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

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 someone 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. Mrs. Linde Who has read the card. I see he lives at the corner here. Nora Yes, but it’s no use. It is hopeless. The letter is lying there in the box. Mrs. Linde And your husband keeps the key? Nora Yes, always. Mrs. Linde Krogstad must ask for his letter back unread, he must find some pretence⁠— Nora But it is just at this time that Torvald generally⁠— Mrs. Linde You must delay him. Go in to him in the meantime. I will come back as soon as I can. She goes out hurriedly through the hall door. Nora Goes to Helmer’s door, opens it and peeps in. Torvald! Helmer From the inner room. Well? May I venture at last to come into my own room again? Come along, Rank, now you will see⁠—Halting in the doorway. But what is this? Nora What is what, dear? Helmer Rank led me to expect a splendid transformation. Rank In the doorway. I understood so, but evidently I was mistaken. Nora Yes, nobody is to have the chance of admiring me in my dress until tomorrow. Helmer But, my dear Nora, you look so worn out. Have you been practising too much? Nora No, I have not practised at all. Helmer But you will need to⁠— Nora Yes, indeed I shall, Torvald. But I can’t get on a bit without you to help me; I have absolutely forgotten the whole thing. Helmer Oh, we will soon work it up again. Nora Yes, help me, Torvald. Promise that you will! I am so nervous about it⁠—all the people⁠—. You must give yourself up to me entirely this evening. Not the tiniest bit of business⁠—you mustn’t even take a pen in your