A Doll’s House

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 bookkeeping, 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 bookkeeping? 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.