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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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ACT SECOND The same room. In the corner, beside the piano, stands the Christmas-tree, stripped, and with the candles burnt out. NORA’s outdoor things lie on the sofa. NORA, alone, is walking about restlessly. At last she stops by the sofa, and takes up her cloak. NORA[Dropping the cloak.] There’s somebody coming! [Goes to the hall door and listens.] Nobody; of course nobody will come to-day, Christmas-day; nor to-morrow either. But perhaps [Opens the door and looks out.] • No, nothing in the letter box; quite empty. [Comes forward.] Stuff and nonsense! Of course he won’t really do anything. Such a thing couldn’t happen. It’s impossible! Why, I have three little children. ANNA enters from the left, with a large cardboard box. ANNA I’ve found the box with the fancy dress at last. NORA Thanks; put it down on the table. ANNA[Does so.] But I’m afraid it’s very much out of order. NORA Oh, I wish I could tear it into a hundred thousand pieces! ANNA Oh, no. It can easily be put to rights-just a little patience. NORA I shall go and get Mrs. Linden to help me. ANNA Going out again? In such weather as this! You’ll catch cold, ma’am, and be ill. NORA Worse things might happen.- What are the children doing? ANNA They’re playing with their Christmas presents, poor little dears; butNORA Do they often ask for me? ANNA You see they’ve been so used to having their mamma with them. NORA Yes; but, Anna, I can’t have them so much with me in future. ANNA Well, little children get used to anything. NORA Do you think they do? Do you believe they would forget their mother if she went quite away? ANNA Gracious me! Quite away? NORA Tell me, Anna-I’ve so often wondered about it-how could you bring yourself to give your child up to strangers? ANNA I had to when I came to nurse my little Miss Nora. NORA But how could you make up your mind to it? ANNA When I had the chance of such a good place? A poor girl who’s been in trouble must take what comes. That wicked man did nothing for me. NORA But your daughter must have forgotten you. |
