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

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 anyone. 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 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