The Greatest Works of Henrik Ibsen. Henrik Ibsen
me on the wrong track. You are a riddle to me. I have often thought that you would almost as soon be in my company as in Helmer’s .
Nora. Yes — you see there are some people one loves best, and others whom one would almost always rather have as companions.
Rank. Yes, there is something in that.
Nora. When I was at home, of course I loved papa best. But I always thought it tremendous fun if I could steal down into the maids’ room, because they never moralized at all, and talked to each other about such entertaining things.
Rank. I see — it is their place I have taken.
Nora (jumping-up and going to him). Oh, dear, nice Doctor Rank, I never meant that at all. But surely you can understand that being with Torvald is a little like being with papa —(Enter MAID from the hall.)
Maid. If you please, ma’am. (Whispers and hands her a card.)
Nora (glancing at the card). Oh! (Puts it in her pocket.)
Rank. Is there anything wrong?
Nora. No, no, not in the least. It is only something — It is my new dress —
Rank. What? Your dress is lying there.
Nora. Oh, yes, that one; but this is another. I ordered it. Torvald mustn’t know about it —
Rank. Oho! Then that was the great secret.
Nora. Of course. Just go in to him; he is sitting in the inner room. Keep him as long as —
Rank. Make your mind easy; I won’t let him escape. (Goes into HELMER’S room.)
Nora (to the MAID). And he is standing waiting in the kitchen?
Maid. Yes; he came up the back stairs.
Nora. But didn’t you tell him no one was in?
Maid. Yes, but it was no good.
Nora. He won’t go away?
Maid. No; he says he won’t until he has seen you, ma’am.
Nora. Well, let him come in — but quietly. Helen, you mustn’t say anything about it to any one. It is a surprise for my husband.
Maid. Yes, ma’am, I quite understand. (Exit.)
Nora. This dreadful thing is going to happen. It will happen in spite of me! No, no, no, it can’t happen — it shan’t happen! (She bolts the door of HELMER’S room. The MAID opens the hall door for KROGSTAD and shuts it after him. He is wearing a fur coat, high boots and a fur cap.)
Nora (advancing towards him). Speak low — my husband is at home.
Krogstad. No matter about that.
Nora. What do you want of me?
Krogstad. An explanation of something.
Nora. Make haste then. What is it?
Krogstad. You know, I suppose, that I have got my dismissal.
Nora. I couldn’t prevent it, Mr. Krogstad. I fought as hard as I could on your side, but it was no good.
Krogstad. Does your husband love you so little, then? He knows what I can expose you to, and yet he ventures —
Nora. How can you suppose that he has any knowledge of the sort?
Krogstad. I didn’t suppose so at all. It would not be the least like our dear Torvald Helmer to show so much courage —
Nora. Mr. Krogstad, a little respect for my husband, please.
Krogstad. Certainly — all the respect he deserves. But since you have kept the matter so carefully to yourself, I make bold to suppose that you have a little clearer idea than you had yesterday, of what it actually is that you have done?
Nora. More than you could ever teach me.
Krogstad. Yes, such a bad lawyer as I am.
Nora. What is it you want of me?
Krogstad. Only to see how you were, Mrs. Helmer. I have been thinking about you all day long. A mere cashier — a quill-driver, a — well, a man like me — even he has a little of what is called feeling, you know.
Nora. Show it, then; think of my little children.
Krogstad. Have you and your husband thought of mine? But never mind about that. I only wanted to tell you that you need not take this matter too seriously. In the first place there will be no accusation made on my part.
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 how —
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, and 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