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-- - A DOLL'S HOUSE " HENRJK IBSEN TRdNSUTED nr WfLLr.tM dRCIlER • ~01tb",n T. FISHER UN wn; 26 PATERNOSTER SQUA RE

TRANS LATOR'S NOTE. Tm:: following pa.ges contain tbo oomp l ete text of " ET DUKKEU1Y.lf." A few passages omiUed, for the BILka of compressioll , from tbe version produc:!

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. [P.unltd til 1M COUI(tOn SllUIio , 70, Mortian Slrtl', IP'.) Henrik Iblen (I) Nora and Helmer (Min Aouuaca a.ml i\1r W,UUIfG) . To f/l(:~ page • NORA: .. No", I'U lell)'On how we OIlght lO mf.Illloge. Torvald. M Il00 11 u ChriBlmu iAover--" (2 ) Nora and Rank (Mr. ('1I~r.oiGTOS) No .... I "Do yOIl think thoy won" lit mer" lliu: .• I CIUl' pouibly h ..... any ...lid opinion (In lhat point." (8) Nora llDd Kroglta.d (Mr. ROYCE ('AIlLJ:TON I 7. Kaoonw: .. VOII ha...en't the I'OIIRge ",jthe r, have 1011'" Nol\lo: " I huen't, I han'"'!.. .. I') Nora and Mn. Linden (Mi slI OUTRUDE W4RDEN) A4 Nou: " Al\cr lion. thue'. IOmelhing SloriolU in ...iting fO f the mirac le I .•



A DOLL'S HOUSE. ACT J. fA roon~ rmn!or t a/;{y find tnair/ltl/y, but not ~xpeIl8i1"l:ly , jur1l;,hed. I II the back­ ground, to the right. a door leall. to the IUlll: to the i"jl anQthe r door [ClUJ. II) I1&Lnn ' S .huly . BetlCt'ffl the 11/'0 door. a pianoforte . 111 the middle of tile lQ't lCflll a door , Qmt "eareT the frQnt t, fdndOll' , Ncar the ICindow (' rullfld table ICith armchairs (/ml a .mall .nfit. I n th6 right trail, lIotnnol,at to tile IxlCk , a (lOOT, ami flJain.t the .am(' 1l'alf , flirt/itT foro:art/, 11 Jl(JrrelaiflItOl'i~; in/rollt nJ it a COl/pIe (If orlllc/Illirs alld a Tockillg­ d,aiT. B ctwem tile ,tOt'C alld the .ide dUf"tT a .mail laUr. EIlgrol'ing. ()II "1(' lHlll.. A //·/UI(not J('ith cilino aml bri(o II·urae. II .mail b{l(Jk 'ca'e oj ./uJldly, hoI/ne t /.x)Qkt . Carpet. A fire in tiM aim'c, A ldllier day. 2

A DOLIl8 HOUSE. [ACT I. [A btU ring. in au haU out,ide . Pregently the ou. t er door i8 luard to opt" . 7'hen NORA etI1u •• humming contentedly. Sill; i. in outdoor dreIS, and came. ,eural }J(lYreu, uhidt ,he lay. on the right-hand tabu. SI.e leare. the door into the hall o~n behind her, and a PORTER i. 'UIl outride, carryin!} a Chi.tllla. -tree and (~ balket, tvhirh I.e give. to tJu maid· .ernmt 11;110 l&a1 ()pened the door .] NORA. Hide the Chr istma.s.tree co.refully, Ellen; the childron mustn'~ see it beCoro this eve ning, when it's lighted up. ('Fo the PORTER, takiny out het PUrlc .) How much? PORTER. Fiety Ore _· NoILI.. . Th ere ia 8 crown . No, keep the cbange . [7'ht PORTER thankl her anci got.. NOR.~ ,11Il.tll the door. She continue. Ilmiliny ilL quiet glee tU Illte t4ktl off her u'alking thingll. Then .he take. from her pocket a bay oj 1IIacaroonll, amt cat. Olle or tu:o . A•• he doc. 80, Ilht yoe. Olt tip-toe to her llIl.QarICl'. (lOOT alulli.lelll.] NORA. Yes; he is Ilt hom e. (fjhe wgill' humming agaill, going to the tabu Olt ti,e right.) About l!iJ[pence. There an 100 un! in a krone or crown, which is worth thirteenpenee halfpenny. ~~-- ---~- ­ - - -.. - -.. ­

-- ACT L) d DOLL'S HOUSE. • RELYEa (in hi. room). Ie tha.t my lark twittering tbere? NORA (bll'Y optning .o"'~ oj li~r par ctn). Yes, it is. llr.LvER. Is it. the squirre l skipping about? NORA. Yes! Hl'lLllER. When did the squirrel gei home? NOUA. Just tbis minute . (J-fides the bay oj Inaca· TOO1l. ill her pocket and ,wipe. htJ' mouth.) Come here, Torvald, and see what I've bought. lIEL.l.lER. Don 't disturb me. (A liulliat tr hI! IY]JI!I1' the door a'id looks ill, pen in. hand.) "Bought," did you say? What.! a.ll that? lIas my little spend­ t.hrift been making the money fiy again? NOIu. Why, Torvnld, surely we cnn afford to laun ch out a little no ..... ! It's the first Christma.s we ba\ 'eo't liM t.o pincb . HKLXXR. Come. come; we cnn'i afford t.o squan­ der money. NORA. Oh, yes, Torvnld, do let us squo.nder a little - just the least little bit, won't you 'I You know y ou'll 8000 be earning heaps of money. HELlIER. Yes, Crom New Yeur's Day. But there's a whole quarter before my first sa.lary is due. NORA. Never mind; we CAn borrow in the mt>RTl­ tim o. HELMF.n. KorA.! (}[e gOf!' lip to her /llld tllk t. her playfull!J by tht eaT.) Thoughtless as ever! SUPPO E­ inc . I borrowed 0. thousand crOWDS to.dny, and you

, A DOLL'S HOUBE. [ACT I spent it du ring Christmas week, and that on New lea.r's Eve 0. tile Llew olT tbe roof and knoeked my bmins out-­ NORA (laying her hand 011 'Ii. moulh). IIus r I How can you talk 80 horridly? IhtLMER. But Bupposing it we re to happen-what lb('11 ? Non.. If nnything 80 dreadfu l happened, I shouldn't care whether I WBe in debt or not. l[r;LltER. But what I1bo\lt tho creditors? NORA. 1'hoy! Who cnrcs for them? They're only atrnngers . llELlu':R. Nora, Nora I What 0. woman you are! But scriously . Nom. you know my ideas on theBO pointe. No debts! No credit! lIome-life ceases to be freo a.nd beautiful as BOOU all it is founded on bor­ row;llg and debt. Wo two ba\ 'c IteM out brnvtJy till n ow , nnd 'VCl won't giro in at tile I n.st. Non~ !.!Joi1l9 to the fireplace). ,"uy well-as yon liko, Tonnld. lieLlIER (jvUowill!J Iter). Come, come; my littlo IBrk mustu't leL her wings droop like thai. Wl..mt? Is tho squirrel pouting there? (Take. (lut iii, 1m/lit.) Nora, what do you think I've got here '} NOR. (turning Tuuwl quirJ..1y) . }fone y! HElliER. There! (Git,t, Iter .Qmll 1IOle.,) or course t know nil 60rts of things Bre wanted at Christmas. NORA «('(l10I(in9" Te n, twenty , thirty, forty. Oh! 1

