|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
 |
||||
|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
|
|
||||
|
day. I’ve ordered some capital wine. Nora, you can’t think how I look forward to this evening. NORA And I too. How the children will enjoy themselves, Torvald! HELMER Ah, it’s glorious to feel that one has an assured position and ample means. Isn’t it delightful to think of? NORA Oh, it’s wonderful! HELMER Do you remember last Christmas? For three whole weeks beforehand you shut yourself up every evening till long past midnight to make flowers for the Christmas-tree, and all sorts of other marvels that were to have astonished us. I was never so bored in my life. NORA I didn’t bore myself at all. HELMER[Smiling.] But it came to little enough in the end, Nora. NORA Oh, are you going to tease me about that again? How could I help the cat getting in and pulling it all to pieces? HELMER To be sure you couldn’t, my poor little Nora. You did your best to give us all pleasure, and that’s the main point. But, all the same, it’s a good thing the hard times are over. NORA Oh, isn’t it wonderful? HELMER Now I needn’t sit here boring myself all alone; and you needn’t tire your blessed eyes and your delicate little fingersNORA [Clapping her hands.] No, I needn’t, need I, Torvald? Oh, how wonderful it is to think of? [Takes his arm.] And now I’ll tell you how I think we ought to manage, Torvald. As soon as Christmas is over- [The hall-door bell rings.] Oh, there’s a ring! [Arranging the room.] That’s somebody come to call. How tiresome! HELMER I’m “not at home” to callers; remember that. ELLEN[In the doorway.] A lady to see you, ma’am. NORA Show her in. ELLEN[To HELMER.] And the doctor has just come, sir. HELMER Has he gone into my study? ELLEN Yes, sir. [HELMER goes into his study. ELLEN ushers in MRS. LINDEN, in travelling costume, and goes out, closing the door.] MRS. LINDEN[Embarrassed and hesitating.] How do you do, Nora? NORA[Doubtfully.] How do you do? MRS. LINDEN I see you don’t recognise me! NORA No, I don’t think-oh yes!- I believe [Suddenly brightening.] What, Christina! Is it really you? MRS. LINDEN Yes; really I! NORA Christina! And to think I didn’t know you! But how could I[More softly.] How changed you are; Christina! MRS. LINDEN Yes, no doubt. In nine or ten yearsNORA Is it really so long since we met? Yes, so it is. Oh, the last eight years have been a happy time, I can tell you. And now you have come to town? All that long journey in mid-winter! How brave of you! MRS. LINDEN I arrived by this morning’s steamer. NORA To have a merry Christmas, of course. Oh, how delightful! |
