Part 2

NORA. _[tossing her head]_. Oh, if it is a wife who has any head for business—a wife who has the wit to be a little bit clever—

MRS LINDE. I don’t understand it at all, Nora.

NORA. There is no need you should. I never said I had borrowed the money. I may have got it some other way. _[Lies back on the sofa.]_ Perhaps I got it from some other admirer. When anyone is as attractive as I am—

MRS LINDE. You are a mad creature.

NORA. Now, you know you’re full of curiosity, Christine.

MRS LINDE. Listen to me, Nora dear. Haven’t you been a little bit imprudent?

NORA. _[sits up straight]_. Is it imprudent to save your husband’s life?

MRS LINDE. It seems to me imprudent, without his knowledge, to—

NORA. But it was absolutely necessary that he should not know! My goodness, can’t you understand that? It was necessary he should have no idea what a dangerous condition he was in. It was to me that the doctors came and said that his life was in danger, and that the only thing to save him was to live in the south. Do you suppose I didn’t try, first of all, to get what I wanted as if it were for myself? I told him how much I should love to travel abroad like other young wives; I tried tears and entreaties with him; I told him that he ought to remember the condition I was in, and that he ought to be kind and indulgent to me; I even hinted that he might raise a loan. That nearly made him angry, Christine. He said I was thoughtless, and that it was his duty as my husband not to indulge me in my whims and caprices—as I believe he called them. Very well, I thought, you must be saved—and that was how I came to devise a way out of the difficulty—

MRS LINDE. And did your husband never get to know from your father that the money had not come from him?

NORA. No, never. Papa died just at that time. I had meant to let him into the secret and beg him never to reveal it. But he was so ill then—alas, there never was any need to tell him.

MRS LINDE. And since then have you never told your secret to your husband?

NORA. Good Heavens, no! How could you think so? A man who has such strong opinions about these things! And besides, how painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything! It would upset our mutual relations altogether; our beautiful happy home would no longer be what it is now.

MRS LINDE. Do you mean never to tell him about it?

NORA. _[meditatively, and with a half smile]_. Yes—someday, perhaps, after many years, when I am no longer as nice-looking as I am now. Don’t laugh at me! I mean, of course, when Torvald is no longer as devoted to me as he is now; when my dancing and dressing-up and reciting have palled on him; then it may be a good thing to have something in reserve—_[Breaking off.]_ What nonsense! That time will never come. Now, what do you think of my great secret, Christine? Do you still think I am of no use? I can tell you, too, that this affair has caused me a lot of worry. It has been by no means easy for me to meet my engagements punctually. I may tell you that there is something that is called, in business, quarterly interest, and another thing called payment in installments, and it is always so dreadfully difficult to manage them. I have had to save a little here and there, where I could, you understand. I have not been able to put aside much from my housekeeping money, for Torvald must have a good table. I couldn’t let my children be shabbily dressed; I have felt obliged to use up all he gave me for them, the sweet little darlings!

MRS LINDE. So it has all had to come out of your own necessaries of life, poor Nora?

NORA. Of course. Besides, I was the one responsible for it. Whenever Torvald has given me money for new dresses and such things, I have never spent more than half of it; I have always bought the simplest and cheapest things. Thank Heaven, any clothes look well on me, and so Torvald has never noticed it. But it was often very hard on me, Christine—because it is delightful to be really well dressed, isn’t it?

MRS LINDE. Quite so.

NORA. Well, then I have found other ways of earning money. Last winter I was lucky enough to get a lot of copying to do; so I locked myself up and sat writing every evening until quite late at night. Many a time I was desperately tired; but all the same it was a tremendous pleasure to sit there working and earning money. It was like being a man.

MRS LINDE. How much have you been able to pay off in that way?

NORA. I can’t tell you exactly. You see, it is very difficult to keep an account of a business matter of that kind. I only know that I have paid every penny that I could scrape together. Many a time I was at my wits’ end. _[Smiles.]_ Then I used to sit here and imagine that a rich old gentleman had fallen in love with me—

MRS LINDE. What! Who was it?