ACT L] .d. DOLL'B HOUBE. , thank yon, thank you, Tor.ald, This will go 0. long way. ilELllEn. I should bope so. NoRA. . Yes, indeed; a long way I But COMe ber o, Rnd see all I've been buying. And 80 cbeap I Look, here's a new suit for 1\'ar, Bnd a little swo rd. Here are a horso and a trumpet for BoIJ. And here are a doll and a cradle for Emmy, 'flJey're only com· mon; bn~ she'll soon puB tbem all to pieces, And dresses and neckties for tbe Bon-an ts; only I s hould h a.e got something beUor for dear old Ann", HBI .)(£R. And what's in that other parcol? NORA (crying Ollt ). No, TO[VBld, you' ro DOt to Bee that until this evening . Ihr,)JER. Ob! ah! But now teU me, you little rogne, what have you got Cor yonrsolf '! NonA. For myself? Ob, I don't want anything. llEL:'lfF.n. NOnStlD!e. Just tell 000 somothing sen­ sible you wonId like to hwe. NonA.. No. Really I want nothing .... Well, listen, Torvald -­ llELlfEn. Well? NORA (plllyiflg leith lIu coot button., IdtllQtlt lookitlg him, in tl/c/(J('r ). H you really want to give me some· thing, you might, you know, you migbt­ HEL},IER. Well, we ll? Out with it! NoRA. (qllickl,y). You might give mo monoy, Tor·

6 II. DOLL'S HOUSE. fACT I. vald. Only just what you t.hink you can spare; thou I can buy myself something with it later. HELMER. But, Nora-­ N O RI, Ob, please do. denr Ton-aId, please do! Th en I would bang the money in lovely gilt paper on the Christmas·tree. Wouldn't that be fun" nY-LllER. What do they ca.lI tho birds · that aro nlways making the money fly" NORA. Yes, I know-spendthrifts, of COUlse. nut plclUlC do as I say. Torvald . Thou I shall have time to think what. I want most. Isn't that very sensible now'} liELlIER (,m iiiflg ). Certl~inly; tbat is to say. it you really kept the money I gave you, and really bought yourself something witb it. Dut. it all gocs in houseke eping. and (or all sorb of u8cle88 things, and then I Lave to find more. K ORA. But, Torvald- ­ J]v,L:.IEn. Can you deny it, Nom de ar? (He ]Jut, hi, arm ro und her.) It's & sweet little lark; but it gets thr ough & lot of money. No one would believe how mu ch it eo sb a man to keep 8u ch n. little birei as you. NonA. For shame! how can you say 8O? Why, I s av e 1\8 muc h /18 eyer I can. Ih : Lll£R (loll !Jlling ) . Very truo-as much as you f clln -but you can't. Spill l'/ugl, litenlly," lllaybinl," means a sambler . •

- -----~ Aar I.] A DOLL'S HOUSE. 7 NoRA. (hum. and .mik. in quid .atiljartiQn) . H'm! -yOll should juat know, Torvald, what expenses we la.rk s and squirrels ha.v e. HKLIlBR. You're II. str&nge little being I Ju st lik e you r father-alway s eager to get ho ld of m O Doy. but tbe moment you ha.v e it, it soo ms to slip througb yonr fingers; you never know wbat becomes of it. Well, one must take you 88 you (Lre . Irs in the blood. Yes, No rn . tbat sort of thing is inherit.ed. NORA. I wiah I bnd inherited many of my fat.her's qunlitic8. HELliER. And I don't wish yon anything but just wbat you ar&-my own, sweet little song-b ird. But, I say- it strikes me-you look 80, Bo-what. shall I call it 1-80 auspiciouB to·day-- NoRA. Do I? lll!:LldER. You do indeed . Look mo full in tbe face. NORA C'ooking at him). W ell? llELlIIER (t1/rtat~niIl9 lcit" Ill". finger) . Hasn't tbo liUle 8weet-tooth been breaking the ru les to·day? NORA. No; how cnn you th ink or But)h a tLing ! Ih:uu:n. Didn't she juet look in nt the con fec­ tioner's? • NoRA. No. Torvo.ld; reo.lly -­ fuLMSR. Not to sip & little jeUy? NoRA. No; certaiuly Dot. HELM&B. lla sn't she even nibbled 0. macaroon or tw o?

8 .d DOLL'S HOUBE. (A(,i1' 1. Non.\.. No, Torva,ld, indeed, indeed ! H.&t.llo. Well, well, well i of couree I'm only joking. NonA. (goe, to th~ table Ort tilt right) . 1 sbouldn't think of d(.)ing what yon disa.pprove or. HELMEll. No, I'm sure of tbn.~ j and, besides, you've given me your word. (Going toICarcl4 Mr.) Well, keep your little Christmas aeercts to YOUlaelf, Nora. darling. The CllristmB8-tree will bring tbem I'Ioll to light, I dBre8a~. NoB.!. Dave you remembered to Il.sk Doctor Rank? fuLMER . No . Dut it's not necessa.ry; be'll como as a. maUer of course. Besides, I shaH invito bim when he looks in to-day. 1"-0 ordered Borne capital wine. Nora, you can't tbink bow I look forward to tbis evening! NORA. And I too . How the ohildren will enjoy tborosch-ea, l'orvald ! HELMER. All! it's glOriODS to feel tbat ono has an assured poaitioo and ample meanS. Isn't i~ deligbtrul to t.bink of? NORA. Oh, Ws wonderful! HELMER. Do yoo remember lnst ChristmR.s? For three whole weeks beforehand you shut yourseH up till long pad midnight to make flowers lor the Christmas· tree, and all sorts of other marvels that were to hlttve astonished us. I WittS never so bored in my lile. - -

NORA AND HELMER (Miss ACHURCH and Mr. WARlNG). NORA: " Now. I'll tell you how we ought 10 manage, TOJ"Y(lld. ,\~ soon Il$ Christma« is 0""'"-'



ACT I.J A DOLL'S HOUSE. o NORA . I did noL bora myeelr al a.1I. llELlIER (.miling ). And it ca.me to so little after nll, Nora. NoRA.. Qb! are you going to tease me about tbat again? How could I belp tbe cat getting in aud spoiling it all? IiELltER. To bo s ure you couldn't, my poor little Nora. 10 1 1 did your beaL to amuse DS all, and tbat's tbe main thing. But , all tbe same, it's a good thing tbe hard times are over. NORA. Oh, ian't it wonderful! HELliER. Now I needu't sit here boring myself nll alone; and you needn't tire your dear eyes and your dclical4! little fingers-­ NORA kwPpin9 her "a/H I,). No, I needn't, need I, Ton'aId? Ob I it' s wond erful to think of! (1' akt. hill arlll.) And now I'll tell you bow 1 tbink we ought to manage, Ton·ald. As soon 0.8 Christmas is ovar­ (Th e hall·d oor bell riIl9") OIl, there' s a ring! (ar • . rallgin9 the room.) 'I'bn.t's somebody come to call. How vexing! HELMER. I am "not at homo" to callers; re· memi ,er tlmt. ELLEN (ill Ou doorway). A lady to soo you, ma'am. NoRA.. Show her in. ELLEN (to IIELKEn ). And the Doctor is just come, m.

