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

right of me not to let you stay there any longer. Nora Everything you do is quite right, Torvald. Helmer Kissing her on the forehead. Now my little skylark is speaking reasonably. Did you notice what good spirits Rank was in this evening? Nora Really? Was he? I didn’t speak to him at all. Helmer And I very little, but I have not for a long time seen him in such good form. Looks for a while at her and then goes nearer to her. It is delightful to be at home by ourselves again, to be all alone with you⁠—you fascinating, charming little darling! Nora Don’t look at me like that, Torvald. Helmer Why shouldn’t I look at my dearest treasure?⁠—at all the beauty that is mine, all my very own? Nora Going to the other side of the table. You mustn’t say things like that to me tonight. Helmer Following her. You have still got the Tarantella in your blood, I see. And it makes you more captivating than ever. Listen⁠—the guests are beginning to go now. In a lower voice. Nora⁠—soon the whole house will be quiet. Nora Yes, I hope so. Helmer Yes, my own darling Nora. Do you know, when I am out at a party with you like this, why I speak so little to you, keep away from you, and only send a stolen glance in your direction now and then?⁠—do you know why I do that? It is because I make believe to myself that we are secretly in love, and you are my secretly promised bride, and that no one suspects there is anything between us. Nora Yes, yes⁠—I know very well your thoughts are with me all the time. Helmer And when we are leaving, and I am putting the shawl over your beautiful young shoulders⁠—on your lovely neck⁠—then I imagine that you are my young bride and that we have just come from the wedding, and I am bringing you for the first time into our home⁠—to be alone with you for the first time⁠—quite alone with my shy little darling! All this evening I have longed for nothing but you. When I watched the seductive figures of the Tarantella, my blood was on fire; I could endure it no longer, and that was why I brought you down so early⁠— Nora Go away, Torvald! You must let me go. I won’t⁠— Helmer What’s that? You’re joking, my little Nora! You won’t⁠—you won’t? Am I not your husband⁠—? A knock is heard at the outer door. Nora Starting. Did you hear⁠—? Helmer Going into the hall. Who is it? Rank Outside. It is I. May I come in for a moment? Helmer In a fretful whisper. Oh, what does he want now? Aloud. Wait a minute! Unlocks the door. Come, that’s kind of you not to pass by our door. Rank I thought I heard your voice, and felt as if I should like to look in. With a swift glance round. Ah, yes!⁠—these dear familiar rooms. You are very happy and cosy in here, you two. Helmer It seems to me that you looked after yourself pretty well upstairs too. Rank Excellently. Why shouldn’t I? Why shouldn’t one enjoy everything in this world?⁠—at any rate as much as one can, and as long as one can. The wine was capital⁠— Helmer Especially the champagne. Rank So you noticed that too? It is almost incredible how much I managed to put away! Nora Torvald drank a great deal of champagne tonight too. Rank Did he? Nora Yes, and he is always in such good spirits afterwards. Rank Well, why should one not enjoy a merry evening after a well-spent day? Helmer Well spent? I am afraid I can’t take credit for that. Rank Clapping him on the back. But I can, you know! Nora Doctor Rank, you must have been occupied with some scientific investigation today. Rank Exactly. Helmer Just listen!⁠—little Nora talking about scientific investigations! Nora And may I congratulate you on the result? Rank Indeed you may. Nora Was it favourable, then? Rank The best possible, for both doctor and patient⁠—certainty. Nora Quickly and searchingly. Certainty? Rank Absolute certainty. So wasn’t I entitled to make a merry evening of it after that? Nora Yes, you certainly were, Doctor Rank. Helmer I think so too, so long as you don’t have to pay for it in the morning. Rank Oh well, one can’t have anything in this life without paying for it. Nora Doctor Rank⁠—are you fond of fancy-dress balls? Rank Yes, if there is a fine lot of pretty costumes. Nora Tell me⁠—what shall we two wear at the next? Helmer Little featherbrain!⁠—are you thinking of the next already? Rank We two? Yes, I can tell you. You shall go as a good fairy⁠— Helmer Yes, but what do you suggest as an appropriate costume for that? Rank Let your wife go dressed just as she is in everyday life. Helmer That was really very prettily turned. But can’t you tell us what you will be? Rank Yes, my dear friend, I have quite made up my mind about that. Helmer Well? Rank At the next fancy-dress ball I shall be invisible. Helmer That’s a good joke! Rank There is a big black hat⁠—have you never heard of hats that make you invisible? If you put one on, no one can see you. Helmer Suppressing a smile. Yes, you are quite right. Rank But I am clean forgetting what I came for. Helmer, give me a cigar⁠—one of the dark Havanas. Helmer With the greatest pleasure. Offers him his case. Rank Takes a cigar and cuts off the end. Thanks. Nora Striking a match. Let me give you a light. Rank Thank you. She holds the match for him to light his cigar. And now goodbye! Helmer Goodbye, goodbye, dear old man! Nora Sleep well, Doctor Rank. Rank Thank you for that wish. Nora Wish me the same. Rank You? Well, if you want me to sleep well! And thanks for the light. He nods to them both and goes out. Helmer In a subdued voice. He has drunk more than he ought. Nora Absently. Maybe. Helmer takes a