Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (195 page)

Nora
(
sitting at the table on the left
). I suppose you mean that he was too partial to asparagus and pate de foie gras, don’t you?

Rank
. Yes, and to truffles.

Nora
. Truffles, yes. And oysters too, I suppose?

Rank
. Oysters, of course, that goes without saying.

Nora
. And heaps of port and champagne. It is sad that all these nice things should take their revenge on our bones.

Rank
. Especially that they should revenge themselves on the unlucky bones of those who have not had the satisfaction of enjoying them.

Nora
. Yes, that’s the saddest part of it all.

Rank
(
with a searching look at her
). Hm! —

Nora
(
after a short pause
). Why did you smile?

Rand
. No, it was you that laughed.

Nora
. No, it was you that smiled, Doctor Rank!

Rank
(
rising
). You are a greater rascal than I thought.

Nora
. I am in a silly mood today.

Rank
. So it seems.

Nora
(
putting her hands on his shoulders
). Dear, dear Doctor Rank, death mustn’t take you away from Torvald and me.

Rank
. It is a loss you would easily recover from. Those who are gone are soon forgotten.

Nora
(
looking at him anxiously
). Do you believe that?

Rank
. People form new ties, and then —

Nora
. Who will form new ties?

Rank
. Both you and Helmer, when I am gone. You yourself are already on the high road to it, I think. What did that Mrs. Linde want here last night?

Nora
. Oho! — you don’t mean to say you are jealous of poor Christine?

Rank
. Yes, I am. She will be my successor in this house. When I am done for, this woman will —

Nora
. Hush! don’t speak so loud. She is in that room.

Rank
. To-day again. There, you see.

Nora
. She has only come to sew my dress for me. Bless my soul, how unreasonable you are! (
Sits down on the sofa
.) Be nice now, Doctor Rank, and to-morrow 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 to-morrow — . 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 toward 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.

Bank
. 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 moralized 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 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 any one. 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.