10 A DOLIIS BOUSE. [ACT 1. HEUIER. Has be gone inLo my study? ELLEN. Yoa, sir. [HELliER goe. into hi, .ttuly . ELLEN lulu" tit hlns. LINDEN, in lrat'cil i"g COIlwnc, aml ,hut, the door bt hilld h er .] MR S. LINDEN (timidly and hui latitl giy). How d o yon do, Nora? Noru.. (doubtfIIUy), TIow do yOD do 'I MRS. LlNDEN . I dar csa.y you don't recognizo mo? NORA., No, I d on't think -o h, yes !- I believo-­ (EffUAictly) What! Christina! Is it really you? MRs. LnoDEN. Yes; really m e! NORA. Christina! and to think I didn 't know you! But bow cou ld I- -( JIorc ' I!ftly ) How cbanged you are, C hri stina. ! Mn s . LINDEN. Ye s, no doubt. In nine or ton year8 -- NolU. . J.8 it re ally 80 lo ng sin ce w e md'l Y es, 80 it is. Oh! tbe Inst eig ht yen.ra ba'ro been a. bappy time. I CRoU te ll YOll. And n ow you h ave come to town 'I All tba t lOD g journey in wid·winter! Uow brave or you. Mas. LINOF.N. I arriv ed by this morning's steamer. NORA. T o keep Ch ristma s, of course. Ob, bow delightful! Wba.t fuu W6 shall Ilave! Tak e your tbin gs off. Aren't you frozen ? (U elpin!1 her.) There l

- - -- - AOT I.] A DOLL'S HOUSE. 11 now we'll sit down bere cosily by tbe firo. No, yo u tak e tbe e.rm -cho.ir; I'll sit in this rocki ng -ebn.ir . (Stize. her lumd • . ) Yes, now I can see tbe dee.r old fn.c e again. It was only at the first gla.nee- But yo u're lit little paler, Christina, and perhaps & little thinn er . MRs. LlNDEN . And much , much older, Nom. NORA. Yes, perha!>a a. littl e older-not much­ eve r so little. (She flUldellly .tQP.: .trivlldy .) Oh I whal a th oughtless wr etc h I am! Here I sit cho.tter­ ing on, and -Dea r, de ar Christina, can you fo rg i ve me' MRs. LINDEN. What do me &n, Nora.? NORA (M)flly). Poor Christina.! I fo rgot, you are lit , widow? MRs. LnnlEN . Yea ; my husband died thr ee yea rs ago. NORA . I know, I know, I saw it in the po.pors. Oh! be lieve me, Christina., I did mean to write to you ; but 1 kept }lutting it off, and sometLing &Iwo.ys came in the w fLy. MRS. LINDEN. [ ca n quit e unde rstand that, Nora dear. NORA. No, Ch ri stin a; it was horrid of me. Ob , you poor darling! how mu ch you Ulust ha.ve go ne lhrough !-And he lo ft you noth ing? M ns. LIN DEN. No thi ng. NORA. And no ch ildr en?

A DOLL'S HOUSE. (ACT 1. MM. LOWEN . None. NoRA. Nothing, no\hing at aU ? MRS, LI~Dr.:s, Not even a Borrow or a. longing ro dwell upon . NORA (looking at lIer iltcrcdllil1l"/Y). My dear Chris­ tina, bow is tbllt possible? AIng. LINDEN (.miling .a'lly and .troking her hair). Ob, it happens sometimes, Nom. NOR'. So utterlya.lone. How dreadrnl that must be! 1 hn.ve tinee of the loveliost children. I ca.n't show them to you just now; tbey 're out with their uurse. But now you must lell me everything. Mng, LISDE!'!. No, no, ] want you to tell me-­ NoRA. No, you must begin; I won't be egotistical to-duy. To-day I will think of you only. Oh! 1 mnst tell you one thing; but perhaps you've heard of our great stroke of rortnne? Mas. Lnm:::N. No_ Wha.t is it? NoR.f... Oilly think! my husband has boou made MaulLgor of the Joint Stock Dank. Mas. LINDEN. Your husba.nd! Oh, bow (onuMte! NORA. YC8; isn't it? A lawyer's position is 80 unccrtain, you 8ce, especially when be won't touch any businesA thnt's the Jeast bit--slJady, a8 of course 'l'otnlld won" i and in that 1 quito agree with him. Ob! ~'ou can ima~il1e how gl ad we are. He is to (Inter on his new position at the New Yenr, and then be will have a large MJary and percentages . In

AC"f I.] A DOLL'S HOUSE. future we shall be able to live quite difJercntly- just as we plclUle, in fact. Oh, Christina, I leel so light IUld happy I H's splendid to hAve Iota of money,llnu no need to worry about tbings, isu't it? Mas . LINDEN. Yes; it muiL be delightful to have what you need . NolU . :\0, not only what you necd, but heaps of money-heaps! Mns. LI~DE:-I (,milin9). Xora. , Nora, havcn·t yOI1 learnt reason yet? In our schooldays you wcro n shocking little spen(lthrict! NORA (quietly smiling). Yes; Torvnld says I am still, (1'hreateljl ll'ith htr fillger ,) But" Nora, Nom," is not 80 silly as you all think. OlI! I ha.Ten't ball tho chanco to bo much of a spendthrift. ,Yo hn,·o both bad to work, Mns. LUWEN. You too? NoRA. , Yos, light fancy work; crochet, and em· broidery, and ihings of that sort, (';anijicanti!l) anll otber work too. Yon know, of course, tbat 'fon'aM left tbe Govornment service when wo wl,;re married. He had little chance of promotion, and of conrse be required to make more money. But in the first year of our marriage he o,'erworked himself terribly. TIc bad to undertake all sorta of odd jobs, you know, an(l to work early and late. Ho couldn't stand it, and lell dangerously ill. Then tbe doctors declared bo must go to ~h c South.

1 14 A DOLL'S HOUSE. MRS. LINDEN. Yes; YOIl spont R. whole year in Italy, didn't yon? NORA . We did. It wasn't easy to manage, I can teU yon. It was just after !var's birtb. But of courso we had to go. Ob, it was a delicious journey! And it saved Torvald's life. Dut it cost 0. frighUul lot of money, Christina. MRs. LINDEN. So 1 should think. NORA. Twelve hundred doUars! Four thousand eight hundred crowns I Isn't that 0. lot or money? Mas. LINDEN. How lucky yOll had the money to spend I NORA. I must tell you we got it from Cath er. 'MRs. LINDEN. Ab, I see. He died jusl abont tbat time didn't he ? NORA. Yes, Christina, just then. And only think! I couldn't go and nursc bim! I was expecting little Ivar's birth dt~ily. And tben I bad my Torvald to attend to. Dear, kind old father! I ne,'or saw him again, Christina. . Oh I that's the hardest thing I've had to bear since my marriage . MRS. LINDEN. I know how fond you were of him. And theD you wenL t.o Italy? NORA. Yes; we had the money, and the doctors iDsist ed. We started fl. mont.h later. MRS. LINDE:S . And your hu slm ..nd re turned com­ pletely enred ? NORA. Sound as a bell. -

