ve been thinking about you all day. Even a mere money-lender, a gutter-journalist, a—in short, a creature like me—has a little bit of what people call feeling.

  NORA

  Then show it; think of my little children.

  KROGSTAD

  Did you and your husband think of mine? But enough of that. I only wanted to tell you that you needn’t take this matter too seriously. I shall not lodge any information, for the present.

  NORA

  No, surely not. I knew you wouldn’t.

  KROGSTAD

  The whole thing can be settled quite amicably. Nobody need know. It can remain among us three.

  NORA

  My husband must never know.

  KROGSTAD

  How can you prevent it? Can you pay off the balance?

  NORA

  No, not at once.

  KROGSTAD

  Or have you any means of raising the money in the next few days?

  NORA

  None—that I will make use of.

  KROGSTAD

  And if you had, it would not help you now. If you offered me ever so much money down, you should not get back your I.O.U.

  NORA

  Tell me what you want to do with it.

  KROGSTAD

  I only want to keep it—to have it in my possession. No outsider shall hear anything of it. So, if you have any desperate scheme in your head——

  NORA

  What if I have?

  KROGSTAD

  If you should think of leaving your husband and children——

  NORA

  What if I do?

  KROGSTAD

  Or if you should think of—something worse——

  NORA

  How do you know that?

  KROGSTAD

  Put all that out of your head.

  NORA

  How did you know what I had in my mind?

  KROGSTAD

  Most of us think of that at first. I thought of it, too; but I hadn’t the courage——

  NORA [Tonelessly.]

  Nor I.

  KROGSTAD [Relieved.]

  No, one hasn’t. You haven’t the courage either, have you?

  NORA

  I haven’t, I haven’t.

  KROGSTAD

  Besides, it would be very foolish.—Just one domestic storm, and it’s all over. I have a letter in my pocket for your husband——

  NORA

  Telling him everything?

  KROGSTAD

  Sparing you as much as possible.

  NORA [Quickly.]

  He must never read that letter. Tear it up. I will manage to get the money somehow——

  KROGSTAD

  Pardon me, Mrs. Helmer, but I believe I told you——

  NORA

  Oh, I’m not talking about the money I owe you. Tell me how much you demand from my husband—I will get it.

  KROGSTAD

  I demand no money from your husband.

  NORA

  What do you demand then?

  KROGSTAD

  I will tell you. I want to regain my footing in the world. I want to rise; and your husband shall help me to do it. For the last eighteen months my record has been spotless; I have been in bitter need all the time; but I was content to fight my way up, step by step. Now, I’ve been thrust down again, and I will not be satisfied with merely being reinstated as a matter of grace. I want to rise, I tell you. I must get into the Bank again, in a higher position than before. Your husband shall create a place on purpose for me——

  NORA

  He will never do that!

  KROGSTAD

  He will do it; I know him—he won’t dare to show fight! And when he and I are together there, you shall soon see! Before a year is out I shall be the manager’s right hand. It won’t be Torvald Helmer, but Nils Krogstad, that manages the Joint Stock Bank.

  NORA

  That shall never be.

  KROGSTAD

  Perhaps you will——?

  NORA

  Now I have the courage for it.

  KROGSTAD

  Oh, you don’t frighten me! A sensitive, petted creature like you——

  NORA

  You shall see, you shall see!

  KROGSTAD

  Under the ice, perhaps? Down into the cold, black water? And next spring to come up again, ugly, hairless, unrecognisable——

  NORA

  You can’t terrify me.

  KROGSTAD

  Nor you me. People don’t do that sort of thing, Mrs. Helmer. And, after all, what would be the use of it? I have your husband in my pocket, all the same.

  NORA

  Afterwards? When I am no longer——?

  KROGSTAD

  You forget, your reputation remains in my hands!

  [NORA stands speechless and looks at him.]

  Well, now you are prepared Do nothing foolish. As soon as

  Helmer has received my letter, I shall expect to hear from him.

  And remember that it is your husband himself who has forced

  me back again into such paths. That I will never forgive him.

  Good-bye, Mrs. Helmer.

  [Goes out through the hall. NORA hurries 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’s footsteps are heard gradually

  receding down the stair. NORA utters a suppressed shriek, and rushes for

  ward 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. LINDEN enters 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

  That letter is 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 in her 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?