NORA. Be quiet!—that he had died; and that when his will was opened it contained, written in big letters, the instruction: “The lovely Mrs Nora Helmer is to have all I possess paid over to her at once in cash.”

MRS LINDE. But, my dear Nora—who could the man be?

NORA. Good gracious, can’t you understand? There was no old gentleman at all; it was only something that I used to sit here and imagine, when I couldn’t think of any way of procuring money. But it’s all the same now; the tiresome old person can stay where he is, as far as I am concerned; I don’t care about him or his will either, for I am free from care now. _[Jumps up.]_ My goodness, it’s delightful to think of, Christine! Free from care! To be able to be free from care, quite free from care; to be able to play and romp with the children; to be able to keep the house beautifully and have everything just as Torvald likes it! And, think of it, soon the spring will come and the big blue sky! Perhaps we shall be able to take a little trip—perhaps I shall see the sea again! Oh, it’s a wonderful thing to be alive and be happy. _[A bell is heard in the hall.]_

MRS LINDE. _[rising]_. There is the bell; perhaps I had better go.

NORA. No, don’t go; no one will come in here; it is sure to be for Torvald.

SERVANT. _[at the hall door]_. Excuse me, ma’am—there is a gentleman to see the master, and as the doctor is with him—

NORA. Who is it?

KROGSTAD. _[at the door]_. It is I, Mrs Helmer. _[Mrs LINDE starts, trembles, and turns to the window.]_

NORA. _[takes a step towards him, and speaks in a strained, low voice]_. You? What is it? What do you want to see my husband about?

KROGSTAD. Bank business—in a way. I have a small post in the Bank, and I hear your husband is to be our chief now—

NORA. Then it is—

KROGSTAD. Nothing but dry business matters, Mrs Helmer; absolutely nothing else.

NORA. Be so good as to go into the study, then. _[She bows indifferently to him and shuts the door into the hall; then comes back and makes up the fire in the stove.]_

MRS LINDE. Nora—who was that man?

NORA. A lawyer, of the name of Krogstad.

MRS LINDE. Then it really was he.

NORA. Do you know the man?

MRS LINDE. I used to—many years ago. At one time he was a solicitor’s clerk in our town.

NORA. Yes, he was.

MRS LINDE. He is greatly altered.

NORA. He made a very unhappy marriage.

MRS LINDE. He is a widower now, isn’t he?

NORA. With several children. There now, it is burning up. [Shuts the door of the stove and moves the rocking-chair aside.]

MRS LINDE. They say he carries on various kinds of business.

NORA. Really! Perhaps he does; I don’t know anything about it. But don’t let us think of business; it is so tiresome.

DOCTOR RANK. _[comes out of HELMER’S study. Before he shuts the door he calls to him]_. No, my dear fellow, I won’t disturb you; I would rather go in to your wife for a little while. _[Shuts the door and sees Mrs LINDE.]_ I beg your pardon; I am afraid I am disturbing you too.

NORA. No, not at all. _[Introducing him]_. Doctor Rank, Mrs Linde.

RANK. I have often heard Mrs Linde’s name mentioned here. I think I passed you on the stairs when I arrived, Mrs Linde?

MRS LINDE. Yes, I go up very slowly; I can’t manage stairs well.

RANK. Ah! some slight internal weakness?

MRS LINDE. No, the fact is I have been overworking myself.

RANK. Nothing more than that? Then I suppose you have come to town to amuse yourself with our entertainments?

MRS LINDE. I have come to look for work.

RANK. Is that a good cure for overwork?

MRS LINDE. One must live, Doctor Rank.

RANK. Yes, the general opinion seems to be that it is necessary.

NORA. Look here, Doctor Rank—you know you want to live.

RANK. Certainly. However wretched I may feel, I want to prolong the agony as long as possible. All my patients are like that. And so are those who are morally diseased; one of them, and a bad case too, is at this very moment with Helmer—

MRS LINDE. _[sadly]_. Ah!