AO'f I.] d DOLL'S BOUSE. " MRs . LINDBN. But-the doctor ., NORA. Wha.t &bont him ., MRs . LnroKN. I thought as I came in your serva.nt announced the Doctor -­ NORA. Oh, yes; Doctor Rank. But he doeso't come &8 a doctor. He ill our best friend, and never lets a day pus without looking in. No, Torvald hasn" had an hour's illness sinea that timo. And the children (Ll'O 80 healthy and well, and 80 am I. (Jump' up (Inti clap' her hand,.) Ob, Christino., Christina, it's 80 lovely to live and to be happy!­ Oh! but it's really too horrid of mo !-Uore am 1 talking about nothing but my own conoerns. (Sit. dmt'n "Upon a 100t,too/, cloae w her and ulg, IIl r arm' 0" Chri,tina', lap.) Ob I don't be angry with me!­ Now jnd tell me, is it rtlally trne that you didn·t love your husuaud" Wbat made you take him then ., Mas . LINDEN. My mother was then alive, bed­ ridden a.nd helpless; and thon I hnd my two younger brothers to think of. I thought it my duty to aeeep~ him. NoRA. Perhaps it was. I suppose he was rich then '} MRS . LumEN. Very well off, I believe. Dut his business W&8 uncertain. It fell to pieces at his death, and there was nothing left. NOIlA. And thell-- ? Mns. LI:.IOES. Then I had to fight my way by

i 10 .4 DOLL'S BOUSE. (ACT J. keeping a. shop, 80 lime school, anything I could turn my band to. The 18st three yea.rs ha.ve been ODe long BUugg\e for me. But now irs over, Nora.. My poor mother no long~r needs me; she is at rest. ..lnd the boys arc in busincss, (lnd can l ook alter themsel vcs. NORA. IIow Cree your life must leel ! Mm~ . LI!>D&N. NIJ, :-\oro.; only inexpr essibly cmpty. No onc to live for. (8Im«" up realleuly.) That is why I couldn't heM to stay auy longe r in that out-ol ·the­ way corner. Here it must be cnaier to find somet hing really worth doing -something to occupy one's thoughts . Ii I could only get some seUled employ­ ment-some offiee-work . NoR.' . But, ChriBtillll, tba~'s 80 tiring. and you look worD ont already. Yon should rather go to 80me watering-placo and rest. Mns. LnW£N (yuing til Ihe tl'induu'). I hnve no flltuOf to give me tbe money, Nora. NORA (ri,ill!l)' Ob I don'~ bo vexed with mc, ?Uns, LL~DEN (!Juing tQward. I1tr). My dear ~orn, don't yon be vexed witb me. Tho wont of Il position like mino is that it makes ono bitter, YOIl hM'O no one to work fOf, yet you h!l.\'o to be always on tbe strain. You must Ih'e; and so you become selfish, Wbon I hea rd of the happy cbange in your cir cum· stances-can you beJio\'"e it 1-1 ff>joiced marc on my 0\\'11 account than on yourll.

ACT I.} .d DOLL 'S HOUSE. 17 NORA. now do you mean? AD! 1 see. You mean Torvald eoold perllapI do something for you. MRS. LnmD. Yea; 1 thonght 10. NORA. And 80 he Iball, Christina.. Just Jon 10&'\"0 it 1111 to me. I Ihall lead up to it beautifully. and think of something pieaaa.nt to put him in a, good humour! Oh! I shouJd 10 love to do something (or yoo. MRS. LINDEN. now good or you, Nora 1 And donbly good in you, who know so little of the troublos of life. NoRA. I? 1 kn ow 80 litUe of --? MRs. LINDZN' (,miling). Ah, well! a little (ancy­ work, nnd 80 (orth. You're 0. mere child, Nom. NORA «(Qflt. IIrr hC(If[ (wd 11(fUI tile room ). Oil come, you mustn 't be 80 patronizing! Mas. LnroEN'. No ? NORA. You're like tbo rest. You nil tbink I'm fit for nothing re ally serious-- Mns. LINDZN . Well- ­ NORA. You think 1" '0 bad no troubles in this weary world. MRS. LINDEN. My dear Nom, you've just told mo all your tronbles . NORA. Pooh-these triBCI. (S.iftly.) I haven 't told you tbe great thing. MRS. LINDEN. The great thing? What do YOII mean? -

" A DOLL'8 HOUSE. [Act 1. NOnA. I know you look down upon mo, Christina.; but you've no right to. You'c e proud of baying work ed 80 hard and 80 long for your mother. Mns. LI NDEN. I'm sure I d on 't look d o wn upon anyone; but it's tru o I 'm both proud and glad wben 1 reme mb e r that I WILS ab lo I.Q waKe my motbe r ', la8t days !r eo Crom care. NOIl ..\, And you're proud to think of ",bILt you hs.vQ done fo r your brothers. MR S . LINDEN. Hav e I not tho right to be? Non.... Yes, surely. But now let me tell you ChriiltiulL.-I. too, bve something to be proud and Sind of. MRs. LumEs . I doo" do ubt it. But wha.t do you mOM? NOlll. Hu sh! Not 80 loud. Only think, if Tor­ VIlld w ere to hear! lIe musln't -not ( or worlds! ~o one must know nbout it, Ch ristina-oo ooe but YOI1. Mns. LIND ES'. 'W hat ClLn it be? NonA.. Come over bore. (Dral£" Iter besille ker 011 the ,,!la.) Yes-I, too, havo something to be proud and glad of. I saved Torvakl's life! Mns. LINDEN. Saved hisJi(e? lIo,,.? NonA. I told you about our going to Italy . Tor­ \'Ill d would ha.v e died but lo r that . ltn&. LINDIr:N. Yes-aud.your 1t.tther ga.ve you tho money_ - - -~

ACT I.] A DOLUS BOUSI!. " Now. ('lUiling) . Yes, so Torva.ld and every ODe believes; but---- Mna. Lixo ltx. But-? NoB.! . Fa.ther didu 'l give us one penny. I found the money. Mas. LIND E.~. You 'I All tha.t money? NORA. Twe lvo hUDdred dollars. Fonr thousa.nd e i ght hundre

J .d. DOLL'S BOUSE, l~I;T 1. Mas. LINDEN. You're too silly, Nom.. Nonl. Now I'm suro you'ro dyinS ot curiosity, Christiua-- MIlS, LINDEN. Listen to mo, Nora dea.r. Ha.ven't you boen a. little rash ., No R.! (.itting upriaht O!JClin) , Is it rash to S8.\'e ono's husband's life 'I Mas , LlNDES. I think it was rash of you, without his knowledge-­ NOM . But it would hELVe heen fatal for him to know! Cllu't yOll understand thR.t., He WI\.'\! never to suspect how ill he was. The doctorfl came to mo privately nnd told me that his liCe WII.8 in dang-ar­ that nothing could save him but a trip to tho SouU .. , Do you think I didn't try diplomacy first., 1 told him how t longed to have a. trip abroad, like other young wives; 1 wept and prayed; 1 said he ought to think of my conditi o n, and not to thwart me; and then 1 hinted that he could borrow the monoy. But thcn, Christina, ho got almost angry. He said I WIlS frivo­ lous, and that it was his duty I\S a husband not to yield to my whims nnd fancic8-s0 he ca.llcd them. Very woll, thought t, but saved you must be; and then I found the way to do it. Mns . LtNDEN, A.nd did your husband never learn from your Cather that the money was not from Lim? NORA.. No; never. Father died at tha.t very time. r meant to hnl'e told him all about it, and begged him

