Read Online Doll's House (9781443435505) by Henrik Ibsen - Free Book Online
Authors: Henrik Ibsen
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accusation made on my part.
NORA
No, of course not; I was sure of that.
KROGSTAD
The whole thing can be arranged amicably; there is no reason why anyone should know anything about it. It will remain a secret between us three.
NORA
My husband must never get to know anything about it.
KROGSTAD
How will you be able to prevent it? Am I to understand that you can pay the balance that is owing?
NORA
No, not just at present.
KROGSTAD
Or perhaps that you have some expedient for raising the money soon?
NORA
No expedient that I mean to make use of.
KROGSTAD
Well, in any case, it would have been of no use to you now. If you stood there with ever so much money in your hand, I would never part with your bond.
NORA
Tell me what purpose you mean to put it to.
KROGSTAD
I shall only preserve itâkeep it in my possession. No one who is not concerned in the matter shall have the slightest hint of it. So that if the thought of it has driven you to any desperate resolutionâ
NORA
It has.
KROGSTAD
If you had it in your mind to run away from your homeâ
NORA
I had.
KROGSTAD
Or even something worseâ
NORA
How could you know that?
KROGSTAD
Give up the idea.
NORA
How did you know I had thought of that?
KROGSTAD
Most of us think of that at first. I did, tooâbut I hadnât the courage.
NORA
(
Faintly
.) No more had I.
KROGSTAD (
In a tone of relief
.)
No, thatâs it, isnât itâyou hadnât the courage either?
NORA
No, I havenâtâI havenât.
KROGSTAD
Besides, it would have been a great piece of folly. Once the first storm at home is overâI have a letter for your husband in my pocket.
NORA
Telling him everything?
KROGSTAD
In as lenient a manner as I possibly could.
NORA
(
Quickly.
) He mustnât get the letter. Tear it up. I will find some means of getting money.
KROGSTAD
Excuse me, Mrs. Helmer, but I think I told you just nowâ
NORA
I am not speaking of what I owe you. Tell me what sum you are asking my husband for, and I will get the money.
KROGSTAD
I am not asking your husband for a penny.
NORA
What do you want, then?
KROGSTAD
I will tell you. I want to rehabilitate myself, Mrs. Helmer; I want to get on; and in that your husband must help me. For the last year and a half I have not had a hand in anything dishonourable, amid all that time I have been struggling in most restricted circumstances. I was content to work my way up step by step. Now I am turned out, and I am not going to be satisfied with merely being taken into favour again. I want to get on, I tell you. I want to get into the Bank again, in a higher position. Your husband must make a place for meâ
NORA
That he will never do!
KROGSTAD
He will; I know him; he dare not protest. And as soon as I am in there again with him, then you will see! Within a year I shall be the managerâs right hand. It will be Nils Krogstad and not Torvald Helmer who manages the Bank.
NORA
Thatâs a thing you will never see!
KROGSTAD
Do you mean that you willâ?
NORA
I have courage enough for it now.
KROGSTAD
Oh, you canât frighten me. A fine, spoilt lady like youâ
NORA
You will see, you will see.
KROGSTAD
Under the ice, perhaps? Down into the cold, coal-black water? And then, in the spring, to float up to the surface, all horrible and unrecognisable, with your hair fallen outâ
NORA
You canât frighten me.
KROGSTAD
Nor you me. People donât do such things, Mrs. Helmer. Besides, what use would it be? I should have him completely in my power all the same.
NORA
Afterwards? When I am no longerâ
KROGSTAD
Have you forgotten that it is I who have the keeping of your reputation? (NORA
stands speechlessly looking at him
.) Well, now, I have warned you. Do not do anything foolish. When Helmer has had my letter, I shall expect a message from him. And be sure you remember that it is your husband himself who has forced me into such ways as
NORA
No, of course not; I was sure of that.
KROGSTAD
The whole thing can be arranged amicably; there is no reason why anyone should know anything about it. It will remain a secret between us three.
NORA
My husband must never get to know anything about it.
KROGSTAD
How will you be able to prevent it? Am I to understand that you can pay the balance that is owing?
NORA
No, not just at present.
KROGSTAD
Or perhaps that you have some expedient for raising the money soon?
NORA
No expedient that I mean to make use of.
KROGSTAD
Well, in any case, it would have been of no use to you now. If you stood there with ever so much money in your hand, I would never part with your bond.
NORA
Tell me what purpose you mean to put it to.
KROGSTAD
I shall only preserve itâkeep it in my possession. No one who is not concerned in the matter shall have the slightest hint of it. So that if the thought of it has driven you to any desperate resolutionâ
NORA
It has.
KROGSTAD
If you had it in your mind to run away from your homeâ
NORA
I had.
KROGSTAD
Or even something worseâ
NORA
How could you know that?
KROGSTAD
Give up the idea.
NORA
How did you know I had thought of that?
KROGSTAD
Most of us think of that at first. I did, tooâbut I hadnât the courage.
NORA
(
Faintly
.) No more had I.
KROGSTAD (
In a tone of relief
.)
No, thatâs it, isnât itâyou hadnât the courage either?
NORA
No, I havenâtâI havenât.
KROGSTAD
Besides, it would have been a great piece of folly. Once the first storm at home is overâI have a letter for your husband in my pocket.
NORA
Telling him everything?
KROGSTAD
In as lenient a manner as I possibly could.
NORA
(
Quickly.
) He mustnât get the letter. Tear it up. I will find some means of getting money.
KROGSTAD
Excuse me, Mrs. Helmer, but I think I told you just nowâ
NORA
I am not speaking of what I owe you. Tell me what sum you are asking my husband for, and I will get the money.
KROGSTAD
I am not asking your husband for a penny.
NORA
What do you want, then?
KROGSTAD
I will tell you. I want to rehabilitate myself, Mrs. Helmer; I want to get on; and in that your husband must help me. For the last year and a half I have not had a hand in anything dishonourable, amid all that time I have been struggling in most restricted circumstances. I was content to work my way up step by step. Now I am turned out, and I am not going to be satisfied with merely being taken into favour again. I want to get on, I tell you. I want to get into the Bank again, in a higher position. Your husband must make a place for meâ
NORA
That he will never do!
KROGSTAD
He will; I know him; he dare not protest. And as soon as I am in there again with him, then you will see! Within a year I shall be the managerâs right hand. It will be Nils Krogstad and not Torvald Helmer who manages the Bank.
NORA
Thatâs a thing you will never see!
KROGSTAD
Do you mean that you willâ?
NORA
I have courage enough for it now.
KROGSTAD
Oh, you canât frighten me. A fine, spoilt lady like youâ
NORA
You will see, you will see.
KROGSTAD
Under the ice, perhaps? Down into the cold, coal-black water? And then, in the spring, to float up to the surface, all horrible and unrecognisable, with your hair fallen outâ
NORA
You canât frighten me.
KROGSTAD
Nor you me. People donât do such things, Mrs. Helmer. Besides, what use would it be? I should have him completely in my power all the same.
NORA
Afterwards? When I am no longerâ
KROGSTAD
Have you forgotten that it is I who have the keeping of your reputation? (NORA
stands speechlessly looking at him
.) Well, now, I have warned you. Do not do anything foolish. When Helmer has had my letter, I shall expect a message from him. And be sure you remember that it is your husband himself who has forced me into such ways as
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