NORA. Whom do you mean?

RANK. A lawyer of the name of Krogstad, a fellow you don’t know at all. He suffers from a diseased moral character, Mrs Helmer; but even he began talking of its being highly important that he should live.

NORA. Did he? What did he want to speak to Torvald about?

RANK. I have no idea; I only heard that it was something about the Bank.

NORA. I didn’t know this—what’s his name—Krogstad had anything to do with the Bank.

RANK. Yes, he has some sort of appointment there. _[To Mrs Linde.]_ I don’t know whether you find also in your part of the world that there are certain people who go zealously snuffing about to smell out moral corruption, and, as soon as they have found some, put the person concerned into some lucrative position where they can keep their eye on him. Healthy natures are left out in the cold.

MRS LINDE. Still I think the sick are those who most need taking care of.

RANK. _[shrugging his shoulders]_. Yes, there you are. That is the sentiment that is turning Society into a sick-house.

_[NORA, who has been absorbed in her thoughts, breaks out into smothered laughter and claps her hands.]_

RANK. Why do you laugh at that? Have you any notion what Society really is?

NORA. What do I care about tiresome Society? I am laughing at something quite different, something extremely amusing. Tell me, Doctor Rank, are all the people who are employed in the Bank dependent on Torvald now?

RANK. Is that what you find so extremely amusing?

NORA. _[smiling and humming]_. That’s my affair! _[Walking about the room.]_ It’s perfectly glorious to think that we have—that Torvald has so much power over so many people. _[Takes the packet from her pocket.]_ Doctor Rank, what do you say to a macaroon?

RANK. What, macaroons? I thought they were forbidden here.

NORA. Yes, but these are some Christine gave me.

MRS LINDE. What! I?—

NORA. Oh, well, don’t be alarmed! You couldn’t know that Torvald had forbidden them. I must tell you that he is afraid they will spoil my teeth. But, bah!—once in a way—That’s so, isn’t it, Doctor Rank? By your leave! _[Puts a macaroon into his mouth.]_ You must have one too, Christine. And I shall have one, just a little one—or at most two. _[Walking about.]_ I am tremendously happy. There is just one thing in the world now that I should dearly love to do.

RANK. Well, what is that?

NORA. It’s something I should dearly love to say, if Torvald could hear me.

RANK. Well, why can’t you say it?

NORA. No, I daren’t; it’s so shocking.

MRS LINDE. Shocking?

RANK. Well, I should not advise you to say it. Still, with us you might. What is it you would so much like to say if Torvald could hear you?

NORA. I should just love to say—Well, I’m damned!

RANK. Are you mad?

MRS LINDE. Nora, dear—!

RANK. Say it, here he is!

NORA. _[hiding the packet]_. Hush! Hush! Hush! _[HELMER comes out of his room, with his coat over his arm and his hat in his hand.]_

NORA. Well, Torvald dear, have you got rid of him?

HELMER. Yes, he has just gone.

NORA. Let me introduce you—this is Christine, who has come to town.

HELMER. Christine—? Excuse me, but I don’t know—

NORA. Mrs Linde, dear; Christine Linde.

HELMER. Of course. A school friend of my wife’s, I presume?

MRS LINDE. Yes, we have known each other since then.

NORA. And just think, she has taken a long journey in order to see you.

HELMER. What do you mean?

MRS LINDE. No, really, I—

NORA. Christine is tremendously clever at book-keeping, and she is frightfully anxious to work under some clever man, so as to perfect herself—

HELMER. Very sensible, Mrs Linde.

NORA. And when she heard you had been appointed manager of the Bank—the news was telegraphed, you know—she travelled here as quick as she could. Torvald, I am sure you will be able to do something for Christine, for my sake, won’t you?

HELMER. Well, it is not altogether impossible. I presume you are a widow, Mrs Linde?

MRS LINDE. Yes.

HELMER. And have had some experience of book-keeping?

MRS LINDE. Yes, a fair amount.

