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A Doll’s House | Act III, Act III - Page 3

MRS. LINDE:
Yes, and now I will say good-night.
HELMER:
What, already? Is this yours, this knitting?
MRS. LINDE:
[taking it]. Yes, thank you, I had very nearly forgotten it.
HELMER:
So you knit?
MRS. LINDE:
Of course.
HELMER:
Do you know, you ought to embroider.
MRS. LINDE:
Really? Why?
HELMER:
Yes, it's far more becoming. Let me show you. You hold the embroidery thus in your left hand, and use the needle with the right—like this—with a long, easy sweep. Do you see?
MRS. LINDE:
Yes, perhaps—
HELMER:
But in the case of knitting—that can never be anything but ungraceful; look here—the arms close together, the knitting-needles going up and down—it has a sort of Chinese effect—. That was really excellent champagne they gave us.
MRS. LINDE:
Well,—good-night, Nora, and don't be self-willed any more.
HELMER:
That's right, Mrs. Linde.
MRS. LINDE:
Good-night, Mr. Helmer.
HELMER:
[accompanying her to the door]. Good-night, good-night. I hope you will get home all right. I should be very happy to—but you haven't any great distance to go. Good-night, good-night. [She goes out; he shuts the door after her, and comes in again.] Ah!—at last we have got rid of her. She is a frightful bore, that woman.
NORA:
Aren't you very tired, Torvald?
HELMER:
No, not in the least.
NORA:
Nor sleepy?
HELMER:
Not a bit. On the contrary, I feel extraordinarily lively. And you?— you really look both tired and sleepy.
NORA:
Yes, I am very tired. I want to go to sleep at once.
HELMER:
There, you see it was quite right of me not to let you stay there any longer.
NORA:
Everything you do is quite right, Torvald.
HELMER:
[kissing her on the forehead]. Now my little skylark is speaking reasonably. Did you notice what good spirits Rank was in this evening?
NORA:
Really? Was he? I didn't speak to him at all.
HELMER:
And I very little, but I have not for a long time seen him in such good form. [Looks for a while at her and then goes nearer to her.] It is delightful to be at home by ourselves again, to be all alone with you—you fascinating, charming little darling!
NORA:
Don't look at me like that, Torvald.
HELMER:
Why shouldn't I not look at my dearest treasure?—at all the b eauty that is mine, all my very own?
NORA:
[going to the other side of the table]. You mustn't say things like that to me to-night.
HELMER:
[following her]. You have still got the Tarantella in your blood, I see. And it makes you more captivating than ever. Listen—the guests are beginning to go now. [In a lower voice.] Nora—soon the whole house will be quiet.
NORA:
Yes, I hope so.
HELMER:
Yes, my own darling Nora. Do you know, when I am out at a party with you like this, why I speak so little to you, keep away from you, and only send a stolen glance in your direction now and then?—do you know why I do that? It is because I make believe to myself that we are secretly in love, and you are my secretly promised bride, and that no one suspects there is anything between us.
NORA:
Yes, yes—I know very well your thoughts are with me all the time.
HELMER:
And when we are leaving, and I am putting the shawl over your beautiful young shoulders—on your lovely neck—then I imagine that you are my young bride and that we have just come from the wedding, and I am bringing you for the first time into our home—to be alone with you for the first time—quite alone with my shy little darling! All this evening I have longed for nothing but you. When I watched the seductive figures of the Tarantella, my blood was on fire; I could endure it no longer, and that was why I brought you down so early—
NORA:
Go away, Torvald! You must let me go. I won't—
HELMER:
What's that? You're joking, my little Nora! You won't—you won't? Am I not your husband—? [A knock is heard at the outer door.]
NORA:
[starting]. Did you hear—?
HELMER:
[going into the hall]. Who is it?

Rank [outside]. It is I. May I come in for a moment?

HELMER:
[in a fretful whisper]. Oh, what does he want now? [Aloud.] Wait a minute! [Unlocks the door.] Come, that's kind of you not to pass by our door.
RANK:
I thought I heard your voice, and felt as if I should like to look in.
[With a swift glance round.] Ah, yes!—these dear familiar rooms. You are very happy and cosy in here, you two.
HELMER:
It seems to me that you looked after yourself pretty well upstairs too.
RANK:
Excellently. Why shouldn't I? Why shouldn't one enjoy everything in this world?—at any rate as much as one can, and as long as one can. The wine was capital—
HELMER:
Especially the champagne.
RANK:
So you noticed that too? It is almost incredible how much I managed to put away!
NORA:
Torvald drank a great deal of champagne to-night too.
RANK:
Did he?
NORA:
Yes, and he is always in such good spirits afterwards.
RANK:
Well, why should one not enjoy a merry evening after a well-spent day?
HELMER:
Well spent? I am afraid I can't take credit for that.

Rank [clapping him on the back]. But I can, you know!

NORA:
Doctor Rank, you must have been occupied with some scientific investigation to-day.
RANK:
Exactly.
HELMER:
Just listen!—little Nora talking about scientific investigations!
NORA:
And may I congratulate you on the result?
RANK:
Indeed you may.
NORA:
Was it favourable, then?
RANK:
The best possible, for both doctor and patient—certainty.
NORA:
[quickly and searchingly]. Certainty?
RANK:
Absolute certainty. So wasn't I entitled to make a merry evening of it after that?
NORA:
Yes, you certainly were, Doctor Rank.
HELMER:
I think so too, so long as you don't have to pay for it in the morning.
RANK:
Oh well, one can't have anything in this life without paying for it.
NORA:
Doctor Rank—are you fond of fancy-dress balls?
RANK:
Yes, if there is a fine lot of pretty costumes.
NORA:
Tell me—what shall we two wear at the next?
  • holding attention by intrigue
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