Am LJ .It DOLUS HOUSE. to laynotbing . But bewfl,8 80 ill-unbn.ppily, it WIlS not n6cesBMy. Mas. LINDBN. And yon have never confessed to your husband ., NOR... Good Heavens I What can you be thinking of., Tell him, when be has snoh a. loathing of debt'} And besides-bow painful sou humiliating it would be for Torv&ld. with bis manly selC-reliance. to know tbILt he owed anything to me! It wonld utterly upset the relation between us; our beautiful, happy home would never a.ga.in be wbat it is. MRS. LINDIIN . Will you never tall him 'I NoR.! (tJwlA{JhtjIlU!I. half-IIniiin!J). Yes, sometimo perhaps-after ma.ny ycafs, wben I'm-not 80 pretty. You mnstn't laugb at me. or eourse I mean \vholl Torvald is not 80 much in love with me as he is now; when it doesn't amuse bim any longer to 80C mo skipping about, Bod dressing up and acting. Then it migbt do well to ba.ve something in reservo. (Breaking (I.ff.) Nonsense! nonsense! That timo will never come. Now, what do you say to my gflllHl secret, Christino.? Am I fit lor nothing now? You may believe it bas cost me a. lot 01 anriety. It has been no joke to meet my engagements punctually. You must know, Christina, tbat in business there are things called inet.a.lments and qua.rterly interest, tllat are terribly hard to meet. So I bad to pinch a little here Imd there, wherever I could. I could not lato

.d DOLL'S BOUSE. [ACT I . anything out of the housekeeping , for of course Tor­ vald had to live well. And I couldn't le t tho olJil(lron go about badly dressed; all I got for them, I spent on them, the darlings . Mns. LINDEN_ Poor Nora I So it ha.n to come ou of your own pocket-money. NORA . Yes, of courao . Arter a.ll, the wh ole thing WM my doing. Wben Torvsld gave me money for clothes, and so on, I ne\'er used more ilian bn.If of it; I always bought tbe sim plest things . It's 0. mercy tbll.t everything: suits wo 80 well; Torvnld neve r noticod anything. Dut it was orton vory hard, Christina dear . For it's Dico to be beautifully dressed-now, isn 't it? Mns. LINDEN. Indeed it is. NoRA.. Well, snd besides that, I made money in other wuys. Last winter I wlla so lucky-I got n. heap of copying to do. I sllut myself up cvery even­ ing and wrote fl� on into tho night. Oh, aometimcR 1 was so tired, so tired. And yot it was splendj,l to work in that way and earn mODoy. I almost felt as if I was a man. MRS. Ll.,\DEN. Then how much have you boeD nble to payoff? Nom. Well, I can't precisely say. U's difficult to keep tllnt sorl of business clear. I only know tbat I paid oIT everything I c'mld scrapo together. Some­ times I reRUy didn 't Know where to turn . (Smile •. )

ACT I.] .& DOLL'S BOUSE. 28 Then I used to sit here and imagine that & rich old gentleman waR in love with mit- Mna LncDaN. What I What gentleman? NORA. Db I nobody_tha.t he w&s now dead, and that when his will WIl.8 opened, there Btood in large letton: Pay over at once everything or whloh I die possessed to that charming person, Mrs. Nora. llcl­ mer . MRS. LINDEN. But, deBr Nora., whnt gentleman do you mcn.n? NOJlA. Dear, dCllr, can't you understand? Thero wQsn't any old gentlemo.n: it was only what I nsed to dream and dream wbeD I was at my wit'l! end (or money. But it'e all o ,er now-the tiresome olel oreature ma.y stn.y wbere be is for me; I care nothing for bim, or bis will; for now lIlY troubles are over. (Springing tIp.) Oh, Chrietinn., bow glorious it is to think of. Free from carcs! Free, quite (ree, To be able to play and romp about with tho children; to have things tastefnl anel preUy in the house, eXl\ctly 1\8 Torvo.ld likes it! And then the spring is coming. with tbe grea.t blue sky. Perhaps then we shaH ha\'C a short holiday. Perhaps I shall see tho sen. again. Db, what 1 wonderful thing it is to live nud to be happy. [ The hall·door heUring •. ] Mas. LrNDy.N ( rUin,). Tbere is n ring. Perhaps I hM beUer j:{O .

24 A DOLL'S HOUBE. [ACT L NORA. No; do stay . U', Bure to be some one f or Torvald. ELLEN (in th, dooTlcay). U you please, ma.'am, tbere', a gentleman to apeak to Mr . H elmer. NonA. Who is tbo gentleman? nr.oo8uD (in the dOO'ru:ay to thellall). It is I, Mn. Helmer. (ELLEN gou . [MRS. Lumt:N .tar". Tecoee,.. IUTlelj, (UW turn, au-ay to the windo w.] NORA (gou It Btep lOlCord. him, allxiou.ly, half alolld). You? Wbllot is it? What do yon want wHh my husband? KBooSUD. Bank businoss-in a way. I hold 0. sma ll pos' in the Joint Stock Bank, and your husband is 10 be our Dew chief, I hear. NORA. Then it is--? KROGSTAD. Only tiresome businoss, Mrs. Helmer; nothing more. NonA. Tuen wUi you pleaso go to his study. [KnOOBT.l.D gor., Sh, bow, indiffucntly Ichile de ciNe. the door into 'lie hall. Then ,Jie goa to the jirepwu and looka to the fire .} Mns. LrNDEN. Nora-who was tha.t ma.n ., NonA. A. Mr. Krogstad. Do yon know him .,

ACT I.) A DOLL'S HOUSE. llns. LINDEN . I used to know him-many years ago. He was in II. lawyer's office in our town. NORA. Yes. 80 he was. MJl8. LnrDKN. How he haa changed! NOR~. I believe his marringe was unha.ppy. lIRa. LINDEN. And he is no" a widower' NolU. . With a. lot or cbildren. Tbere I now it'll burn up. (Slu d()6u the dm:e, Q'IU' plUhtl tile Tocl •.,,,!!­ eluzir a liUk atide. ) MRS. LIND EN. Ilia business is not of the most ereditable tbey say. NolU.. Isn" it? I da.resay not. [don't know­ But don't let us tbink of bu siness-it's so tiresome. LDR. R.un;: come. owt of HELlIER'S room. ] RANK (.till i,l tile dooru·ay) . No, no; [ won't keep you. I'll just go and bave a chat with your wife. (Shut. flu door (wd .ce. Mns. LINDE!

