A Doll’s House - Henrik Ibsen (acx book reading .TXT) 📗

soul, how unreasonable you are! Sits down on the sofa. Be nice now, Doctor Rank, and tomorrow you will see how beautifully I shall dance, and you can imagine I am doing it all for you⁠—and for Torvald too, of course. Takes various things out of the box. Doctor Rank, come and sit down here, and I will show you something. Rank Sitting down. What is it? Nora Just look at those! Rank Silk stockings. Nora Flesh-coloured. Aren’t they lovely? It is so dark here now, but tomorrow⁠—. No, no, no! you must only look at the feet. Oh well, you may have leave to look at the legs too. Rank Hm!⁠— Nora Why are you looking so critical? Don’t you think they will fit me? Rank I have no means of forming an opinion about that. Nora Looks at him for a moment. For shame! Hits him lightly on the ear with the stockings. That’s to punish you. Folds them up again. Rank And what other nice things am I to be allowed to see? Nora Not a single thing more, for being so naughty. She looks among the things, humming to herself. Rank After a short silence. When I am sitting here, talking to you as intimately as this, I cannot imagine for a moment what would have become of me if I had never come into this house. Nora Smiling. I believe you do feel thoroughly at home with us. Rank In a lower voice, looking straight in front of him. And to be obliged to leave it all⁠— Nora Nonsense, you are not going to leave it. Rank As before. And not be able to leave behind one the slightest token of one’s gratitude, scarcely even a fleeting regret⁠—nothing but an empty place which the first comer can fill as well as any other. Nora And if I asked you now for a⁠—? No! Rank For what? Nora For a big proof of your friendship⁠— Rank Yes, yes! Nora I mean a tremendously big favour⁠— Rank Would you really make me so happy for once? Nora Ah, but you don’t know what it is yet. Rank No⁠—but tell me. Nora I really can’t, Doctor Rank. It is something out of all reason; it means advice, and help, and a favour⁠— Rank The bigger a thing it is the better. I can’t conceive what it is you mean. Do tell me. Haven’t I your confidence? Nora More than anyone else. I know you are my truest and best friend, and so I will tell you what it is. Well, Doctor Rank, it is something you must help me to prevent. You know how devotedly, how inexpressibly deeply Torvald loves me; he would never for a moment hesitate to give his life for me. Rank Leaning towards her. Nora⁠—do you think he is the only one⁠—? Nora With a slight start. The only one⁠—? Rank The only one who would gladly give his life for your sake. Nora Sadly. Is that it? Rank I was determined you should know it before I went away, and there will never be a better opportunity than this. Now you know it, Nora. And now you know, too, that you can trust me as you would trust no one else. Nora Rises, deliberately and quietly. Let me pass. Rank Makes room for her to pass him, but sits still. Nora! Nora At the hall door. Helen, bring in the lamp. Goes over to the stove. Dear Doctor Rank, that was really horrid of you. Rank To have loved you as much as anyone else does? Was that horrid? Nora No, but to go and tell me so. There was really no need⁠— Rank What do you mean? Did you know⁠—? Maid enters with lamp, puts it down on the table, and goes out. Nora⁠—Mrs. Helmer⁠—tell me, had you any idea of this? Nora Oh, how do I know whether I had or whether I hadn’t? I really can’t tell you⁠—To think you could be so clumsy, Doctor Rank! We were getting on so nicely. Rank Well, at all events you know now that you can command me, body and soul. So won’t you speak out? Nora Looking at him. After what happened? Rank I beg you to let me know what it is. Nora I can’t tell you anything now. Rank Yes, yes. You mustn’t punish me in that way. Let me have permission to do for you whatever a man may do. Nora You can do nothing for me now. Besides, I really don’t need any help at all. You will find that the whole thing is merely fancy on my part. It really is so⁠—of course it is! Sits down in the rocking chair, and looks at him with a smile. You are a nice sort of man, Doctor Rank!⁠—don’t you feel ashamed of yourself, now the lamp has come? Rank Not a bit. But perhaps I had better go⁠—forever? Nora No, indeed, you shall not. Of course you must come here just as before. You know very well Torvald can’t do without you. Rank Yes, but you? Nora Oh, I am always tremendously pleased when you come. Rank It is just that, that put 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 moralised 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