HELMER. Ah! well, it’s very likely I may be able to find something for you—

NORA. _[clapping her hands]_. What did I tell you? What did I tell you?

HELMER. You have just come at a fortunate moment, Mrs Linde.

MRS LINDE. How am I to thank you?

HELMER. There is no need. _[Puts on his coat.]_ But today you must excuse me—

RANK. Wait a minute; I will come with you. _[Brings his fur coat from the hall and warms it at the fire.]_

NORA. Don’t be long away, Torvald dear.

HELMER. About an hour, not more.

NORA. Are you going too, Christine?

MRS LINDE. _[putting on her cloak]_. Yes, I must go and look for a room.

HELMER. Oh, well then, we can walk down the street together.

NORA. _[helping her]_. What a pity it is we are so short of space here; I am afraid it is impossible for us—

MRS LINDE. Please don’t think of it! Goodbye, Nora dear, and many thanks.

NORA. Goodbye for the present. Of course you will come back this evening. And you too, Dr. Rank. What do you say? If you are well enough? Oh, you must be! Wrap yourself up well. _[They go to the door all talking together. Children’s voices are heard on the staircase.]_

NORA. There they are! There they are! _[She runs to open the door. The NURSE comes in with the children.]_ Come in! Come in! _[Stoops and kisses them.]_ Oh, you sweet blessings! Look at them, Christine! Aren’t they darlings?

RANK. Don’t let us stand here in the draught.

HELMER. Come along, Mrs Linde; the place will only be bearable for a mother now!

_[RANK, HELMER, and Mrs Linde go downstairs. The NURSE comes forward with the children; NORA shuts the hall door.]_

NORA. How fresh and well you look! Such red cheeks like apples and roses. _[The children all talk at once while she speaks to them.]_ Have you had great fun? That’s splendid! What, you pulled both Emmy and Bob along on the sledge? —both at once?—that was good. You are a clever boy, Ivar. Let me take her for a little, Anne. My sweet little baby doll! _[Takes the baby from the MAID and dances it up and down.]_ Yes, yes, mother will dance with Bob too. What! Have you been snowballing? I wish I had been there too! No, no, I will take their things off, Anne; please let me do it, it is such fun. Go in now, you look half frozen. There is some hot coffee for you on the stove.

_[The NURSE goes into the room on the left. NORA takes off the children’s things and throws them about, while they all talk to her at once.]_

NORA. Really! Did a big dog run after you? But it didn’t bite you? No, dogs don’t bite nice little dolly children. You mustn’t look at the parcels, Ivar. What are they? Ah, I daresay you would like to know. No, no—it’s something nasty! Come, let us have a game! What shall we play at? Hide and Seek? Yes, we’ll play Hide and Seek. Bob shall hide first. Must I hide? Very well, I’ll hide first. _[She and the children laugh and shout, and romp in and out of the room; at last NORA hides under the table, the children rush in and out for her, but do not see her; they hear her smothered laughter, run to the table, lift up the cloth and find her. Shouts of laughter. She crawls forward and pretends to frighten them. Fresh laughter. Meanwhile there has been a knock at the hall door, but none of them has noticed it. The door is half opened, and KROGSTAD appears, he waits a little; the game goes on.]_

KROGSTAD. Excuse me, Mrs Helmer.

NORA. _[with a stifled cry, turns round and gets up on to her knees]_. Ah! what do you want?

KROGSTAD. Excuse me, the outer door was ajar; I suppose someone forgot to shut it.

NORA. _[rising]_. My husband is out, Mr. Krogstad.

KROGSTAD. I know that.

NORA. What do you want here, then?

KROGSTAD. A word with you.

NORA. With me?—_[To the children, gently.]_ Go in to nurse. What? No, the strange man won’t do mother any harm. When he has gone we will have another game. _[She takes the children into the room on the left, and shuts the door after them.]_ You want to speak to me?

KROGSTAD. Yes, I do.

NORA. Today? It is not the first of the month yet.

