[Scene.--A room
furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly. At the back, a
door to the right leads to the entrance-hall, another to the left leads to
Helmer's study. Between the doors stands a piano. In the middle of the
left-hand wall is a door, and beyond it a window. Near the window are a round
table, arm-chairs and a small sofa. In the right-hand wall, at the farther end,
another door; and on the same side, nearer the footlights, a stove, two easy
chairs and a rocking-chair; between the stove and the door, a small table.
Engravings on the walls; a cabinet with china and other small objects; a small
book-case with well-bound books. The floors are carpeted, and a fire burns in
the stove.
It is winter. A
bell rings in the hall; shortly afterwards the door is heard to open. Enter Nora,
humming a tune and in high spirits. She is in outdoor dress and carries a
number of parcels; these she lays on the table to the right. She leaves the
outer door open after her, and through it is seen a Porter who is carrying a
Christmas Tree and a basket, which he gives to the maid who has opened the
door.]
Nora. Hide the
Christmas Tree carefully, Helen. Be sure the children do not see it until this
evening, when it is dressed. [To the porter, taking out her purse.] How much?
Ibsen´s handwriting |
Porter.
Sixpence.
Nora. There is a
shilling. No, keep the change. [The porter thanks her, and goes out. Nora shuts
the door. She is laughing to herself, as she takes off her hat and coat. She
takes a packet of macaroons from her pocket and eats one or two; then goes
cautiously to her husband's door and listens.] Yes, he is in. [Still humming,
she goes to the table on the right.]
Helmer [calls
out from his room]. Is that my little lark twittering out there?
Nora [busy
opening some of the parcels]. Yes, it is!
Helmer. Is it my
little squirrel bustling about?
Nora. Yes!
Helmer. When did
my squirrel come home?
Nora. Just now.
[Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and wipes her mouth.] Come in here,
Torvald, and see what I have bought.
Helmer. Don't
disturb me. [A little later, he opens the door and looks into the room, pen in
hand.] Bought, did you say? All these things? Has my little spendthrift been
wasting money again?
Nora. Yes but,
Torvald, this year we really can let ourselves go a little. This is the first
Christmas that we have not needed to economise.
Helmer. Still,
you know, we can't spend money recklessly.
Nora. Yes,
Torvald, we may be a wee bit more reckless now, mayn't we? Just a tiny wee bit!
You are going to have a big salary and earn lots and lots of money.
Helmer. Yes,
after the New Year; but then it will be a whole quarter before the salary is
due.
Nora. Pooh! we
can borrow until then.
Helmer. Nora!
[Goes up to her and takes her playfully by the ear.] The same little featherhead!
Suppose, now, that I borrowed fifty pounds today, and you spent it all in the
Christmas week, and then on New Year's Eve a slate fell on my head and killed
me, and--
Nora [putting
her hands over his mouth]. Oh! don't say such horrid things.
Helmer. Still,
suppose that happened,--what then?
Nora. If that
were to happen, I don't suppose I should care whether I owed money or not.
Helmer. Yes, but
what about the people who had lent it?
Nora. They? Who
would bother about them? I should not know who they were.
Helmer. That is
like a woman! But seriously, Nora, you know what I think about that. No debt,
no borrowing. There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends
on borrowing and debt. We two have kept bravely on the straight road so far,
and we will go on the same way for the short time longer that there need be any
struggle.
Nora [moving
towards the stove]. As you please, Torvald.
Helmer
[following her]. Come, come, my little skylark must not droop her wings. What
is this! Is my little squirrel out of temper? [Taking out his purse.] Nora,
what do you think I have got here?
Nora [turning
round quickly]. Money!
Helmer. There
you are. [Gives her some money.] Do you think I don't know what a lot is wanted
for housekeeping at Christmas-time?
Nora [counting].
Ten shillings--a pound--two pounds! Thank you, thank you, Torvald; that will
keep me going for a long time.
Helmer. Indeed
it must.
Nora. Yes, yes,
it will. But come here and let me show you what I have bought. And all so
cheap! Look, here is a new suit for Ivar, and a sword; and a horse and a
trumpet for Bob; and a doll and dolly's bedstead for Emmy,--they are very
plain, but anyway she will soon break them in pieces. And here are
dress-lengths and handkerchiefs for the maids; old Anne ought really to have
something better.
Helmer. And what
is in this parcel?
Nora [crying
out]. No, no! you mustn't see that until this evening.
Helmer. Very
well. But now tell me, you extravagant little person, what would you like for
yourself?
Nora. For
myself? Oh, I am sure I don't want anything.
Helmer. Yes, but
you must. Tell me something reasonable that you would particularly like to
have.
Nora. No, I
really can't think of anything--unless, Torvald--
Helmer. Well?
Nora [playing
with his coat buttons, and without raising her eyes to his]. If you really want
to give me something, you might--you might--
Helmer. Well,
out with it!
Nora [speaking
quickly]. You might give me money, Torvald. Only just as much as you can
afford; and then one of these days I will buy something with it…
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