A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen (ebook reader color screen txt) 📕
- Author: Henrik Ibsen
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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?
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