Henrik Ibsen - Doll's House

NORA

No, of course not; I was sure of that.

KROGSTAD

The whole thing can be arranged amicably; there is no reason why anyone should know anything about it. It will remain a secret between us three.

NORA

My husband must never get to know anything about it.

KROGSTAD

How will you be able to prevent it? Am I to understand that you can pay the balance that is owing?

NORA

No, not just at present.

KROGSTAD

Or perhaps that you have some expedient for raising the money soon?

NORA

No expedient that I mean to make use of.

KROGSTAD

Well, in any case, it would have been of no use to you now. If you stood there with ever so much money in your hand, I would never part with your bond.

NORA

Tell me what purpose you mean to put it to.

KROGSTAD

I shall only preserve it—keep it in my possession. No one who is not concerned in the matter shall have the slightest hint of it. So that if the thought of it has driven you to any desperate resolution—

NORA

It has.

KROGSTAD

If you had it in your mind to run away from your home—

NORA

I had.

KROGSTAD

Or even something worse—

NORA

How could you know that?

KROGSTAD

Give up the idea.

NORA

How did you know I had thought of that?

KROGSTAD

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

NORA

( Faintly .) No more had I.

KROGSTAD ( In a tone of relief .)

No, that’s it, isn’t it—you hadn’t the courage either?

NORA

No, I haven’t—I haven’t.

KROGSTAD

Besides, it would have been a great piece of folly. Once the first storm at home is over—I have a letter for your husband in my pocket.

NORA

Telling him everything?

KROGSTAD

In as lenient a manner as I possibly could.

NORA

( Quickly. ) He mustn’t get the letter. Tear it up. I will find some means of getting money.

KROGSTAD

Excuse me, Mrs. Helmer, but I think I told you just now—

NORA

I am not speaking of what I owe you. Tell me what sum you are asking my husband for, and I will get the money.

KROGSTAD

I am not asking your husband for a penny.

NORA

What do you want, then?

KROGSTAD

I will tell you. I want to rehabilitate myself, Mrs. Helmer; I want to get on; and in that your husband must help me. For the last year and a half I have not had a hand in anything dishonourable, amid all that time I have been struggling in most restricted circumstances. I was content to work my way up step by step. Now I am turned out, and I am not going to be satisfied with merely being taken into favour again. I want to get on, I tell you. I want to get into the Bank again, in a higher position. Your husband must make a place for me—

NORA

That he will never do!

KROGSTAD

He will; I know him; he dare not protest. And as soon as I am in there again with him, then you will see! Within a year I shall be the manager’s right hand. It will be Nils Krogstad and not Torvald Helmer who manages the Bank.

NORA

That’s a thing you will never see!

KROGSTAD

Do you mean that you will—?

NORA

I have courage enough for it now.

KROGSTAD

Oh, you can’t frighten me. A fine, spoilt lady like you—

NORA

You will see, you will see.

KROGSTAD

Under the ice, perhaps? Down into the cold, coal-black water? And then, in the spring, to float up to the surface, all horrible and unrecognisable, with your hair fallen out—

NORA

You can’t frighten me.

KROGSTAD

Nor you me. People don’t do such things, Mrs. Helmer. Besides, what use would it be? I should have him completely in my power all the same.

NORA

Afterwards? When I am no longer—

KROGSTAD

Have you forgotten that it is I who have the keeping of your reputation? (NORA stands speechlessly looking at him .) Well, now, I have warned you. Do not do anything foolish. When Helmer has had my letter, I shall expect a message from him. And be sure you remember that it is your husband himself who has forced me into such ways as this again. I will never forgive him for that. Goodbye, Mrs. Helmer. ( Exit through the hall .)

NORA

( Goes to the hall door, opens it slightly and listens .) He is going. He is not putting the letter in the box. Oh no, no! that’s impossible! ( Opens the door by degrees .) What is that? He is standing outside. He is not going downstairs. Is he hesitating? Can he—? ( A letter drops into the box; then KROGSTAD’S footsteps are heard, until they die away as he goes downstairs . NORA utters a stifled cry, and runs across the room to the table by the sofa. A short pause .)

NORA

In the letter box. ( Steals across to the hall door .) There it lies—Torvald, Torvald, there is no hope for us now!

( Mrs . LINDE comes in from the room on the left, carrying the dress .)

MRS. LINDE

There, I can’t see anything more to mend now. Would you like to try it on—?

NORA

( In a hoarse whisper .) Christine, come here.

MRS. LINDE

( Throwing the dress down on the sofa. ) What is the matter with you? You look so agitated!

NORA

Come here. Do you see that letter? There, look—you can see it through the glass in the letter box.

MRS. LINDE

Yes, I see it.

NORA

That letter is from Krogstad.

MRS. LINDE

Nora—it was Krogstad who lent you the money!

NORA

Yes, and now Torvald will know all about it.

MRS. LINDE

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

NORA

You don’t know all. I forged a name.

MRS. LINDE

Good heavens—!

NORA

I only want to say this to you, Christine—you must be my witness.

MRS. LINDE

Your witness? What do you mean? What am I to—?

NORA

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

MRS. LINDE

Nora!

NORA

Or if anything else should happen to me—anything, for instance, that might prevent my being here—

MRS. LINDE

Nora! Nora! you are quite out of your mind.

NORA

And if it should happen that there were some one who wanted to take all the responsibility, all the blame, you understand—

MRS. LINDE

Yes, yes—but how can you suppose—?

NORA

Then you must be my witness, that it is not true, Christine. I am not out of my mind at all; I am in my right senses now, and I tell you no one else has known anything about it; I, and I alone, did the whole thing. Remember that.

MRS. LINDE

I will, indeed. But I don’t understand all this.

NORA

How should you understand it? A wonderful thing is going to happen!

MRS. LINDE

A wonderful thing?

NORA

Yes, a wonderful thing!—But it is so terrible, Christine; it mustn’t happen, not for all the world.

MRS. LINDE

I will go at once and see Krogstad.

NORA

Don’t go to him; he will do you some harm.

MRS. LINDE

There was a time when he would gladly do anything for my sake.

NORA

He?

MRS. LINDE

Where does he live?

NORA

How should I know—? Yes ( feeling in her pocket ), here is his card. But the letter, the letter—!

HELMER

( Calls from his room, knocking at the door .) Nora!

NORA

( Cries out anxiously ). Oh, what’s that? What do you want?

HELMER

Don’t be so frightened. We are not coming in; you have locked the door. Are you trying on your dress?

NORA

Yes, that’s it. I look so nice, Torvald.