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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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If you really want to give me something, you might, you know-you mightHELMER Well? Out with it! NORA [Quickly.] You might give me money, Torvald. Only just what you think you can spare; then I can buy something with it later on. HELMER But, Nora- NORA Oh, please do, dear Torvald, please do! I should hang the money in lovely gilt paper on the Christmas-tree. Wouldn’t that be fun? HELMER What do they call the birds that are always making the money fly? NORA Yes, I know-spendthrifts, 8 of course. But please do as I ask you, Torvald. Then I shall have time to think what I want most. Isn’t that very sensible, now? HELMER[Smiling.] Certainly; that is to say, if you really kept the money I gave you, and really spent it on something for yourself. But it all goes in housekeeping, and for all manner of useless things, and then I have to pay up again. NORA But, Torvald8 “Spillefugl,” literally “playbird,” means a gambler. HELMER Can you deny it, Nora dear? [He puts his arm round her.] It’s a sweet little lark, but it gets through a lot of money. No one would believe how much it costs a man to keep such a little bird as you. NORA For shame! How can you say so? Why, I save as much as ever I can. HELMER[Laughing.] Very true-as much as you can-but that’s precisely nothing. NORA [Hums and smiles with covert glee.] H’m! If you only knew, Torvald, what expenses we larks and squirrels have. HELMER You’re a strange little being! Just like your father-always on the look-out for all the money you can lay your hands on; but the moment you have it, it seems to slip through your fingers; you never know what becomes of it. Well, one must take you as you are. It’s in the blood. Yes, Nora, that sort of thing is hereditary. NORA I wish I had inherited many of papa’s qualities. HELMER And I don’t wish you anything but just what you are-my own, sweet little song-bird. But I say-it strikes me you look so-sowhat shall I call it?- so suspicious to- dayNORA Do I? HELMER You do, indeed. Look me full in the face. NORA[Looking at him.] Well? HELMER[Threatening with his finger.] Hasn’t the little sweet-tooth been playing pranks to-day? NORA No; how can you think such a thing! HELMER Didn’t she just look in at the confectioner’s? NORA No, Torvald; reallyHELMER Not to sip a little jelly? NORA No; certainly not. HELMER Hasn’t she even nibbled a macaroon or two? NORA No, Torvald, indeed, indeed! HELMER Well, well, well; of course I’m only joking. NORA [Goes to the table on the right.] I shouldn’t think of doing what you disapprove of. HELMER No, I’m sure of that; and, besides, you’ve given me your word-[Going towards her.] Well, keep your little Christmas secrets to yourself, Nora darling. The Christmas-tree will bring them all to light, I daresay. NORA Have you remembered to invite Doctor Rank? HELMER No. But it’s not necessary; he’ll come as a matter of course. Besides, I shall ask him when he looks in to- |