A DOLIlS HOUSB. [ACT L MRs. LINDBN . Only overworked . nANE. Ah I Then you have como to town to find r est in II. round of dissipation? MRs. LINDeN. I havo come to look for emp loy · ment . nANK. Ia that o.n o.ppro,·ed remedy f or ol"er,work ? MRS. LnH)ES". Qoo must live. Doctor Rank. RANK. Yes. that sceml to be tho general opinion. NoRA.. Come. Dr. Rank, yon yourself want t.o Iivc. RASE. To be sure I do. llowever wretched I may be I want to drn.g on o.s long as possible. And my jlatients hav e 1\11 the Bame mania. It's just the Barno with people wuose complaint is moral. At thi s very mom ent Relmor is talking to 8Qeh a wreck as I mello. MRs. LrsOEN (fo jtly ). Ah I NORA . WhoId do 'you mean '} I fuHK. Oil, 0. feUow nam ed Krogsta.d, " mn.n you know nothing abouL-corrupt to tho very coro or his chara.eter. But ovon ho begn.n by annouDoing solemnly that ho must live. NoJU. Indeed ? Then whnt did he want with TorYl\ld? RlNE. I really don't, know; I only gathered 'ha~ H was some Bank busincss. N'OIU. I didn't know that Krog-that this Mr. Kro~tad had anytb ing to do with tbe Bank? _.­

ACT I.] A DOLL'S HOUSE. " lli.N1t. He has SODlO sort of place thcre. (Tv Un s. LnmEs.) I don't know wlletber, in yonr part of the country, you bave people who go rooting Imd sDuffing Around in S81lreh of moral rott.eunel!ll!l­ whoso polioy it is t.o .611 good plaees with men of tainted character whom they e&D keep nndllt their eye and in their power? The bonest meD t.bey leavo out iu the cold . Mns, LJSOK!'(. We ll, I suppose tbe-delioate oha­ racters reqnire most care. RANK (,hrug, hi, ,I/O/lultrB), Thera ',a hM 'O it! !fs tbat notiou tbat makes socieiy a hosp ital. [NORA, d(l'p ill Ilt1' OU'I! fllm/flltl" oreab tit/V lU1{(·.tijk·/ll

--- --- 28 JI DOLL'B HOUSE. {ACT I. RANK. Oil ,

Act' 1.] A DOLL'S HOUSE. {llELllER comu out oj hi. room, hat in haIJd, with I,;, OI·trcoot 0" his arm.] (Going tOlcar!U hilll .) Well, Torvald dea.r, havo you got rid of him? HEt.nER. Yes; he's just gone. NOB\. . May I introduce you ?-Tbi3 i8 Cbri sti nn., who bas como to town-­ IIELM&R. Christinn.? Pa.rdon me, but I don't know--? NORA. Mrs. Linden, Torvald dear-Christina Lin· den. BELlum (to MRS. LumEN ). A school·friend of my wife's, no doubt? Mns LINDEN. Yos; we knew earh other 118 girl8 . NORA. Ami only tl1illk! Sbe has taken this long journey on purp080 to speak to you . _ HKLMl:R. To spenk to rna 1 MRS. LINDEN. Well, not quite-- NonA . You see Christina is tremendously cloy.:r nt accounts, and sho's so anxious to work under a firat·rate man of businels in order to learn atill more-­ HELKCR (to MRS. LINDEN). Very sensible indeed. Noru.. And when she beard you were appointed Mana.ger-it was te legrnpbed, yon know-sho starte

80 A DOLL'S BOUSE, [ACT I. oj]' at once, and-Torvald dear, for my eake, you must do something (or Christina. Now can't you? llELllER. U's not impossible. I presume you aro a. widow? Mrs. LI~;oEN. 1es. H.~)(En. And have already bad somo OXI criance in ollice- work? Mus. LISDEN. A good deal. HELliER. Well, theD, it's vcry likely I may find a place (or you. NORA (clapping her IWnlls) . There now I there DOW I llELlIER. You have como at a lucky moment. Mrs. Limlen. MRS . LnmEs. Oh I how can I t1Hwk )'O U-- ? U£LlIER (.miliftg). Thero is DO occasion (PIAl. Iii, QI'crc u at on.) But for the prosent you must excuse me. nANK. Wait; I'll go with you (jfkhe. hi. fur coot (rol/l tlte hall (l1U! wanll.lt (lot lite fir r). NORA. Don't be long, dear Torvn.ld. Hr.UIER. Only an hour; Dot more. Non!. Are yon going too, Chtistiua'l MR.8 .. LINDE"N ( 1Juttin9 on lur 1t"alkillg thing.). Yes j l must set about looking (or lodgings. HELliER. Tbcn perbaps we can go togethcr ? Non. (hriping her). Wbat a pity we haven·t a spa re room for yO Il ; but it's impossible-- Mns. LINDEN. I sbouldn't think of koabliog you . •

ACT I.] A DOLL'S HQUSE. Good-bye, dea.r Nora., o.nd tba.nk you for all your kindness. NORA . Good-bye for a. little while. Of course you'll como back tbis evening. And you too, Doctor Hank. What I if you're well enongb? Of course you'll be well enough. Only wrap up wa.rmly. (7'lIey go ou' lalkillY j,do tile hall. Oul,ide on. the Ita,,., arfl luard childr.-,,' , i'uin!,.) There they nre! ~hcre 'bey are I (8M rUIIII to the door alld opel!' it.) Come in I come in! (Bem is dOlt,1t (liid kUlle, th e chiklrw.) 011 1 my sweet darlings I Do you see them, Christina.' Aren't they 10\ 'el," lUNg. Don't leri stand here cbnUtriug in tho draught. HBUII.B- Come, Mrs. LindeD; only mothers can ltand such a temperature . {DR . fuSK, IIP:uum, and Mus. LINDEN yo fl o wn the ,Iai,.,: ASSA elite,.. tile roUII~ ll'ilh tlw cltildrtlt.. NORA auo, ./utitill{J the door.] NORA. How fresL nnd bright you loo'1l:! And wbt� red cheeks you ha.ve !-Iike apples ftnd roscs. (The children. tall.: lttu: to It..r dllri~l!1 till' /ullfm'illg) Have you bad great tun? Tha.fs splendid. Oh, really I you've been giving Emrny and Dob n. rido on your sledge !-Both at once, only think I Why you'r'C

A DOLL'B BOUBE. [ACT 1. quite a man, lvar. Ob, give her to me 0. little, Anna, My sweet little dolly I {l'akt. the .malled from the lIur.e find dance. with htr .} Yes, yes; motber will dance with Bob too. Wbat! did you have a game or snow·ba.lls? Oll! I wisb I'd been there. No; leave them, Anna; I'll take tbeir Lhings oft'. Ob, yes, let me do it; it's sDch fun. Go to the nursery; you look frozen. You'll find some hot coffee on tbe stove. 'ThlJ nur,e flOC' illto Ille roollt Olt the left. NonA tab. off the ehildrUl" Ihillfl' and throw. them dOIl'I' anywhert, vhik the childwi talk to tach othtr allli to her.] llcn.lly I A big dog ran a1~r you aU the wa y home? But he didn·t bite YOD? No; dogs don' t bite dear little dolly children. Don't peep into those pa.rcels, IVll.r. What is it? Wouldn't yon like to know? Oh, ta.ke care-it'll bite I Whnt! shall we hll.\'c a gnme '} What shall we play at '} Hide·and-seek'} Yes, lars play hide-and-seek . Bob shall bide first . Am I to '} Yes, lei me hide first, ,SIlt alld the childrm play, witlt ltwghtcr alia .houtillg , in the rool1' and tke adjacent ont 10 tlte right. At lll,t NORA hidu uI'tUr the itlbJe; th e children come nI.hing in, look fu/' her, bllt ealillot find her, hear

