A Doll’s House

the character. Nora Yes, Torvald wants me to. Look, here is the dress; Torvald had it made for me there, but now it is all so torn, and I haven’t any idea⁠— Mrs. Linde We will easily put that right. It is only some of the trimming come unsewn here and there. Needle and thread? Now then, that’s all we want. Nora It is nice of you. Mrs. Linde Sewing. So you are going to be dressed up tomorrow Nora. I will tell you what⁠—I shall come in for a moment and see you in your fine feathers. But I have completely forgotten to thank you for a delightful evening yesterday. Nora Gets up, and crosses the stage. Well, I don’t think yesterday was as pleasant as usual. You ought to have come to town a little earlier, Christine. Certainly Torvald does understand how to make a house dainty and attractive. Mrs. Linde And so do you, it seems to me; you are not your father’s daughter for nothing. But tell me, is Doctor Rank always as depressed as he was yesterday? Nora No; yesterday it was very noticeable. I must tell you that he suffers from a very dangerous disease. He has consumption of the spine, poor creature. His father was a horrible man who committed all sorts of excesses; and that is why his son was sickly from childhood, do you understand? Mrs. Linde Dropping her sewing. But, my dearest Nora, how do you know anything about such things? Nora Walking about. Pooh! When you have three children, you get visits now and then from⁠—from married women, who know something of medical matters, and they talk about one thing and another. Mrs. Linde Goes on sewing. A short silence. Does Doctor Rank come here everyday? Nora Everyday regularly. He is Torvald’s most intimate friend, and a great friend of mine too. He is just like one of the family. Mrs. Linde But tell me this⁠—is he perfectly sincere? I mean, isn’t he the kind of man that is very anxious to make himself agreeable? Nora Not in the least. What makes you think that? Mrs. Linde When you introduced him to me yesterday, he declared he had often heard my name mentioned in this house; but afterwards I noticed that your husband hadn’t the slightest idea who I was. So how could Doctor Rank⁠—? Nora That is quite right, Christine. Torvald is so absurdly fond of me that he wants me absolutely to himself, as he says. At first he used to seem almost jealous if I mentioned any of the dear folk at home, so naturally I gave up doing so. But I often talk about such things with Doctor Rank, because he likes hearing about them. Mrs. Linde Listen to me, Nora. You are still very like a child in many things, and I am older than you in many ways and have a little more experience. Let me tell you this⁠—you ought to make an end of it with Doctor Rank. Nora What ought I to make an end of? Mrs. Linde Of two things, I think. Yesterday you talked some nonsense about a rich admirer who was to leave you money⁠— Nora An admirer who doesn’t exist, unfortunately! But what then? Mrs. Linde Is Doctor Rank a man of means? Nora Yes, he is. Mrs. Linde And has no one to provide for? Nora No, no one; but⁠— Mrs. Linde And comes here everyday? Nora Yes, I told you so. Mrs. Linde But how can this well-bred man be so tactless? Nora I don’t understand you at all. Mrs. Linde Don’t prevaricate, Nora. Do you suppose I don’t guess who lent you the two hundred and fifty pounds? Nora Are you out of your senses? How can you think of such a thing! A friend of ours, who comes here everyday! Do you realise what a horribly painful position that would be? Mrs. Linde Then it really isn’t he? Nora No, certainly not. It would never have entered into my head for a moment. Besides, he had no money to lend then; he came into his money afterwards. Mrs. Linde Well, I think that was lucky for you, my dear Nora. Nora No, it would never have come into my head to ask Doctor Rank. Although I am quite sure that if I had asked him⁠— Mrs. Linde But of course you won’t. Nora Of course not. I have no reason to think it could possibly be necessary. But I am quite sure that if I told Doctor Rank⁠— Mrs. Linde Behind your husband’s back? Nora I must make an end of it with the other one, and that will be behind his back too. I must make an end of it with him. Mrs. Linde Yes, that is what I told you yesterday, but⁠— Nora Walking up and down. A man can put a thing like that straight much easier than a woman⁠— Mrs. Linde One’s husband, yes. Nora Nonsense! Standing still. When you pay off a debt you get your bond back, don’t you? Mrs. Linde Yes, as a matter of course. Nora And can tear it into a hundred thousand pieces, and burn it up⁠—the nasty dirty paper! Mrs. Linde Looks hard at her, lays down her sewing and gets up slowly. Nora, you are concealing something from me. Nora Do I look as if I were? Mrs. Linde Something has happened to you since yesterday morning. Nora, what is it? Nora Going nearer to her. Christine! Listens. Hush! there’s Torvald come home. Do you mind going in to the children for the present? Torvald can’t bear to see dressmaking going on. Let Anne help you. Mrs. Linde Gathering some of the things together. Certainly⁠—but I am not going away from here until we have had it out with one another. She goes into the room on the left, as Helmer comes in from the hall. Nora Going up to Helmer. I have wanted you so much, Torvald dear. Helmer Was that the dressmaker? Nora No, it was Christine; she is helping me to put my dress in order. You will see I shall look quite smart. Helmer Wasn’t that a happy thought of mine, now? Nora Splendid! But don’t you think it is nice of me, too, to do as you wish?