Henrik Ibsen - Doll's House

MRS. LINDE

But of course you won’t.

NORA

Of course not. I have no reason to think it could possibly be necessary. But I am quite sure that if I told Doctor Rank—

MRS. LINDE

Behind your husband’s back?

NORA

I must make an end of it with the other one, and that will be behind his back too. I must make an end of it with him.

MRS. LINDE

Yes, that is what I told you yesterday, but—

NORA

( Walking up and down .) A man can put a thing like that straight much easier than a woman—

MRS. LINDE

One’s husband, yes.

NORA

Nonsense! ( Standing still .) When you pay off a debt you get your bond back, don’t you?

MRS. LINDE

Yes, as a matter of course.

NORA

And can tear it into a hundred thousand pieces, and burn it up—the nasty dirty paper!

MRS. LINDE

( Looks hard at her, lays down her sewing and gets up slowly .) Nora, you are concealing something from me.

NORA

Do I look as if I were?

MRS. LINDE

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

NORA

( Going nearer to her .) Christine! ( Listens .) Hush! there’s Torvald come home. Do you mind going in to the children for the present? Torvald can’t bear to see dressmaking going on. Let Anne help you.

MRS. LINDE

( Gathering some of the things together .) Certainly—but I am not going away from here until we have had it out with one another. ( She goes into the room on the left, as HELMER comes in from the hall .)

NORA

( Going up to HELMER). I have wanted you so much, Torvald dear.

HELMER

Was that the dressmaker?

NORA

No, it was Christine; she is helping me to put my dress in order. You will see I shall look quite smart.

HELMER

Wasn’t that a happy thought of mine, now?

NORA

Splendid! But don’t you think it is nice of me, too, to do as you wish?

HELMER

Nice?—because you do as your husband wishes? Well, well, you little rogue, I am sure you did not mean it in that way. But I am not going to disturb you; you will want to be trying on your dress, I expect.

NORA

I suppose you are going to work.

HELMER

Yes. ( Shows her a bundle of papers .) Look at that. I have just been into the bank. ( Turns to go into his room .)

NORA

Torvald.

HELMER

Yes.

NORA

If your little squirrel were to ask you for something very, very prettily—?

HELMER

What then?

NORA

Would you do it?

HELMER

I should like to hear what it is, first.

NORA

Your squirrel would run about and do all her tricks if you would be nice, and do what she wants.

HELMER

Speak plainly.

NORA

Your skylark would chirp about in every room, with her song rising and falling—

HELMER

Well, my skylark does that anyhow.

NORA

I would play the fairy and dance for you in the moonlight, Torvald.

HELMER

Nora—you surely don’t mean that request you made to me this morning?

NORA

( Going near him ). Yes, Torvald, I beg you so earnestly—

HELMER

Have you really the courage to open up that question again?

NORA

Yes, dear, you must do as I ask; you must let Krogstad keep his post in the bank.

HELMER

My dear Nora, it is his post that I have arranged Mrs. Linde shall have.

NORA

Yes, you have been awfully kind about that; but you could just as well dismiss some other clerk instead of Krogstad.

HELMER

This is simply incredible obstinacy! Because you chose to give him a thoughtless promise that you would speak for him, I am expected to—

NORA

That isn’t the reason, Torvald. It is for your own sake. This fellow writes in the most scurrilous newspapers; you have told me so yourself. He can do you an unspeakable amount of harm. I am frightened to death of him—

HELMER

Ah, I understand; it is recollections of the past that scare you.

NORA

What do you mean?

HELMER

Naturally you are thinking of your father.

NORA

Yes—yes, of course. Just recall to your mind what these malicious creatures wrote in the papers about papa, and how horribly they slandered him. I believe they would have procured his dismissal if the Department had not sent you over to inquire into it, and if you had not been so kindly disposed and helpful to him.

HELMER

My little Nora, there is an important difference between your father and me. Your father’s reputation as a public official was not above suspicion. Mine is, and I hope it will continue to be so, as long as I hold my office.

NORA

You never can tell what mischief these men may contrive. We ought to be so well off, so snug and happy here in our peaceful home, and have no cares—you and I and the children, Torvald! That is why I beg you so earnestly—

HELMER

And it is just by interceding for him that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It is already known at the Bank that I mean to dismiss Krogstad. Is it to get about now that the new manager has changed his mind at his wife’s bidding—

NORA

And what if it did?

HELMER

Of course!—if only this obstinate little person can get her way! Do you suppose I am going to make myself ridiculous before my whole staff, to let people think that I am a man to be swayed by all sorts of outside influence? I should very soon feel the consequences of it, I can tell you! And besides, there is one thing that makes it quite impossible for me to have Krogstad in the Bank as long as I am manager.

NORA

Whatever is that?

HELMER

His moral failings I might perhaps have overlooked, if necessary—

NORA

Yes, you could—couldn’t you?

HELMER

And I hear he is a good worker, too. But I knew him when we were boys. It was one of those rash friendships that so often prove an incubus in afterlife. I may as well tell you plainly, we were once on very intimate terms with one another. But this tactless fellow lays no restraint on himself when other people are present. On the contrary, he thinks it gives him the right to adopt a familiar tone with me, and every minute it is “I say, Helmer, old fellow!” and that sort of thing. I assure you it is extremely painful for me. He would make my position in the Bank intolerable.

NORA

Torvald, I don’t believe you mean that.

HELMER

Don’t you? Why not?

NORA

Because it is such a narrow-minded way of looking at things.

HELMER

What are you saying? Narrow-minded? Do you think I am narrow-minded?

NORA

No, just the opposite, dear—and it is exactly for that reason.

HELMER

It’s the same thing. You say my point of view is narrow-minded, so I must be so too. Narrow-minded! Very well—I must put an end to this. ( Goes to the hall door and calls .) Helen!

NORA

What are you going to do?

Helmer.

( Looking among his papers .) Settle it. ( Enter MAID) Look here; take this letter and go downstairs with it at once. Find a messenger and tell him to deliver it, and be quick. The address is on it, and here is the money.

MAID

Very well, sir. ( Exit with the letter .)

HELMER

( Putting his papers together ). Now then, little Miss Obstinate.

NORA

( Breathlessly ). Torvald—what was that letter?

HELMER

Krogstad’s dismissal.

NORA

Call her back, Torvald! There is still time. Oh Torvald, call her back! Do it for my sake—for your own sake—for the children’s sake! Do you hear me, Torvald? Call her back! You don’t know what that letter can bring upon us.