ACT 1.] ..t DOLL'S HOUSE. sa Iler IUllj·c1wked Lauyhttr, rush to th e taWe, lift 1Ip tlte COL'et I anct .u Iter, LOIUl.lwut. , Sht creep. out, (U tlloll9" to Jriglttm flitI/!. Frelh .haul. . M CllflWlliu ther t: lun brc" a. knock at the hall door. 1 '0 om: lUll lwml it. No w the d(}o)r i, IUllj o}Xtlc (l alldlinoosTAD i • • an . lIe I£ait. a little; the yalne i. Ttlll'u:ed .J· KROGSTAD . I beg your ll:m1 oll, M r s. Uel mer-­ NORA (with a 811}J}JrC88I'(l cry. turul round alld hu~r jump' up). Ah I Whll.t do yo u want? KnoosTAD. Excu se mc, the ou ier door was ajar ­ somebody must have fo rgott en t o shut it- NonA (Iltalld ill!1 111') ' My hushnud is no~ at hom e, M r. Krogstad. KnooSTAD . I kn ow it. NORA. Then-what do you want he re? KROGSTAD. To say a fe w words to you. NollA. T o m e? ('1'0 the children, .uftl,IJ .) 00 in to Annn. . Wh a t? No , tbe strange man wou't hurt mamma.. When b e's gone wo'll go on playin g. (She ualh the childrell illto the lift .halld r oom. alllt . 11Ut. the door bchiml tltem. U"t:asy, 1'~ ,u'l~n.t:.) Ira with me you wish to 81}(>ak ? KROOSTAD . Yes . NOJl.A. To-day? But it's not the Cust yet-­ KRoGSTAD . No; to-day is Ch ristmas Eve. It w ill j - _ .

.. A DOLL'S HOUSB . [A.CT r. depe nd upon yonrsoH wheth er you have n. merry Christmas. NoR.\. What do you want., I certainly can't to·day-­ KROGSTAD. Never mind that jost now. U's "bout aoother matter. You have a. minute lo spar e? NORA . ~b, yos, I supposo 80; although-­ KROGSTAD . Good. I was sitting in tbe resta.urant opposite, and I SBW your husbnod go down tbo street. NORA . Well! KaOGsTAD. With! lady. Noru.. Wl.Jat theu '! li.RooSTAD. May I Bsk if tbe lady was a Mrs. Lind en 'I NORA. Ycs. KRoasTAD. Who un! just como to town ? NORA. Yes. To·day. KROOSTAD . I beliol"Q she's an intimate friend of Jours? NORA . Certainly. Dut 1 don't un de rs tand -­ KROGSTAD. I usod to know ber too . NORA. I know you did. KaooSTAD. Ah! YOII know all about it. I thought all much. Now, fran kly, i8 Mr9. Linden to ha.ve a place in the bank? NORA. How dlLro yOll catechize me in this way, Mr. Krogstad-you, a subordinate of my busband ' s? Bnt linee you al'k yoo shall know. Yes, Mrs . • -- --- ~

ACT I.] .d: DOLL'S HOUSE. Linden is to be employed. And it is 1 who rec om· mended ber, Mr, Krogstad . Now you know . NROOSTAD. Then my gue8B was aght . Non. (!calking lip and doaon) . You see one hns a little wee bit of influence. It doesn't follow because onc's ouly II. ,,"oml� thl�- When ODe is in 1 subordinate position, Mr. Krogstad, one ought rea lly to take care not to otTe nd anybody who-h'm-- KRoosTaD. Wbo bas influence? NORA. Exa ctly! KnOO8T'w (taking nnother fnnc). Mrs. IIelmer will you have the kindness to emp loy yo ur influence ou my behalf? NOR.I.. Wbat? How do you mean? KaOOST,W. Will you be so good 88 to see that I retain my subordinate position in the bank? NORA . What do you mean" Who wanis to tak e it Crom you? KROOIT,W. Ob you needn 't pretend ignorance. I can very well under s tn.nd tha.t it cannot be ple& sn.nt (or y ou r fri e nd to meet me; and I can also under · stand now for whose sake I am to be hounded out. NORA . But I Rssure YOtl-- KnOOST.l.D. Come now, once fo r all, there is time yet. and I advise ~'OU to use yOUl' influence to pr event it. NORA. But, Mr. Kr ogstad , I have abs olutely no ionuenot' .

80 A DOLL'8 HOUSE. KR0

Acr I.) A DOLL'S HOUSE. try to win back as mlloh rospectabili ty ae I Cllll. This place in the bank was the ftnt step, and now your husband w&nts to kiok me off the ladder, back into the mire. NORA. But I assure YOD, Mr. Krogstad, I haven't the power to help you. KnooST.W. Yon have not tbe will; but I crm compel you. NORA. Yon won't tell my husband that lowe you money! KnooSTAD. H'm; suppose I were to '} NORA. It would be sbfLDleful of you! (Witlt Il'IIr' in her 1·ojCt.) This secret which is my joy nnd my prid&--tha.t be should Ictun it in such An ugly, CORrie wa.Y-ILDd from you I It would involve me in RlI sorb o( unpleasantness. KROGSTAD . Only unpleasantness? NORA (hotly). But just do it. U will be worst (or you, (or thon my husba.nd will sec wha.t ~ (,all man yOtt are, nnd then you oertainly will not keep your place. KRoOSTAD. I asked if it was only domestic un· pleasantness you (eared ') NORA. H my husband gets 10 know &bont it, ho will or coarse pay you off at once, and then we'll have nothing more to do \ ith you. h.nOOSTAD (.Ieppi,,{! a pau fJeanr). Listen, Mrs. Helmer . Either you have 8. wenk memory. or yolt

A DOLL 'S HOUSE. (A(;T L don't know much about business. I must make your , position clearer to you. NolU.. now 80! KnOOSTAD. When your husband was ill, you came to me to borrow twelve hundred

- ACT 1.] .d DOLL'S HOUSE , .u KROOSTAD. And of course you din 80 at once '} Por within fiv e or sil: da.ys you brough t me back tbe paper, signed by your Cather, aDd I gave you the money. Non,,-. Well I Haven't I made my palments llunctoa l1y'} KRooSTAD. Fairly-yes. DDt to return to the point. You were in great troDbl e at tho tim o, Mrs . Jlelmer . NORA. I wa s inde ed I KRoOSTAD. You r l a ther wa s \'ery ill, I belio \'e '} NORA. He was on his d ea th·bed. KnooSTAD. And died soon after? NoRA.. Yes. KROGSTAD. Tell me, Mrs. Helm er: do you happen t o reco Iled tho day of his d ea th? The day of the month, 1 mean? NORA . Fatb er died on the 29th of September, nR.OOSTAO, Quite correct, I have made inquiries, I\od here comes in tbe remarkable point-(pr od ucell a paper) which I elU moi npilLill . NORA, What remarkable point? I don't kDOW -­ KnooSTAD, The r umlU"ka ble po iut, madam, tbat your falher signed this paper tbr ee days after his dea th I NORA. What! I d on 't unders t8.D d-­ KROGSTAD. Your fatLL er died OD the 29th of Septem' ber . Dut l ook her o, be bas dated his signature