KROGSTAD. No, it is Christmas Eve, and it will depend on yourself what sort of a Christmas you will spend.

NORA. What do you mean? Today it is absolutely impossible for me—

KROGSTAD. We won’t talk about that until later on. This is something different. I presume you can give me a moment?

NORA. Yes—yes, I can—although—

KROGSTAD. Good. I was in Olsen’s Restaurant and saw your husband going down the street—

NORA. Yes?

KROGSTAD. With a lady.

NORA. What then?

KROGSTAD. May I make so bold as to ask if it was a Mrs Linde?

NORA. It was.

KROGSTAD. Just arrived in town?

NORA. Yes, today.

KROGSTAD. She is a great friend of yours, isn’t she?

NORA. She is. But I don’t see—

KROGSTAD. I knew her too, once upon a time.

NORA. I am aware of that.

KROGSTAD. Are you? So you know all about it; I thought as much. Then I can ask you, without beating about the bush—is Mrs Linde to have an appointment in the Bank?

NORA. What right have you to question me, Mr. Krogstad?—You, one of my husband’s subordinates! But since you ask, you shall know. Yes, Mrs Linde is to have an appointment. And it was I who pleaded her cause, Mr. Krogstad, let me tell you that.

KROGSTAD. I was right in what I thought, then.

NORA. _[walking up and down the stage]_. Sometimes one has a tiny little bit of influence, I should hope. Because one is a woman, it does not necessarily follow that—. When anyone is in a subordinate position, Mr. Krogstad, they should really be careful to avoid offending anyone who—who—

KROGSTAD. Who has influence?

NORA. Exactly.

KROGSTAD. _[changing his tone]_. Mrs Helmer, you will be so good as to use your influence on my behalf.

NORA. What? What do you mean?

KROGSTAD. You will be so kind as to see that I am allowed to keep my subordinate position in the Bank.

NORA. What do you mean by that? Who proposes to take your post away from you?

KROGSTAD. Oh, there is no necessity to keep up the pretence of ignorance. I can quite understand that your friend is not very anxious to expose herself to the chance of rubbing shoulders with me; and I quite understand, too, whom I have to thank for being turned off.

NORA. But I assure you—

KROGSTAD. Very likely; but, to come to the point, the time has come when I should advise you to use your influence to prevent that.

NORA. But, Mr. Krogstad, I have no influence.

KROGSTAD. Haven’t you? I thought you said yourself just now—

NORA. Naturally I did not mean you to put that construction on it. I! What should make you think I have any influence of that kind with my husband?

KROGSTAD. Oh, I have known your husband from our student days. I don’t suppose he is any more unassailable than other husbands.

NORA. If you speak slightingly of my husband, I shall turn you out of the house.

KROGSTAD. You are bold, Mrs Helmer.

NORA. I am not afraid of you any longer. As soon as the New Year comes, I shall in a very short time be free of the whole thing.

KROGSTAD. _[controlling himself]_. Listen to me, Mrs Helmer. If necessary, I am prepared to fight for my small post in the Bank as if I were fighting for my life.

NORA. So it seems.

KROGSTAD. It is not only for the sake of the money; indeed, that weighs least with me in the matter. There is another reason—well, I may as well tell you. My position is this. I daresay you know, like everybody else, that once, many years ago, I was guilty of an indiscretion.

NORA. I think I have heard something of the kind.

KROGSTAD. The matter never came into court; but every way seemed to be closed to me after that. So I took to the business that you know of. I had to do something; and, honestly, I don’t think I’ve been one of the worst. But now I must cut myself free from all that. My sons are growing up; for their sake I must try and win back as much respect as I can in the town. This post in the Bank was like the first step up for me—and now your husband is going to kick me downstairs again into the mud.

NORA. But you must believe me, Mr. Krogstad; it is not in my power to help you at all.

KROGSTAD. Then it is because you haven’t the will; but I have means to compel you.

NORA. You don’t mean that you will tell my husband that I owe you money?

KROGSTAD. Hm!—suppose I were to tell him?