,A DOLL'S HOUSB. ACT T. Oeklber 2nd I Is not that remarkab le, Mrs, Helmer ., [NonA ;, lilcllt. ] Can you explain it ., [NonA cOllti'lIIt, "'lent.] 1t ill noteworthy, too, tllat tho wordll .. Oct. 2nd." and tho year arc not in your father' s handwriting, but in one wbich I believe I know . Well, tbis mny be oxplained; your (atber may have forgotten to date bis signature, and someb o dy ma.y ha.ve added the date at ra.ndom before tbo (act o( his death Wa.Il known. There ill nothing wrong in that. Every. thin g depends on tho signature, or course it is genui ne, Mrs. Helm er" It WM really your father wbo with hill own hand wrote his name he re" NOR (after a ,lwrt 'ilence Illrou" h~r head b{l(:k alld look. dtjialltly at hilll). No; I wrot e fatber's name tbere. KnoosTAD. Ah! Aro you nware , madam, that that is a. dangerous admilllliou ., NORA. Why., You'lllloon get your money. KROGSTAD . May I ask you one more question" Wby did you not send the paper to your father " NORA. It was impo8llible, Fatber was ill. If I 1u\(1 a!';ked him (o r bis signo.ture I ebou1d hue had to te ll him why I wantoo tbo money; but he was 110 ill I really could not toll him that my husband's liCe was iu danger, It was impossible. • ~ I

Act 1.1 A DOLL'S HOUSE. .1 KOOOBTAn. Then it would have b een baUe r to have given up your tour. NORA . No, I couldn'~ do that, my husba.nd ·s lire depended on tbat journey. I couldn't give it up. KRoasTAD. And did you not conside r tbat you were playing me false" NORA. Tbat was nothing to me. I didn't care in the lel\8t about you. 1 couldn't endure you Cor all t · be cruel difficultics you made, although you knew bow ill my husband was. KnooSTAD. Mrs. Delmer, you have evidontly no clea r i dea. wbat yon bn.ve really done. But I can assure you it was nothiug more and nothing worse that made me an outcast from society. NoR.! . You! You want me to believe tbat you did a brave thing to save your wife's life ., KRoGSTAD. Tbe law takcs no account of motives. NORA . 'I'hen it must be a vcry bad law. KnOOST .\O. Bad or not, if [ lay this document beforo a court of law you will JJe condemned according to In\\'. NOR.\. I don't believe that . Do you mean to tell me that a daughter lltts no right to spare h{'r dying: Cnther anxiety ?-that fL. wife bas no right to save her husband's life" I don't know much about the law, but I'm sme that, somewhere or another, you will find that that is allowed. And you don't know tlHLt­ you, a In:wycr! You mllst he a bad ODO, Mr. Krogstud.

.d DOLL'S HOUSe . {A I."T I . KnOGSTAD. Possibly. But business -B uch busin css o.s ours-! do uudorstand, You believe that 'I Very we ll; now do 8.S you please . But this I ma y te ll you, tho.t if I'm Hun g into the gutter 0. second Lime, you shall keep me co mpan y. (E VIct alll i 90(' ou t through hall. Noll.\. (.t(ln(i, alChik thinkill!l, then th rolC. her htM back). Never! 11e wante to frighten me. I'm not 80 foolish ns thnt. (Begill'juulill!l t he ehiUlr en', clothu. [lall.(.,) But--? No, it's impossible, I did it fo r love! C Uff,ORES (at Olt door, ltft ), Mamma, tbe strango mall is gone now. Non .\. Yes, yes, I know , But don't tell auy ono about Ule sHange man, Do yo u bear" N ot e\'en papa! CU ILDlU iS'. No, mammn; ;-ud now will you play with n .. again ., NORA. No, no, no t now, CmLORES'. Oh do, mamma; you know you pro­ mi sed. NORA . Yes, but 1 c an 't just now. Rnn to th o nursery; l''I'e so m uch to do, ]lun along, run along , a nd be good , my darlings I (Site ,rn./It' them geril ly inM lite i",u 'r room, (llIIi rlfl,l" thl' d oor bthind them . t 'J'hrOlt·' ha8elj 0" ,ola, tmb rohlcr, a j t U' ,rilclu., but 'Mil paluc •.) No! (Thr oll" dOlm wo rk, rUff, [JM' W 11i(' Iwll-tl oor a)ld coli, out.) Ellen, bring in tbe

ACT LJ A DOLL'S BOUSE, Christma.s·tree! (Goe, to tltule, [(,ft, and ope'" the drall ; er; agaill paU4t • . ) No, it's quita impossible I Et.LEN (wit" au Chru tmcu·t r u) . Where s hlLll 1 stand H, ma'am? NORA. Th ere, in the middle of the room . ELLEN. Shall I bring in anything els e? NOR... No, thank you, I hava aU I wo.nt. [ELL£S hlt. 1)11/ dO K'n the tree. Goa 0111.] NORA (vl/.Y drc"in ,ll tile tree) . Th ere must bo 0. candle here, and flow ers tba ra.- The horrid man! Nonsense, nonsense! tbere's notbing in it. '1'ho Christ mas· tree ahall be beautiful. I will do every· thing to please rou , Torvald; I'll sing and dance, 'Dd-­ [Ellter IhLKEll u!l th(' "all· (loor, l/'ith bll nrll e of r/OCUlll t llt., ] NOnA . Ob I you're ba ck alrea dy ? TTeLlrER. Yes. TIlLs an ybody been here? NORA. n ero? No. H I':L!dER. Curious I 1 saw Krogstad como out of tbo houso. NORA.. Did you? Oh, yes, by the bye, he was here fo r n. minut£>. HELliER. Nora, I can seo it by your manner! And ho asked you to put in a good wo rd for him ? NORA. Ye s.

" A DOLL'S HOUSE. [AC'P I HKLlrZR. And you were til do ii of your own nccord? You were to .&y notbing to me of his ha.ving boon here! Didn't he suggest tba.t. too? NORA. Yes, Ton'ald ; but -- HELliER. Norn, Nora! !Lnd you could condescend to thnt! To speak to sucb a man, to ma.ke bim II. promis e! And then to tell me an untruth about it ! NOIlA. An untruth! n~ :LlIE n. Didn't you sny nobody bnd been bere? (ThrMIc". u'itli h i.fi lltler.) My little bird must never do that ngn.;n! A BODg-bird must Deyor lIing (0.110 note s. (Pu.t. hi, ann TOlllld lur.) Th&\,s 80, illn', it? Yes, I WIUI lure or it. (lA't' her !lo. ) And now we'll say no more about it. (Siu ilQu',. b,/ ort tlu firt.) Ob, how cosy BDd quiet it ill here. (Gkmctl iI/to hi, (/o~u- 111"'11 •• ) NORA (bIlly with the tTf'f, !!fltr a '''ort sUell/·c). Ton 'ald. HEL:IlI!:R. Yes. NOlU. rill looking forward so much to tho Bten. borss' fancy bali tho day after to·monow. lhLlum. And I'm on tetltCtUOOKs to 800 what surpriso you havo in IItoro for rue . NOR". Oh, it'll too tiresomo. llELlfEI1. What is '} Non.... I can't think of anything good. Everything seemA so fooliah and mcanillgleaB. 1TEL1IER. Hl\s littlo Nom. mlldo that -discovery?

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